AFL, Round 15 {R}

[babytiger2001]

I'm back, at long last-- and here are the fixtures for this weekend's round of games, with a couple of teams chiefly supported by some of the main barrackers on this forum in the Friday night spotlight...

Friday, 9 July
Collingwood v Geelong, at Telstra Dome, 7:30 p.m. Melbourne time

Saturday, 10 July
Hawthorn v West Coast, at York Park (Launceston), 1 p.m. Tasmanian time
Richmond v Essendon, at the MCG, 2 p.m. Melbourne time
Sydney v Adelaide, at the SCG, 7 p.m. Sydney time
Fremantle v North Melbourne, at Subiaco Oval, 5:30 p.m. Perth time

Sunday, 11 July
Brisbane v Western Bulldogs, at The Gabba, 1 p.m. Brisbane time
Melbourne v St. Kilda, at the MCG, 2 p.m. Melbourne time
Port Adelaide v Carlton, at AAMI Stadium, 2 p.m. Adelaide time (2:30 p.m. in Melbourne)


Live audio links can be found on the AFL's official site (http://www.afl.com.au) moments before the opening centre bounce of each match.

With it being Thursday here, I'll have an abbreviated review of the ladders and the news of the week, with my tips to follow...

I should point out, as a tease, that it was a busy week at the Tribunal, with three St. Kilda players dinged for this week's match against Melbourne.

[babytiger2001]

Ladder in detail (http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/ladder/index.html)


1. St Kilda 14 11 3 0 1593 1132 140.72 44
2. Brisbane 14 10 4 0 1523 1239 122.92 40
3. Port Adelaide 14 10 4 0 1540 1292 119.19 40
4. Melbourne 14 10 4 0 1428 1231 116 40
5. Geelong 14 8 6 0 1286 1171 109.82 32
6. Fremantle 14 8 6 0 1256 1154 108.83 32
7. Sydney 14 8 6 0 1247 1215 102.63 32
8. Essendon 14 8 6 0 1452 1461 99.38 32
============================================
9. North Melbourne 14 7 7 0 1412 1309 107.86 28
10. West Coast 14 6 8 0 1250 1420 88.02 24
11. Carlton 14 6 8 0 1254 1461 85.83 24
12. Adelaide 14 5 9 0 1353 1309 103.36 20
13. Collingwood 14 5 9 0 1173 1297 90.43 20
14. Western Bulldogs 14 4 10 0 1309 1523 85.94 16
15. Richmond 14 4 10 0 1088 1487 73.16 16
16. Hawthorn 14 2 12 0 1077 1540 69.93 8

[babytiger2001]

Having trouble accessing the Herald Sun's site, as it keeps freezing up on me today, so here's the best of the rest...

Collingwood v Geelong
Pies galvanised to meet 'form team' -- The Age (http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/07/07/1089000225189.html)

Malthouse lost for words after fine -- The Age (http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/07/07/1089000225186.html)

Space race is never over -- Tim Watson column in The Age (http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/07/06/1089000154885.html) Great article on the great man himself, Gary Ablett Sr.

Cats' Friday night fears -- Geelong Advertiser (http://www.geelonginfo.com/readarticle.asp?articleid=12068)

Cats get shot at big stage -- foxsports.news.com.au, via AAP (http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,10070280-23211,00.html)

Hawthorn v West Coast
Injury puts Wirrapunda back into contention -- The West Australian (http://thegame.thewest.com.au/20040708/afl/news/tg-afl-new-sto127738.html)

Richmond v Essendon
One up, two down for Tigers -- The Age (http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/07/06/1089000154567.html)

Rule a can of worms: Sheedy -- The Age (http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/07/07/1089000225192.html) Aftermath on the Dustin Fletcher tripping suspension handed down by the Tribunal

Bomber's a 200th a family affair -- Peter Ker column in The Age (http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/07/07/1089000225565.html) On James Hird's milestone this weekend

Fletch ban rocks Dons -- foxsports.news.com.au (http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,10063395-23211,00.html)

Hird brings up 200-game milestone -- foxsports.news.com.au (http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,10069424-23211,00.html)

Clay steers clear of Tiger trouble -- foxsports.news.com.au (http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,10075733-23211,00.html)

Fremantle v North Melbourne
Kangaroos scheme to harness Hasleby -- The West Australian (http://thegame.thewest.com.au/20040708/afl/news/tg-afl-new-sto127743.html)

Roos target interstate wins -- The Age (http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/07/06/1089000153560.html)

Sydney v Adelaide
50 metre arcs return to SCG -- foxsports.com.au (http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,10067720-23211,00.html)

Kirk's enterprise -- foxsports.news.com.au (http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,10066367-23211,00.html)

It's easy as 1 2 3 if Crows fire -- Adelaide Advertiser (http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/footy03/story_page/0,8747,10072822%255E25397,00.html)

Youth warms to Crows' new glow -- Adelaide Advertiser (http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/footy03/story_page/0,8747,10064847%255E21544,00.html)

Brisbane v Western Bulldogs
Last stop Brisbane, says Caracella -- The Age (http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/07/06/1089000154561.html)

Matthews recommends O'Donnell for top job -- The Age (http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/07/05/1089000086087.html)

Youth is the word for the Dogs -- The Age (http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/07/06/1089000154558.html)

Old Dog happy teaching new tricks -- Karen Lyon column in The Age (http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/07/06/1089000154555.html) On Rohan Smith

Dogs shut door on senior duo -- The Age (http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/07/05/1089000086149.html)

Melbourne v St. Kilda
Daniher warns soft Dees -- foxsports.news.com.au (http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,10075621-23211,00.html)

Thomas attacks Tribunal -- foxsports.news.com.au (http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,10073786-23211,00.html)

Thomas lashes out at AFL Tribunal -- foxsports.news.com.au (http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,10069637-23211,00.html)

Peny to appeal two-match ban -- foxsports.news.com.au (http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,10067770-23211,00.html)

Strike three for Saints -- The Age (http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/07/06/1089000160489.html)

Thomas blasts Tribunal -- The Age (http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/07/07/1089000225562.html)

Danger in weaker Saints -- The Age (http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/07/07/1089000225201.html)

Port Adelaide v Carlton
Port has no target -- Adelaide Advertiser (http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/footy03/story_page/0,8747,10072817%255E25397,00.html)

Stevens says air is clear despite split -- The Age (http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/07/07/1089000225183.html)

Tredrea signs on until 2007 -- The Age (http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/07/06/1089000154552.html)

Port's quiet revolution -- The Age (http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/07/06/1089000154549.html)

[babytiger2001]

And here are my tips, as I hope to improve drastically on my abysmal 3/8 tally of last weekend...

Collingwood v Geelong (And perhaps handily, too)
Hawthorn v West Coast (bad tipping position, but maybe the Eagles will gain a bit of confidence from the win over Geelong last weekend and make a finals push from it)
Richmond v Essendon (probably shouldn't, after the Bombers folded like a house of cards in the final quarter last week, but they are playing Richmond-- and when was the last time Sheedy's lot lost four in a row?)
Sydney v Adelaide (can't go against the Swans at home, on that compact ground)
Fremantle v North Melbourne (no revenge for North)
Brisbane v Western Bulldogs (this could get ugly)
Melbourne v St. Kilda (I'm not buying all the "St. Kilda collapse" talk, but it will be difficult for them to win with all the players they have suspended, even if Luke Penny wins his appeal at the Tribunal tonight)
Port Adelaide v Carlton (no brainer here)

Looking to add to my season form of 71/112.

[babytiger2001]

Round 15 teams -- afl.com.au (http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=159202)

And for the benefit of the supporters of the two teams playing at Telstra Dome on Friday Night Footy tomorrow night... here are the sides for that blockbuster.

COLLINGWOOD
B: Johnson, Wakelin, Clement
HB: Cole, Prestigiacomo, Swan
C: Woewodin, Buckley, Lockyer
HF: Didak, Rocca, O'Bree
F: McKee, Tarrant, Davis
FOLL: Fraser, Burns, Licuria
I/C: Holland, Lonie, Maxwell, Rowe
EMG: Williams, Lokan, Walker
IN: Maxwell
OUT: J. Cloke (corked leg)

GEELONG
B: Corey, Scarlett, Milburn
HB: Hunt, Harley, Sanderson
C: Wojcinski, Ling, Riccardi
HF: Kingsley, Mooney, Bartel
F: Moloney, Graham, Mackie
FOLL: King, Chapman, Ablett
I/C: Gardiner, S. Johnson, Callan, Chambers
EMG: Spriggs, Koulouriotis, Playfair
IN: Gardiner, Chambers, Callan
OUT: Kelly (broken leg), Haynes, Rahilly

Key matchup... Cameron Ling on Nathan Buckley. Oh, my.

[babytiger2001]

Teams story: Richo back for Tigers -- afl.com.au (http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=159225)

[ScouseCat]

GEELONG
B: Corey, Scarlett, Milburn
HB: Hunt, Harley, Sanderson
C: Wojcinski, Ling, Riccardi
HF: Kingsley, Mooney, Bartel
F: Moloney, Graham, Mackie
FOLL: King, Chapman, Ablett
I/C: Gardiner, S. Johnson, Callan, Chambers
EMG: Spriggs, Koulouriotis, Playfair
IN: Gardiner, Chambers, Callan
OUT: Kelly (broken leg), Haynes, Rahilly
Haynes is also out injured this week, not having come up after the trip to Perth last week and only 6 days to recover. Good to see Tim Callan in for his first game this year. He is definitely one for the future is that kid, very talented. :)

Here are my tips for this week's round of matches.

Geelong
Hawthorn
Essendon
Sydney
Fremantle
Brisbane
Melbourne
Port Adelaide

Brisbane are my certainty of the week, playing the Bulldogs who are already looking ahead to next season by bringing in some young players. Port, Fremantle and Sydney should win at home, as should Essendon against the hapless Tigers. I reckon Geelong are ready to bounce back this week and officially put an end to any Collingwood hopes for making the finals this year while I'm tipping Melbourne to continue St Kilda's recent poor form on their homeground, the MCG. As for the Hawthorn vs West Coast game, make sure you take a couple of wake up pills before the game if you're watching it because it could be a snore fest with how both teams play!

I am currently on 66 for the season.

[babytiger2001]

Good to see Tim Callan in for his first game this year. He is definitely one for the future is that kid, very talented. :)

Personally, I would have preferred to see Kane Tenace, with his skills and delivery, getting a go against the Magpies. I think he would have troubled Collingwood's defenders quite a bit, especially with his change of pace.

But not upset at all about Callan having a run. It's about time he gets a shot, it'll be interesting to see what he can do against AFL competition.

[Spartacus]

As for me...boy, this is a tough round. Then again, we are getting perilously close to September and it's supposed to toughen up now, isn't it?

So here goes

Friday, 9 July
Collingwood v Geelong

Saturday, 10 July
Hawthorn v West Coast
Richmond v Essendon
Sydney v Adelaide
Fremantle v North Melbourne

Sunday, 11 July
Brisbane v Western Bulldogs
Melbourne v St. Kilda
Port Adelaide v Carlton

[babytiger2001]

As for me...boy, this is a tough round. Then again, we are getting perilously close to September and it's supposed to toughen up now, isn't it?

So here goes

Friday, 9 July
Collingwood v Geelong

Saturday, 10 July
Hawthorn v West Coast
Richmond v Essendon
Sydney v Adelaide
Fremantle v North Melbourne

Sunday, 11 July
Brisbane v Western Bulldogs
Melbourne v St. Kilda
Port Adelaide v Carlton


Exactly same as me... wow. :D

I should be at Telstra Dome at this writing, but the match between Geelong and Collingwood is sold out. No standing area tickets, no seats, nada. Tried to get off work in Ballarat as quickly as I could to try and get one of the remaining crumbs, but to no avail.

I even told them if they heard about a white flash going down the Western Freeway, down the Western Ring Road and then across the Westgate Bridge into Docklands, that would be me driving like a rocket en route to Telstra Dome. Never got the chance, though... by the time I got back to Bacchus Marsh, they were all gone.

[babytiger2001]

The Friday news is generally dominated by tonight's previews and features for the Colingwood v Geelong match, naturally. :)

Collingwood v Geelong
Great spread in the actual physical edition of the Herald Sun...
Geelong no longer scaredy Cats (http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,10082209%255E11088,00.html)

Terry Wallace column (http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,10079621%255E25877,00.html)

Cats shape own destiny (http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,10079215%255E25979,00.html)

Pies to have last word (http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,10079615%255E19742,00.html)

And in the other papers...

Buckley signals time -- The Age (http://realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/07/08/1089000297718.html)

Time for Tim -- Geelong Advertiser (http://www.geelonginfo.com/readarticle.asp?articleid=12085)

Cats call Callan from shadows -- foxsports.news.com.au (http://www.foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,10081497-23211,00.html)

And in the other games this weekend...

Hawthorn v West Coast
Chick injury blow to Eagles -- The West Australian (http://thegame.thewest.com.au/20040709/afl/news/tg-afl-new-sto127812.html)

Fremantle v North Melbourne
Connolly wary of Roos -- The Herald Sun (http://heraldsun.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,10082837%255E19765,00.html)

Dockers, Roos stick with form -- The West Australian (http://thegame.thewest.com.au/20040709/afl/news/tg-afl-new-sto127809.html)

Sydney v Adelaide
Roos chases final scalp -- The Herald Sun (http://heraldsun.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,10082835%255E19773,00.html)

Don't expect a letdown, says Biglands -- Adelaide Advertiser (http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/footy03/story_page/0,8747,10083560%255E25397,00.html)

Swans duped by look of draw -- Sydney Morning Herald (http://smh.com.au/articles/2004/07/08/1089000292151.html)

Craig's out of the fire but Crows cauldron warms the heart -- Sydney Morning Herald (http://smh.com.au/articles/2004/07/08/1089000292280.html)

Crows set to sizzle at Crows barbeque -- The Australian (http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,10081487%255E2722,00.html)

Brisbane v Western Bulldogs
Baby alters Leppitsch's focus -- The Herald Sun (http://heraldsun.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,10082831%255E19746,00.html)

At last, Leppitsch hits 200 -- The Age (http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/07/08/1089000297386.html)

Melbourne v St. Kilda
Penny free to play Demons after appeal -- The Herald Sun (http://heraldsun.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,10082708%255E19769,00.html)

Thomas costs Saints $5000 -- The Herald Sun (http://heraldsun.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,10082713%255E19772,00.html)

Penny free to play, but Thomas fined -- The Age (http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/07/08/1089000297712.html)

Beveridge the toast of Saints' future -- The Age (http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/07/08/1089000291219.html)

Port Adelaide v Carlton
Blues view two as selections in father-son draft -- The Age (http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/07/08/1089000291836.html)

Tough day awaits Williams at office -- Adelaide Advertiser (http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/footy03/story_page/0,8747,10083372%255E25397,00.html)

And breaking news....

Collingwood related
Magpies fine misbehaving players -- smh.com.au (http://smh.com.au/articles/2004/07/09/1089000347944.html)

[babytiger2001]

Drunken Will here-- and with good reason... watched the game in a local sports bar tonight. :D

And here's the reason for the happy drunkenness...

Collingwood v Geelong (http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=159445) at Telstra Dome:
Collingwood 9.11 (65)
Geelong 12.22 (94)

I think we're for real now. :)

[BhoysFC1995]

congrats to the cats, but maybe the 'pies had trouble cause of this on their minds?

http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,10095894-23209,00.html

[the_baron]

22 Behinds. Terrible kickng! :(

[babytiger2001]

22 Behinds. Terrible kickng! :(

It's OK... they're points, and they all count. :)

Gary Ablett Jr. hit the post four times and his form was shocking at 1.6, and Kent Kingsley's goalkicking is still inconsistent at best.

However, I would be more concerned if Geelong's forwards weren't getting opportunities to kick goals with the great frequency as we did on Friday night.

Having said that, though, we could have had the game wrapped up a lot sooner.

I'm sure we won't let Sydney off that easy next weekend.

[babytiger2001]

congrats to the cats, but maybe the 'pies had trouble cause of this on their minds?

http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,10095894-23209,00.html

Maybe, but Geelong was clearly the better team last night.

There were a lot of lead changes, granted-- but our defence was awesome. Matthew Scarlett did his usual clamp-down effort on a key full forward (in this case, Anthony Rocca), and aside from an early goal from Alan Didak, Collingwood was forced to work for and earn every point they scored.

Additionally, many of our players played magnificently, such as Cameron Ling, James Bartel and Joel Corey (those three guys were EVERYWHERE), Gary Ablett Jr., and Brenton Sanderson. And one cannot under-estimate Steven King's play in the ruck, having 37 hit-outs and kicking two goals was a big contribution on his own.

Fair point about the off-field news involving Collingwood and the argument about it being a possible distraction, but Geelong was clearly the better team, and the Cats could have easily won by a lot more than they did.

[ScouseCat]

22 Behinds. Terrible kickng! :(
It was just one of those nights for us in front of goal, but at least we were creating opportunities for our forwards to have shots. We didn't have much luck either, with Gary Ablett kicking 1.6 with 4 of those points hitting the post!

It feels good to officially end any realistic hopes for Collingwood making the finals this year, and also to cement our position on the top 8.

[babytiger2001]

Saturday's full time scores...

Richmond v Essendon (http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=159492) at the MCG:
Richmond 11.11 (77)
Essendon 24.11 (155)

Great day for full forwards Lloyd and Richardson to kick bags of goals for their respective teams.

However, bad news for Essendon-- and captain James Hird on the ocassion of his 200th game...

Hird hospitalised after 200th -- afl.com.au (http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=159483)

Reportedly has some broken ribs, with Dr. Peter Larkins reporting on Triple M radio that Hird's got some internal bleeding as well.

With the kinds of injuries he's had in the last few years, and the freak-accident nature of getting some of those injuries, dare I say that James Hird is the AFL's answer to Brian McBride.

Hawthorn v West Coast (http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=159482), at York Park in Launceston, Tasmania:
Hawthorn 12.10 (82)
West Coast 12.14 (86)

Sydney v Adelaide (http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=159500), at the SCG:
Sydney 8.10 (58)
Adelaide 6.9 (45)

And the Fremantle v North Melbourne (http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=159505) game just completed at Subiaco Oval with a great and memorable ending:
Fremantle 12.7 (79)
North Melbourne 14.12 (96)

That is, a "great and memorable ending", unless you tipped the wrong team. :mad:

[ScouseCat]

I managed to pick 6/8 winners this week to move to 72 for the season. Hawthorn and Fremantle let me down on the weekend.

[babytiger2001]

Here are Sunday's full-time scores...

Brisbane v Western Bulldogs (http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=159586), at The Gabba:
Brisbane 20.16 (136)
Western Bulldogs 10.8 (68)

Brisbane's Jonathan Brown got reported for striking in the second quarter, and will front the Tribunal this week.

Port Adelaide v Carlton (http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=159605), at AAMI Stadium:
Port Adelaide 18.15 (123)
Carlton 5.10 (40)

And Melbourne v St. Kilda (http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=159595) at the MCG:
Melbourne 23.8 (146)
St. Kilda 13.11 (89)

Nice bag of goals kicked by Nick Riewoldt, who stepped up for the Saints with a couple of his key teammates suspended.

And in addition to Brown being cited on charges, Geelong's Matthew Scarlett was charged on video today (http://gfc.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=159566) for striking Collingwood's Chris Tarrant in the second term on Friday night, and will front the Tribunal this week.