AFL News
Despite four interstate ‘derby’ games taking place this week, the results of this weekend’s round were surprisingly lopsided. The usual expectation is that the games between the local state sides in WA, SA, NSW, and QLD will be close and tough. Not so this week! The remaining games were also lopsided (except for the final match!) and included winning margins of 93, 98, and 101. There is a significant disparity between the competitive and non-competitive teams.
On the Field: Carlton suffered another bad loss to start the round. Hawthorn booted 8 of the first nine goals to effectively kill off the game early. The Blues’ Sam Docherty had announced his retirement early in the week and kicked a goal in his farewell match. On Friday night, injury-riddled Essendon were crushed by 93 points by the Western Bulldogs. Final score: Bulldogs 22.11.143, Bombers 7.8.50. GWS faced their cross-town rivals, Sydney, in the other Friday night game. The Swans were hoping to keep their faint finals’ hopes alive, and they raced to a 35-point lead mid-way through the second quarter. From there, the Giants went on a rampage, booting 11 consecutive goals either side of halftime. GWS won by 44 points.
The turnaround in the GWS-Sydney game was surprising to many, but it paled in comparison to the clinic put on by the Gold Coast in their Q-Clash versus Brisbane on Saturday afternoon. In wet conditions on the Gold Coast, the Suns ran all over the visiting Lions to win 20.10.130 to 9.10.64. Barring a complete collapse in the last month of the season, the Gold Coast will make the finals for the first time in their history. In the ‘Western Derby’, Fremantle easily accounted for rivals the West Coast Eagles, winning by 49 points at Perth Stadium. The Dockers’ inaccuracy in front of goal kept the game close during the first half, but after halftime, Freo kicked straighter and cruised away to win, 126 to 77. In the South Australia ‘Showdown’, the Adelaide Crows smashed Port Adelaide by 98 points – the biggest margin in Showdown history. The Power managed only 5.5 for the entire game. In the other Saturday night game, Geelong annihilated North Melbourne by 101 points, behind 11 goals from Jeremy Cameron—final score: Geelong 22.18.150, North Melbourne 7.7.49.
On Sunday, Collingwood defeated Richmond 13.15.93 to 8.9.57 at the MCG. The final game between St Kilda and Melbourne from Marvel Stadium left all footy fans gasping. Melbourne was well in control for the first three quarters, leading by 46 points with a quarter to play. Nobody reckoned on a rally of historic proportions, but the Saints came home like a train and two late goals to their star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera in the last 15 seconds of the game gave them the most dramatic victory, 15.6.96 to 13.12.90. It is the biggest comeback from a 3/4 time deficit in the history of AFL/VFL football! What a sensational outcome for Saints’ coach Ross Lyon, who was appearing in his 500th game as a player and coach in our great game.
Tipping
Congratulations to Naples Road, Andy Mulholland, Craig Dallimore, and Dazzling Don, who achieved a perfect score of 9 this week (how dramatic was that!). Very well done. Naples Road and Dazzling Don will each win a $20.00 credit at the club for being only 11 points off in the margin game. Congratulations. Heaver 13 retains his 2-point lead at the top of our leaderboard.
Leaderboard after Round 20
Heaver 13 127
Big D 125
Pies London Fan 125
Valerderos1964 125
Naples Road 123
Thrice Winner Hullsy 123
Martin Hunt 123
Richard Jones 123
Flying Doctor 123
Romo 122
Andy Mul 122
Warrigal Lynda 122
Weazer 1 122
Bruce McBriar 122
The Bulldogs will host GWS this Thursday night to start Round 21. Please place your tips.
Don