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AFL Central - July 2009

Round eighteen preview: Sydney v St Kilda

July 31st 2009 16:34
VENUE and TIME: SCG, Saturday 1 August, 7.10pm (AEST)

HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 201, St Kilda 73, Sydney 125, Draws: 3

LAST TIME: St Kilda 12.8 (80) def Sydney 9.11 (65), Round 1 2009 at Etihad Stadium

RECENT HISTORY: St Kilda has won four of its past six matches against Sydney.

FORM: St Kilda remains undefeated and two games clear of second-placed Geelong after thumping top-four contenders the Western Bulldogs to the tune of 45 points at Etihad Stadium last Saturday night. Sydney kept its slim finals hopes alive with a scrappy 18-point win over Melbourne at Manuka Oval in Canberra last Sunday. The Swans (7-10) have won just two of their past eight matches and find themselves in 11th place on the AFL ladder.


MEDICAL ROOM: Sydney midfielder Amon Buchanan and Nick Malceski (quad) remain on the sidelines while Ted Richards (punctured lung), Lewis Johnston (foot), Brett Meredith (forearm) and Campbell Heath (knee-ACL) won’t play again this season. For the Saints, Justin Koschitzke returns from a hand injury but Sam Gilbert (back sorenes) will miss. Jarryd Allen is sidelined indefinitely with a hip injury while Xavier Clarke (knee) is out for the year.

KEY MATCH-UPS: Clinton Jones vs. Adam Goodes

Goodes failed to have his usual impact last weekend, managing just 17 possessions - down on his season average of 21.5 disposals per game.

If the Swans are going to have any hope of keeping their slim finals hopes alive they will need Goodes to have a big game.

St Kilda will be keen to limit his impact on the contest as he is one of the few Swans players that can break down their zone with his run and carry.

Jones has quelled the influence of some of the premier midfielders so far this season and will be given the job on the dual Brownlow medallist in what shapes as being a crucial match-up in determining the outcome of this contest.


Goodes will need his teammates to block for him at the stoppages if he is going to have any hope of breaking the game open as Jones will apply relentless pressure all night.

Craig Bolton vs. Nick Riewoldt

Riewoldt continued his brilliant season with 19 possessions, eight marks and five goals against the Western Bulldogs.

If Sydney is going to have any chance of ending St Kilda’s unbeaten star to the season they will need to quell the influence of Riewoldt who will surely earn All-Australian honours this year.

Bolton always gets the job on Riewoldt and it won’t be any different on Saturday night.

Sydney is ranked second in the AFL for tackles per game with an average of 67 - they will need to suffocate the St Kilda midfield with their pressure skills otherwise Riewoldt who is virtually unstoppable on the lead will dominate.

Max Hudghton vs. Jesse White

White backed up his four goal performance against Carlton with just four possessions and one goal against the Demons.

Sydney will need the 21-year-old to lift otherwise they will struggle to kick enough goals to have any chance of securing their eighth win of the season.

Hudghton is St Kilda's best and most experienced defender and looms as the obvious candidate to line-up on White.

If White is going to have any chance of winning his duel with Hudghton he will need his midfield to move the football quickly and cleanly into the forward line otherwise the Saints will be able to push numbers back and continually rebound the football out defensive 50.

Brett Kirk vs. Lenny Hayes

Hayes has been instrumental in St Kilda’s success this season, averaging 28 disposals per game.

The 29-year-old is damaging with his ability to win the football at the stoppages and use it cleanly by hand to find clean ball users such as Nick Dal Santo and Leigh Montagna in space.

Limiting his influence in the middle will be a key for the Swans if they are going to have any hope of starving the Saints forwards of quality supply.

Like Hayes, Kirk is highly effective in close and will most likely go head-to-head with Hayes in what shapes as being a pivotal duel.

Not only will Kirk make Hayes earn every possession - he leads the AFL for tackles per game with an average of 7.5 - he will also try and hurt him going the other way - he has averaged 23 touches per game in 2009.

VERDICT: Sydney may have won eight of the past nine matches between these two sides at the SCG but St Kilda is a much different unit this season. The Saints have taken defensive pressure to a new level in 2009 and simply have too many options in attack for the Swans to contain. Saints by 37 points.

SYDNEY SWANS v ST KILDA
SYDNEY SWANS
B: Ed Barlow, Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Craig Bolton
HB: Rhyce Shaw, Heath Grundy, Martin Mattner
C: Nick Smith, Brett Kirk, Jarrad McVeigh
HF: Ryan O’Keefe, Adam Goodes, Luke Ablett
F: Jesse White, Michael O’Loughlin, Dan Hannebery
Foll: Darren Jolly, Kieren Jack, Jude Bolton
I/C: Craig Bird, Jared Moore, Michael Pyke, Jared Crouch
Emg: Paul Bevan, Kristin Thornton, Patrick Veszpremi

In: Crouch
Out: Kristin Thornton

ST KILDA
B: Jason Blake, Max Hudghton, Raphael Clarke
HB: Steven Baker, Sam Fisher, Farren Ray
C: Brendon Goddard, Andrew McQualter, Leigh Montagna
HF: Jason Gram, Justin Koschitzke, Robert Eddy
F: Clinton Jones, Nick Riewoldt, Stephen Milne
Foll: Steven King, Lenny Hayes, Nick Dal Santo
I/C: Sean Dempster, James Gwilt, Ben McEvoy, Adam Schneider
Emg: Jarryn Geary, David Armitage, Matt Maguire

In: Koschitzke
Out: Sam Gilbert (back soreness)
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Posted By: TonyK - Category: AFL News
   


Round eighteen preview: Collingwood v Brisbane

July 31st 2009 16:17
VENUE and TIME: MCG, Saturday August 1, 7.10pm (AEST)

HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 20, Collingwood 5, Brisbane 15

LAST TIME: Collingwood 13.12 (90) def Brisbane 10.13 (73), Round 4, 2009 at the Gabba

RECENT HISTORY: Collingwood has won three of its past five matches against Brisbane.

FORM: Collingwood bounced back from their disappointing loss to Hawthorn with a 54-point demolition of Carlton. The Magpies currently occupy fourth place on the AFL ladder with an 11-6 win-loss record. Brisbane has won five of its past six matches and find itself in sixth spot with 11 wins to its name.

MEDICAL ROOM: Collingwood will be without number one ruckman Josh Fraser (knee) for at least another week while veteran forward Anthony Rocca (Achilles) and promising young key defender Nathan Brown (knee) remain on the sidelines. For the Lions, Tom Collier (knee), Pearce Hanley (hamstring) and Albert Proud (foot) will miss. Key forward Daniel Bradshaw (hamstring), Matthew Leuenberger (knee), Rhan Hooper (hamstring) and Lachie Henderson (foot) are unavailable while Jamie Charman and Jed Adcock are out for the season with ankle and knee injuries respectively.

KEY MATCH-UPS: Simon Prestigiacomo vs. Jonathan Brown

Brown turned it on against the Kangaroos, helping himself to eight goals, 21 possessions and 12 marks.

If the Lions are going to record a valuable win away from home they will need their skipper to fire.

However, he faces a tough night at the office with Prestigiacomo who has been one of the best defenders in the competition so far this season to be his direct opponent.

Prestigiacomo will need his midfield to apply relentless pressure all over the ground otherwise Brown will feast on plenty of quality supply from the likes of Simon Black, Luke Power and Daniel Rich who are all in good form.

Cheynee Stiller vs. Scott Pendlebury

Pendlebury was instrumental in the Magpies’ 17-point win over Brisbane in round four with a game-high 35 disposals.

The classy 21-year-old is damaging with his ability to set up scoring opportunities for his teammates with his clean use of the football.

If the Lions are going to have any hope of containing Collingwood’s multi-pronged attack they will need to limit the influence of Pendlebury.

Stiller has been given some big negating roles this season and will most likely be given first crack at Pendlebury in what shapes as being a pivotal duel.

Brisbane will need Stiller to deny Pendlebury any time or space in which to work in otherwise he will cut them to shreds with his sublime skills.

Ben Johnson vs. Simon Black

Black has played a key role in Brisbane’s success so far this season, averaging just under 26 possessions per game.

The 2002 Brownlow medallist is an integral part of the Lions’ midfield with his ability to win the football at close quarters and use it cleanly by hand and foot.

Limiting his influence in the middle will be a key for the Magpies if they are going to have any hope of containing Brown.

Johnson, who spent some time on Carlton skipper Chris Judd last weekend and more than held his own, will most likely be given the job of running with Black who has carved the Magpies up in the past.

It is vital for the Pies that Johnson is proactive at the stoppages and pushes forward at every available opportunity as it will force Black to be accountable which in turn will help limit his impact on the contest.

Ashley McGrath vs. Paul Medhurst

Medhurst has been down on his usual output in recent times but he still looms as a danger man given that he booted four goals in the clash between these two sides earlier in the year.

McGrath has been given the job on Medhurst before and will most likely be given the task of matching up on the former Docker once again.

Collingwood leads the AFL for kicks per game with an average of 215 - they like to maintain possession of the football by kicking it along the boundary.

McGrath will need his teammates to suffocate the Pies with their pressure skills otherwise the likes of Dane Swan, Alan Didak and Pendlebury will continually spot up Medhurst and co. inside 50.

VERDICT: Both sides are in good form but Brisbane has struggled at the MCG, winning just two of their past eight matches at the home of football. The Magpies have nine players that have kicked 10 or more goals this season while the Lions have just four players who will play on Saturday night that are in double figures for goals this year. Expect Brisbane’s poor record at the 'G to continue with the Pies’ greater spread of goal kickers to be the difference. Magpies by 15 points.

COLLINGWOOD v BRISBANE LIONS
COLLINGWOOD
B: Harry O’Brien, Simon Prestigiacomo, Heath Shaw
HB: Nick Maxwell, Chris Dawes, Tarkyn Lockyer
C: Jaxson Barham, Dayne Beams, Scott Pendlebury
HF: Steele Sidebottom, Travis Cloke, Paul Medhurst
F: Alan Didak, John Anthony, Dale Thomas
Foll: Cameron Wood, Dane Swan, Shane O’Bree
I/C: Ben Johnson, Leigh Brown, Leon Davis, Alan Toovey
Emg: Jarrad Blight, Tyson Goldsack, Sharrod Wellingham

No change

BRISBANE LIONS
B: Ashley McGrath, Daniel Merrett, Troy Selwood
HB: Joel Patfull, Josh Drummond, Joel Macdonald
C: Jared Brennan, Simon Black, Daniel Rich
HF: Michael Rischitelli, Jonathan Brown, James Polkinghorne
F: Sam Sheldon, Daniel Bradshaw, Luke Power
Foll: Mitch Clark, Cheynee Stiller, Justin Sherman
I/C: Bradd Dalziell, James Hawksley, Tom Rockliff, Jack Redden
Emg: Aaron Cornelius, Travis Johnstone, Jason Roe

In: Selwood, Hawksley, Rockliff
Out: Notting (suspended), Collier (knee), Hanley (hamstring), Proud (foot)

New: Tom Rockliff (Murray Bushrangers)
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Posted By: TonyK - Category: AFL News
   


Round eighteen preview: Western Bulldogs v Fremantle

July 31st 2009 16:05
VENUE and TIME: Etihad Stadium, Saturday 1 August, 2.10pm (AEST)

HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 18, Western Bulldogs 11, Fremantle 7

LAST TIME: Western Bulldogs 25.7 (157) def Fremantle 13.16 (94), Round 1 2009 at Subiaco

RECENT HISTORY: The Western Bulldogs have won their past four matches against Fremantle.

FORM: The Western Bulldogs have won eight of their past 11 matches but their poor run against top four sides continued last weekend when they went down to ladder leaders St Kilda by 45 points. The Bulldogs are 0-4 against top four teams and find themselves in third place on the AFL ladder with an 11-6 win-loss record. Fremantle snapped a nine-game losing streak and maintained its recent dominance over West Coast with a hard-fought five-point win - their fifth in a row over their cross-town rivals. The Dockers are in 15th spot with just four wins for the season.

MEDICAL ROOM: The Western Bulldogs will be without star duo Robert Murphy and Shaun Higgins for two to three weeks with hamstring injuries while Scott Welsh (ankle) will also miss. Lindsay Gilbee returns after being a late withdrawal from the clash against the Saints due to personal reasons but Daniel Giansiracusa (knee) is at least three weeks away from resuming. Stephen Tiller and Sam Reid are also on the sidelines with groin injuries. For the Dockers, Des Headland returns from a hamstring injury while Chris Mayne who has battled with foot stress fractures all year plays his first game for the season after playing three matches in the WAFL reserves .Brett Peake (ankle) will miss while Luke McPharlin (calf) and midfielder Byron Schammer (calf) remain unavailable. Roger Hayden (leg) is still up to a fortnight away from resuming while Michael Johnson (ankle) is sidelined indefinitely. Ryan Crowley (foot), Rhys Palmer (knee), Ryan Murphy (finger) and youngster Tim Ruffles (knee) won’t play again in 2009.

KEY MATCH-UPS: Garrick Ibbotson vs. Adam Cooney

Cooney has been instrumental in his side’s success this season, averaging just under 26 possessions per game.

The 2008 Bronwlow medallist is able to hurt sides with his ability to break the lines, kick goals and set up scoring opportunities for his teammates.

Shutting down his run and carry will be a key for the Dockers if they are going to have any hope of containing the Bulldogs’ dangerous mid-sized forwards.

Ibbotson has the pace to go with Cooney and will most likely be given the task of running with the classy Dogs’ midfielder.

Fremantle will need Ibbotson who collected 21 disposals against West Coast last weekend to be proactive and try and hurt Cooney going the other way as it will force him to be accountable which in turn will help limit his impact on the contest as a damaging midfielder.

Liam Picken vs. Matthew Pavlich

Pavlich played a key role in the win over the Eagles, helping himself to a game-high 36 possessions and nine inside 50’s.

The Bulldogs will be keen to limit his influence on the contest as the Dockers will struggle to receive enough quality supply to kick a winning score without Pavlich having an impact.

Picken has impressed in a tagging role this season and will most likely be given the job on Pavlich when he is in the middle while Brian Lake will take him when he pushes forward.

It is vital for the Dogs that Picken applies relentless pressure for the full four quarters and denies Pavlich any time or space in which to work in.

Chris Tarrant vs. Mitch Hahn

When these two sides met in round one Hahn was his team’s most productive forward with five goals.

Like a lot of his teammates, Hahn was well below his best in the loss to the Saints and will be keen to bounce back with a big performance.

However, he faces a tough afternoon at the office with Tarrant who has been a revelation down back this season likely to be his direct opponent.

If Tarrant is going to have any hope of winning his duel with the Bulldogs forward he will need his teammates to suffocate the Bulldogs’ running game with their pressure skills otherwise Hahn will receive silver service from his classy on-ball division.

Matthew Boyd vs. Paul Hasbleby

Hasleby has been his side’s most consistent player in 2009, averaging nearly 26 touches per game.

The 28-year-old is damaging with his ability to win the football at the stoppages and use it cleanly to find his runners in space.

Keeping him quiet will go a long way towards shutting down Fremantle’s running game.

Like Hasleby, Boyd is highly effective in close and looms as the obvious candidate to go head-to-head with the Dockers midfielder.

Not only will Boyd make Hasleby earn every possession but he will also try and hurt him going the other way - the Dogs midfielder has averaged a team-high 28 possessions per game in 2009.

VERDICT: Fremantle may have secured the four premiership points last weekend but like West Coast their use of the football was well below AFL standard. Expect the Western Bulldogs who are regarded as one of the most skilled sides in the competition to continually punish the Dockers on the rebound and cruise to a convincing win. Bulldogs by 55 points.

WESTERN BULLDOGS v FREMANTLE
WESTERN BULLDOGS
B: Jarrod Harbrow, Brian Lake, Dale Morris
HB: Dylan Addison, Tom Williams, Ryan Hargrave
C: Nathan Eagleton, Matthew Boyd, Daniel Cross
HF: Lindsay Gilbee, Mitch Hahn, Brad Johnson
F: Josh Hill, Will Minson, Jason Akermanis
Foll: Ben Hudson, Ryan Griffen, Adam Cooney
I/C: Andrejs Everitt, Liam Picken, Brennan Stack, Callan Ward
Emg: Wayde Skipper, Guy O’Keefe, Easton Wood

In: Everitt, Gilbee, Stack
Out: Shaun Higgins (hamstring), Scott Welsh (ankle), Robert Murphy (hamstring)

FREMANTLE
B: Greg Broughton, Chris Tarrant, Nic Suban
HB: Antoni Grover, Kepler Bradley, Paul Duffield
C: Garrick Ibbotson, Paul Hasleby, Chris Mayne
HF: Stephen Hill, Matthew Pavlich, Dean Solomon
F: Hayden Ballantyne, Scott Thornton, Jay van Berlo
Foll: Aaron Sandilands, Steven Dodd, David Mundy
I/C: Des Headland, Matt de Boer, Clancee Pearce, Michael Walters
Emg: Adam Campbell, Marcus Drum, Zac Clarke

In: Headland, Mayne, Walters
Out: Brett Peake (ankle), Tim Ruffles (knee), Zac Clarke (omit)

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Round eighteen preview: Geelong v Adelaide

July 31st 2009 15:58
VENUE and TIME: Skilled Stadium, Saturday 1 August, 2.10pm (AEST)

HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 28, Geelong 14, Adelaide 14

LAST TIME: Geelong 21.8 (134) def Adelaide 13.8 (86), Round 4 2009 at AAMI Stadium

RECENT HISTORY: Geelong has won its past four matches against Adelaide.

FORM: Geelong bounced back from back-to-back losses to St Kilda and Brisbane with wins over Melbourne and Hawthorn. The Cats (15-2) trailed by 28 points early in the final term against the Hawks but lifted themselves off the canvas and got up by one point thanks to a behind from James Bartel after the siren. Adelaide responded to the 57-point loss to St Kilda with a 70-point demolition of Port Adelaide in Showdown XXVII last Sunday. The Crows are in fifth spot with an 11-6 win-loss record.

MEDICAL ROOM: Geelong welcomes back skipper Tom Harley and classy forward Steve Johnson from knee and hip injuries but key defenders Matthew Scarlett and Harry Taylor will miss one to two weeks with groin injuries. James Kelly will miss another two matches with a hamstring injury while Brad Ottens will make his return from a knee injury via the VFL. Ryan Gamble (hamstring) and Nathan Djerrkura (corked thigh) remain unavailable while Matthew Egan (foot), Josh Hunt (knee) and Mitch Brown (leg) are out for the season. For the Crows, veteran midfielder Tyson Edwards returns from a hamstring injury but youngster Brodie Martin (knee) won‘t play again this year. David Mackay (hamstring) and Shaun McKernan (broken arm) are at least two weeks away from resuming.

KEY MATCH-UPS: Robert Shirley vs. Joel Selwood

Selwood was simply inspirational in the win over the Hawks, helping himself to a game-high 42 possessions, 10 marks, 11 tackles and one goal.

The 2007 NAB Rising Star winner is an integral part of the Geelong midfield with his ability to win the contested football and use it cleanly by hand to find his teammates in space.

If the Crows are going to have any hope of containing a Cats side that has the most potent attack in the AFL they will need to shut-down their running game - a key part of doing that is limiting the influence of Selwood at the stoppages.

Shirley has claimed some big scalps during his 146-game career and will most likely be given the task of tagging Selwood in what shapes as being a crucial match-up.

The Adelaide veteran doesn’t have the ability to hurt Selwood going the other way therefore he will need to apply relentless pressure all day otherwise the Cats young gun will continually win the football at close quarters and hurt the Crows with his superb skills.

Cameron Ling vs. Scott Thompson

Thompson has been one of his side’s most consistent players this season, averaging 27 disposals per game.

The former Demon is highly effective in close and provides plenty of drive through the middle - he leads the Crows for clearances and is third for inside 50’s.

Limiting influence on the contest will be a key for Geelong if they are going to starve Adelaide’s multi-pronged attack of quality supply

Thompson faces a tough afternoon at the office with Ling who is regarded as the best tagger in the AFL to be his direct opponent.

Not only will Ling make Thompson earn every possession but he will also try and hurt him going the other way - the Geelong midfielder has averaged 22 possessions per game this year and he is also capable of pushing forward and kicking goals.

It is vital for the Crows that Thompson works hard going both ways.

Graham Johncock vs. Steve Johnson

Johnson was instrumental in his side’s 48-point win over Adelaide in round four with 21 disposals and three goals.

The Geelong forward may be lacking match fitness but he still looms as a danger man given he is such a classy player.

Johncock usually gets the job on the opposition’s most dangerous mid-sized forward and will be given the unenviable task of lining up on Johnson on Saturday.

In last weekend’s win over Hawthorn the Cats were guilty of butchering the football going forward on several occasions - they will need to be cleaner with their delivery inside 50 against Adelaide otherwise they will be punished on the rebound by the likes of Johncock who has averaged just under 21 touches per game in ‘09.

Andrew Mackie vs. Jason Porplyzia

Porplyzia has been his side’s most productive forward this season with 37 goals and the Crows will need him to fire if they are going to have any chance of securing a valuable win away from home.

Despite standing at just 179cm, Porplyzia is very good overhead.

Mackie has the ability to match the classy Adelaide forward in the air and also when the football hits the deck, so you would expect him to be given first crack at Porplyzia.

In the clash between these two sides earlier in the year the Crows had eight more entries inside 50 than Geelong yet they finished the match with eight fewer scoring shots.

They will need to use the football a lot better on Saturday otherwise the likes of Mackie who has averaged 21 disposals per game this year will continually set up Geelong’s attacking forays forward from the defensive half.

VERDICT: Geelong has been far from its best in recent times and while their defence is a little vulnerable their midfield is intact and is one of, if not the best in the competition. Adelaide faces a tricky run home and needs to keep on winning to have any hope of securing a top-four finish but they will struggle to win enough of the football against the likes of Gary Ablett, Joel Corey, Bartel and Selwood to have any hope of kicking a winning score. Cats by 33 points.

GEELONG v ADELAIDE
GEELONG
B: Darren Milburn, Tom Harley, Corey Enright
HB: David Wojcinski, Tom Lonergan, Andrew Mackie
C: Joel Corey, Cameron Ling, Jimmy Bartel
HF: Travis Varcoe, Cameron Mooney, Steve Johnson
F: Paul Chapman, Tom Hawkins, Max Rooke
Foll: Shane Mumford, Joel Selwood, Gary Ablett
I/C: Mathew Stokes, Shannon Byrnes, Kane Tenace, Simon Hogan
Emg: Tom Gillies, Mark Blake, Jeremy Laidler

In: Johnson, Harley
Out: Matthew Scarlett (groin), Harry Taylor (groin)

ADELAIDE
B: Graham Johncock, Ben Rutten, Michael Doughty
HB: Simon Goodwin, Nathan Bock, Andrew McLeod
C: Nathan van Berlo, Scott Thompson, Brent Reilly
HF: Chris Knights, Scott Stevens, Patrick Dangerfield
F: Jason Porplyzia, Kurt Tippett, Brett Burton
Foll: Ivan Maric, Bernie Vince, Robert Shirley
I/C: Tyson Edwards, Brad Symes, Andy Otten, James Sellar
Emg: Taylor Walker, Jared Petrenko, Tony Armstrong

In: Edwards
Out: Brodie Martin (knee)



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Blues spoil Simpson's farewell

July 31st 2009 13:31
CARLTON has spoiled Adam Simpson’s farewell and consolidated its place in the top eight with a hard-fought 10-point win over North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.

The Blues took control of the contest in the third term before eventually prevailing 14.10 (94) to 11.18 (84).

The Kangaroos had their chances to secure just their fifth of the season but were their own worst enemy in front of goal in the last term, booting nine straight behinds for the quarter.

The loss was made worse for the Roos with the much-improved Leigh Harding suffering a hamstring injury in the second term.

The result sees Carlton (10-8) move one step closer towards securing their first finals berth since 2001.

Marc Murphy was influential with 23 possessions and a career-best four goals while Nick Stevens was impressive in his return to the senior side after being dropped with a team-high 25 disposals and two majors.

Bryce Gibbs showed his class with 24 quality touches while Brendan Fevola chimed in with three goals.

For the Kangaroos, Liam Anthony continued the impressive start to his career with a game-high 33 possessions while skipper Brent Harvey (32) battled hard all night.

Levi Greenwood kept Blues skipper Chris Judd to just seven possessions in the first half and 21 for the match while Hamish McIntosh continued his good run of form with 20 disposals, 16 hit outs and one goal.

Lindsay Thomas booted four goals while Drew Petrie was a busy contributor with 17 possessions and 11 marks but let himself down in front of goal - he finished the match with 2.3.

The opening stanza was a tight affair with both sides managing three goals for the quarter to go into the first change on even terms.

With Harding (two goals) providing a target up forward the Kangaroos were able to open up a handy 11-point buffer at the main break after booting four goals to two in the second term.

North skipped out to a 17-point advantage twice in the third quarter before Murphy, Stevens and Gibbs exerted their influence in the middle.

Carlton dominated at the stoppages and continually delivered the football inside 50 with Fevola the chief beneficiary, booting two goals for the term as the Blues slammed on five of the last seven majors of the quarter to go into three-quarter time with a four-point advantage.

The Blues managed just two goals in the final stanza but it was enough to get them over the line.

Brett Ratten’s men face a tough task next Friday night when they clash with Geelong at the MCG and they will need to win two of their last four matches to feature in September action.

CARLTON 3.4, 6.4, 12.7, 14.10 (94)
NORTH MELBOURNE 3.4, 7.9, 11.9, 11.18 (84)
GOALS: Carlton: Murphy 4, Fevola 3, Thornton 2, Stevens 2, Gibbs 2, O’hAilpin.
North Melbourne: Thomas 4 Harding 2 Petrie 2 Harvey McIntosh Swallow
BEST: Carlton: Murphy, Gibbs, Stevens, Armfield, Fevola
North Melbourne: Harvey, Anthony, Greenwood, McIntosh, Petrie, Thomas, Rawlings
INJURIES: Carlton: Thornton (shoulder).
North Melbourne: Harding (hamstring).
REPORTS: Nil.
CHANGES: Carlton: Jamison (groin) replaced by Hadley.
UMPIRES: McBurney, Rosebury, Ryan.
CROWD: 38,554 at Etihad Stadium

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Posted By: TonyK - Category: AFL News, Carlton Blues
   


AFL Teams: Round Eighteen

July 31st 2009 08:32
2009 Toyota AFL Premiership Season

ROUND EIGHTEEN (All times local)

Friday July 31
North Melbourne v Carlton at Etihad Stadium, 7.40pm

Saturday August 1
Western Bulldogs v Fremantle at Etihad Stadium, 2.10pm
Geelong v Adelaide at Skilled Stadium, 2.10pm
Sydney Swans v St Kilda at the SCG, 7.10pm
Collingwood v Brisbane Lions at the MCG, 7.10pm

Sunday August 2
Melbourne v Richmond at the MCG, 1.10pm
Port Adelaide v Hawthorn at AAMI Stadium, 2.40pm
West Coast v Essendon at Subiaco Oval, 2.40pm

NORTH MELBOURNE v CARLTON
NORTH MELBOURNE
B: Josh Gibson, Drew Petrie, Nathan Grima
HB: Scott McMahon, Scott Thompson, Levi Greenwood
C: Sam Power, Adam Simpson, Gavin Urquhart
HF: Matt Campbell, Lachie Hansen, Liam Anthony
F: Lindsay Thomas, Corey Jones, Brent Harvey
Foll: Hamish McIntosh, Brady Rawlings, Michael Firrito
I/C: Andrew Swallow, Todd Goldstein, Daniel Pratt, Leigh Harding
Emg: Daniel Harris, Ben Ross, Josh Smith

In: Grima, Pratt
Out: Ben Ross, David Hale

CARLTON
B: Paul Bower, Michael Jamison, Dennis Armfield
HB: Andrew Walker, Bret Thornton, Bryce Gibbs
C: Nick Stevens, Kade Simpson, Heath Scotland
HF: Ryan Houlihan, Setanta O’hAilpin, Jordan Russell
F: Eddie Betts, Brendan Fevola, Matthew Kreuzer
Foll: Shaun Hampson, Marc Murphy, Chris Judd
I/C: Mark Austin, Andrew Carrazzo, Aaron Joseph, Mitch Robinson
Emg: Cameron Cloke, Shaun Grigg, Richard Hadley

In: Armfield, Jamison, O’hAilpin, Robinson, Stevens, Walker
Out: Chris Johnson (hamstring), Greg Bentley, Brad Fisher, Shaun Grigg, Adam Hartlett, Chris Yarran

WESTERN BULLDOGS v FREMANTLE
WESTERN BULLDOGS
B: Jarrod Harbrow, Brian Lake, Dale Morris
HB: Dylan Addison, Tom Williams, Ryan Hargrave
C: Nathan Eagleton, Matthew Boyd, Daniel Cross
HF: Lindsay Gilbee, Mitch Hahn, Brad Johnson
F: Josh Hill, Will Minson, Jason Akermanis
Foll: Ben Hudson, Ryan Griffen, Adam Cooney
I/C: Andrejs Everitt, Liam Picken, Brennan Stack, Callan Ward
Emg: Wayde Skipper, Guy O’Keefe, Easton Wood

In: Everitt, Gilbee, Stack
Out: Shaun Higgins (hamstring), Scott Welsh (ankle), Robert Murphy (hamstring)

FREMANTLE
B: Greg Broughton, Chris Tarrant, Nic Suban
HB: Antoni Grover, Kepler Bradley, Paul Duffield
C: Garrick Ibbotson, Paul Hasleby, Chris Mayne
HF: Stephen Hill, Matthew Pavlich, Dean Solomon
F: Hayden Ballantyne, Scott Thornton, Jay van Berlo
Foll: Aaron Sandilands, Steven Dodd, David Mundy
I/C: Des Headland, Matt de Boer, Clancee Pearce, Michael Walters
Emg: Adam Campbell, Marcus Drum, Zac Clarke

In: Headland, Mayne, Walters
Out: Brett Peake (ankle), Tim Ruffles (knee), Zac Clarke (omit)

GEELONG v ADELAIDE
GEELONG
B: Darren Milburn, Tom Harley, Corey Enright
HB: David Wojcinski, Tom Lonergan, Andrew Mackie
C: Joel Corey, Cameron Ling, Jimmy Bartel
HF: Travis Varcoe, Cameron Mooney, Steve Johnson
F: Paul Chapman, Tom Hawkins, Max Rooke
Foll: Shane Mumford, Joel Selwood, Gary Ablett
I/C: Mathew Stokes, Shannon Byrnes, Kane Tenace, Simon Hogan
Emg: Tom Gillies, Mark Blake, Jeremy Laidler

In: Johnson, Harley
Out: Matthew Scarlett (groin), Harry Taylor (groin)

ADELAIDE
B: Graham Johncock, Ben Rutten, Michael Doughty
HB: Simon Goodwin, Nathan Bock, Andrew McLeod
C: Nathan van Berlo, Scott Thompson, Brent Reilly
HF: Chris Knights, Scott Stevens, Patrick Dangerfield
F: Jason Porplyzia, Kurt Tippett, Brett Burton
Foll: Ivan Maric, Bernie Vince, Robert Shirley
I/C: Tyson Edwards, Brad Symes, Andy Otten, James Sellar
Emg: Taylor Walker, Jared Petrenko, Tony Armstrong

In: Edwards
Out: Brodie Martin (knee)

SYDNEY SWANS v ST KILDA
SYDNEY SWANS
B: Ed Barlow, Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Craig Bolton
HB: Rhyce Shaw, Heath Grundy, Martin Mattner
C: Nick Smith, Brett Kirk, Jarrad McVeigh
HF: Ryan O’Keefe, Adam Goodes, Luke Ablett
F: Jesse White, Michael O’Loughlin, Dan Hannebery
Foll: Darren Jolly, Kieren Jack, Jude Bolton
I/C: Craig Bird, Jared Moore, Michael Pyke, Jared Crouch
Emg: Paul Bevan, Kristin Thornton, Patrick Veszpremi

In: Crouch
Out: Kristin Thornton

ST KILDA
B: Jason Blake, Max Hudghton, Raphael Clarke
HB: Steven Baker, Sam Fisher, Farren Ray
C: Brendon Goddard, Andrew McQualter, Leigh Montagna
HF: Jason Gram, Justin Koschitzke, Robert Eddy
F: Clint Jones, Nick Riewoldt, Stephen Milne
Foll: Steven King, Lenny Hayes, Nick Dal Santo
I/C: Sean Dempster, James Gwilt, Ben McEvoy, Adam Schneider
Emg: Jarryn Geary, David Armitage, Matt Maguire

In: Koschitzke
Out: Sam Gilbert (back soreness)

COLLINGWOOD v BRISBANE LIONS
COLLINGWOOD
B: Harry O’Brien, Simon Prestigiacomo, Heath Shaw
HB: Nick Maxwell, Chris Dawes, Tarkyn Lockyer
C: Jaxson Barham, Dayne Beams, Scott Pendlebury
HF: Steele Sidebottom, Travis Cloke, Paul Medhurst
F: Alan Didak, John Anthony, Dale Thomas
Foll: Cameron Wood, Dane Swan, Shane O’Bree
I/C: Ben Johnson, Leigh Brown, Leon Davis, Alan Toovey
Emg: Jarrad Blight, Tyson Goldsack, Sharrod Wellingham

No change

BRISBANE LIONS
B: Ashley McGrath, Daniel Merrett, Troy Selwood
HB: Joel Patfull, Josh Drummond, Joel Macdonald
C: Jared Brennan, Simon Black, Daniel Rich
HF: Michael Rischitelli, Jonathan Brown, James Polkinghorne
F: Sam Sheldon, Daniel Bradshaw, Luke Power
Foll: Mitch Clark, Cheynee Stiller, Justin Sherman
I/C: Bradd Dalziell, James Hawksley, Tom Rockliff, Jack Redden
Emg: Aaron Cornelius, Travis Johnstone, Jason Roe

In: Bradshaw, Selwood, Hawksley, Rockliff
Out: Notting (suspended), Collier (knee), Hanley (hamstring), Proud (foot)

New: Tom Rockliff (Murray Bushrangers)

MELBOURNE v RICHMOND
MELBOURNE
B: James Frawley, Matthew Warnock, Kyle Cheney
HB: Jack Grimes, Jared Rivers, Cameron Bruce
C: Clint Bartram, James McDonald, Aaron Davey
HF: Jamie Bennell, Michael Newton, Lynden Dunn
F: Brad Miller, Matthew Bate, Stefan Martin
Foll: Paul Johnson, Ricky Petterd, Nathan Jones
I/C: Cale Morton, Matthew Whelan, Neville Jetta, Shane Valenti
Emg: Colin Sylvia, Jake Spencer, Simon Buckley

In: Frawley, Grimes, Jetta
Out: Jordie McKenzie (calf), Liam Jurrah (ankle), Brent Moloney (groin)

RiICHMOND
B: Jake King, Will Thursfield, Chris Newman
HB: Dean Polo, Luke McGuane, Matthew White
C: Shane Edwards, Trent Cotchin, Brett Deledio
HF: Robin Nahas, Jack Riewoldt, Jayden Post
F: Nathan Brown, Mitch Morton, Ben Cousins
Foll: Tyrone Vickery, Daniel Jackson, Richard Tambling
I/C: Adam Pattison, Tom Hislop, Jordan McMahon, Kel Moore
Emg: Shane Tuck, Alex Rance, Mark Coughlan

In: Moore
Out: Jarrod Silvester (knee)

PORT ADELAIDE v HAWTHORN
PORT ADELAIDE
B: Alipate Carlile, Toby Thurstans, Jacob Surjan
HB: Nathan Krakouer, Chad Cornes, Troy Chaplin
C: Shaun Burgoyne, Domenic Cassisi, Travis Boak
HF: Robert Gray, Warren Tredrea, David Rodan
F: Matthew Thomas, Brendon Lade, Justin Westhoff
Foll: Dean Brogan, Kane Cornes, Danyle Pearce
I/C: Jason Davenport, Hamish Hartlett, Tom Logan, Nick Salter
Emg: Matthew Broadbent, Nick Lower, Paul Stewart

In: Brogan, Hartlett, Logan, Salter, Thomas
Out: Brett Ebert, Steven Salopek, Matthew Broadbent, Nick Lower, Paul Stewart

HAWTHORN
B: Brent Guerra, Thomas Murphy, Grant Birchall
HB: Ryan Schoenmakers, Stephen Gilham, Xavier Ellis
C: Jordan Lewis, Sam Mitchell, Chance Bateman
HF: Michael Osborne, Lance Franklin, Ben McGlynn
F: Cyril Rioli, Jarryd Roughead, Campbell Brown
Foll: Simon Taylor, Luke Hodge, Brad Sewell
I/C: Josh Kennedy, Brent Renouf, Liam Shiels, Brendan Whitecross
Emg: Beau Dowler, Cameron Stokes, Travis Tuck

In: Whitecross
Out: Beau Dowler

WEST COAST v ESSENDON
WEST COAST
B: Matt Spangher, Darren Glass, Adam Selwood
HB: Sam Butler, Mitch Brown, Shannon Hurn
C: Matt Rosa, Matt Priddis, Tim Houlihan
HF: Andrew Embley, Josh Kennedy, Scott Selwood
F: Quinten Lynch, Callum Wilson, Mark LeCras
Foll: Nic Naitanui, Chris Masten, Brad Ebert
I/C: Pat McGinnity, Ben McKinley, Tom Swift, David Wirrpanda
Emg: Ryan Davis, Eric Mackenzie, Tyson Stenglein

In: Wilson, McKinley
Out: Ashley Hansen, Mark Seaby

New: Callum Wilson (South Fremantle/rookie list)

ESSENDON
B: Heath Hocking, Tayte Pears, Andrew Welsh
HB: Ricky Dyson, Dustin Fletcher, Adam McPhee
C: Angus Monfries, Henry Slattery, Andrew Lovett
HF: Nathan Lovett-Murray, Micahel Hurley, Kyle Reimers
F: Hayden Skipworth, Jay Neagle, Sam Lonergan
Foll: Patrick Ryder, Brent Prismall, Jobe Watson
I/C: Brent Stanton, Courtenay Dempsey, Scott Lucas, Cale Hooker
Emg: Bachar Houli, Leroy Jetta, Michael Quinn

In: Hocking, Skipworth, Lonergan, Neagle
Out: Matthew Lloyd (heel), Mark McVeigh (leg), Alwyn Davey (knee), Jason Winderlich (back)

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Bradshaw ruled out

July 31st 2009 05:15
BRISBANE has suffered a major blow ahead of Saturday night's crucial clash against Collingwood at the MCG with key forward Daniel Bradshaw ruled out.

Bradshaw was named in the Lions' side on Thursday night but coach Michael Voss said on Friday afternoon that the 30-year-old was not ready to return from a hamstring injury suffered in round 16 against Fremantle.

"Braddy hasn't come up," Voss said.

"We ended up giving him a run around on Wednesday night and he got through the training session alright but we wanted to find out how he pulled up. He won't be in the side."

"Earlier in the week we weren't too sure (if he'd be available) and the physio gave us a little bit of a surprise when he said that he might be a chance on Tuesday."

"We ran that (the possibility) into the ground as much as we possibly could and he just didn't come up."

Brisbane will weigh up the conditions before deciding whether to replace Bradshaw with midfielder Travis Johnstone or defender Jason Roe.
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Round eighteen preview: North Melbourne v Carlton

July 30th 2009 16:29
VENUE and TIME: Etihad Stadium, Friday July 31, 7.40pm (AEST)

HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 145, Carlton 93, North Melbourne 52

LAST TIME: North Melbourne 22.9 (141) def Carlton 14.6 (90), Round 20, 2008 at Etihad Stadium

RECENT HISTORY: North Melbourne has won its past six against Carlton with five of those wins coming at Etihad Stadium.

FORM: Carlton’s three-game winning streak came to an end when they were thumped to the tune of 54 points by Collingwood at the MCG last Friday night. The Blues are currently in seventh spot on the AFL ladder with a 9-8 win-loss record. North Melbourne’s disappointing season continued when it went down to a Jonathan Brown inspired Brisbane side by 41 points at the Gabba last Saturday night. The Kangaroos have lost seven of their past eight games - the other result during that period was a draw with Richmond in round 16.

MEDICAL ROOM: Carlton welcomes back promising young defender Michael Jamison who was a late withdrawal from the clash against the Magpies with a groin injury while utility Andrew Walker will play his first game for the year after being sidelined with a shoulder injury. Setanta O’hAilpin (general soreness) also returns but the Blues will be without Chris Johnson (hamstring) for two to three weeks. Joe Anderson will miss at least another week with a hamstring injury while Jarrad Waite (knee) is out for the season. For the Kangaroos, classy midfielder Daniel Wells (groin) is still a fortnight away while Jesse Smith (hamstring), Robbie Tarrant (shoulder), Jack Ziebell (leg/hip), Luke Delaney (shoulder) and Ben Warren (leg) won’t play again in 2009.

KEY MATCH-UPS: Aaron Joseph vs. Brent Harvey

Harvey was instrumental in the Roos’ convincing 51-point win over Carlton in round 17 last year with a game-high 30 possessions and three goals in a performance that earned him the three Brownlow medal votes.

The North Melbourne skipper is damaging with his ability to break the lines and kick goals.

Carlton will be keen to shut-down his drive as the Roos will struggle to receive enough quality supply without him having an impact in the middle.

Joseph, who has been given some defensive jobs so far this season, has held his own on most occasions and looms as the obvious candidate to tag Harvey.

The Blues youngster is a traditional tagger in the sense that he isn’t overly concerned with winning the football - he has averaged just under 11 disposals in 17 games.

If Harvey is going to have any hope of breaking a tight Joseph tag he will need his teammates to block for him at the stoppages.

Josh Gibson vs. Brendan Fevola

Fevola looms as the main danger man for North given that he has booted 16 goals in his past three matches against the Kangaroos.

Gibson was well beaten by Brown last weekend and will be keen to redeem himself with a good defensive performance against the Blues spearhead.

The North defender will need his midfield to suffocate Carlton’s running game with relentless pressure all over the ground otherwise Fevola feast on plenty of quality supply from the likes of Nick Stevens, Bryce Gibbs, Marc Murphy and Judd.

Don’t be surprised if the Roos use Daniel Pratt as a loose man in defence to try and clog up the space in which Fevola leads into.

It is vital for the Blues that they use the football a lot better going forward than they did in the loss to the Magpies otherwise Fevola will struggle to have an influence on the outcome of the contest.

Brady Rawlings vs. Chris Judd

Judd has been his side’s most consistent midfielder this season, averaging just under 27 possessions per game.

If North is going to have any hope of containing a Carlton forward line that is the third most productive in the AFL they will need to quell the influence of Judd who leads the AFL for total inside 50’s.

Rawlings is North’s best stopper in the middle and will be given the task of tagging the 2004 Brownlow medallist in what shapes as being a pivotal duel in determining the outcome of this match.

Judd has shown this season that he can be hurt going the other way so North will need Rawlings to be proactive otherwise the former West Coast skipper will dictate terms at the stoppages and dominate.

Paul Bower vs. Corey Jones

Jones was his side’s most productive forward in the loss to Brisbane, booting four goals.

North will need a similar performance from him on Friday night if they are going to have any hope of kicking a big enough score to secure just their fifth win of the season.

Bower has the ability to match Jones in the air and at ground level and will most likely be given first crack at the Roos veteran.

The Kangaroos will need to be clean and smart with their delivery of the football inside 50 to give Jones the best chance of having an impact on the scoreboard otherwise they will be punished on the rebound by the likes of Bower who has averaged 20 touches per game so far in 2009.

VERDICT: North will be keen to send former skipper Adam Simpson out on a high and they will fancy their chances of doing just that given their record against Carlton in recent times. However, the Blues simply have too much class through middle for the Kangaroos to contain and should prevail with Fevola likely to kick a bag to help get his side over the line. Blues by 24 points.

NORTH MELBOURNE v CARLTON
NORTH MELBOURNE
B: Josh Gibson, Drew Petrie, Nathan Grima
HB: Scott McMahon, Scott Thompson, Levi Greenwood
C: Sam Power, Adam Simpson, Gavin Urquhart
HF: Matt Campbell, Lachie Hansen, Liam Anthony
F: Lindsay Thomas, Corey Jones, Brent Harvey
Foll: Hamish McIntosh, Brady Rawlings, Michael Firrito
I/C: Andrew Swallow, Todd Goldstein, Daniel Pratt, Leigh Harding
Emg: Daniel Harris, Ben Ross, Josh Smith

In: Grima, Pratt
Out: Ben Ross, David Hale

CARLTON
B: Paul Bower, Michael Jamison, Dennis Armfield
HB: Andrew Walker, Bret Thornton, Bryce Gibbs
C: Nick Stevens, Kade Simpson, Heath Scotland
HF: Ryan Houlihan, Setanta O’hAilpin, Jordan Russell
F: Eddie Betts, Brendan Fevola, Matthew Kreuzer
Foll: Shaun Hampson, Marc Murphy, Chris Judd
I/C: Mark Austin, Andrew Carrazzo, Aaron Joseph, Mitch Robinson
Emg: Cameron Cloke, Shaun Grigg, Richard Hadley

In: Armfield, Jamison, O’hAilpin, Robinson, Stevens, Walker
Out: Chris Johnson (hamstring), Greg Bentley, Brad Fisher, Shaun Grigg, Adam Hartlett, Chris Yarran
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Foley's season over

July 29th 2009 07:15
RICHMOND midfielder Nathan Foley will miss the rest of the season with an ankle injury.

Foley, who suffered the injury in the loss to Adelaide at Carrara in round 14, has been booked in for surgery and is expected to be available for the start of the club's 2010 pre-season.

The Tigers will apply to the AFL to have Foley placed on the club's long term injury list with a view to upgrading a rookie before the end of the season.

Richmond football manager Ross Monaghan said the club believed it was in Foley's best interests to have the surgery now.

"Nathan has been restricted with his ankle since the early stages of the season, which has made it difficult for him to train, prepare for games and recover each week," Monaghan said.

"We would love Nathan to be playing every game he can for the Tigers."

"He is such a professional and determined athlete, but the club has a duty to ensure he plays unrestricted."

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Hunt joins Gold Coast

July 29th 2009 02:27
THE Gold Coast has pulled off a major coup with the signing of Brisbane Broncos full-back Karmichael Hunt.

The AFL's 17th team which will enter the competition in 2011 announced on Wednesday that Hunt had signed a three-year contract.

Hunt made his NRL debut in 2004 as a 17-year-old and has played 11 Tests for Australia and 10 Origin matches for Queensland.

The 22-year-old won't join the Gold Coast until May next year with the club admitting he may still play rugby union for up to six months after his commitments with the Broncos come to an end.

Hunt said he was looking forward to the challenge of playing AFL football.

"If I had to leave Brisbane then I preferred to change codes rather than change teams as I did not want to play against the Brisbane Broncos," Hunt said.

"For me this is about the challenge of playing AFL at the highest level."

"The Gold Coast Football Club has given me a great opportunity to be part of its journey to AFL in 2011."

"I played AFL as a teenager and I am really excited by the challenge to change codes and still play at the elite level and for a Queensland team in a national competition. I can't wait."

Speaking on ABC radio, Broncos chief executive Bruno Cullen admitted the news had caught him off guard.

"I was quite shocked," Cullen said.

"We've had him since he was 15 and he's been playing with the club for the last five seasons."

"He's a 100-game player now. He's played Origin, he played for Australia, so he's been a success story in a very short period of time.".

Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna said he was impressed with what he had seen of Hunt.

"I've followed State of Origin, I know it's not AFL football, but seeing how he moves, seeing how he hits, he's going to bring another dimension to an AFL football team," McKenna said.

"Powerful, strong, quick and probably averages 23 tackles in a game. We're lucky to average 40 in a whole side. He's built for that, built for the physical demands of AFL football."

"Technically we are going to have do some work with him but that's no different to some of the Irish players who have crossed over. We are probably at an advantage given he played competitive AFL football as a teenager, so he's someone with a history in the game."

"We will sit down and map out his next 18 months and work out from a physical point of view and a technical side of things a program but I can't wait to get my hands on him."
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Embley re-signs

July 29th 2009 01:56
WEST COAST utility Andrew Embley looks set to finish his career at the the club after signing a two-year contract extension.

Embley has enjoyed another consistent season and is just one of five players at the Eagles to have played all 17 matches so far this year.

The 28-year-old said he was looking forward to being a part of the club's resurgence.

"I am very keen to be a part of the club's rise back up the premiership table and look forward to helping a lot of the young players on our list enjoy the success we achieved only a couple of years ago," Embley said.

"I very much want to be a part of the future and believe it can turn around very quickly given the talent at the club."

West Coast coach John Worsfold said he was 'thrilled' to have locked away the 2006 Norm Smith medallist.

"Andrew was at the club during some lean years and then was an integral player in our push towards finals, the top four and then grand finals in 2005 and 2006," Worsfold said.

"And he will again be a key player in the club's resurgence."

"It is always good to lock away our top line players and in addition to what he offers the team on-field, he can also provide important guidance for the talented group of young players on our list, both on and off-field. I am thrilled that he has re-committed to the club."
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Proud pleads guilty

July 29th 2009 01:40
BRISBANE midfielder Albert Proud has been sentenced to 100 hours community service and forced to pay $8000 in compensation by a Queensland court after pleading guilty to assault charges arising from an incident at a nightclub on the Gold Coast in February this year.

Proud will also undertake a court imposed three-month Intensive Correctional Order.

Under the terms of the order Proud has to report regularly to police and be continually blood tested

The 20-year-old was originally disciplined by the Lions who hit Proud with a heavy fine, club suspension and a directive to complete a series of alcohol and anger management related counselling courses for glassing one woman and grabbing and causing bruises to another.

A statement released by the club on Tuesday night said: "We also note that Albert has apologised unreservedly to the two female victims involved and deeply regrets the embarrassment caused to the Brisbane Lions Football Club and its members and supporters by his alcohol-related actions."

"The Lions are pleased to see this regrettable case is finally resolved with the full co-operation of the club and the player involved, and believes it is a timely reminder to all young Australians about the serious responsibilities surrounding alcohol consumption."

"The club now wishes the two victims involved a speedy and complete recovery."
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Kelly to miss two weeks

July 29th 2009 01:01
GEELONG midfielder James Kelly will miss a further two weeks with a hamstring injury.

Kelly suffered the injury in the Cats' six-point loss to St Kilda in round 14 and was expected to miss two to three weeks but he has re-injured the hamstring and will not be back until at least round 20 when the Cats face Sydney at ANZ Stadium.

Meanwhile, Geelong coach Mark Thompson said key defenders Matthew Scarlett (adductor) and Harry Taylor (groin) would be out for one to two weeks.

Skipper Tom Harley (knee) will have a fitness test later in the week while classy forward Steve Johnson is a certainty to return from a hip injury which has sidelined him for the past four matches.

In further good news for last year's grand finalists, ruckman Brad Ottens is set to make his comeback from a knee injury sustained in round two in the VFL this week.
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Martin out for season

July 28th 2009 08:33
ADELAIDE youngster Brodie Martin will miss the remainder of the season with a serious knee injury.

Martin, who made his debut against St Kilda in round 16 asfter being upgraded from the rookie list, suffered the injury in the Crows' 70-point win over Port Adelaide in Showdown XXVII last Sunday.

The 20-year-old played out the game but scans on Monday revealed a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

Crows club doctor Andrew Potter said Martin woud require a 12-month rehabilitation.

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Saints duo won't be rushed back

July 28th 2009 07:46
ST KILDA big men Justin Koschitzke and Michael Gardiner are no certainties to play in Saturday night's clash against Sydney at the SCG.

Koschitzke, who missed last weekend's win over the Western Bulldogs due to suspension, is battling a hand injury while Gardiner has missed the last two games with a corked calf.

Saints coach Ross Lyon said Koschitzke won't be risked unnecesarily.

"There was no nerve damage, just split webbing but it has taken a little longer than we would have liked (to heal)."

"He will get the stitches out by end of the week and we will make a decision on him but it's about us wanting to get him 100 percent rather than 99 and eradicating any risk with Justin because he is really important to us."

"What we’re doing is probably being a little more conservative about needling players up (to play)"

Lyon said the club would also be taking a conserative approach with Gardiner who has enjoyed his best season with the Saints after beng traded by West Coast at the end of 2006.

"He ran fully with the group last Thursday and did a one-on-one session today and we are confident he will come up but it will be a no risk policy," he said.

"We will take a conservative route with him because he is important to us but (young understudy Ben) McEvoy has grown (as a player) and (veteran ruckman Steven) King has come back (from suspension) and held his end up well."
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Notting accepts ban

July 28th 2009 03:34
BRISBANE utility Tim Notting will miss Saturday night's crucial clash against Collingwood at the MCG after accepting a one-match ban for striking North Melbourne defender Scott Thompson.

The incident occurred during the first quarter of the Lions' 41-point win over the Kangaroos at the Gabba last Saturday night.

In other tribunal news, Geelong midfielder Joel Corey accepted a reprimand and 70.31 demerit points towards his future record for engaging in rough conduct against Hawthorn youngster Liam Shiels in the Cats' thrilling one-point win at the MCG while Cyril Rioli accepted a $1950 fine for making negligent contact with field umpire Ray Chamberlain in the same match.

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Malthouse, Buckley sign with Magpies

July 28th 2009 02:06
MICK Malthouse will remain as senior coach at Collingwood for two more years before handing the reins to club great Nathan Buckley.

Magpies president Eddie McGuire announced on Tuesday morning at the Lexus Centre
that both Malthouse and Buckley have signed five-year contracts with the club.

Malthouse will stay on as coach until the end of the 2011 season before becoming the director of coaching.

Buckley who is currently doing special comments for Channel Seven will join the Pies at the end of the season and after spending two years under Malthouse as an assistant he will take over the top job until at least the end of 2014.

McGuire said the pair had put the club's interests ahead of their own.

"When we spoke to Mick, Mick's only objective was what was the best thing for the Collingwood Football Club," McGuire said.

"He then plotted a course that allowed us to be able to present a scenario to Nathan Buckley to consider."

"Nathan Buckley then looked at the scenario and accepted it, putting aside his short-term ambitions for the long-term ambition of the Collingwood Football Club."

Buckley was previously linked to the vacant senior coaching positions at North Melbourne and Richmond.

The six-time Copeland Trophy winner admitted he had a lot to learn and said he couldn't ask for a better mentor than Malthouse.

"I've enjoyed a great playing career here, and had a couple of years out and tried to develop myself as best as I could but I've got so much to learn," Buckley said.

"And I can think of no better way to learn about coaching than under a coach who taught me so much about football when I was a player."

Malthouse said he was confident his working relationship with Buckley would flourish.

"I worked with 'Bucks' for eight years and ... the player-coach relationship was as good as any player-coach relationship I've ever had," Malthouse said.

"One of the things that we pride ourselves on here ... is the word 'side-by-side' - I won't have to look over my shoulder and those that know Nathan well enough know that I won't have to do that."

"We go through it together and we go forward together so if anyone's got any problem with that let me assure you that it is not a problem to me."



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Beams earns nomination

July 28th 2009 00:47
COLLINGWOOD youngster Dayne Beams has earned the NAB Rising star nomination for round 17.

Beams booted two goals in the Magpies' 54-point win over Carlton and has averaged 17 possessions in the 11 games he has played this season.

The 19-year-old was recruited from Southport in Queensland with pick 29 in last year's national draft.

Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse said Beams deserves his nomination.

"It's outstanding. Dayne's a terrific young kid who thoroughly deserves it," Malthouse said.

"He's been able to not only get into the side but stay in and stand up in a team that's currently in the eight.

"I think it's a testament to his durability, and the fact he's been able to mix it with senior players so early in his career is fantastic."
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Lloyd may miss four matches

July 27th 2009 09:08
ESSENDON skipper Matthew Lloyd could miss a month of football with a bruised heel.

Lloyd sustained the injury in the Bombers' shock five-point loss to Richmond at the MCG on Sunday.

Essendon football manager Paul Hamilton said Lloyd wouldn't play against West Coast at Subiaco Oval on Sunday and could be sidelined for even longer.

"He is going to miss one game, possibility two and maybe more - it is very much an individual thing when it comes to bruised heels," Hamilton said.
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Notting hit with one-match ban

July 27th 2009 07:45
BRISBANE utility Tim Notting has been hit with a one-match ban by the AFL match review panel for striking North Melbourne's Scott Thompson.

The panel assessed the level-three offence as intentional, of low impact and high contact.

Notting will only miss Saturday night's crucial clash against Collingwood at the MCG if he decides to enter an early guilty plea but if he elects to challenge the charge and loses he will also miss the match against Essendon at the Gabba in round 18.

In other tribunal news, Geelong midfielder Joel Corey was charged with striking Hawthorn youngster Liam Shiels but will be free to play against Adelaide at Skilled Stadium on Saturday if he accepts a reprimand and 70.31 demerit points towards his future record.

The level one striking offence equated to 125 points and a one-match suspension but Corey's five-year good record and an early plea would reduce the penalty by 25 per cent and allow him to play against the Crows.

Hawthorn young gun Cyril Rioli can accept a $1950 fine for making negligent contact with umpire Ray Chamberlain in the third quarter of the Hawks' heartbreaking one-point loss to the Cats at the MCG.
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Bombers nab Hawks' CEO

July 27th 2009 05:23
ESSENDON has announced Hawthorn chief executive Ian Robson will replace outgoing CEO Peter Jackson at Windy Hill.

Bombers chairman Ray Horsburgh said Robson was the best man to replace Jackson who will retire at the end of the season after 13 years in charge.

"At Essendon we are following a similar football and business strategy to that of Hawthorn – including focusing on bringing through a young playing group together – which makes Ian an excellent fit for us and we are pleased to have attracted our new CEO from a successful club," Horsburgh said.

"He has held senior management positions in Australia and overseas, including Auckland and Scotland, culminating in his employment at Hawthorn for the past five years – he has a wealth of corporate and football knowledge and we are confident we have secured the best person for the job."

"Significantly during his time at the Hawks the club had grown considerably - including attracting over 50,000 members this year for the first time - and I believe he will help Essendon build towards further on and off-field success."

Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett wished Robson all the best in his move to Essendon.

"Ian has completed five years at Hawthorn and had indicated at the beginning of the year that he was looking at other employment opportunities so this decision is not unexpected," Kennett said.

"Ian has served the club well over the last five years and we thank him for his contribution to the team that delivered our 10th premiership last year and we wish him well at Essendon."

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Posted By: TonyK - Category: AFL News, Essendon Bombers
   


Simpson calls it quits

July 27th 2009 01:28
NORTH MELBOURNE veteran Adam Simpson will play his last AFL match against Carlton at Etihad Stadium on Friday night after announcing his retirement on Monday.

The former Kangaroos skipper said the time was right for him to move on.

"I just think it's time, it's been a great ride, fantastic experiences and what better way to finish it than on Friday night against Carlton," Simpson said.

"No regrets and I feel like I'm leaving the club in a really good state."There's a really good feel around here and I'm just looking forward to the next phase of my life."

"The body is fine and I still think I'm contributing but the timing, it just looks like it's right. My 300th was in Adelaide and my 250th was in the Gold Coast, so from a selfish point of view, Friday night has a good feel to it and the club agrees so it's all good."

Simpson also said he is keen to get involved in coaching.

"I do have a … passion for the coaching side of things," he said.

"I feel like a kid coming out of the Under-18s in that sense, I'm starting at the bottom as a rookie and I want to try and get drafted and then learn as much as I can and then develop as quick as I can."

"It's exciting and I'm really looking forward to that aspect of life."

North Melbourne president James Brayshaw paid tribute to Simpson and said he belongs alongside the club's other greats.

"You're talking about a person of the utmost integrity, a player of enormous courage and underrated skill, and an incredible leader," Brayshaw said.

"When you talk about the great players that have played for this club, the Cables, the Schimmelbuschs, the Greigs, the Blights, the Glendinnings, into Carey, Harvey, Archer, I think Adam Simpson's name is very comfortably a part of that."

"He's one of the greats to have played for our club. It's been a privilege to have him and we will love to have him be around the place for a lot longer but … if opportunities arise in other environments that you want to have a crack at, you should do it."

The 33-year-old will play his 306th game against the Blues placing him equal-second on the club's all-time list behind Glenn Archer (311) and alongside club legend Wayne Schimmelbusch.

Simpson, who made his debut in 1995 after being taken at pick 14 in the 1993 national draft,
played in the Kangaroos' 1996 and 1999 premierships and won the club's best-and-fairest award in 2002.

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Crows pummel Power

July 26th 2009 10:25
ADELAIDE has kept its top four hopes alive with a 70-point demolition of Port Adelaide in Showdown XXVII at AAMI Stadium on Sunday night.

The Crows broke the game open with a dominant second term before romping to a 19.18 (132) to 9.8 (62) victory.

The result means Adelaide (11-6) are just percentage outside the top four with five rounds remaining in the home-and-away season.

Despite the loss Port are still a chance to feature in September action but they will have to win at least four of their last five matches.

Crows defender Nathan Bock won the Showdown medal for his 27 possessions and one goal while Brent Reilly (32) and Bernie Vince (30) were influential in the middle.

Andrew McLeod generated plenty of run from defence with 30 disposals and two goals while Brett Burton booted four majors and took a spectacular mark in the first quarter.

For Port, Kane Cornes (28) and skipper Domenic Cassisi (25) tried hard all night while Robert Gray was his side’s only multiple goal kicker with three goals - all of which came in the first term.

Port came out firing early in the opening stanza, kicking the first two goals of the match through Gray and Danyle Pearce after just four minutes of play.

However, the Crows steadied and trailed by just seven points at quarter-time after Burton kicked two goals.

Adelaide could have been in front at the first change but they let themselves down with their poor kicking in front of goal - they booted a wayward 2.5 for the term.

The Crows dominated at the stoppages in the second term and were allowed to move the football quickly through the middle of the ground as they slammed on seven unanswered goals to open up a commanding 33-point lead at half-time.

Port lifted their intensity after the main break and ended a goal scoring drought when Kane Cornes kicked truly at the nine-minute mark of the third term.

But their joy was short-lived with back-to-back goals from Burton and Chris Knights blowing the margin out to 41 points.

The Power responded with three goals from Jason Davenport, Justin Westhoff and Cassisi in a ten-minute burst to close to get back into the contest before McLeod converted his set shot to give his side a 34-point advantage at three-quarter time.

The contest was snuffed out when Vince kicked the first goal of the final stanza before the Crows slammed on a further six goals to boost their percentage.

ADELAIDE: 2.5, 9.7, 12.15, 19.18 (132)
PORT ADELAIDE: 4.0,4.4, 8.5,9.8 (62)
GOALS: ADELAIDE: Burton 4, Knights 3, Goodwin 2, Doughty 2, McLeod 2, Tippett 2, Dangerfield, Vince, Bock,
Porplyzia
PORT: Gray 3, Pearce, K.Cornes, Davenport, Westhoff, Cassisi, Boak
BEST: ADELAIDE: Bock, Reilly, Vince, McLeod, Burton, Knights, Johncock, Doughty
PORT: Cassisi, K.Cornes, Gray, Rodan
INJURIES: ADELAIDE: Otten (corked thigh)
PORT: TBC
REPORTS: TBC
CHANGES: Dean Brogan replaced in the selected side by Matthew Broadbent.
UMPIRES: Vosso, Ryan, Avon
CROWD: 46,859 at the AAMI STADIUM
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Posted By: TonyK - Category: AFL News, Adelaide Crows
   


Tigers dent Bombers' finals hopes

July 26th 2009 07:59
RICHMOND has dealt a blow to Essendon's finals hopes with a thrilling five-point win at the MCG on Sunday afternoon.

The Tigers led by as much as 23 points in the final term but they had to withstand a late surge from the Bombers before eventually recording a 15.11 (101) to 12.14 (96) victory.

The loss was made worse for the Dons with skipper Matthew Lloyd suffering a bruised heel that is likely to sideline for at least one week.

The result means Essendon will drop out of the top eight if Port Adelaide defeats Adelaide in the Showdown on Sunday evening.

Jack Riewoldt starred for the Tigers with a career-best six goals while Ben Cousins was instrumental in the win with a team-high 31 possessions.

Brett Deledio (26) and classy youngster Trent Cotchin (23) were also influential while Luke McGuane kept Lloyd goalless.

For the Bombers, former Cat Brent Prismall continued his good run of form at his new club with a game-high 34 disposals while Andrew Welsh, Brent Stanton and Henry Slattery were prolific with 25 touches apiece.

Essendon got off to a dream start with Scott Lucas goaling in the opening minute but with Cousins exerting his influence in the middle - he had 12 possessions for the quarter - the Tigers were able to hit back with three of the next four goals to go into the first change with a three-point advantage.

Jason Winderlich gave the Bombers back the lead two minutes into the second term before Richmond took control.

They slammed on five straight goals to skip out to a commanding 29-point break at the 23-minute mark.

Richard Tambling highlighted Richmond’s willingness to take the game on with a piece of individual brilliance - he carried the ball from half-back to half-forward before chipping to Riewoldt who converted his third goal.

The Tigers good work was undone late in the quarter with the Bombers hitting back with two majors to close to within 16 points at half-time.

Essendon got their running game going in the second half and piled on five of the first six goals of the third term to open up a six-point lead at the 21-minute mark.

The Bombers looked set to run away with the contest but the Tigers steadied with the last three majors, including two from Riewoldt as they went into the final change with a 12-point buffer.

Richmond appeared to have secured the four premiership when the margin blew out to 23 points at the 21-minute mark of the final stanza.

But the Dons refused to give in and were within a kick with just over a minute left on the clock after Kyle Reimers converted.

The Bombers had one last chance to pull off a stunning come-from-behind win but Shane Edwards took a game-saving mark deep in defence to ensure the Tigers held on for just their fourth win of the season.

ESSENDON 2.5, 5.6, 10.9, 14.12 (96)
RICHMOND3.2, 8.4, 12.9, 15.11 (101)
GOALS: Essendon Lucas 2, Lovett 2, Ryder 2, Riemers 2, McVeigh, Stanton, Winderlich, McPhee, Dyson, Dempsey.
Richmond:Riewoldt 6, Morton 2, Post 2, King, White, Brown, Deledio, Jackson.
BEST: Essendon: Prismall, Slattery, Welsh, Stanton, Ryder, Fletcher
Richmond: Cousins, Riewoldt, Cotchin, Deledio, McGuane, Post, Nahas.
INJURIES: Essendon: Lloyd (bruised heel), McVeigh (corked thigh).
Richmond: Silvester (knee).
REPORTS: Nil.
CHANGES: Nil.
UMPIRES: Donlon, McBurney, Hendrie.
CROWD: 47,412 at the MCG.
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Posted By: TonyK - Category: AFL News, Richmond Tigers
   


Swans down Demons

July 26th 2009 06:31
SYDNEY has snapped a two-game losing streak with a scrappy 18-point win over Melbourne at Manuka Oval in Canberra on Sunday afternoon.

The Swans led at every change and eventually prevailed 10.8 (68) to 6.14 (50) in a contest that failed to reach any great heights.

The Demons had their chances to record just their fourth win of the season and their first interstate victory since 2006 but they continually let themselves down with their poor use of the football and bad kicking for goal.

Sydney (7-10) is still a mathematical chance to make the finals but they will need to improve considerably if they are going to have any hope of beating ladder leaders St Kilda and Geelong in the next fortnight.

Jarrad McVeigh was influential in the middle with a game-high 31 possessions and two goals while ruckman Darren Jolly was dominant with 26 hit outs and three majors.

Rhyce Shaw generated plenty of run with 29 touches while Heath Grundy was busy in defence with 25 disposals.

For the Demons, Aaron Davey tried hard all day and finished with a team-high 22 disposals and one goal while Brad Miller provided a strong target up forward with 19 possessions and 10 marks but let himself down in front of goal - he finished the match with 1.3.

Cale Morton did a superb blanketing job on Sydney star Adam Goodes, restricting the dual Brownlow medallist to just 17 touches while Brent Moloney won plenty of the football.

Despite dominating the clearances and entering inside their forward line nine more times than Melbourne the Swans went into the first change with just a 14-point lead after booting only three goals to one in a lacklustre opening stanza.

The Demons lifted their rating in the second term but they failed to make any inroads on the scoreboard with Miller and Newton missing gettable set shots on goal early in the quarter.

Their use of the football going forward left a lot to be desired and their only major for the quarter came through Liam Jurrah as the Swans went into the main break with a handy 24-point buffer after Jolly kicked his second late in the first half.

Melbourne had the better of general play in the third term and won the inside 50 count 17-6 but once again they didn’t make the most of their chances.

They booted a wasteful 2.5 for the quarter to reduce the deficit to just 13 points at three-quarter time.

Jolly’s third and a clever goal from McVeigh from a stoppage allowed the Swans to skip out to what appeared to be a match-winning break.

But the Demons refused to give in and hit back with majors from Michael Newton and Matthew Whelan to close to within 11 points.

It would be as close as they would get with Jude Bolton taking a courageous mark and kicking truly to seal the win for the Swans.

MELBOURNE: 1.2, 2.6, 4.11, 6.14 (50)
SYDNEY SWANS: 3.4, 6.6, 7.6, 10.8 (68
GOALS: Melbourne: Moloney, Jurrah, Miller, Davey, Newton, Whelan
Sydney: Jolly 3, McVeigh 2, Moore, O'Keefe, Mattner, White, J Bolton
BEST: Melbourne: Davey, Miller, Moloney, Morton, Cheney, Rivers, Bruce
Sydney: McVeigh, Jolly, Bird, J Bolton, O'Keefe, Grundy, Shaw
INJURIES: Melbourne: Jurrah (shin)
Sydney: Mattner (thigh)
UMPIRES: Stevic, M Nicholls, Mollison
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Sydney Buchanan (injured in warm-up) replaced in selected side by Bird
CROWD: 8,000 at Manuka Oval


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Round seventeen preview: Adelaide v Port Adelaide

July 25th 2009 16:06
VENUE and TIME: AAMI Stadium, Sunday 26 July, 4.40pm (AEST)

HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 26, Port Adelaide 14, Adelaide 12

LAST TIME: Port Adelaide 15.15 (105) def Adelaide 12.7 (79), Round 6, 2009 at AAMI Stadium

RECENT HISTORY: The honours have been shared in the past four clashes between these two sides.

FORM: Adelaide’s seven-game winning streak came to an end when they were thumped to the tune of 57 points by ladder leaders St Kilda at Etihad Stadium last Sunday. The Crows are currently in sixth spot on the AFL ladder with a 10-6 win-loss record. Port Adelaide kept its finals hopes alive with a 36-point win over West Coast at AAMI Stadium. The Power have eight wins to their name and are only percentage outside the top eight.

MEDICAL ROOM: Adelaide will be without David MacKay (hamstring) while veteran midfielder Tyson Edwards will miss his second straight match with a hamstring injury. Brad Moran (knee), Nick Gill (leg) and youngster Shaun McKernan (fractured foremarm) are also unavailable. For Port, star midfielder Shaun Burgoyne and Hamish Hartlett return from knee and hamstring injuries respectively while Daniel Motlop (foot) is still out.

KEY MATCH-UPS: Kane Cornes vs. Scott Thompson

Thompson has been one of his side’s most consistent players so far this season, averaging 27 possessions per game.

The former Demon is effective in close and provides Adelaide with plenty of drive - he leads the Crows for clearances and is second for inside 50’s.

Port will be keen to limit his impact on the contest as it will help them starve the likes of Kurt Tippett and Jason Porplyzia of quality supply.

Cornes is Port’s best stopper in the midfield and will be given the task of running with Thompson in what will be a pivotal duel in determining the outcome of this match.

Not only will Cornes apply relentless pressure at the stoppages he will also try and test out the defensive side of his opponents game - the Power veteran racked up a game-high 37 disposals the last time these two sides met in round six.

Ben Rutten vs. Warren Tredrea

Tredrea has been well below his best in recent weeks, managing just three goals in his past two matches.

Port will need a lift from Tredrea if they are going to have any hope of kicking a big enough score to secure a much-needed win.

However, Tredrea's task won't be an easy one with one of the best one-on-one defenders Rutten to be his direct opponent.

If the former Power skipper is going to have any hope of having an influence on the outcome of the contest he will need his midfield to be precise with their use of the football going forward rather than just bomb it into the forward line otherwise they will be punished on the rebound by the likes of Graham Johncock and Andrew McLeod.

Jacob Surjan vs. Jason Porplyzia

Porplyzia has been his side’s most productive forward this season, booting 36 goals in 16 games..

When Porplyzia fires the Crows invariably go on to win so shutting him down will be a key for the Power.

Surjan did a superb job on Eagles goal sneak Mark LeCras last weekend and will be given first crack at Porplyzia in what will be a crucial match-up.

Port will need Surjan to be switched on defensively for the full four quarters and not give Porplyzia in time or space in which to work in as he can turn a game on its head with a quick two to three goal burst.

Robert Shirley vs. Danyle Pearce

Pearce has struggled to have his usual impact in the past fortnight, collecting just 18 and 16 possessions against Melbourne and West Coast.

The 23-year-old will be keen to bounce back and will need to be watched closely as he can hurt side’s with his ability to break the lines and set up scoring opportunities for his teammates.

Shirley has clearly been brought back into the side to perform a negating role and will most likely be given the job of tagging Pearce.

The 2006 NAB Rising star winner has shown in recent times that he struggles to break a tight tag so expect Shirley to apply plenty of body pressure and deny him any space.

It is vital for the Power that Pearce imposes himself on the contest early and tries to expose Shirley’s lack of pace.

VERDICT: Both sides have plenty to play for with Adelaide keen to bounce back and keep in the hunt for a top-four finish while Port needs to keep on winning if they are going to have any hope of securing a finals berth. The Power appear to have an edge in the ruck - Brendon Lade and Dean Brogan won the hit-outs 44-27 when these two sides met earlier in the year - but the Crows have more consistent performers on every line and should get up in what promises to be yet another classic contest between these two bitter rivals. Crows by 15 points.

ADELAIDE v PORT ADELAIDE
ADELAIDE
B: Graham Johncock, Ben Rutten, Andy Otten
HB: Brad Symes, Nathan Bock, Brent Reilly
C: Nathan van Berlo, Scott Thompson, Patrick Dangerfield
HF: Bernie Vince, Scott Stevens, Andrew McLeod
F: Jason Porplyzia, Kurt Tippett, Chris Knights
Foll: Ivan Maric, Simon Goodwin, Michael Doughty
I/C: Robert Shirley, James Sellar, Brodie Martin, Brett Burton
Emg: Taylor Walker, Phil Davis, Richard Douglas

In: van Berlo, Shirley
Out: David Mackay (hamstring), Richard Douglas

PORT ADELAIDE
B: Alipate Carlile, Toby Thurstans, Jacob Surjan
HB: Nathan Krakouer, Chad Cornes, Paul Stewart
C: Steven Salopek, Domenic Cassisi, Travis Boak
HF: Robert Gray, Warren Tredrea, David Rodan
F: Brett Ebert, Brendon Lade, Justin Westhoff
Foll: Dean Brogan, Kane Cornes, Danyle Pearce
I/C: Shaun Burgoyne, Troy Chaplin, Jason Davenport, Nick Lower
Emg: Matthew Broadbent, Hamish Hartlett, Nick Salter

In: S Burgoyne, Chaplin
Out: Matthew Broadbent, Nick Salter
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Round seventeen preview: Essendon v Richmond

July 25th 2009 15:47
VENUE and TIME: MCG, Sunday July 26, 2.10pm (AEST)

HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 185, Essendon 99, Richmond 82, Drawn 4

LAST TIME: Essendon 19.11 (125) def Richmond 12.13 (85), Round 9, 2009 at the MCG

RECENT HISTORY: Richmond has won three of its past four matches against Essendon.

FORM: Essendon went down to the Western Bulldogs by 33 points last weekend but they have been in solid form, winning three of their past five matches. The Bombers are currently in eighth spot on the AFL ladder with an 8-8 win-loss record. Richmond led North by 43 points in the third quarter but eventually had to share the points with the Kangaroos as the two sides played out the first draw of the season. The Tigers have had one win, three losses and a draw under caretaker coach Jade Rawlings and find themselves in 14th place with just three wins for the season.

MEDICAL ROOM: Essendon welcomes back Angus Monfries from a hamstring injury but they are still without Scott Gumbleton (back) and Tyson Slattery (quad). David Hille and Jason Laycock are o0ut for the season with knee and foot injuries respectively. For the Tigers, Ben Cousins and Trent Cotchin return after being late withdrawals from the game against the Kangaroos due to illness. Troy Simmonds (groin), Nathan Foley (hamstring) and Kelvin Moore (calf) are unavailable while veteran Matthew Richardson (hamstring) is at least two weeks away from resuming.

KEY MATCH-UPS: Daniel Jackson vs. Jobe Watson

The last time these two sides met in round nine Watson was among his side’s best with 24 possessions and two goals.

The 24-year-old is damaging with his ability to win the football in close and use it cleanly by hand to find his runners in space.

If Richmond is going to have any hope of shutting down the Bombers’ running game they will need to limit Watson’s influence at the stoppages.

Jackson has been a shining light for the Tigers this season, quelling the influence of some of the competition’s premier midfielders and also winning plenty of the football - he has averaged 24 disposals per game so far in 2009.

Expect Jackson to be given the task of tagging Watson in what shapes as being a pivotal duel.

The Tigers will need Jackson to be proactive at the stoppages and win the football otherwise Watson will dictate terms and continually win the football and dish it off to the likes of Jason Winderlich and Andrew Lovett.

Tayte Pears vs. Jack Riewoldt

Riewoldt has been in pretty good form of late, booting nine goals in his past three matches.

If the Tigers are going to have any chance of kicking a winning score they will need Riewoldt to fire once again.

Pears has been impressive down back for the Bombers this season and looms as the obvious candidate to line-up on Riewoldt in what shapes as being an intriguing duel between two promising young key position prospects.

When these two sides met earlier in the year Richmond had 46 more disposals than the Bombers but finished the match with three fewer entries inside 50 - they will need to be long and direct with their use of the football on to give Riewoldt any chance of having an impact.

Will Thursfield vs. Matthew Lloyd

Lloyd looms as a danger man for Richmond given that he has booted 14 goals in his past four matches against the Tigers.

With Moore still out of the side you would expect Thursfield to be given first crack at the Essendon skipper.

If Thursfield is going to have any hope of winning his battle with Lloyd he will need support from his midfield.

Richmond is ranked 13th in the AFL for tackles per game with an average of 56.7 - they will need to lift their intensity otherwise the Bombers midfielders will continually break the lines and deliver the football lace out to Lloyd.

Heath Hocking vs. Brett Deledio

Deledio was among his side’s best in the loss to the Bombers earlier in the year with 21 touches, one goal and seven inside 50’s.

Last year’s best-and-fairest winner is an integral part of the Richmond midfield with his ability to break the lines, pump the football inside 50 and kick goals.

Essendon will be keen to shut-down his run and carry as it will help starve the Tigers forwards of quality supply.

Hocking was far from disgraced in his battle with Bulldogs star Adam Cooney last weekend and will most likely be given the job of running with Deledio.

The Bombers will need Hocking to apply relentless pressure all day and not give Deledio any time or space in which to work in otherwise he will hurt them with his pace and penetrating kick.

VERDICT: Richmond may have a good recent record against Essendon but they are one of the least-skilled sides in the competition and have failed to play four quarters of consistent football this season. This is a must-win match for the Bombers if they are serious about playing finals in 2009. We expect them to continually punish the Tigers on the rebound and cruise to a convincing win. Bombers by 47 points.

ESSENDON v RICHMOND
ESSENDON
B: Henry Slattery, Tayte Pears, Michael Hurley
HB: Courtenay Dempsey, Dustin Fletcher, Adam McPhee
C: Brent Prismall, Mark McVeigh, Andrew Lovett
HF: Nathan Lovett-Murray, Angus Monfries, Kyle Reimers
F: Jason Winderlich, Matthew Lloyd, Alwyn Davey
Foll: Patrick Ryder, Andrew Welsh, Jobe Watson
I/C: Brent Stanton, Ricky Dyson, Scott Lucas, Cale Hooker
Emg: Hayden Skipworth, Sam Lonergan, Heath Hocking

In: Lovett-Murray, Monfries
Out: Sam Lonergan, Heath Hocking

RICHMOND
B: Jake King, Will Thursfield, Chris Newman
HB: Dean Polo , Luke McGuane, Matthew White
C: Shane Edwards, Trent Cotchin, Brett Deledio
HF: Robin Nahas, Jack Riewoldt, Jayden Post
F: Nathan Brown, Mitch Morton, Ben Cousins
Foll: Tyrone Vickery, Daniel Jackson, Richard Tambling
I/C: Adam Pattison, Tom Hislop, Jordan McMahon, Jarrod Silvester
Emg: Adam Thomson, Mark Coughlan, Alex Rance

In: Cousins, Cotchin, Pattison, Brown
Out: Shane Tuck, Angus Graham, Mark Coughlan, Alex Rance


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Round seventeen preview: Melbourne v Sydney

July 25th 2009 15:41
VENUE and TIME: Manuka Oval, Sunday 26 July, 1.10pm

HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 197: Melbourne 91, Sydney 105, Drawn 1

LAST TIME: Sydney 17.12 (114) d Melbourne 11.8 (74) at Manuka Oval, Round 13, 2008

RECENT HISTORY: Sydney has won its past four against Melbourne with two of those wins coming at Manuka Oval.

FORM: Melbourne’s two-game winning streak came to an end when they down to Geelong by 46 points at Skilled Stadium last weekend. The Demons have won just three games for the season. Sydney has won just one of their past seven matches and look set to the miss the finals for the first time since 2002 and for the first time since Paul Roos became full-time coach in 2003.

MEDICAL ROOM: Sydney defender Ted Richards has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after suffering broken ribs and a punctured lung in the loss to Carlton last weekend. Ruckman Myke Pyke returns after being a late withdrawal from the game against the Blues but Brett Meredith (broken arm), Henry Playfair (hamstring) and Nick Malceski (thigh) remain on the sidelines. For the Demons, promising youngster Jack Grimes (back), Brock McLean (knee), Mark Jamar (quad), James Frawley (back) and Neville Jetta (flu) will miss. Austin Wonaeamirri (knee), Paul Wheatley (quad) and Colin Garland (foot) are unavailable while John Meesen (foot), Addam Maric (shoulder), James Strauss (shoulder), Sam Blease (leg), Daniel Bell (shoulder) and Brad Green (scaphoid) are out for the season.

KEY MATCH-UPS: Brett Kirk vs. Nathan Jones

Jones has been one of his side’s best midfielders so far this season, averaging 22 disposals per game.

The impressive 21-year-old does his best work in close - he is third at Melbourne for clearances.

The Demons will need Jones to have an impact in the middle otherwise they will struggle to win enough of the football to have any hope of kicking a winning score.

However, he faces a tough afternoon at the office with the in-form Kirk who has averaged just under 24 possessions per game in 2009 likely to go head-to-head with him in the middle.

Like Jones, Kirk is highly effective at close quarters - he leads Sydney for contested possessions and clearances.

Not only will Kirk make Jones accountable by winning his fair share of the football but he will also make him earn every possession - the Swans veteran is ranked first in the AFL for tackles per game with an average of 7.4.

Jared Rivers vs. Jesse White

White was impressive against Carlton with four goals and looms as the club’s future number one forward.

Rivers was among his side’s best in the loss to the Cats last weekend - he kept Cameron Mooney to just one goal and will be given first crack at White.

While White finished the match with four majors he struggled to have much of an impact after half-time as he was let down by his side's delivery of the football into the forward line.

Sydney will need to deliver the football a lot better inside 50 than they did against the Blues otherwise they will struggle to kick enough goals to snap a two-game losing streak.

Clint Bartram vs. Adam Goodes

Goodes has been Sydney‘s most damaging player this year, averaging just under 22 disposals and booting 24 goals.

The dual Brownlow medallist is an integral part of Sydney’s midfield with his ability to consistently break the lines and kick goals.

Melbourne will need to shut-down Goodes’ run and carry if they are going to have any hope of recording their fourth win of the season.

The last time these two sides met in round 13 last year Bartram did a superb blanketing job on Goodes, restricting the Swans star to just 13 touches.

Expect Bartram to be given the job on Goodes once again on Sunday in what will be a crucial match-up in determining the outcome of this match.

Bartram will need to be switched on defensively for the full four quarters and not give Goodes any time or space in which to work in as he can turn a game on its head with a quick burst of brilliance.

Nick Smith vs. Liam Jurrah

Jurrah has given Melbourne fans plenty to be excited about since making his AFL debut in round 12 - the lively 20-year-old has booted 10 goals in five games and taken several spectacular marks.

If the Demons are able to win enough of the football in the middle Jurrah could cause a few headaches for the Swans.

Smith kept the dangerous Eddie Betts to just one goal last weekend and will most likely be given first crack at the exciting young Demon.

Melbourne was smashed in the middle by Geelong last weekend and continually let themselves down with their poor use of the football.

They will need to lift their work rate at the stoppages and be cleaner with their use of the football going forward if Jurrah is going to have any hope of having an impact otherwise they will be punished on the rebound by the Swans.

VERDICT: Melbourne has shown some promising signs in recent weeks and will fancy their chances of securing the four premiership points against a Sydney side on the wane but with Jamar out of the side you would expect Swans big man Darren Jolly to win the bulk of the hit outs. Expect the likes of Jude Bolton, Goodes and Kirk to continually win the football at the stoppages and provide their forwards with enough of the football to kick a winning score in what shapes as being a low-scoring affair. Swans by 22 points.

MELBOURNE v SYDNEY SWANS
MELBOURNE
B: Lynden Dunn, Matthew Warnock, Matthew Whelan
HB: Brent Moloney, Jared Rivers, Cameron Bruce
C: Clint Bartram, James McDonald, Aaron Davey
HF: Jamie Bennell, Michael Newton, Cale Morton
F: Brad Miller, Matthew Bate, Liam Jurrah
Foll: Stefan Martin, Ricky Petterd, Nathan Jones
I/C: Paul Johnson, Kyle Cheney, Jordie McKenzie, Shane Valenti
Emg: Rohan Bail, Jake Spencer, Simon Buckley

In: Cheney, P. Johnson, Miller, Newton, Valenti, Whelan, McKenzie
Out: Brock McLean (knee), Mark Jamar (quad), Brad Green (scaphoid), Jack Grimes (back), James Frawley (back), Neville Jetta (flu), Russell Robertson

New: Jordie McKenzie (GeelonMg Falcons)

SYDNEY SWANS
B: Ed Barlow, Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Craig Bolton
HB: Rhyce Shaw, Heath Grundy, Martin Mattner
C: Nick Smith, Brett Kirk, Jarrad McVeigh
HF: Ryan O’Keefe, Adam Goodes, Luke Ablett
F: Jesse White, Michael O’Loughlin, Daniel Hannebery
Foll: Darren Jolly, Kieran Jack, Jude Bolton
I/C: Kristin Thornton, Mike Pyke, Amon Buchanan, Jarred Moore
Emg: Patrick Veszpremi, Craig Bird, Paul Bevan

In: Buchanan, Moore, Pyke, Thornton
Out: Ted Richards (ribs), Paul Bevan, Craig Bird, Patrick Veszpremi
19
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Posted By: TonyK - Category: AFL News
   


Brown inspired Lions crush Roos

July 25th 2009 13:36
BRISBANE skipper Jonathan Brown has inspired his side to a convincing 41-point win over North Melbourne at the Gabba on Saturday night.

Brown booted a season-best eight goals to help lift the Lions to a comfortable 17.14 (116) to 11.9 (75) win.

The victory means the Lions (11-6) are just percentage outside the top four with five rounds remaining in the home-and-away season.

Brown booted his 400th career goal at the start of the fourth quarter and brought his season's tally to 63, leapfrogging Carlton spearhead Brendan Fevola (61 goals) in the race for the Coleman Medal.

Simon Black did the damage in the middle with a team-high 30 possessions while Luke Power was also prolific with 26 touches.

Mitch Clark was influential in the ruck with 31 hit outs and 22 disposals while Josh Drummond (25) provided plenty of drive from defence.

For the Kangaroos, former skipper Adam Simpson (34 possessions) tried hard all night while Corey Jones booted four goals.

North started brightly and opened up a 12-point lead at the 17-minute mark of the opening stanza before the Lions finally clicked into gear and hit back with the last four goals of the term to open up a two-goal lead at the first change.

Brisbane youngster Jack Redden stepped up in a scrappy second term - booting two impressive goals on the run to ensure his side went into the main break with a 16-point buffer.

Brown did as he pleased in the third term, booting four goals for the quarter to give the Lions a match-winning 39-point lead heading into the final change.

Brisbane will now face Collingwood at the MCG next Saturday night in what is a must-win match for both clubs if they are serious about securing a top-four berth and the all-important double chance while the Kangaroos will be seeking their first win under caretaker coach Darren Crocker when they clash with Carlton at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.

BRISBANE: 5.2, 7.8, 14.9, 17.14 (116)
NORTH MELBOURNE: 3.2, 5.4, 8.6, 11.9 (75)
GOALS: Brisbane: Brown 8, Redden 2, Polkinghorne 2, Black, Notting, Sherman, Brennan, SheldonNorth Melbourne: Jones 4, Thomas 2, Firrito, Hansen, Harvey, Goldstein, CampbellBEST: Brisbane: Brown, Black, Power, Sherman, Clark, Drummond, Redden, Merrett, McGrath
North Melbourne: Simpson, Anthony, Jones, Power, Thompson
INJURIES: Brisbane:
North Melbourne:
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Nil
UMPIRES: Kennedy, Kamolins, Findlay
CROWD: 25,509 at the Gabba

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Posted By: TonyK - Category: AFL News, Brisbane Lions
   


Saints smash Dogs

July 25th 2009 13:10
ST KILDA has maintained its unbeaten start to the season with a 45-point demolition of the third-placed Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.

The Saints’ 16.10 (106) to 9.7 (61) triumph comes just a week after they thumped another top four contender in Adelaide by 57 points.

It was the second time this season the ladder leaders have been too good for the Bulldogs and means Rodney Eade's men are now 0-4 against top four teams.

The loss was made worse for the Dogs with classy youngster Shaun Higgins suffering what appeared to be a serious hamstring injury while forward Robert Murphy also spent a large portion of the game on the bench with a hamstring complaint.

Stephen Milne and skipper Nick Riewoldt starred up forward with five goals apiece while Nick Dal Santo continued his brilliant season with a game-high 38 possessions.

Brendon Goddard (37), Lenny Hayes (31) help set up the win in the first half while Jason Gram generated plenty of run with 29 touches.

For the Bulldogs, Matthew Boyd worked hard all night and finished with a game-high 39 disposals while Ryan Hargrave was busy in defence with 31 touches.

The Dogs more than matched the ladder leaders early - they applied plenty of forward pressure and led by seven points close to quarter-time before two late majors saw the Saints open up a 13-point break at the first change.

Two goals in four minutes from Milne help set up a five-goal-to-two second quarter as the margin blew out to 31 points at half-time.

The Western Bulldogs who are regarded as one of the most skilled sides in the competition continually themselves down with their poor use of the football as they succumbed to St Kilda's relentless pressure - the Saints first 10 goals came as a direct result of Bulldogs mistakes.

The Dogs lifted their rating in the third term and closed to within 18 points at three-quarter time.

But their good work was undone early in the final stanza when Riewoldt was gifted a free kick and a 50m penalty after the Bulldogs started the quarter with an extra man on the field.

Riewoldt made the Dogs pay the ultimate price before the Saints added a further five goals to cap off yet another impressive win.

ST KILDA: 4.3, 9.5, 10.7, 16.10 (106)
WESTERN BULLDOGS: 2.2, 4.4, 7.7, 9.7 (61)

GOALS: St Kilda: Milne 5, Riewoldt 5, Gwilt 2, Gram, Dempster, Eddy, Schneider
Western Bulldogs: Ward 2, Hahn 2, Boyd, Addison, Murphy, Griffen, Eagleton
BEST: St Kilda: Goddard, Hayes, Riewoldt, Milne, Dal Santo, Gram, Gilbert
Western Bulldogs: Boyd, Hargrave, Cross, Griffen, Cooney
INJURIES: St Kilda: Nil
Western Bulldogs: Higgins (hamstring), Murphy (hamstring)
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Lindsay Gilbee (personal reasons) replaced in the Western Bulldogs' selected side by Dylan Addison
UMPIRES: Rosebury, Grun, Meredith
CROWD: TBC at Etihad Stadium
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Posted By: TonyK - Category: AFL News, St Kilda Saints
   


Dockers hold off Eagles

July 25th 2009 10:09
FREMANTLE has snapped a nine-game losing streak and maintained its recent dominance over West Coast with a hard-fought five-point win in the western derby at Subiaco Oval on Saturday afternoon.

The Dockers’ 10.11 (71) to 8.18 (66) victory was their fifth straight win over the Eagles.

The result sees Fremantle move off the bottom of the AFL ladder while West Coast has now lost its past four matches.

The win was soured somewhat for Fremantle with promising youngster Tim Ruffles suffering a knee injury late in the final term.

Aaron Sandilands was dominant in the ruck and won his first Ross Glenndinning Medal for his 31 hit outs and 30 possessions while skipper Matthew Pavlich made an impressive return from injury with a game-high 36 disposals and nine inside 50’s.

Paul Hasleby (33) was also influential while Jay van Berlo and Ruffles booted two goals apiece.

For the Eagles, Adam Selwood tried hard all day and racked up a team-high 28 disposals while Andrew Embley, Chris Masten and Tim Houlihan were busy contributors with 26 possessions each.

West Coast dominated general play early in the opening stanza but they failed to apply any scoreboard pressure.

They were made to pay with late goal from Antoni Grover and Sandilands giving the Dockers a 12-point lead at quarter-time.

The Eagles kicked the first two goals of the second term through Mark LeCras and Josh Kennedy to level the scores but the Dockers responded with majors from Hayden Ballantyne and van Berlo to skip out to an 11-point break.

But Fremantle’s work was quickly undone by veteran Dean Solomon who gave away an undisciplined free-kick while the Eagles were celebrating a goal to Adam Selwood.

Matt Rosa converted to give his side the lead before Nic Suban made David Wirrpanda pay for a poor kick-out by kicking truly to put the Dockers five points in front at the main break.

Both sides continually butchered the football in a third term that didn’t reach any great heights. The Eagles booted 1.5 to Fremantle’s 1.1 to reduce the deficit to just one-point at three-quarter time.

West Coast skipped out to a seven-point lead at the seven-minute mark of the final stanza when LeCras kicked his second.

The Eagles looked set to run away with the contest but Fremantle hit back with a 65m bomb from Clancee Pearce before van Berlo's second and a brilliant checkside goal from Ruffles gave the Dockers a handy buffer.

Ashley Hansen gave the Eagles a glimmer of hope, converting from close range to get his side to within five points with just over a minute left on the clock.

But just as West Coast started to stream forward, Greg Broughton produced a superb smother on Shannon Hurn before Ballantyne's tackle on Tom Swift sealed Fremantle’s fourth win of the season.

FREMANTLE: 3.4, 6.8, 7.9, 10.11 (71)
WEST COAST: 1.4, 5.9, 6.14, 8.18 (66)
GOALS: Fremantle: van Berlo 2, Ruffles 2, Mundy, Grover, Sandilands, Ballantyne, Suban, Pearce
West Coast: Le Cras 2, Ebert, Kennedy, A. Selwood, Rosa, Priddis, Hansen
BEST: Fremantle: Sandilands, Pavlich, Hasleby, Broughton, Suban, van Berlo
West Coast: A.Selwood, Embley, Masten, Houlihan, Glass, Lynch
INJURIES: Fremantle: Ruffles (knee)
West Coast: TBC
REPORTS: TBC
CHANGES: Fremantle Luke McPharlin (leg) replaced in selected side by Scott Thornton
UMPIRES: James, Margetts, Keating
CROWD: 39,536 at Subiaco Oval
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Posted By: TonyK - Category: AFL News, Fremantle Dockers
   


Cats win thriller

July 25th 2009 08:10
GEELONG has dealt a massive blow to Hawthorn’s finals hopes with a thrilling one-point win at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.

The Cats trailed by as much as 28 points in the final term but lifted themselves off the canvas and levelled the scores before James Bartel kicked a point after the siren to seal a memorable 15. 9 (99) to 14.14 (98) victory in a contest that was worthy of a Grand Final.

The win was even more impressive considering Geelong lost defenders Matthew Scarlett and Harry Taylor to groin injuries.

For the Hawks, the loss means they could be a game and percentage outside the top eight with just five rounds remaining in the home-and-away season.

They face a tough run home with matches against Port Adelaide, St Kilda and Essendon to come.

Cats young gun Joel Selwood was simply inspirational with a game-high 42 possessions, 10 marks, 11 tackles and one goal.

Selwood was well supported by Gary Ablett (33) while Cameron Ling did a superb blanketing job on Luke Hodge, keeping the Hawthorn vice-captain to just 11 touches.

Joel Corey (27) was also instrumental in the win while Max Rooke kicked three goals.

Hawthorn skipper Sam Mitchell led from the front with a team-high 38 possessions while Lance Franklin continued his recent run of good form with five majors.

Geelong jumped out of the blocks in the opening stanza and had three goals on the board - two of which came from Rooke - before Hawthorn forward Jarryd Roughead dribbled home a clever goal from the pocket at the 22-minute minute mark.

Franklin then drilled one home from outside 50 before the Hawks won the next centre clearances and hit the front after Michael Osborne kicked truly.

But it was the Cats who went into quarter-time in front thanks to Tom Hawkins who converted his long set shot to give his side a five-point buffer at the first change.

It was the Franklin show in the second term - last year’s Coleman medallist kicking three goals for the quarter, including two brilliant snaps from the boundary.

The Hawks had 36 more possessions than Geelong for the quarter and were rewarded for their hard work around the ground with a 14-point advantage at half-time after Campbell Brown kicked his first in the dying seconds of the first half.

Hawthorn increased their lead to 22 points at three-quarter time after a five-goal-to-third-quarter and looked set to record a much-needed when Brent Guerra goaled in the opening minute of the final stanza.

But the Cats refused to give in and responded with three goals in five minutes from Simon Hogan, Travis Varcoe and Joel Corey to close to within 10 points.

The game developed into an arm wrestle for the next 10 minutes before Mathew Stokes ran into an open goal and when Rooke kicked his third at the 24-minute mark the deficit was just one point.

Bartel levelled the scores with a quick snap before marking a ball scrambled forward in hope by Corey deep in the forward pocket just moments before the siren sounded.

The 2007 Brownlow medallist’s set shot from an acute angle sprayed to the left but it was enough to earn Geelong one of its best wins in recent memory.

GEELONG: 4.2, 6.5, 10.6. 15.9 (99)
HAWTHORN 3.3, 8.7, 13.10, 14.14 (98)
GOALS: Geelong: Rooke 3, Mooney 2, Hawkins 2, Ablett, Chapman, Ling, Selwood, Varcoe, Corey, Hogan, Stokes
Hawthorn: Franklin 5, Roughead 2, Brown 2, Osborne, Lewis, Rioli, Bateman, Guerra
BEST: Geelong: Selwood, Ablett, Ling, Corey, Mumford, Mackie, Enright
Hawthorn: Franklin, Guerra, Mitchell, Lewis, Sewell
INJURIES: Geelong: Scarlett (groin), Taylor (groin)
Hawthorn: Osborne (foot)
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Nil
UMPIRES: Chamberlain, Jeffery, McInerney
CROWD: 64,803 at the MCG
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Posted By: TonyK - Category: AFL News, Geelong Cats
   


Round seventeen preview: Brisbane v North Melbourne

July 24th 2009 16:20
VENUE and TIME: The Gabba, Saturday 25 July, 7.10pm (AEST)

HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 21, Brisbane 11, North Melbourne 9, Drawn 1

LAST TIME: Brisbane 15.9 (99) def North Melbourne 12.9 (81), Round 10 2009 at Etihad Stadium

RECENT HISTORY: Brisbane has won three of its past four matches against North Melbourne.

FORM: North Melbourne has suffered three honourable losses and played out a draw against Richmond under caretaker coach Darren Crocker. The Kangaroos are in 12th place on the AFL ladder with just four wins for the season. Brisbane kept its top four hopes alive with a hard-fought 15-point win over Fremantle in wet conditions at Subiaco Oval last Saturday night. The Lions are in fifth spot with 10 wins.

MEDICAL ROOM: Brisbane forward Daniel Bradshaw will miss two to three weeks with a hamstring injury but utility Jarred Brennan will face the Kangaroos despite injuring his ankle against the Dockers. Matthew Leunberger (knee) is still five weeks away from returning while Jamie Charman will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing ankle reconstructive surgery. For the Kangaroos, Jesse Smith (hamstring) faces further time on the sidelines after breaking down again in the VFL reserves while classy midfielder Daniel Wells (groin) is two to three weeks away from playing. Jack Ziebell (leg/hip), Robbie Tarrant (dislocated shoulder) and Ben Warren (leg) won’t play again this year.

Cheynee Stiller vs. Brent Harvey

Harvey was instrumental in getting his side back into the contest against Richmond last weekend and finished with a game-high 31 possessions and two goals.

When Harvey is up and firing he is able to hurt side’s with his ability to break the lines and kick goals.

Brisbane will be keen to shut-down his run and carry and will most likely give Stiller who has performed well in a tagging role in recent times the job of running with the North Melbourne skipper.

The Lions will need Stiller who laid seven tackles the last time these two sides met in round 10 to be switched on defensively for the full four quarters and deny Harvey any time or space otherwise he will hurt them with line-breaking ability.

KEY MATCH-UPS: Josh Gibson vs. Jonathan Brown

Brown proved to be the difference against Fremantle, booting four goals to help his side secure a valuable four premiership points.

The Brisbane skipper looms as the main danger man for North Melbourne given that he has booted 19 goals in his past four matches against the Kangaroos.

When these two sides met earlier in the year Gibson kept Brown to just two goals - expect the North defender to be given the job on Brown once again on Saturday night in what will be a pivotal duel in determining the outcome of this match.

Gibson will need his midfield to apply relentless pressure all over the ground otherwise the likes of Simon Black, Daniel Rich and Luke Power will continually provide Brown with quality supply.

Daniel Merrett vs. David Hale

Hale’s indifferent year continued last Sunday against the Tigers with the 25-year-old managing just eight disposals and two goals.

North will need Hale to lift otherwise they will struggle to kick a big enough score to secure just their fifth win of the season.

Merrett always gets the job on the opposition’s big key forward and will be given first crack at Hale.

The Brisbane defender is regarded as one of the best spoilers in the competition so the Kangaroos will need to be quick and clean with their use of the football going forward.

Brady Rawlings vs. Simon Black

Black has been one of Brisbane’s most consistent players so far this season, averaging just under 26 disposals per game.

The 2002 Brownlow medallist is damaging with his ability to win the contested football and use it cleanly by hand or foot.

If North are going to have any hope of containing Brown they will need to quell the influence of Black.

Rawlings has claimed some big scalps during his 195-game career and will be given the task of tagging Black in what will be a crucial match-up.

Like Black, Rawlings is effective at winning plenty of the football - he has averaged 20 possessions per game in 2009.

North will need their number one tagger to be proactive at the stoppages and force the Lions star to be accountable otherwise he will dictate terms and dominate.

VERDICT: North Melbourne has battled hard in the past month but they simply don’t have the class to match Brisbane in the middle. Expect the Kangaroos to stick with the Lions for a quarter or two before the likes of Black, Rich and Power take control and provide Brown and co. with silver service. Lions by 41 points.

BRISBANE LIONS v NORTH MELBOURNE
BRISBANE LIONS
B: Ashley McGrath, Daniel Merrett, Tom Collier
HB: Joel Patfull, Josh Drummond, Joel Macdonald
C: Jared Brennan, Simon Black, Daniel Rich
HF: Michael Rischitelli, Jonathan Brown, James Polkinghorne
F: Sam Sheldon, Tim Notting, Luke Power
Foll: Mitch Clark, Cheynee Stiller, Justin Sherman
I/C: Albert Proud, Bradd Dalziell, Pearce Hanley, Jack Redden
Emg: Scott Harding, James Hawksley, Joel Tippett

In: Hanley
Out: Daniel Bradshaw (hamstring)

NORTH MELBOURNE
B: Michael Firrito, Lachie Hansen, Levi Greenwood
HB: Leigh Harding, Scott Thompson, Gavin Urquhart
C: Brent Harvey, Liam Anthony, Scott McMahon
HF: Lindsay Thomas, Drew Petrie, Adam Simpson
F: Matt Campbell, David Hale, Corey Jones
Foll: Hamish McIntosh, Brady Rawlings, Josh Gibson
I/C: Sam Power, Andrew Swallow, Ben Ross, Todd Goldstein
Emg: Ed Lower, Daniel Harris, Aaron Edwards

In: Urquhart, Ross, Campbell
Out: Leigh Adams, Nathan Grima, Daniel Pratt

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Round seventeen preview: St Kilda v Western Bulldogs

July 24th 2009 15:34
VENUE and TIME: Etihad Stadium, Saturday 25 July, 7.10pm (AEST)

HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 145, St Kilda 72, Western Bulldogs 70, Drawn 3

LAST TIME: St Kilda 14.20 (104) def Western Bulldogs 11.10 (76) Round 6 2009 at Etihad Stadium

RECENT HISTORY: The Western Bulldogs have won two of their past three matches against St Kilda.

FORM: St Kilda made it 16 wins in a row with a 57-point demolition of the highly-rated Adelaide Crows at Etihad Stadium last Sunday. The Western Bulldogs consolidated their place in the top four with a 33-point win over Essendon. The Bulldogs have won eight of their past ten matches and find themselves in third spot on the AFL ladder with an 11-5 win-loss record.

MEDICAL ROOM: St Kilda welcomes back veteran defender Max Hudghton from an ankle injury but they will still be without in-form ruckman Michael Gardiner (calf) who was a late withdrawal from the clash against the Crows. Xavier Clarke is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury. For the Bulldogs, Daniel Giansiracusa is expected to miss at least another month after undergoing knee surgery while Stephen Tiller (groin) and Sam Reid (groin) remain on the sidelines.

KEY MATCH-UPS: Clinton Jones vs. Adam Cooney

Cooney was among his side’s best against Essendon, collecting 28 possessions and booting one goal.

The 2008 Brownlow medallist is damaging with his ability to break the lines, kick goals and set up scoring opportunities for his teammates.

If the Saints are going to have any chance of containing the Bulldogs’ dangerous mid-sized forwards they will need to shut-down Cooney’s run and carry.

Jones has quelled the influence of some of the competition’s premier midfielders so far in 2009 and will be given the job of tagging Cooney in what shapes as being a pivotal duel.

Expect Jones who laid a game-high seven tackles the last time these two sides met in round six to apply relentless pressure all night and not allow Cooney to run with the football.

Cooney will need his teammates to block for him at the stoppages otherwise he will struggle to have his usual impact.

Brian Lake vs. Nick Riewoldt

Riewoldt continued his brilliant season with 19 possessions, 12 marks and four goals against Adelaide.

The St Kilda skipper looms as the main danger man for the Bulldogs given that he helped himself to 17 disposals, 14 marks and four goals when these two sides met earlier in the year.

On form Lake is arguably best defender in the competition and he will line-up on Riewoldt in what will be a crucial match-up in determining the outcome of this contest.

The Western Bulldogs have stepped up their defensive pressure in recent times - they will need to play with the same level of intensity as they have in the past few weeks otherwise the likes of Nick Dal Santo, Leigh Montagna, Lenny Hayes and co. will run riot and provide Riewoldt who is virtually unstoppable on the lead with enough quality football to kick a bag.

Sam Fisher vs. Mitch Hahn

Hahn was instrumental in his side’s win over the Bombers, booting five goals - three of which came in the third quarter after his side trailed by eight points at half-time.

The Bulldogs will need Hahn to fire once again but he faces a tough task against the best defence in the competition.

Fisher has the height and mobility to match Hahn and will most likely be given first crack at Hahn who will play his 150th game on Saturday night.

If Hahn is going to have any hope of winning his duel with Fisher he will need his midfield to be quick and precise with their use of the football going forward otherwise the Saints will be able to push numbers back and continually rebound the football out of defensive 50.

Expect Fisher, who has averaged nearly 22 disposals per game so far this season, to run off Hahn at every available opportunity and try and hurt him on the rebound.

Liam Picken vs.Nick Dal Santo

Dal Santo has been one of his side’s most damaging midfielders so far in ‘09, averaging nearly 28 touches per game.

The 25-year-old is an integral part of St Kilda’s midfield with his ability to create scoring opportunities for his teammates with his clean use of the football.

Limiting his influence in the middle will be a key for the Dogs if they are going to have any chance of containing a St Kilda attack that is the fourth most productive in the AFL.

Picken has been given some big tagging jobs this year and has been far from disgraced - expect him to line-up on Dal Santo.

The Bulldogs will need Picken to employ a tight tag for the full four quarters and not give Dal Santo any time or space otherwise he will cut them to shreds with his sublime skills.

VERDICT: The Western Bulldogs may be third on the ladder but they are yet to defeat a top-four side and will be keen to come away with the four points on Saturday night as it will give them confidence heading into September. St Kilda is coming off two days less extra best than the Bulldogs and will be without key forward Justin Koschitzke and in-form defender Zac Dawson due to suspension so a win to the Dogs wouldn’t be a major surprise. However, the ladder leaders have the players to cover their absence and if they apply the same sort of pressure that they did against Adelaide the free-wheeling Bulldogs will struggle to get enough quality supply into their mid-sized forwards to kick a winning score. Saints by 16 points.

ST KILDA v WESTERN BULLDOGS
ST KILDA
B: Jason Blake, Max Hudghton, Raphael Clarke
HB: Steven Baker, Sam Gilbert, Farren Ray
C: Brendon Goddard, Andrew McQualter, Leigh Montagna
HF: Jason Gram, Sam Fisher, Robert Eddy
F: Clint Jones, Nick Riewoldt, Stephen Milne
Foll: Steven King, Lenny Hayes, Nick Dal Santo
I/C: Sean Dempster, James Gwilt, Ben McEvoy, Adam Schneider
Emg: Jarryn Geary, Luke Miles, Matt Maguire

In: Hudghton, Gwilt
Out: Koschitzke (susp), Zac Dawson (susp)

WESTERN BULLDOGS
B: Jarrod Harbrow, Brian Lake, Dale Morris
HB: Lindsay Gilbee, Tom Williams, Ryan Hargrave
C: Jason Akermanis, Matthew Boyd, Daniel Cross
HF: Robert Murphy, Mitch Hahn, Brad Johnson
F: Shaun Higgins, Will Minson, Scott Welsh
Foll: Ben Hudson, Ryan Griffen, Adam Cooney
I/C: Nathan Eagleton, Josh Hill, Liam Picken, Callan Ward
Emg: Dylan Addison, Andrejs Everitt, Brennan Stack

No change


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Round seventeen preview: Fremantle v West Coast

July 24th 2009 15:25
VENUE and TIME: Subiaco Oval, Saturday 25 July, 4:00 pm (AEST)

HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 29, Fremantle 11, West Coast 18

LAST TIME: Fremantle 13.9 (87) def West Coast 9.20 (74), Round 6, 2009 at Subiaco Oval

RECENT HISTORY: Fremantle has won its past four matches against West Coast and six of the last seven.

FORM: Fremantle made it nine losses in a row when they went down to Brisbane by 15 points in wet conditions at Subiaco Oval last Saturday night. The Dockers have won just three games for the year. West Coast was made to pay for its slow start against Port Adelaide, eventually going down by 36 points. The Eagles have lost their past three matches and find themselves in 13th spot on the AFL ladder with four wins for the season.

MEDICAL ROOM: Fremantle welcomes back skipper Matthew Pavlich and ruckman Aaron Sandilands from calf and hamstring injuries respectively but Andrew Foster (ankle) will miss two to four matches. Byron Schammer (calf) and Des Headland (hamstring) are a week away from resuming while hard-running defender Roger Hayden (broken leg) is out for another two weeks. Michael Johnson (ankle) remains on the sidelines while Brock O'Brien (quad), Rhys Palmer (knee) and Ryan Crowley (foot) are out for the season. For the Eagles, star duo Dean Cox (groin) and Daniel Kerr (abdominal) are sidelined indefinitely while Adam Hunter (shoulder) is at least two matches from resuming. Brent Staker (broken hand) is a chance to earn a recall next week while Brett Jones (quad) will miss at least another two weeks. Beau Waters is out for the rest of the year with a dislocated elbow.

KEY MATCH-UPS: Patrick McGinnity vs. Stephen Hill

The last time these two sides met in round six Hill starred with 21 possessions, two goals and seven inside 50’s.

The exciting 19-year-old is damaging with his ability to break the lines, use the football well by foot and kick goals.

West Coast will need to shut-down his run and carry if they are going to have any hope of snapping a four-game losing streak against Fremantle.

McGinnity, who kept Port Adelaide midfielder Danyle Pearce to just 16 disposals last weekend, has the pace to run with Hill and will most likely be given the job of tagging last year’s number three draft pick.

Expect McGinnity to apply plenty of body pressure at the stoppages and run off Hill at every available opportunity and try and hurt him on the scoreboard.

Chris Tarrant vs. Mark LeCras

LeCras has been the Eagles most consistent and productive forward in 2009, booting 41 goals in 15 games.

When these two sides met earlier in the year Tarrant did a superb blanketing job on LeCras, restricting the West Coast goal sneak to just six possessions and two goals.

Expect the former Magpie to line-up on LeCras once again in what shapes as being a pivotal duel in determining the outcome of this match.

In last weekend’s loss to Port Adelaide the Eagles went inside their forward line two more times than the Power yet they finished the match with six fewer scoring shots.

West Coast was continually guilty of butchering the football going forward - they will need to be cleaner and smarter with their delivery on Saturday otherwise LeCras will struggle to have an impact on the scoreboard.

Adam Selwood vs. Paul Hasleby

Along with Hill, Hasleby was instrumental in the Dockers’ come-from-behind 13-point win over the Eagles earlier in the year with a game-high 35 possessions in a performance that earned him the Ross Glendinning Medal.

Hasleby has a history of performing well against West Coast - he has won four Ross Glendinning Medals.

The 28-year-old is an integral part of Fremante’s midfield with his ability to win the contested football and use it cleanly by hand to find the likes of Garrick Ibbotson and Hill in space.

West Coast will be keen to limit his influence in close as it will help shut-down Fremantle’s running game.

Selwood is the Eagles best stopper in the midfield and looms as the obvious candidate to go head-to-head with Hasleby in what will be a crucial match-up in determining the outcome of this contest.

The Eagles tagger can’t afford to be reactive otherwise Hasleby will dominate at the stoppages and continually feed the football out to his runners.

Garrick Ibbotson vs. Matt Priddis

Priddis struggled against Port last weekend, managing just 13 possessions - well down on his season average of 25 disposals per game.

West Coast will need a lift from their most prolific ball-winner in 2009 otherwise they will struggle to win enough of the football to have any hope of kicking a winning score.

Ibbotson has been given some big run with roles in recent times and could well be given first crack at Priddis.

Expect Ibbotson who has averaged just under 19 touches per game this season to try and expose Priddis' lack of pace and try and hurt him going the other way.

VERDICT: Fremantle will head into the 30th Western Derby with plenty of confidence given their recent record against West Coast. With Cox still unavailable you would expect Sandilands to dominate in the ruck and provide his midfield with first use of the football. If the Dockers can move the football quickly into Pavlich and co. could cause quite a few headaches for an Eagles side that is vulnerable to run-ons. Dockers by 14 points.

FREMANTLE v WEST COAST
FREMANTLE
B: Greg Broughton, Chris Tarrant, Nic Suban
HB: Antoni Grover, Luke McPharlin, Paul Duffield
C: Garrick Ibbotson, Paul Hasleby, Tim Ruffles
HF: Stephen Hill, Matthew Pavlich, Dean Solomon
F: Hayden Ballantyne, Kepler Bradley, Jay van Berlo
Foll: Aaron Sandilands, Steven Dodd, David Mundy
I/C: Brett Peake, Matt DeBoer, Clancee Pearce, Zac Clarke
Emg: Clayton Hinkley, Marcus Drum, Scott Thornton

In: van Berlo, Pavlich, Sandilands
Out: Andrew Foster (ankle), Scott Thornton, Adam Campbell

New: Jay van Berlo (West Perth)

WEST COAST
B: Matt Spangher, Darren Glass, David Wirrpanda
HB: Andrew Embley, Mitch Brown, Shannon Hurn
C: Matt Rosa, Matt Priddis, Tim Houlihan
HF: Sam Butler, Ashley Hansen, Adam Selwood
F: Quinten Lynch, Josh Kennedy, Mark LeCras
Foll: Nic Naitanui, Chris Masten, Brad Ebert
I/C: Pat McGinnity, Mark Seaby, Scott Selwood, Tom Swift
Emg: Ryan Davis, Eric Mackenzie, Tyson Stenglein

In: S. Selwood, Swift
Out: Eric Mackenzie, Adam Cockie

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Round seventeen preview: Geelong v Hawthorn

July 24th 2009 14:47
VENUE and TIME: MCG, Saturday 25 July, 2.10pm (AEST)

HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 142, Geelong 74, Hawthorn 67, Drawn: 1

LAST TIME: Geelong 15.21 (111) def Hawthorn 16.7 (103), Round 1 2009 at the MCG

RECENT HISTORY: Hawthorn has won four of its past six matches against Geelong.

FORM: Geelong snapped a two-game losing streak with a 46-point win over Melbourne at Skilled Stadium last Saturday. The Cats are in second place on the AFL ladder with a 14-2 win-loss record. Hawthorn kept its season alive with a 45-point demolition of Collingwood at the MCG last Saturday night. The reigning premiers are in 10th spot with eight wins for the season.

MEDICAL ROOM: Geelong welcomes back star midfielder James Bartel from a hip injury but they are still without David Johnson (calf), Steve Johnson (hip) and skipper Tom Harley (knee). Brad Ottens is two to three weeks away from returning from a knee injury while Nathan Jerker (corked thigh) will miss at least another week. Josh Hunt (knee), Matthew Egan (foot) and youngster Mitch Brown (leg) are out for the season. For the Hawks, ruckman Robert Campbell remains on the sidelines with an unknown injury while Garry Moss (knee) is two to three weeks away from resuming. Mark Williams will miss at least a further five weeks with a knee injury while key defender Trent Croad (foot) and veteran Stuart Dew (hamstring) are sidelined indefinitely. Tim Boyle (knee), Rick Ladson (knee), Mitch Thorpe (shoulder) and Clinton Young (hip) are out for the remainder of the year.

KEY MATCH-UPS: Brad Sewell vs. Gary Ablett

Ablett did his Brownlow medal chances no harm with a game-high 40 possessions and two goals against the Demons.

The last time these two sides met in round one Ablett was influential with a game-high 35 disposals, one goal and four inside 50’s.

If the Hawks are going to have any hope of containing a Geelong side that has the most potent attack in the competition they will need to shut-down Ablett’s creative run.

Sewell is Hawthorn’s number one stopper in the midfield and will be given the job on Ablett in what will be a crucial match-up in determining the outcome of this game.

Ablett can never be completely contained so what Sewell will need to do is try and get his hands on the football first at the stoppages and hurt him going the other way as it will force the Geelong star to be accountable which in turn will help limit his impact on the contest as an attacking midfielder.

Matthew Scarlett vs. Lance Franklin

Franklin has rediscovered his mojo, booting eight goals in his past two matches to take his season tally to 51 majors.

Taylor had the job on Franklin earlier in the year but given that last year’s Coleman medallist is now in top form you would Geelong’s best defender in Scarlett to be given first crack at the Hawthorn star.

If Franklin is going to have any hope of winning his duel with Scarlett who held Melbourne veteran Russell Robertson goalless last weekend he will need his midfield to be quick and clean with their use of the football going forward.

If the Hawks simply bomb the football haphazardly into the forward line they will be punished on the rebound by the likes of Scarlett who racked up 30 disposals against the Demons.

Ryan Schoenmakers vs. Cameron Mooney

Mooney was held goalless against Melbourne and will be keen to bounce with a big performance against Hawthorn.

When Mooney is up and firing the Cats are a much more dangerous side so shutting him down will be a key for the Hawks.

Schoenmakers was impressive down back against Collingwood last Saturday night - he held Travis Cloke goalless - and looms as the obvious candidate to line-up on Mooney.

The promising 18-year-old will need his midfield to suffocate the Cats’ running game with relentless pressure all over the ground for the full four quarters otherwise Geelong’s much-vaunted on-ball division will run riot and give Mooney enough quality supply.

Expect Schoenmakers who collected 17 touches against the Pies to try run off Mooney at every available opportunity and try and hurt him on the rebound.

Cameron Ling vs. Luke Hodge

Hodge was influential in the win over the Magpies with a team-high 34 possessions, two goals and seven inside 50’s.

The Hawthorn vice-captain is damaging with his ability to win the contested football, kick goals and also set up scoring opportunities for his teammates with his superb skills.

Limiting Hodge’s influence will be a key for the Cats if they are going to quell the influence of Franklin and Jarryd Rouyghead who booted nine goals between them the last time these two sides met.

Ling is regarded as the best tagger in the AFL and will most likely tag Hodge in what shapes as being a pivotal duel.

Expect Ling, who is strong overhead and a reliable kick for goal, to push forward at every available opportunity and try and take Hodge out of the thick of the action.

VERDICT: Hawthorn has plenty to play for on Saturday - three of their most important players in Jarryd Roughead, skipper Sam Mitchell and Sewell are celebrating milestones and they need to keep on winning if they are going to have any hope of securing a finals berth. However, they face a tough opponent in Geelong who would love nothing more than to derail the Hawks' run to the finals. Two of Hawthorn’s biggest stars in Franklin and Hodge have been instrumental in their resurgence but the Cats have the men to stop them and should get up in a tight contest. Cats by eight points.

GEELONG v HAWTHORN
GEELONG
B: Darren Milburn, Matthew Scarlett, Corey Enright
HB: David Wojcinski, Harry Taylor, Andrew Mackie
C: Joel Corey, Cameron Ling, Jimmy Bartel
HF: Mathew Stokes, Cameron Mooney, Shannon Byrnes
F: Paul Chapman, Tom Hawkins, Max Rooke
Foll: Shane Mumford, Joel Selwood, Gary Ablett
I/C: Travis Varcoe, Simon Hogan, Tom Lonergan, Kane Tenace
Emg: Tom Gillies, Mark Blake, Jeremy Laidler

In: Bartel
Out: Tom Gillies

HAWTHORN
B: Brent Guerra, Stephen Gilham, Tom Murphy
HB: Grant Birchall, Luke Hodge, Xavier Ellis
C: Jordan Lewis, Sam Mitchell, Liam Shiels
HF: Michael Osborne, Lance Franklin, Ben McGlynn
F: Cyril Rioli, Jarryd Roughead, Campbell Brown
Foll: Simon Taylor, Brad Sewell, Chance Bateman
I/C: Beau Dowler, Josh Kennedy, Brent Renouf, Ryan Schoenmakers
Emg: Cameron Stokes, Travis Tuck, Brendan Whitecross

No change
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Dockers re-sign duo

July 24th 2009 13:16
FREMANTLE has re-signed defender Paul Duffield and midfielder Byron Schammer until the end of 2011.

Duffield is currently contracted until the end of the 2010 season but has agreed to a contract extension.

Schammer who comes out of contract at the end of this season has agreed to terms for another two years.

Fremantle's general manager of player management Brad Lloyd said re-signing Duffield and Schammer was vital for the club.

"When you consider that we have had 11 players make their AFL debuts this season, Paul and Byron, who are both 24, help maintain the right blend of age and experience in our list management model," Lloyd said.

"Paul has had a breakout season in defence and Byron has probably had his most consistent season since arriving at Fremantle."

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Pies punish Blues

July 24th 2009 13:06
COLLINGWOOD has consolidated its place in the top four with a 54-point demolition of Carlton at the MCG on Friday night.

The Magpies set up their 11th win of the season with a dominant first term before eventually prevailing 14.10 (94) to 4.16 (40).

The Blues entered the match on a three-game winning streak and had won their three previous encounters against the Pies but they got off to a bad start and their poor use of the football prevented them from mounting a serious challenge.

The monster crowd of 84,938 was the biggest for a home-and-away match between these two sides since 1995.

Dane Swan continued his brilliant season with a game-high 38 possessions while Leon Davis showed his class with 28 disposals and three goals.

Heath Shaw generated plenty of run from defence with 28 touches while Scott Pendlebury was also influential with 28 possessions.

Travis Cloke (26 disposals, eight marks and one goal) provided a strong target up forward while Simon Prestigiacomo kept Carlton spearhead Brendan Fevola to just one goal.

For the Blues, Heath Scotland tried hard all night and racked up a team-high 32 possessions while Bryce Gibbs and Marc Murphy also won plenty of the football.

Collingwood dominated the opening stanza - they had 30 more disposals than Carlton and entered inside their forward line 17 times as they slammed on five goals to one.

Swan and Pendlebury were particularly influential with 12 touches apiece while Davis kicked a miraculous goal which will surely come into considerations for goal-of-the-year honours.

Davis was in the right forward pocket when off two steps and running out of bounds he was able to dribble the ball through from 20m to give his side a 23-point lead at quarter-time.

The mercurial 28-year-old was at it again 30 seconds into the second term when he maintained control of a loose ball, shrugged off a Ryan Houlihan tackle and snapped truly from close to the boundary.

The margin blew out to 34 points before Eddie Betts stopped the rot with his second major of the night.

Carlton had the better of general play in the latter half of the second term but they failed to translate their hard work around the ground onto the scoreboard and went into the main break trailing by 27 points.

The third term wasn’t a great advertisement for the game with both sides managing just one goal apiece in a quarter that only ran for 24 minutes.

Trailing by 25 points at three-quarter time, any hopes the Blues had of pulling off a come-from-behind win was quashed by Alan Didak who took four bounces and goaled on the run four minutes into the final stanza.

Collingwood didn’t take their foot off the pedal, piling on five of the last six goals to cap off a dominant performance.

COLLINGWOOD 5.4, 7.6, 8.8, 14.10 (94)
CARLTON 1.5, 2.9, 3.13, 4.16 (40)
GOALS: Collingwood. Davis 3, Beams 2, Swan, Cloke, Lockyer, Didak, Anthony, Barham, Thomas, Dawes, Toovey.
Carlton: Betts 2, Bentley, Fevola.
BEST: Collingwood: Swan, Davis, Shaw, Cloke, Prestigiacomo, Lockyer
Carlton: Murphy, Simpson, Gibbs, Scotland.
INJURIES: Collingwood: (TBC).
Carlton: (TBC).
REPORTS: Nil.
CHANGES: Carlton: Jamison (groin ) replaced by Hartlett.
UMPIRES:McLaren, Wenn, Ryan.
CROWD:84,938 at the MCG.
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AFL Teams: Round Seventeen

July 24th 2009 07:29
2009 Toyota AFL Premiership Season

ROUND SEVENTEEN (All time local)

Friday July 24
Carlton v Collingwood at the MCG, 7.40pm

Saturday July 25
Geelong v Hawthorn at the MCG, 2.10pm
Fremantle v West Coast at Subiaco Oval, 2.10pm
Brisbane Lions v North Melbourne at the Gabba, 7.10pm
St Kilda v Western Bulldogs at Docklands, 7.10pm

Sunday July 26
Melbourne v Sydney Swans at Manuka Oval, 1.10pm
Essendon v Richmond at the MCG, 2.10pm
Adelaide v Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium, 4.10pm

CARLTON v COLLINGWOOD
CARLTON
B: Michael Jamison, Bret Thornton, Andrew Carrazzo
HB: Chris Johnson, Paul Bower, Bryce Gibbs
C: Marc Murphy, Kade Simpson, Heath Scotland
HF: Ryan Houlihan, Brad Fisher, Chris Yarran
F: Mark Austin, Brendan Fevola, Eddie Betts
Foll: Matthew Kreuzer, Chris Judd, Aaron Joseph
I/C: Greg Bentley, Shaun Grigg, Shaun Hampson, Jordan Russell
Emg: Dennis Armfield, Cameron Cloke, Adam Hartlett

In: Austin, Jamison
Out: Joe Anderson (hamstring), Adam Hartlett

COLLINGWOOD
B: Harry O’Brien, Simon Prestigiacomo, Heath Shaw
HB: Nick Maxwell, Chris Dawes, Tarkyn Lockyer
C: Jaxson Barham, Dayne Beams, Scott Pendlebury
HF: Steele Sidebottom, Travis Cloke, Paul Medhurst
F: Alan Didak, John Anthony, Dale Thomas
Foll: Cameron Wood, Dane Swan, Shane O’Bree
I/C: Ben Johnson, Leigh Brown, Leon Davis, Alan Toovey
Emg: Tyson Goldsack, Ben Reid, Sharrod Wellingham

In: Barham, Dawes, Sidebottom
Out: Nathan Brown (knee), Brad Dick, Sharrod Wellingham

GEELONG v HAWTHORN
GEELONG
B: Darren Milburn, Matthew Scarlett, Corey Enright
HB: David Wojcinski, Harry Taylor, Andrew Mackie
C: Joel Corey, Cameron Ling, Jimmy Bartel
HF: Mathew Stokes, Cameron Mooney, Shannon Byrnes
F: Paul Chapman, Tom Hawkins, Max Rooke
Foll: Shane Mumford, Joel Selwood, Gary Ablett
I/C: Travis Varcoe, Simon Hogan, Tom Lonergan, Kane Tenace
Emg: Tom Gillies, Mark Blake, Jeremy Laidler

In: Bartel
Out: Tom Gillies

HAWTHORN
B: Brent Guerra, Stephen Gilham, Tom Murphy
HB: Grant Birchall, Luke Hodge, Xavier Ellis
C: Jordan Lewis, Sam Mitchell, Liam Shiels
HF: Michael Osborne, Lance Franklin, Ben McGlynn
F: Cyril Rioli, Jarryd Roughead, Campbell Brown
Foll: Simon Taylor, Brad Sewell, Chance Bateman
I/C: Beau Dowler, Josh Kennedy, Brent Renouf, Ryan Schoenmakers
Emg: Cameron Stokes, Travis Tuck, Brendan Whitecross

No change

FREMANTLE v WEST COAST
FREMANTLE
B: Greg Broughton, Chris Tarrant, Nic Suban
HB: Antoni Grover, Luke McPharlin, Paul Duffield
C: Garrick Ibbotson, Paul Hasleby, Tim Ruffles
HF: Stephen Hill, Matthew Pavlich, Dean Solomon
F: Hayden Ballantyne, Kepler Bradley, Jay van Berlo
Foll: Aaron Sandilands, Steven Dodd, David Mundy
I/C: Brett Peake, Matt DeBoer, Clancee Pearce, Zac Clarke
Emg: Clayton Hinkley, Marcus Drum, Scott Thornton

In: van Berlo, Pavlich, Sandilands
Out: Andrew Foster (ankle), Scott Thornton, Adam Campbell

New: Jay van Berlo (West Perth)

WEST COAST
B: Matt Spangher, Darren Glass, David Wirrpanda
HB: Andrew Embley, Mitch Brown, Shannon Hurn
C: Matt Rosa, Matt Priddis, Tim Houlihan
HF: Sam Butler, Ashley Hansen, Adam Selwood
F: Quinten Lynch, Josh Kennedy, Mark LeCras
Foll: Nic Naitanui, Chris Masten, Brad Ebert
I/C: Pat McGinnity, Mark Seaby, Scott Selwood, Tom Swift
Emg: Ryan Davis, Eric Mackenzie, Tyson Stenglein

In: S. Selwood, Swift
Out: Eric Mackenzie, Adam Cockie

BRISBANE LIONS v NORTH MELBOURNE
BRISBANE LIONS
B: Ashley McGrath, Daniel Merrett, Tom Collier
HB: Joel Patfull, Josh Drummond, Joel Macdonald
C: Jared Brennan, Simon Black, Daniel Rich
HF: Michael Rischitelli, Jonathan Brown, James Polkinghorne
F: Sam Sheldon, Tim Notting, Luke Power
Foll: Mitch Clark, Cheynee Stiller, Justin Sherman
I/C: Albert Proud, Bradd Dalziell, Pearce Hanley, Jack Redden
Emg: Scott Harding, James Hawksley, Joel Tippett

In: Hanley
Out: Daniel Bradshaw (hamstring)

NORTH MELBOURNE
B: Michael Firrito, Lachie Hansen, Levi Greenwood
HB: Leigh Harding, Scott Thompson, Gavin Urquhart
C: Brent Harvey, Liam Anthony, Scott McMahon
HF: Lindsay Thomas, Drew Petrie, Adam Simpson
F: Matt Campbell, David Hale, Corey Jones
Foll: Hamish McIntosh, Brady Rawlings, Josh Gibson
I/C: Sam Power, Andrew Swallow, Ben Ross, Todd Goldstein
Emg: Ed Lower, Daniel Harris, Aaron Edwards

In: Urquhart, Ross, Campbell
Out: Leigh Adams, Nathan Grima, Daniel Pratt

ST KILDA v WESTERN BULLDOGS
ST KILDA
B: Jason Blake, Max Hudghton, Raphael Clarke
HB: Steven Baker, Sam Gilbert, Farren Ray
C: Brendon Goddard, Andrew McQualter, Leigh Montagna
HF: Jason Gram, Sam Fisher, Robert Eddy
F: Clint Jones, Nick Riewoldt, Stephen Milne
Foll: Steven King, Lenny Hayes, Nick Dal Santo
I/C: Sean Dempster, James Gwilt, Ben McEvoy, Adam Schneider
Emg: Jarryn Geary, Luke Miles, Matt Maguire

In: Hudghton, Gwilt
Out: Koschitzke (susp), Zac Dawson (susp)

WESTERN BULLDOGS
B: Jarrod Harbrow, Brian Lake, Dale Morris
HB: Lindsay Gilbee, Tom Williams, Ryan Hargrave
C: Jason Akermanis, Matthew Boyd, Daniel Cross
HF: Robert Murphy, Mitch Hahn, Brad Johnson
F: Shaun Higgins, Will Minson, Scott Welsh
Foll: Ben Hudson, Ryan Griffen, Adam Cooney
I/C: Nathan Eagleton, Josh Hill, Liam Picken, Callan Ward
Emg: Dylan Addison, Andrejs Everitt, Brennan Stack

No change

MELBOURNE v SYDNEY SWANS
MELBOURNE
B: Lynden Dunn, Matthew Warnock, Matthew Whelan
HB: Brent Moloney, Jared Rivers, Cameron Bruce
C: Clint Bartram, James McDonald, Aaron Davey
HF: Jamie Bennell, Michael Newton, Cale Morton
F: Brad Miller, Matthew Bate, Liam Jurrah
Foll: Stefan Martin, Ricky Petterd, Nathan Jones
I/C: Paul Johnson, Kyle Cheney, Jordie McKenzie, Shane Valenti
Emg: Rohan Bail, Jake Spencer, Simon Buckley

In: Cheney, P. Johnson, Miller, Newton, Valenti, Whelan, McKenzie
Out: Brock McLean (knee), Mark Jamar (quad), Brad Green (scaphoid), Jack Grimes (back), James Frawley (back), Neville Jetta (flu), Russell Robertson

New: Jordie McKenzie (Geelong Falcons)

SYDNEY SWANS
B: Ed Barlow, Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Craig Bolton
HB: Rhyce Shaw, Heath Grundy, Martin Mattner
C: Nick Smith, Brett Kirk, Jarrad McVeigh
HF: Ryan O’Keefe, Adam Goodes, Luke Ablett
F: Jesse White, Michael O’Loughlin, Daniel Hannebery
Foll: Darren Jolly, Kieran Jack, Jude Bolton
I/C: Kristin Thornton, Mike Pyke, Amon Buchanan, Jarred Moore
Emg: Patrick Veszpremi, Craig Bird, Paul Bevan

In: Buchanan, Moore, Pyke, Thornton
Out: Ted Richards (ribs), Paul Bevan, Craig Bird, Patrick Veszpremi

ESSENDON v RICHMOND
ESSENDON
B: Henry Slattery, Tayte Pears, Michael Hurley
HB: Courtenay Dempsey, Dustin Fletcher, Adam McPhee
C: Brent Prismall, Mark McVeigh, Andrew Lovett
HF: Nathan Lovett-Murray, Angus Monfries, Kyle Reimers
F: Jason Winderlich, Matthew Lloyd, Alwyn Davey
Foll: Patrick Ryder, Andrew Welsh, Jobe Watson
I/C: Brent Stanton, Ricky Dyson, Scott Lucas, Cale Hooker
Emg: Hayden Skipworth, Sam Lonergan, Heath Hocking

In: Lovett-Murray, Monfries
Out: Sam Lonergan, Heath Hocking

RICHMOND
B: Jake King, Will Thursfield, Chris Newman
HB: Dean Polo , Luke McGuane, Matthew White
C: Shane Edwards, Trent Cotchin, Brett Deledio
HF: Robin Nahas, Jack Riewoldt, Jayden Post
F: Nathan Brown, Mitch Morton, Ben Cousins
Foll: Tyrone Vickery, Daniel Jackson, Richard Tambling
I/C: Adam Pattison, Tom Hislop, Jordan McMahon, Jarrod Silvester
Emg: Adam Thomson, Mark Coughlan, Alex Rance

In: Cousins, Cotchin, Pattison, Brown
Out: Shane Tuck, Angus Graham, Mark Coughlan, Alex Rance

ADELAIDE v PORT ADELAIDE
ADELAIDE
B: Graham Johncock, Ben Rutten, Andy Otten
HB: Brad Symes, Nathan Bock, Brent Reilly
C: Nathan van Berlo, Scott Thompson, Patrick Dangerfield
HF: Bernie Vince, Scott Stevens, Andrew McLeod
F: Jason Porplyzia, Kurt Tippett, Chris Knights
Foll: Ivan Maric, Simon Goodwin, Michael Doughty
I/C: Robert Shirley, James Sellar, Brodie Martin, Brett Burton
Emg: Taylor Walker, Phil Davis, Richard Douglas

In: van Berlo, Shirley
Out: David Mackay (hamstring), Richard Douglas

PORT ADELAIDE
B: Alipate Carlile, Toby Thurstans, Jacob Surjan
HB: Nathan Krakouer, Chad Cornes, Paul Stewart
C: Steven Salopek, Domenic Cassisi, Travis Boak
HF: Robert Gray, Warren Tredrea, David Rodan
F: Brett Ebert, Brendon Lade, Justin Westhoff
Foll: Dean Brogan, Kane Cornes, Danyle Pearce
I/C: Shaun Burgoyne, Troy Chaplin, Jason Davenport, Nick Lower
Emg: Matthew Broadbent, Hamish Hartlett, Nick Salter

In: S Burgoyne, Chaplin
Out: Matthew Broadbent, Nick Salter

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Green out for season

July 24th 2009 01:02
MELBOURNE utility Brad Green has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after scans confirmed he requires surgery on a left wrist injury.

Green has a scaphoid fracture and will undergo surgery next Tuesday to repair the injury. He will also have surgery on his right hand to repair a broken knuckle.

The 28-year-old will be right to join the Demons for pre-season training in October.
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Round seventeen preview: Carlton v Collingwood

July 23rd 2009 15:26
VENUE and TIME: MCG, Friday July 24, 7.40pm (AEST)

HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 238, Carlton 123, Collingwood 111, Draws 4

LAST TIME: Carlton 16.8 (104) def Collingwood 7.11 (53), Round 8, 2009 at the MCG

RECENT HISTORY: Carlton has won its past three matches against Collingwood.

FORM: Collingwood’s seven-game winning streak came to an end when they went down to Hawthorn by 45 points at the MCG last Saturday night. The Magpies currently occupy fourth place on the AFL ladder with a 10-6 win-loss record. Carlton made it three wins a row for the first time since 2004 after thumping Sydney to the tune of 61 points - their first victory over the Swans since round eight, 2001. The Blues are in seventh spot with nine wins.

MEDICAL ROOM: The Magpies will be without promising young key defender Nathan Brown (knee). Number one ruckman Josh Fraser will be out for up to three weeks after undergoing surgery on his posterior cruciate ligament while veteran forward Anthony Rocca (Achilles) remains on the sidelines. For the Blues, defender Michael Jamison returns after being a late withdrawal against Sydney but Joe Anderson (hamstring) will miss. Setanta O’hAilpin (soreness), Robbie Warnock (foot) and Simon Wiggins (hamstring) remain unavailable while Andrew Walker made a successful return from a shoulder injury in the VFL but will have to wait at least another week before a senior recall. Jarrad Waite is out for the year with a knee injury.

KEY MATCH-UPS: Tarkyn Lockyer vs. Chris Judd

Judd played a key role in Carlton’s drought-breaking win over Sydney, helping himself to 26 possessions, one goal and seven inside 50’s.

The last time these two sides met in round eight the Blues skipper racked up a game-high 32 disposals and pumped the football inside 50 eight times.

If the Magpies are going to have any hope of containing a potent Carlton forward line led by spearhead Brendan Fevola they will need to shut-down Judd’s run and carry.

Lockyer is one of Collingwood's hardest runners and could well be used in an attacking run with role on the 2004 Brownlow medallist.

The Pies will need Lockyer who has booted 25 goals this season to push forward at every available opportunity and have an impact on the scoreboard as it will force Judd to be accountable which in turn will help limit his impact on the contest as a damaging midfielder.

Aaron Joseph vs. Alan Didak

Didak was well below his best in the loss to the Hawks, managing just 17 possessions - the Collingwood star had gathered at least 33 disposals in each of his five previous matches

The Magpies will need a lift from the classy 26-year-old if they are going to secure a much-needed win to consolidate their place in the top four.

Joseph has been given some big tagging jobs so far this season and looms as the obvious candidate to run with Didak.

Hawthorn tagger Ben McGlynn was able to put Didak off his game last Saturday night with his constant niggling tactics - expect Joseph to try and do the same.

The Pies will need Didak to not get sucked in by Joseph and focus on doing what he does best - being creative with the football and setting up scoring opportunities for his teammates.

Simon Prestigiacomo vs. Brendan Fevola

Fevola continued his recent run of good form, booting five goals against the Swans to take his season tally to 40 goals.

The Blues spearhead faces a tough night at the office with Prestigiacomo who kept him goalless earlier in the year to be his direct opponent.

While Prestigiacomo has been one of the best defenders in the competition so far this season he will still need support from his midfield.

They will need to suffocate the Blues’ running game with their pressure skills otherwise Marc Murphy, Bryce Gibbs, Judd and co. will be able to continually deliver the football quickly and cleanly into the forward line.

Michael Jamison vs. Paul Medhurst

Medhurst hasn’t been his usual dangerous self in recent times, managing just four goals in his past three matches.

Collingwood will need the former Docker to fire if they are going to have any hope of kicking a big enough score to snap a three-game losing streak against Carlton.

Jamison has performed well on Medhurst in the past and will most likely be given first crack at the Magpies forward once again.

In the round eight clash the Pies were continually guilty of going too wide and moving the football too slowly into the forward line - they will need to be direct with their use of the football on Friday night otherwise Medhurst will struggle to have an impact.

VERDICT: When these two sides met earlier in the year the Carlton midfield dominated with Kade Simpson, Judd, Gibbs and Murphy all winning plenty of the football. With Fraser still out of the side you would expect the Blues much-vaunted on-ball division to win more of the football at the stoppages and provide Fevola and co. with enough quality supply to kick a winning score in what shapes as being a high-quality contest. Blues by 14 points.

CARLTON v COLLINGWOOD
CARLTON
B: Michael Jamison, Bret Thornton, Andrew Carrazzo
HB: Chris Johnson, Paul Bower, Bryce Gibbs
C: Marc Murphy, Kade Simpson, Heath Scotland
HF: Ryan Houlihan, Brad Fisher, Chris Yarran
F: Mark Austin, Brendan Fevola, Eddie Betts
Foll: Matthew Kreuzer, Chris Judd, Aaron Joseph
I/C: Greg Bentley, Shaun Grigg, Shaun Hampson, Jordan Russell
Emg: Dennis Armfield, Cameron Cloke, Adam Hartlett

In: Austin, Jamison
Out: Joe Anderson (hamstring), Adam Hartlett

COLLINGWOOD
B: Harry O’Brien, Simon Prestigiacomo, Heath Shaw
HB: Nick Maxwell, Chris Dawes, Tarkyn Lockyer
C: Jaxson Barham, Dayne Beams, Scott Pendlebury
HF: Steele Sidebottom, Travis Cloke, Paul Medhurst
F: Alan Didak, John Anthony, Dale Thomas
Foll: Cameron Wood, Dane Swan, Shane O’Bree
I/C: Ben Johnson, Leigh Brown, Leon Davis, Alan Toovey
Emg: Tyson Goldsack, Ben Reid, Sharrod Wellingham

In: Barham, Dawes, Sidebottom
Out: Nathan Brown (knee), Brad Dick, Sharrod Wellingham

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Contract talk wearing thin: Malthouse

July 23rd 2009 09:16
COLLINGWOOD coach Mick Malthouse says the protracted talks of his contract negotiations is 'starting to wear thin' with figures at the club.

Malthouse is out of contract at the end of the season while former club champion Nathan Buckley who is in the running for a senior coaching role at North Melbourne and Richmond has been linked with a move back to the Magpies as an assistant.

Speaking at a press conference at the Lexus Centre on Friday, Malthouse revealed he recently had talks with Buckley but refused to elaborate on what the pair dicussed.

Malthouse admitted the ongoing saga is starting to take its toll on some of his staff but said he didn't want the issue to distract the football department and the players from helping the club win games of football.

"I suppose it's probably starting to wear thin on a few blokes," Malthouse said.

"But the last thing I want to do is have any conjecture about the coaching thing disrupt the football club and, in particular, the football division - that's first and foremost in my mind."

"We mustn't allow anything from outside distract the playing group of the staff from getting the best out of this group on a week-to-week basis, so the last thing I'm going ... to appear to be concerned about is the conjecture about the coaching."

Malthouse, who has been coaching on a year-to-year basis for some time now, said he felt at the top of his game and declined to nominate when his time would be up at the Magpies.

"I feel very, very good - I feel very comfortable in my job, I know I'm getting the best out of my players, I'm getting the best out of myself," he said.

"I'm not about to declare that it's going to be one or two years when it could be five or six years, or it could be six months, too."

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Posted By: TonyK - Category: AFL News, Collingwood Magpies
   


Fraser booked in for surgery

July 23rd 2009 03:26
COLLINGWOOD ruckman Josh Fraser will miss the next two to three matches after being booked in for surgery to correct an ongoing knee problem.

Fraser will undergo surgery late on Thursday on a posterior cruciate ligament that he initially injured while representing Victoria in last year's Hall of Fame tribute match.

The 27-year-old missed five matches in the middle of last season because of his PCL complaint, which flared up again two weeks ago in the Magpies' one-point win over the Western Bulldogs..

Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse said Fraser was just having a clean up and was hopeful that the club's number one ruckman would only miss two games.

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AFL plans to move draft to prime time

July 23rd 2009 01:18
THE AFL put forward a proposal to dramatically change the format of this year's national draft in a meeting with the football managers of all 16 clubs on Wednesday.

Under the proposal the draft would be moved from Saturday morning, November 28 to prime time on Thursday evening, November 26.

The draft would be broadcast live on Fox Sports at 6.30pm and the first 10 picks would be conducted in the order of number 10 down to number one before the remainder of the draft continued in order from pick 11 upwards.

AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson said booming interest in the draft warranted the move.

"The AFL Draft is now one of the largest media events in our game, and the next step in the Draft’s evolution is for the AFL to consider a prime-time evening event on Thursday November 26," Anderson said.

"The interest in the selections made by every club continues to increase at a rapid rate each year, and the importance of drafting well and then developing young talent is known to every fan across football."

Clubs have a month to formally register responses to the plan.

Meanwhile, the MCG and Etihad Stadium will introduce a text line for crowd members to immediately report anti-social nuisance behavior during AFL games.

The text number will be displayed at the ground for each respective venue.


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Burgoyne to face Crows

July 22nd 2009 04:49
PORT ADELAIDE vice-captain Shaun Burgoyne will make his long-awaited return from a knee injury against Adelaide in Showdown XXVII on Sunday.

Burgoyne has not played since suffering severe bone bruising to his knee in the win over Melbourne in round three.

The 26-year-old has endured a frustrating rehabilitation period but has ramped up his workload over the past three weeks.

Power coach Mark Williams said Burgoyne would be used sparingly against the Crows.

"He's not going to play huge game time but we are thinking 50 percent of Shaun Burgoyne is better than 70 percent of someone else," Williams said.

Meanwhile, ruckman Brendon Lade is in some doubt to take his place in the side after being a notable absentee from training.

A club spokesman said a comment on Lade's status would be released on Wednesday afternoon

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Posted By: TonyK - Category: AFL News, Port Adelaide Power
   


Williams signs with Port for two years

July 22nd 2009 01:52
PORT ADELAIDE coach Mark Williams has ended speculation about his future by signing a two-year deal which will see him remain at the Power until at least the end of the 2011 season.

The club offered Williams the extension late last month but as the weeks passed and the contract remained unsigned rumours began to surface about his ambition to coach in Melbourne.

Williams said it was terrific to have the agreement finalised.

"Firstly, thanks to Ricky Nixon (manager), Mark Haysman (Power CEO) and the board for getting the agreement done in the timeframe we all set at the outset," Williams said.

"We said it would be 2-3 weeks, and that's been spot on."

"Secondly, I'm really excited about our list and where we're at, and look forward to working with Mark, Peter Rohde (operations manager) and all the coaching staff to develop the squad. We are looking forward to a new era and are setting up the club with a long-term focus."

Williams also dismissed suggestions he was unhappy with the contract.

"As is well known, I have been very willing to take a cut in pay for the long-term good of the club given our financial situation," he said.

"There's also been speculation about various other parts of the contract. After actually walking through the clauses in the contract over the last couple of weeks it became obvious to me that they would be of great benefit for both the club and for me. So there is no disagreement there at all – quite the opposite."

Port chief executive Mark Haysman said securing the services of the premiership coach for a further two years was great news for the club and that speculation over various clauses in Williams' contract had been wide of the mark.

"Mark is a premiership coach with a tremendous record of developing a young playing list to be a serious and consistent top-four contender, which is what we are setting about doing here," Haysman said.

"Mark has put the club first in accepting a substantial pay cut – and both parties have been open about that – but some of the speculation regarding what else may or may not be in Mark's contract has been wide of the mark."

"We believe the content of contracts should remain confidential, but our simple aim has been to provide a framework that enables Mark Williams to flourish and our team and club to improve, which we need to do to be a consistent top-four competitor."
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Posted By: TonyK - Category: AFL News, Port Adelaide Power
   


Bartel, Kelly set to return

July 21st 2009 10:43
GEELONG is set to be bolstered by the return of James Bartel and James Kelly for Saturday's blockbuster clash against reigning premiers Hawthorn at the MCG.

Bartel missed the 46-point win agaisnt Melbourne last Saturday because of a hip injury picked up against Brisbane the week before while Kelly has been sidelined for the past fortnight with a hamstring strain.

While Bartel and Kelly are almost certain to play, classy forward Steve Johnson who has missed the past three matches with a hip injury and skipper Tom Harley (knee) are in some doubt.

"Bartel is a good chance to come back, Kelly is a really good chance to come back and Stevie Johnson's got to tick a few boxes and Tom Harley the same," Cats coach Mark Thompson said.

"Johnson's about 70-30, maybe 80-20 and Harley's a touch behind Steve but I think he's pretty keen to play."

"The two most likely are Bartel and Kelly."


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Posted By: TonyK - Category: AFL News, Geelong Cats
   


Tippett puts off contract talks

July 21st 2009 10:27
ADELAIDE forward Kurt Tippett has elected to put off contract talks until the end of the year.

Tippett, who is contracted to the Crows until the end of the 2010 season, was born and bred on the Gold Coast and is believed to be a prime target for the new Gold Coast club.

Speaking at a media conference on Tuesday ahead of Sunday's Showdown, the 22-year-old said he wanted to delay contract talks so he could focus on playing football.

"I'm committed to the Crows, I've got a contract until the end of next season and contracts have just been put off so I can solely focus on playing football so it'll get sorted in the off-season," Tippett said.



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Posted By: TonyK - Category: AFL News, Adelaide Crows
   


Dawson out for two matches

July 21st 2009 10:13
ST KILDA defender Zac Dawson will miss the next two matches after failing to beat his rough conduct charge at the AFL Tribunal on Tuesday night.

Dawson's off-the-ball sheperd on Adelaide's Brad Symes was assessed as reckless, medium impact and body contact which equated to a total of 225 demerit points or a two-week suspension.

The in-form 23-year-old is likely to replaced by veteran defender Max Hudghton who has
has fully recovered from a badly sprained ankle suffered against Richmond in round 13.


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Posted By: TonyK - Category: AFL News, St Kilda Saints
   


Demons lose Jamar to injury

July 21st 2009 08:26
MELBOURNE has suffered a blow with in-form ruckman Mark Jamar ruled out for at least the next two to three weeks with a quad strain.

Jamar was found to have strained a quad after pulling up sore from last Saturday's 46-point loss to Geelong at Skilled Stadium.

Paul Johnson is likely to replace Jamar given that second-string ruckman John Meesen is out for remainder of the season with a foot injury while rookie-listed big man Jake Spencer is still trying to regain match fitness after being sidelined for three weeks with an ankle injury.

Meanwhile Paul Wheatley, who was a late withdrawal from the game against the Cats, will
miss at least the next fortnight because of a quad strain while promising youngster Jack Grimes (back) will need to pass a fitness test if he is to play against Sydney at Manuka Oval in Canberra on Sunday.
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Posted By: TonyK - Category: AFL News, Melbourne Demons
   


Blight joins Gold Coast board

July 21st 2009 05:03
MALCOLM Blight has joined the board of the Gold Coast Football Club.

Blight is one of the game's most decorated individuals, winning a Brownlow medal and two premierships with North Melbourne in the 1970s before coaching Adelaide to back-to-back flags.

The 59-year-old said he was looking forward to a new challenge.

"From what I have seen and through my discussions with John Witheriff and coach Guy McKenna, there is a very exciting and challenging path ahead for the Gold Coast Football Club," Blight said.

To have a role in helping to shape the organisation, its football and administration strategy and its community and cultural values, is different from any of my previous roles in football and a new challenge for me."

"I have been involved in a number of firsts in football as a player and a coach but now as a director I want to help create a successful club both on and off the field."

GCFC chairman John Witheriff said it was a coup for the club to secure the services of Blight.

"Malcolm Blight is one of football's all-time champion players not to mention innovative coaches," Witheriff said.

"To have Malcolm on the Gold Coast Football Club board providing his decades of insight and knowledge into what makes a club successful from a football perspective is a tremendous advantage for us as we build for 2011."

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Koschitzke accepts ban

July 21st 2009 04:45
ST KILDA forward Justin Koschitzke will miss Saturday night's clash against the Western Bulldogs after accepting a one-match ban for striking.

Koschitzke was charged with striking Adelaide's Richard Douglas during the third quarter of last Sunday's match.

The 26-year-old was unable to escape with a reprimand due to his previous poor record and risked missing two matches if he challenged the charge.

Meanwhile, the Saints opted to contest the the two-match suspension given to in-form defender Zac Dawson.

Dawson was booked for engaging in rough conduct against Crow defender Brad Symes and will be risking a two-match suspension when he contests the charge at the tribunal on Tuesday night.

The former Hawk could have accepted a one-match ban if he took the early guilty.

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Posted By: TonyK - Category: AFL News, St Kilda Saints
   


Masten earns nomination

July 21st 2009 00:34
WEST COAST youngster Chris Masten has been rewarded for his impressive performance against Port Adelaide with the round 16 NAB Rising Star nomination.

Masten collected a career-high 38 possessions and booted one goal in the Eagles' 36-point loss to the Power at AAMI Stadium on Sunday.

The former East Fremantle product made his AFL debut in round two last year and played nine matches before succumbing to osteitis pubis.

The 20-year-old has been a shining light for West Coast this season, playing 15 matches and averaging just over 20 disposals per game.

Masten, who was taken with pick three in the 2007 national draft, captained Western Australia to the 2007 AFL Under-18 Championships title and earned All-Australian honours for his performances.

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Posted By: TonyK - Category: AFL News, West Coast Eagles
   


Dockers pair part of police investigation

July 20th 2009 23:56
FREMANTLE has confirmed veteran Des Headland and youngster Michael Walters are part of a police investigation into a late-night brawl that occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Headland and Walters were allegedly in the vicinity of a brawl that erupted between 10-20 people at a taxi rank outside a hotel in the popular night club area of Leederville at around 1am on Sunday.

Dockers general manager of football operations Chris Bond said both players contacted club officials immediately following the incident.

"Because it is the subject of a police investigation the club is not in a position to comment," Bond said in a statement.

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Posted By: TonyK - Category: AFL News, Fremantle Dockers
   


Saints duo hit with one-match bans

July 20th 2009 08:16
ST KILDA has suffered a blow ahead of Saturday night's blockbuster clash against the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium with in-form defender Zac Dawson and forward Justin Koschitzke hit with one-match bans by the AFL match review panel on Monday.

Koschitzke's late spoil on Adelaide's Richard Douglas was assessed as reckless conduct, low impact and high contact, which equates to 125 demerit points but that rose to 204.69 points because of his previous record.

That means he is facing a two-match ban if the Saints elect to challenge that charge but by pleading guilty his tally will fall to 153.52 points and a one-match suspension.

Dawson, who has played every game with St Kilda in his first year with the ladder leaders after managing just 14 games in four years with Hawthorn, was charged with engaging in rough conduct against Adelaide's Brad Symes.

The former Hawk was given a two-match suspension for the incident which was assessed as reckless conduct, medium impact and body contact.

However, by pleading guilty Dawson can accept 168.75 demerit points and a one-match ban.

In other tribunal news, the panel looked at an incident involving Carlton’s Aaron Joseph and the Sydney youngster Patrick Veszpremi but chose to take no action after video footage of the clash was inconclusive.

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Posted By: TonyK - Category: AFL News, St Kilda Saints
   


Bradshaw to miss up to three weeks

July 20th 2009 07:46
BRISBANE forward Daniel Bradshaw could miss as many as three weeks with a hamstring injury.

Bradshaw suffered the injury in the first quarter of the Lions' 15-point win over Fremantle at Subiaco Oval on Saturday night.

Scans on Monday confirmed Bradshaw had done minor damage to his hamstring and will miss to two three weeks.

Meanwhile, utility Jared Brennan remains in doubt for the clash against North Melbourne at the Gabba on Saturday night after injuring his ankle against the Dockers.

"Jared Brennan we're still awaiting scans to get confirmed results on that, best case scenario is he's available this week, worst case he could be out for upwards of three," Brisbane coach Michael Voss said.

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Posted By: TonyK - Category: AFL News, Brisbane Lions
   


Another injury setback for Smith

July 20th 2009 04:57
NORTH MELBOURNE defender Jesse Smith looks set to miss the rest of the season after breaking down again.

Smith, who has been restricted to just 27 games in five seasons due to injury problems, was playing just his second comeback match in the VFL reserves when he again injured his hamstring on the weekend.

Kangaroos football manager Donald McDonald said the club was taking Smith's latest setback 'very seriously'.

"Jesse came off the ground yesterday with hamstring soreness and didn't take any further part in the match," McDonald said.

"Obviously we're treating this latest setback very seriously but we won't know the extent of the injury until tonight after he has had scans."

Meanwhile, the club confirmed that promising youngster Jack Ziebell who broke his leg in round 12 will also undergo surgery to correct a hip problem ruling him out for the rest of the year.

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Posted By: TonyK - Category: AFL News, Kangaroos
   


No extra time: AFL

July 20th 2009 04:47
THE AFL has no intention of introducing extra time in the home-and-away season despite calls for change following the draw between Richmond and North Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday.

Tigers caretaker coach Jade Rawlings renewed calls for extra time following his side's draw with North Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday.

"I reckon it would be great … two minutes each way or first score," Rawlings said at his post-match press conference.

"It would be gold. I would rather feel worse for losing or elated at winning than sitting there feeling nothing."

Kangaroos caretaker coach Darren Crocker said the result left his side feeling empty.

"There's not much joy in draws, it's a pretty empty feeling," Crocker said.

"When you've been where we've been over the last four weeks with the tight finishes and being in winnable positions in each of those games this feels like a loss because, again, we've let an opportunity slip to win a game.

Richmond star Matthew Richardson said the result left his teammates with a hollow feeling which he believes can be avoided.

"I walked into the change rooms after the game and it was a shocking feeling and I thought ‘Do we need these sorts of results when you can just play an extra five minutes?'," Richardson said on radio station Vega 91.5.

"I definitely think there’s a place for it."

However, the league said on Monday extra time wouldn't be seen in the regular season.

"The AFL has no consideration to changing it for the regular season," AFL spokesman Patrick Keane said.

"We play extra time in finals so that the grand final date is not altered and this was introduced in 1994."

"We will continue to have a replay if we have a drawn grand final."
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Silky Saints crush Crows

July 19th 2009 10:06
ST KILDA has maintained its unbeaten start to the season and ended Adelaide’s seven-game winning streak with a 57-point demolition at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

The Saints dominated after an entertaining opening term, slamming on 11 goals to three to prevail 15.15 (105) to 7.6 (48).

Highlighting St Kilda’s dominance was the fact that they had 110 more possessions than the Crows, won the inside 50 count 49-33 and the clearances 32-21 despite the late withdrawal of in-form ruckman Michael Gardiner.

Farren Ray played arguably his best game for the club, racking up a game-high 39 possessions and booting one goal.

The former Bulldog was well supported by Jason Gram, Lenny Hayes, Brendon Goddard, Leigh Montagna and Nick Dal Santo who all won plenty of the football.

Up forward, skipper Nick Riewoldt starred with 19 possessions, 12 marks and four goals while Stephen Milne chimed in with four majors.

Zac Dawson held Kurt Tippett to just two goals while Steven Baker (32 touches) kept Chris Knights quiet.

For the Crows, captain Simon Goodwin led from the front with a team-high 29 disposals while Scott Thompson was a busy contributor with 26 possessions.

Goodwin and Thompson battled hard throughout but they received very little support with several of Adelaide’s players down on their usual output.

After an even first term in which both sides booted four goals apiece, the Saints took control of the contest.

They applied relentless pressure all over the ground and won the inside 50 count 15-4.

Milne benefited from St Kilda’s dominance, booting three for the term while Riewoldt chimed in with two as the margin blew out to 34 points at the main break.

To their credit the Crows kept the Saints to just five goals after half-time but they managed only two of their own and were held goalless from the seven-minute mark of the second quarter until Scott Stevens kicked his second major three minutes into the final stanza.

St Kilda will now clash with the third-placed Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium next Saturday night while Adelaide will face Port in the Showdown on Sunday in what shapes as being a must-win match for the Crows if they are serious about finishing in the top four and claiming the all-important double chance.

ST KILDA: 4.4, 10.6, 13.13, 15.15 (105)
ADELAIDE: 4.2, 5.2, 5.4, 7.6 (48)
GOALS: St KildaMilne 4, Riewoldt 4, Schneider 2, Koschitzke, Ray, McQualter, Gram, McEvoy .
Adelaide: Stevens 2, Tippet 2, Knights, Martin, Dangerfield, .
BEST: St Kilda: Gram, Ray, Riewoldt, Hayes, Milne, Montagna, Dal Santo, Gilbert, Dawson, Baker
Adelaide: Goodwin, Thompson, Johncock,Rutten.
INJURIES: St Kilda: Koschitzke (hand).
Adelaide: Nil.
REPORTS: Nil.
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Tigers, Roos share points

July 19th 2009 07:52
RICHMOND and North Melbourne have played out the first draw of the season at the MCG on Sunday afternoon.

The Tigers led by seven goals at half-time but fell away badly in the second half and looked set to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory before a late goal from Mitch Morton levelled the scores at 12.13 (85) apiece.

The result means Kangaroos caretaker coach Darren Crocker is still looking for his first win in charge since taking over following the resignation of Dean Laidley last month while Richmond will be left ruing the one that got away.

Richard Tambling continued his recent run of good form with a team-high 27 possessions while skipper Chris Newman was a busy contributor with 26 touches and eight inside 50’s.

Shane Edwards generated plenty of run from defence while Jack Riewoldt booted three goals.

For the Kangaroos, captain Brent Harvey led from the front with a game-high 31 possessions and two goals while Sam Power (30) was also influential.

Hamish McIntosh was dominant in the ruck with 31 hit outs, 20 disposals and one goal while Leigh Harding kicked three second-half goals.

North got the first goal of the match through Lachlan Hansen after just four minutes of play but it was one-way traffic from that moment on.

The Tigers continually won the football at the stoppages and had 12 more entries inside their forward 50 than North in the first half as they slammed on 10 of the next 12 goals to open up a commanding 42-point lead at the main break.

Richmond was still well and truly in control in the midway through the third term with a 43-point advantage before the Kangaroos finally sparked into action.

Harvey was exerting his influence in the middle and Harding chimed in with two goals before a late major from Andrew Swallow saw the Roos reduce the deficit to just 16 points at three-quarter time.

Two goals from Harvey in the final stanza saw North get to within a kick before Riewoldt had a chance to give his side some breathing space but he dropped an easy mark just 30m out at the 21-minute mark.

The Tigers paid the ultimate price with David Hale kicking truly moments later to put the Roos in front by a point with just four minutes left on the clock.

Tambling then had a chance to give his side back the lead but his set shot from an acute angle hit the post.

North was allowed to sweep the ball from one end of the ground to the other and appeared to have secured the four premiership points when Harding ran into an open goal to give his side a six-point buffer with just over a minute remaining.

But Richmond refused to give in and won the next centre clearance and pumped the football inside 50 where Morton dribbled one home from close range.

North was denied one last opportunity to snap a six-game losing streak with the umpire paying a doubtful free kick against Hale who marked inside 50 in the dying seconds.

RICHMOND: 4.5, 10.6, 11.9, 12.13 (85)
NORTH MELBOURNE: 1.3, 3.6, 8.11, 12.13 (85)
GOALS: Richmond: Riewoldt 3, Nahas 2, Morton 2, Edwards, Polo, Coughlan, Hislop, White
North Melbourne: Harding 3, Harvey 2, Hale 2, McIntosh, Hansen, Swallow, Jones, Greenwood
BEST: Richmond: Tambling, Newman, Edwards, Tuck, McMahon, Thursfield
North Melbourne: Harvey, Power, McIntosh, Harding, Thompson, Swallow, Rawlings
INJURIES: Richmond: Nil
North Melbourne: Nil
UMPIRES: James, Margett, Sully
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Richmond Cousins and Cotchin (both ill) replaced in selected side by McMahon and Coughlan
CROWD: 30,604 at MCG

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Posted By: TonyK - Category: AFL News, Richmond Tigers
   


Port outclass Eagles

July 19th 2009 06:43
PORT ADELAIDE has kept its season alive with a 36-point win over West Coast at AAMI Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The Power got the early jump and were never seriously challenged as they cruised to a 17.10 (112) to 11.10 (76) victory.

The victory sees Port move to ninth place on the AFL ladder with an 8-8 win-loss record while the Eagles have now lost their past 19 matches away from home.

Jason Davenport got the Power going in the first term and finished the match with 26 possessions and two goals while Kane Cornes (27 disposals) kept Matt Priddis to just 13 touches.

Steven Salopek (27) and skipper Domenic Cassisi (26 disposals and 14 tackles) were also instrumental in the win while David Rodan showed his class with 23 possessions and two goals including a contender for goal-of-the-year in the third term.

Jacob Surjan restricted Eagles goal sneak Mark LeCras to two majors while Brett Ebert was his side’s most productive forward with three goals.

For the Eagles, youngster Chris Masten tried hard all day and racked up a game-high 38 disposals and booted one goal, Matt Rosa (26) was a busy contributor while Ashley Hansen chimed in with three majors.

West Coast got the first goal of the match through Patrick McGinnity but the rest of the term belonged to the Power.

They smashed the Eagles at the stoppages and moved the football quickly into the forward line with precision as they slammed on six unanswered goals.

Davenport was particularly influential with 12 possessions, four tackles, two goal assists and two goals to help the Power to a 34-point lead at quarter-time.

Port could have been even further in front at the first change but they kicked a wasteful 6.5 for the term.

Back-to-back goals from Hansen and LeCras in the second term gave the Eagles a glimmer of hope but Port had all the answers as they piled on the last four majors of the first half to go into the main break with a commanding 47-point break.

West Coast lifted their rating in the third term and won the inside 50 count 15-9 but they continually let themselves down with their use of the football going forward.

While the Eagles were wasteful the Power was efficient, managing five goals from their nine inside 50 entries to open up a match-winning 58-point lead at three-quarter time.

With the result well and truly beyond doubt the Power took their foot off the pedal in the final stanza as the Eagles booted five goals to two to add some respectability to the scoreboard.

PORT ADELAIDE: 6.5, 10.8, 15.9, 17.10 (112)
WEST COAST: 1.1,3.3, 6.5,11.10 (76)
GOALS: PORT: Ebert 3, Davenport 2, Tredrea 2, Rodan 2, Gray 2, Salter 2, Broadbent 2, K.Cornes, J.Westhoff
WEST COAST: Hansen 3, Lynch 2, LeCras 2, McGinnity, Kennedy, Rosa, Masten
BEST: PORT: Davenport, Cassisi, Salopek, K.Cornes, Surjan, Rodan, C.Cornes, Brogan
WEST COAST: Masten, Rosa, Selwood, Lynch, Ebert
INJURIES: PORT: TBC
WEST COAST: TBC
REPORTS: TBC
CHANGES: Tyson Stenglein replaced in the selected side by Nic Naitanui
UMPIRES: Vosso, Hay, Pannell
CROWD: 21,106 at the AAMI STADIUM

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Posted By: TonyK - Category: AFL News, Port Adelaide Power
   


Richards set to miss rest of season

July 19th 2009 01:41
SYDNEY defender Ted Richards' season appears to be over after he suffered broken ribs and a punctured lung late in Saturday's 61-point loss to Carlton at Etihad Stadium.

Richards collected a knee in the ribs from Blues spearhead Brendan Fevola in a marking contest in the final minute of play.

The former Bomber was coughing up blood as he struggled to his knees but managed to walk from the field with the assistance of Sydney club doctor Nathan Gibbs.

He was taken to hospital where he will remain for two to three days before requiring ground transport to return to Sydney.

Gibbs said Richards is doing well but will be sidelined with the injury for a minimum of six weeks.

"We monitored him and got him straight to hospital where he had a chest drain inserted into his lung to re-inflate the lung," Gibbs said.

"He is now doing well and his lung is back to two-thirds its size within ten minutes of the drain being inserted."

With just six games remaining in the home-and-away season and the Swans two games and percentage outside the top eight it is likely that Richards has played his last game for the year.
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Round sixteen preview: St Kilda v Adelaide

July 18th 2009 15:30
VENUE and TIME: Etihad Stadium, Sunday 19 July, 4.40pm (AEST)

HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 29, St Kilda 12, Adelaide 16, Drawn: 1

LAST TIME: St Kilda 15.11 (101) def Adelaide 10.9 (69), Round 2 2009 at AAMI Stadium

RECENT HISTORY: St Kilda has won four of its past five against Adelaide with three of those wins coming at Etihad Stadium.

FORM: St Kilda maintained its unbeaten start to the season with a hard-fought 20-point win over West Coast at Subiaco Oval last Sunday. Adelaide stretched its winning streak to seven with a 117-point demolition of a hapless Fremantle side at AAMI Stadium. The Crows are in fifth spot on the AFL ladder with a 9-6 win-loss record.

MEDICAL ROOM: The Saints are still without experienced defender Max Hudghton (ankle) while Max Hudghton while Jarryd Allen is sidelines indefinitely with a hip injury. Xavier Clarke is out for the season with a serious knee injury. For the Crows, star forward Brett Burton makes his return from a knee injury but veteran midfielder Tyson Edwards (hamstring) will miss the clash against the ladder leaders. Trent Hentschel (knee), Jarrhan Jacky (hamstring) and Nick Gill (ankle) are at least a couple of weeks away while Brad Moran (knee) and Shaun McKernan (broken arm) are sidelined indefinitely.

KEY MATCH-UPS: Clinton Jones vs. Scott Thompson

Thompson has been one of his side’s most damaging midfielders so far this season, averaging 27 possessions per game.

The former Demon provides plenty of drive through the middle - he leads the Crows for clearances and is second for inside 50’s.

Limiting his influence in the middle will be a key for the Saints if they are going to contain the likes of Jason Porplyxia and Kurt Tippett.

Jones has been given the job on the opposition’s most influential midfielder each week so far in 2009 and has more than held his own.

Expect the former East Fremantle product to be given the task of running with Thompson in what shapes as being a pivotal duel.

Thompson will need his teammates to block for him at the stoppages as Jones will apply relentless pressure all day.

Nathan Bock vs. Nick Riewoldt

Riewoldt failed to have his usual impact against the Eagles, managing just one goal.

The Saints skipper rarely has two quiet games in a row and will need to be contained if the Crows are going to continue their winning streak.

Bock has the height and tank to run with Riewoldt and will be given the job on the St Kilda star in what will be a crucial match-up in determining the outcome of this contest.

St Kilda was guilty of being sloppy with their use of the football going forward at times in the win over the Eagles - they can’t afford to do the same against the Crows otherwise they will be punished on the rebound by the likes of Bock who has averaged 23 disposals per game so far this season.

Robert Shirley vs. Leigh Montagna

Montagna continued his brilliant run of form with a game-high 44 possessions and 12 inside 50’s against West Coast.

The 26-year-old is damaging with his ability to break the lines and use the football cleanly.

If the Crows are going to have any hope of containing a potent St Kilda forward line that is the third most productive in the AFL they will need to shut-down Montagna.

Shirley is a traditional tagger in the sense that he isn’t capable of hurting his opponent going the other way, therefore he will need to be switched on defensively for the full quarters and not give Montagna any time or space in which to work in otherwise he will cut Adelaide to shreds with his sublime skills.

Zac Dawson vs. Kurt Tippett

Tippett has been a revelation up forward this season and has been particularly impressive in the past couple of weeks, booting 10 goals in his past two games to take his season tally to 32 majors.

The promising 22-year-old will find the going a lot tougher against a Saints side that has the conceded the least number of points this year.

Dawson has been an integral part of St Kilda'a backline and will most likely be given first crack at Tippett.

If Tippett is going to have any hope of having an impact on the scoreboard he will need his teammates to move the football quickly into the forward line otherwise the Saints will have time to push numbers back and they will continually rebound the football out of defensive 50.

VERDICT: St Kilda could be a little vulnerable after a bruising encounter with Geelong and a trip to Perth and there is no better side to take advantage than Adelaide which has been firing on all cylinders in recent times. Instrumental in the Crows’ success has been Tippett and Porplyzia but they will struggle to have the same sort of impact that they have had in their side’s winning run against the best defence in the competition. Saints by nine points.

ST KILDA v ADELAIDE
ST KILDA
B: Jason Blake, Sam Gilbert, Zac Dawson
HB: Steven Baker, Sam Fisher, Farren Ray
C: Brendon Goddard, Andrew McQualter, Leigh Montagna
HF: Jason Gram, Nick Riewoldt, Robert Eddy
F: Clint Jones, Justin Koschitzke, Stephen Milne
Foll: Michael Gardiner, Lenny Hayes, Nick Dal Santo
I/C: Raphael Clarke, Sean Dempster, Steven King, Adam Schneider
Emg: David Armitage, Ben McEvoy, Jarryn Geary
In: King, Schneider
Out: Luke Ball, Ben McEvoy

ADELAIDE
B: Graham Johncock, Ben Rutten, Andy Otten
HB: Simon Goodwin, Nathan Bock, Brent Reilly
C: David Mackay, Scott Thompson, Richard Douglas
HF: Chris Knights, Scott Stevens, Andrew McLeod
F: Jason Porplyzia, Kurt Tippett, James Sellar
Foll: Ivan Maric, Bernie Vince, Patrick Dangerfield
I/C: Michael Doughty, Robert Shirley, Brad Symes, Brett Burton
Emg: Phil Davis, Jared Petrenko, Brodie Martin
In: Burton, Douglas
Out: Tyson Edwards (hamstring), Nathan van Berlo

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Round sixteen preview: Richmond v North Melbourne

July 18th 2009 15:26
VENUE and TIME: MCG, Sunday 19 July, 2.10pm (AEST)

HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 146: Richmond 81, North 64, Drawn 1

LAST TIME: Richmond 13.16 (94) d North Melbourne 7.16 (58) at Etihad Stadium, Round 5, 2009

RECENT HISTORY: North Melbourne has won six of its past eight matches against Richmond.

FORM: North Melbourne has lost its past six matches but they have been very competitive in the three since Darren Crocker took over as caretaker coach following the resignation of Dean Laidley. The Kangaroos are in 13th spot with a 4-11 win-loss record. Richmond have lost their past three but have been competitive in the past fortnight against Adelaide and Carlton. The Tigers have won three games for the year.

MEDICAL ROOM: The Tigers will be without key defender Kelvin Moore (calf) while vice-captain Nathan Foley remains on the sidelines with an ankle/calf injury sustained in round 14. Veteran Matthew Richardson is a couple of weeks away from returning from a hamstring tendon injury. For the Kangaroos, youngster Gavin Urquhart (groin) will miss while star midfielder Daniel Wells is sidelines indefinitely with a groin injury. Jack Ziebell and Ben Warren are out for the season with fractured fibulas.

KEY MATCH-UPS: Daniel Jackson vs. Brent Harvey

Harvey was well below his best in the loss to the Hawks, managing just 14 possessions.

North will need a lift from their skipper if they are going to have any hope of snapping a six-game losing streak.

When he is on song Harvey is able to hurt sides with his ability to break the lines, pump the football inside 50 and kick goals.

Richmond will be keen to shut-down the drive he provides and will use the in-form Jackson in a run with role.

Jackson was once again among his side’s best against the Blues, helping himself to 32 disposals.

Harvey will need to be switched on and work hard both ways otherwise Jackson who has averaged 24 touches per game so far this season will hurt him going the other way.

Brady Rawlings vs. Brett Deledio

The last time these two sides met in round five Deledio was among his team’s best with 25 possessions, one goal and five inside 50’s.

Deledio is an integral part of the Richmond midfield with his ability to break the lines, deliver the football inside 50 and kick goals.

Quelling his influence in the middle will be a key for the Kangaroos if they are going to have any hope of starving the Tigers’ forwards of quality supply.

Rawlings is North’s number one stopper in the middle and looms as the obvious candidate to tag last year’s best-and-fairest winner in what shapes as being a pivotal duel.

Deledio has shown at times this season he still struggles to cope with a tight tag so expect Rawlings to apply relentless pressure all day and not give the Tigers young gun any time or space at the stoppages.

Will Thursfield vs. David Hale

Hale has struggled in recent weeks, managing just one goal in the past fortnight.

If the Kangaroos are going to have any hope of kicking a winning score they will need Hale to lift and make the most of his chances in front of goal - he has kicked a wasteful 1.5 in the past two games.

Thursfield had nine goals kicked on him by Carlton spearhead Brendan Fevola last weekend and will be keen to redeem himself with a good performance on Hale on Sunday.

The 23-year-old defender is giving away 10cms to Hale so if North Melbourne use the corridor and get the football quickly into the forward line the Kangaroos forward could kick a bag if his radar is on.

Josh Gibson vs. Jack Riewoldt

Riewoldt was his side’s most productive forward in the clash between these two sides earlier in the year with three majors and was also the Tigers most dangerous forward against the Blues last weekend with three majors.

The cousin of St Kilda star Nick Riewoldt has shown some promising signs so far this season and the Tigers will need him to fire if they are going to have any chance of recording just their fourth win of the season.

Gibson has been a solid performer down back so far in ‘09 and will most likely be given first crack at Riewoldt.

The Tigers had their chances to record a win against the Blues but they let themselves down with their kicking in front of goal.

It is vital for Richmond that the likes of Riewoldt make the most of their chances early and apply scoreboard pressure.

VERDICT: Dating back to 1990 Richmond has only defeated North Melbourne twice in the one season on one occasion - in 2001. Expect the Tigers - who accounted for the Kangaroos earlier in the year - to do the double over the Roos on Sunday as the men from Arden St will be a little flat after playing in atrocious conditions in Launceston last weekend and will struggle to contain Richmond’s run through the middle. Tigers by 21 points.

RICHMOND v NORTH MELBOURNE
RICHMOND
B: Jake King, Will Thursfield, Chris Newman
HB: Dean Polo, Luke McGuane, Matthew White
C: Trent Cotchin, Shane Tuck, Brett Deledio
HF: Robin Nahas, Jack Riewoldt, Jayden Post
F: Tyrone Vickery, Mitch Morton, Ben Cousins
Foll: Angus Graham, Daniel Jackson, Richard Tambling
I/C: Tom Hislop, Alex Rance, Shane Edwards, Jarrod Silvester
Emg: Adam Pattison, Jordan McMahon, Mark Coughlan
In: Silvester
Out: Kelvin Moore (calf)

NORTH MELBOURNE
B: Brady Rawlings, Scott Thompson, Nathan Grima
HB: Scott McMahon, Josh Gibson, Michael Firrito
C: Levi Greenwood, Liam Anthony, Drew Petrie
HF: Leigh Harding, Lachie Hansen, Lindsay Thomas
F: Brent Harvey, David Hale, Corey Jones
Foll: Hamish McIntosh, Adam Simpson, Andrew Swallow
I/C: Sam Power, Leigh Adams, Todd Goldstein, Daniel Pratt
Emg: Daniel Harris, Ben Ross Aaron Edwards
In: Goldstein, Pratt
Out: Gavin Urquhart (groin), Daniel Harris
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Round sixteen preview: Port Adelaide v West Coast

July 18th 2009 15:22
VENUE and TIME: AAMI Stadium, Sunday 19 July, 1.10pm (AEST)

HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 18, Port Adelaide 12, West Coast 6

LAST TIME: West Coast 19.11 (125) def Port Adelaide 10.15 (75), Round 2, 2009 at Subiaco.Oval

RECENT HISTORY: Port Adelaide has won seven of its past ten matches against West Coast.

FORM: Port Adelaide’s poor form away from home continued when they went down to Melbourne by 11 points at the MCG last Sunday. The Power have won just one of their eight matches on the road and find themselves outside the top eight with a 7-8 win-loss record. West Coast matched ladder leaders St Kilda for three quarters before the Saints eventually prevailed by 20 points. The Eagles have lost seven of their past nine matches and hold a 4-11 record.

MEDICAL ROOM: Port welcome back Travis Boak from a knee strain but will be without Tom Logan (illness). Hamish Hartlett (hamstring) is at least two weeks away from remaining while star midfielder Shaun Burgoyne remains on the sidelines with a knee injury. For the Eagles, star duo Dean Cox and Daniel Kerr will miss with groin related problems while Mark Nicoski is out with a back injury. Brett Jones (hamstring) will miss at least another week while Adam Hunter (shoulder), Jamie McNamara (corked thigh), Luke Shuey (fibula) and Brent Staker (hand fracture) remain unavailable. Rugged utility Beau Waters is out for the season with a dislocated elbow.

KEY MATCH-UPS: Adam Selwood vs. Danyle Pearce

Pearce came in for some criticism after his performance against Melbourne with former Hawk and now Triple M commentator Shane Crawford saying Pearce 'hoisted the white flag' against the Demons while former Power player Josh Francou thinks the hot-and-cold midfielder should be traded.

The 2006 NAB Rising Star winner will be keen to bounce back with a big game against the Eagles and will need to be contained because when he is consistently breaking the lines and pumping the football inside 50 the Power invariably goes on to win.

Selwood is West Coast’s number one stopper in the middle and looms as the obvious candidate to run with the hot-and-cold 23-year-old.

Pearce is dangerous in space but is not effective when he is closely tagged so expect Selwood to apply relentless pressure all day.

The Power will need Pearce to lift his intensity otherwise he will struggle to break Selwood’s tag.

Kane Cornes vs. Matt Priddis

Priddis has been West Coast’s most prolific midfielder so far this season, averaging 26 disposals per game.

The 24-year-old does his best work in close - he leads the Eagles for first possessions and clearances.

With Cox and Kerr out of the side the Eagles will need Priddis to be switched on at the stoppages and win his fair share of the football otherwise they will be smashed in the middle.

However, he faces a tough afternoon at the office as he will be matched up by one of the best taggers in the competition in Cornes.

Not only will Cornes make Priddis earn every possession he will also try and hurt him going the other way - the Port midfielder collected 35 touches and booted two goals against Melbourne.

Darren Glass vs. Warren Tredrea

Tredrea was well below his best in the loss to the Demons, managing just seven possessions and one goal.

The former Port skipper will be primed for a big game to help keep his side in touch with the top eight.

Tredrea spends the majority of his time close to goal so you would expect Glass to line-up on him in what shapes as being a pivotal duel in determining the outcome of this match.

In last weekend’s loss to Melbourne the Power was smashed at the stoppages and had 14 fewer entries inside 50 in the first half.

Tredrea will need his midfield to be switched on from the outset and have them move the football quickly into the forward line otherwise he will struggle to have an impact against Glass who is one of the best one-on-one defenders in the AFL.

Jacob Surjan vs. Mark LeCras

LeCras has been the Eagles most productive forward this season, booting 39 goals in 14 games.

The classy 22-year-old was dangerous against the Saints but wasn’t his usual accurate self in front of goal, finishing the match with a wasteful 2.3 - West Coast will need him to make the most of his chances if they are going to have any hope of recording their first win away from home in more than 18 months.

Surjan has the ability to match LeCras overhead and also at ground level and will most likely be given first crack at the Eagles goal sneak.

West Coast was able to kick a winning score against the Power in round two because they were prepared to use the corridor and kick the football long into the forward line - they will need to do the same on Sunday if LeCras is going to have any hope of having an impact on the scoreboard.

VERDICT: Port Adelaide simply must win this match if they are serious about playing finals football this season. West Coast was impressive against St Kilda last weekend but they have struggled away from home for some time now and expect their poor form on the road to continue with Brendon Lade and Dean Brogan likely to dominate Mark Seaby and youngster Nic Naitanui in the ruck and provide their midfield with first use of the football. Power by 28 points.

PORT ADELAIDE v WEST COAST
PORT ADELAIDE
B: Alipate Carlile, Toby Thurstans, Jacob Surjan
HB: Nathan Krakouer, Chad Cornes, Paul Stewart
C: Steven Salopek, Dom Cassisi, Travis Boak
HF: Robert Gray, Warren Tredrea, David Rodan
F: Brett Ebert, Brendon Lade, Justin Westhoff
Foll: Dean Brogan, Kane Cornes, Danyle Pearce
I/C: Matthew Broadbent, Jason Davenport, Nick Lower, Nick Salter
Emg: Danny Meyer, Michael Pettigrew, Matthew Westhoff
In: Boak, Broadbent, Lower, Salter
Out: Tom Logan (illness), Josh Carr, Peter Burgoyne, Michael Pettigrew
New: Matthew Broadbent (Woodville-West Torrens)

WEST COAST
B: Matt Spangher, Darren Glass, David Wirrpanda
HB: Andrew Embley, Eric Mackenzie, Shannon Hurn
C: Adam Selwood, Matt Priddis, Matt Rosa
HF: Sam Butler, Josh Kennedy, Pat McGinnity
F: Quinten Lynch, Mitch Brown, Mark LeCras
Foll: Mark Seaby, Brad Ebert, Chris Masten
I/C: Adam Cockie, Ashley Hansen, Tim Houlihan, Tyson Stenglein
Emg: Ryan Davis, Nic Naitanui, Mark Nicoski
In: Seaby, Houlihan
Out: Dean Cox (groin), Mark Nicoski (back)



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Lions overcome Dockers

July 18th 2009 13:18
BRISBANE has kept its top four hopes alive with a hard-fought 15-point win over Fremantle in wet conditions at Subiaco Oval on Saturday night.

The Lions booted six goals to three in the second half to record a valuable 9.8 (62) to 7.5 (47) win.

Some of the gloss was taken off the win for Brisbane with forward Daniel Bradshaw suffering a hamstring injury while utility Jared Brennan injured his ankle.

Meanwhile, the Dockers were reduced to 20 men with Chris Tarrant (knee) and midfielder Andrew Foster (ankle) also failed to finish the match.

Brisbane young gun Daniel Rich did his chances of winning the NAB Rising Star award no harm with a game-high 31 possessions and one goal while skipper Jonathan Brown proved to be the difference between the two sides with four goals.

Bradd Dalziell and Simon Black were also instrumental in the win with 22 and 21 touches respectively.

For Fremantle, Garrick Ibbotson worked hard all night and finished with a team-high 27 disposals while Paul Duffield and Paul Hasleby continued their good form with 26 disposals apiece.

The Dockers adapted quicker to the conditions in the opening stanza - they were long and direct with their use of the football as they booted two goals to one for the quarter to go into the first change with an eight-point lead.

Brisbane’s only goal for the term came off the boot of Bradshaw who converted after being given a free kick.

Fremantle dominated the first 20 minutes of the second term but only managed one goal through Adam Campbell during that period.

Mitch Clark’s contested mark and goal kept the Lions within striking distance before Dockers youngster Nic Suban drilled home a brilliant 60m goal.

Brown’s first late in the half reduced the deficit to just seven points heading into the main break.

Quick goals from Justin Sherman and Brown in the first four minutes of the third term saw the Lions open up an eight-point advantage before Kepler Bradley slotted one home from the boundary line.

Brown took advantage of Tarrant’s absence to kick his third while Rich kicked a classy goal from 55m to give Brisbane some breathing space.

Despite having 10 fewer entries inside 50 in the third quarter the Dockers trailed by just eight points at the final change after David Mundy kicked a goal from outside the arc.

Goals were hard to come by in the final stanza with the first major not coming until the 11-minute mark with Dalziell kicking truly before Brown’s fourth sealed the Lions’ 10th win of the season.

FREMANTLE: 2.3, 4.4, 6.6, 7.5 (47)
BRISBANE: 1.1, 3.3, 7.7, 9.8 (62)
GOALS: Fremantle: Bradley 2, Campbell, Thornton, Suban, Mundy
Brisbane: Brown 4, Bradshaw, Clark, Rich, Sherman
BEST: Fremantle: Duffield, Grover, Pearce, Suban, Tarrant, Solomon
Brisbane: Rich, Brown, Black, Patfull,
INJURIES: Fremantle: Foster (ankle), Tarrant (knee)
Brisbane: Bradshaw (hamstring), Brennan (ankle/knee TBC)
REPORTS: TBC
CHANGES: Nil
UMPIRES: Donlon, Dalgleish, Wenn
CROWD: 22,595 at Subiaco
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Hawks pummel Pies

July 18th 2009 12:35
HAWTHORN remains in touch with the top eight after disposing of Collingwood by 45 points at the MCG on Saturday night.

The Hawks broke the game wide open in the third term before eventually prevailing 18.13 (121) to 11.10 (76)

The result end’s the Magpies’ seven-game winning streak and sees the reigning premiers move to ninth spot on the AFL ladder with an 8-8 win-loss record.

Collingwood could lose their grip on fourth place if Adelaide defeats ladder leaders St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Luke Hodge starred in the middle with a team-high 34 possessions and three goals while skipper Sam Mitchell was also influential with 25 touches and three majors.

Hodge and Mitchell were well supported by Jordan Lewis (29), Chance Bateman (27) and Brad Sewell (25) while Ben McGlynn kept Collingwood star Alan Didak to just 17 disposals.

Lance Franklin did the damage up forward with five goals but he could have finished with an even bigger bag had he made the most of his chances - he finished with four behinds.

For the Magpies, Dane Swan continued his brilliant season with a game-high 35 possessions and one goal while Heath Shaw generated plenty of run from defence with 32 touches.

Tarkyn Lockyer was a busy contributor with 17 disposals and three goals while Leon Davis (23 possessions) tried hard all night.

Franklin was lively early, collecting seven touches and booting two of the Hawks’ three goals in the opening stanza to help his side to a seven-point lead at quarter-time.

Hawthorn dominated the centre clearances early in the second term and extended their lead to 12 points when Franklin kicked truly at the eight-minute mark.

The Magpies responded through Swan who intercepted a handpass in Hawthorn’s backline and dribbled one home before Hodge nailed a set shot from inside 50.

The rest of the term belonged to Collingwood who suffocated the Hawks with their relentless pressure all over the ground.

The Magpies laid 27 tackles to eight during the second quarter and punished Hawthorn on the rebound as they slammed on the last four goals of the half with Lockyer chiming in with two to help give the Pies am 11-point buffer at half-time.

Hawthorn played the best quarter of football for the season in the third term.

They were precise with their skills and ran in waves as they piled on seven unanswered goals to open up a commanding 32-point break at three-quarter time.

The result was put beyond doubt early in the final term with Franklin kicking a brilliant team goal to seal a vital victory for the Hawks.

Hawthorn faces another big test when they clash with Geelong at the MCG next Saturday while Collingwood will face arch-rivals Carlton at the home of football on Friday night.

COLLINGWOOD:2.3, 7.5, 7.7, 11.10 (76)
HAWTHORN:3.4, 5.6, 12.9, 18.13 (121)
GOALS: Collingwood: Lockyer 3, Anthony 2, Swan, O’Bree, Medhurst, Pendlebury, Wood, Beams.
Hawthorn: Franklin 5, Mitchell 3, Hodge 3, Roughead 2, Rioli, Dowler,McGlynn, Ellis, Lewis,
BEST: Collingwood: Swan, Shaw, Lockyer, Davis
Hawthorn: Hodge,, Mitchell, Lewis, Bateman, Franklin, Sewell, Taylor, Schoenmakers
INJURIES: Collingwood: Nil
Hawthorn: Nil
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Goldsack (Collingwood) replaced by Wellingham.
UMPIRES: McBurney, Nicholls, McInerney
CROWD: 66,149 at the MCG

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Blues smash Swans

July 18th 2009 07:50
CARLTON is one step closer to playing finals for the first time since 2001 after thumping Sydney to the tune of 61 points at Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Blues’ 19.10 (124) to 9.9 (63) triumph ends a 12-game losing streak against the Swans and is also the first time they have won three games in a row since 2004.

The result sees Carlton improve to a 9-7 win-loss record while Sydney (6-10) needs to win at least five of their last six matches to have any hope of featuring in September action.

Kade Simpson generated plenty of run with a team-high 30 possessions and one goal while skipper Chris Judd was influential in close and finished with 26 disposals.

The Blues had 10 individual goal kickers for the match - in-form spearhead Brendan Fevola the most effective with five while Brad Fisher chimed in with three valuable goals.

For the Swans, Ryan O’Keefe continued his brilliant run of form with 33 touches, nine marks, 14 tackles and two goals while Jesse White showed he is a star of the future with four majors.

Jarrad McVeigh and Rhyce Shaw tried hard all day, racking up 30-plus disposals while Darren Jolly was dominant in the ruck with 42 hit outs.

Sydney kicked the first goal of the match through O’Keefe but majors from Fevola, Matthew Kreuzer and Judd saw the Blues skip out to a 14-point lead midway through the term.

Two goals from White who was causing all sorts of headaches for Adam Hartlett ensured the Swans trailed by just three points at the first change.

The Swans dominated possession in the second term - 112 to 63 - and went into the main break with a nine-point advantage after booting three goals to one for the quarter with a neat snap from White from deep in the pocket the highlight.

A Luke Ablett major early in the second term saw the margin blow out to 15 points but that only served to spark the Blues into action.

Carlton got their running game going and piled on six unanswered goals with Fisher chiming in with three to help his side to a 21-point lead at the 22-minute mark.

The Blues attempted to wind down the clock but it backfired with the Swans hitting back with two majors in the last minute of play from White and O’Keefe to close to within nine points at three-quarter-time.

Two goals in the opening two minutes of the final stanza from Bryce Gibbs and Andrew Carrazzo quashed any hopes of a come-from-behind win for Sydney before Carlton added a further seven goals to cap off an impressive win.

CARLTON: 3.4, 4.6, 10.8, 19.10 (124)
SYDNEY: 3.1, 6.3, 9.5, 9.9 (63)
GOALS: Carlton: Fevola 5, Fisher 3, Kreuzer 2, Gibbs 2, Murphy 2, Judd, Carrazzo, Simpson, Betts, Yarran
Sydney: White 4, O'Keefe 2, O'Loughlin, Jolly, Ablett
BEST: Carlton: Judd, Simpson, Murphy, Kreuzer, Fevola,
Sydney: O'Keefe, White, McVeigh, Shaw, Jolly
INJURIES: Carlton: Nil
Sydney: Richards (ribs)
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Michael Jamison replaced in Carlton's selected side by Adam Hartlett; Mike Pyke and Nick Malceski replaced in Sydney's selected side by Paul Bevan and Luke Ablett
UMPIRES: Rosebury, Schmitt, Avon
CROWD: 42,018 at Etihad Stadium
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Cats too good for Demons

July 18th 2009 07:23
GEELONG has snapped a two-game losing streak with a 46-point win over Melbourne at Skilled Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Cats set up their 14th win of the season with a dominant first term before cruising to a 17.15 (117) to 11.5 (71) victory.

Highlighting Geelong’s dominance was the fact that 21 players had 10 or more disposals.

Gary Ablett did his Brownlow medal chances no harm with a game-high 40 possessions and two goals while Joel Selwood and Paul Chapman were influential with 31 disposals apiece.

Cameron Ling kept Brock McLean to just seven touches while Matthew Scarlett (30 disposals) held Melbourne veteran Russell Robertson goalless.

Corey Enright (24 possessions) had the better of his duel with Aaron Davey while Darren Milburn was busy in defence with 24 touches.

For the Demons, Brad Green and Brent Moloney tried hard all day and finished with 27 possessions apiece while Matthew Bate and Cale Morton kicked three goals each.

The Cats stamped their authority on the contest in the opening stanza, continually winning the football and pumping it inside 50 20 times for seven unanswered goals to open up a commanding 44-point lead at quarter-time.

Melbourne started to get on top at the stoppages in the second term and kicked the first three goals of the quarter.

However, their good work was undone with Geelong booting late majors through Ablett and Mackie to go into the main break well and truly in control.

To their credit the Demons didn’t drop their heads after half-time and matched Geelong’s eight goals in the second half to avoid a heavier defeat.

Geelong will now face reigning premiers Hawthorn at the MCG next Saturday afternoon while Melbourne will clash with Sydney at Manuka Oval in Canberra.

GEELONG: 7.4, 9.9, 14.13, 17.15 (117)
MELBOURNE: 0.2, 3.2, 7.3, 11.5 (71)
GOALS: Geelong: Stokes 3, Mackie 2, Ablett 2, Varcoe 2, Hogan 2, Selwood, Taylor, Chapman, Hawkins, Tenace, Byrnes
Melbourne: Bate 3, Morton 3, Jurrah 2, Petterd, Dunn, Moloney
BEST: Geelong: Selwood, Ablett, Scarlett, Ling, Chapman, Milburn, Enright
Melbourne: Green, Moloney, Petterd, Grimes, Rivers
INJURIES: Geelong: Nil
Melbourne: Robertson
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Tom Harley replaced in Geelong's selected side by Tom Gillies, Paul Wheatley replaced in Melbourne's selected side by Jamie Bennell
UMPIRES: Kennedy, Stewart, Kamolins
CROWD: 21,160 at Skilled Stadium
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Ladson's season over

July 17th 2009 16:40
HAWTHORN defender Rick Ladson's season is over after undergoing surgery on his right knee on Thursday.

Ladson, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee during the pre-season, played his first game since the Hawks' grand final win over Geelong against West Coast last month but has been troubled since with a problem in his right knee.

Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson said the club was hopeful the premiership backman would be right for pre-season training.

"He's been a really durable player for us over the previous three or four seasons and this year, for whatever reason, it's just blown up for him. Hopefully by having this surgery he'll be able to have a full pre-season and get himself right for 2010," Clarkson said.
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Round sixteen preview: Fremantle v Brisbane

July 17th 2009 16:01
VENUE and TIME: Subiaco Oval, Saturday 18 July, 7:40 pm (AEST)

HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 18, Fremantle 6, Brisbane 12

LAST TIME: Brisbane 14.12 (96) def Fremantle 10.14 (74), Round 11, 2008 at the Gabba

RECENT HISTORY: Brisbane has won its past four against Fremantle but only one of those wins came at Subiaco Oval.

FORM: Brisbane consolidated its place in the top eight with a 43-point demolition of an undermanned Geelong side at the Gabba last Saturday night. The Lions currently occupy sixth place on the AFL ladder with a 9-6 win-loss record. Fremantle’s dismal season sunk to a new low last weekend when they were thumped to the tune of 117 points by a red-hot Adelaide side. The Dockers score of 1.7.13 was the equal-fifth lowest score since World War 1 and the margin was equal to Fremantle's worst ever defeat.

MEDICAL ROOM: Fremantle welcomes back Andrew Foster from a calf injury but they will be without midfielder Byron Schammer (calf) while number one ruckman Aaron Sandilands (hamstring) and skipper Matthew Pavlich (calf) remain unavailable.Chris Mayne is available but still needs to develop match fitness in the WAFL while defenders Roger Hayden (broken leg) and Michael Johnson (ankle) will be out for at least another three and five matches respectively. Brisbane vice-captain Jed Adcock won’t play again this season unless the Lions progress deep into September after suffering a knee injury in the win over the Cats. Bart McCulloch (quad), Jamie Charman (ankle) and Pat Garner (knee) are out for the year. Troy Selwood (shoulder) is two weeks away from resuming while promising young ruckman Matthew Leuenberger is at least six weeks away from playing.

KEY MATCH-UPS: Garrick Ibbotson vs. Simon Black

Black was influential in the win over the Cats with 33 possessions and two goals.

The last time these two sides met in round 11 last year Black helped himself to 28 disposals and one goal in a performance that earned him the three Brownlow medal votes.

The 2002 Brownlow medallist is damaging with his ability to win the contested football, use it cleanly by hand to find his teammates in space and also deliver it cleanly inside 50.

If the Dockers are going to have any hope of containing Brisbane’s star forwards in Jonathan Brown and Daniel Bradshaw they will need to limit the influence of Black at the stoppages.

Ibbotson has been given some big run with roles so far this season and looms as the obvious candidate to tag Black in what shapes as being a pivotal duel.

While it is vital that Ibbotson applies relentless pressure at the stoppages he also needs to be proactive and win his fair share of the football and try and hurt Black going the other way otherwise the Lions star will dictate terms and dominate.

Cheynee Stiller vs. Paul Hasleby

Hasleby has been his side’s most consistent midfielder so far in ‘09, averaging 25 disposals per game.

Like Black, Hasleby is highly effective at winning the football at close quarters and using it cleanly by hand.

The Lions will be keen to quell his influence as the Dockers will struggle to get enough of the football into the forward line to kick a winning score without him having an impact.

Hasleby faces a tough night at the office with Stiller who kept Geelong star James Bartel to just 15 possessions last weekend to be his likely opponent.

If Hasleby is going to have any chance of having an influence he will need his teammates to block for him at the stoppages.

Antoni Grover vs. Jonathan Brown

Brown starred against Geelong, helping himself to 23 possessions, 15 marks and four goals.

The Lions skipper looms as the main danger man for Fremantle given that he has booted ten majors in his past two matches against the Dockers.

Grover is Fremantle’s most experienced defender and will most likely be given first crack at Brown in what will be a crucial match-up in determining the outcome of this game.

Fremantle is ranked 11th in the AFL for tackles per game with an average of 57.1 per game - they will need to lift their intensity and improve their pressure skills otherwise Brown will feast on quality supply from Daniel Rich, Luke Power, Black and co.

Daniel Merrett vs. Luke McPharlin

With Pavlich still out of the side the Dockers will need McPharlin to fire if they are going to have any chance of kicking a big enough score to have any hope of snapping a eight-game losing streak.

Merrett, who kept Geelong forward Cameron Mooney to just one goal last weekend, will be given first crack at McPharlin who has been Fremantle’s second most productive player in front of goal this season with 14 goals.

The Lions defender is regarded as one of the best spoilers in the competition so the Dockers will need to move the football quickly and cleanly into the forward line rather than just haphazardly bomb it inside 50.

Fremantle managed just a paltry 23 entries inside 50 against Adelaide - they will need to lift their work rate at the stoppages otherwise McPharlin won’t receive enough of the football to have a meaningful impact.

VERDICT: This is a must-win match for Brisbane if they are serious about securing a top four spot and the all-important double chance. Fremantle has shown some promising signs at home in recent weeks against Geelong and Carlton but with Pavlich and Sandilands still out of the side the Dockers face an uphill battle. They will try hard all night but will struggle to win enough of the football against the Lions on-ball division to have any hope of kicking a big enough score to overcome Michael Voss’ men who have two in-form forwards in Brown and Bradshaw. Lions by 33 points.

FREMANTLE v BRISBANE LIONS
FREMANTLE
B: Greg Broughton, Chris Tarrant, Nic Suban
HB: Antoni Grover, Luke McPharlin, Paul Duffield
C: Garrick Ibbotson, Paul Hasleby, Tim Ruffles
HF: Stephen Hill, Adam Campbell, Dean Solomon
F: Hayden Ballantyne, Kepler Bradley, Andrew Foster
Foll: Zac Clarke, Steven Dodd, David Mundy
I/C: Brett Peake, Matt de Boer, Clancee Pearce, Scott Thornton
Emg: Clayton Hinkley, Marcus Drum, Ryan Murphy

In: Foster, Campbell, Pearce
Out: Byron Schammer (calf), Clayton Hinkley, Ryan Murphy

BRISBANE LIONS
B: Ashley McGrath, Daniel Merrett, Tom Collier
HB: Joel Patfull, Josh Drummond, Joel Macdonald
C: Jared Brennan, Simon Black, Daniel Rich
HF: Michael Rischitelli, Jonathan Brown, James Polkinghorne
F: Tim Notting, Daniel Bradshaw, Luke Power
Foll: Mitch Clark, Cheynee Stiller, Justin Sherman
I/C: Albert Proud, Bradd Dalziell, Sam Sheldon, Jack Redden
Emg: Jason Roe, James Hawksley, Pearce Hanley

In: Dalziell, Brennan
Out: Jed Adcock (knee), Matt Austin


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Round sixteen preview: Collingwood v Hawthorn

July 17th 2009 15:06
VENUE and TIME: MCG, Saturday July 18, 7.40pm (AEST)

HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 147, Collingwood 93, Hawthorn 54

LAST TIME: Hawthorn 17.14 (116) d Collingwood 8.14 (62), Round 18, 2008 at the MCG

RECENT HISTORY: Hawthorn has won three of its past five against Collingwood including the past two.

FORM: Collingwood has won its past seven matches - their longest winning streak since it last tasted premiership success in 1990. Hawthorn kept its season alive with a hard-fought nine-point win over North Melbourne at Aurora Stadium in Launceston last Sunday. The result saw the Hawks move to tenth place on the AFL ladder with a 7-8 win-loss record.

MEDICAL ROOM: Collingwood will be without number one ruckman Josh Fraser (knee) while veteran forward Anthony Rocca (Achilles) is at least a month away from playing. For the Hawks, Rick Ladson (knee) and Clinton Young (hip) are out for the remainder of the season while Robert Campbell will miss with an unknown injury. Stuart Dew (quad), Garry Moss (knee), Mark Williams (knee) and veteran defender Trent Croad (foot) remain on the sidelines.

KEY MATCH-UPS: Harry O’ Brien vs. Lance Franklin

Franklin returned to form against the Kangaroos, booting four last quarter goals to help keep his side’s season alive.

Last year’s Coleman medallist looms as the main danger man for Collingwood given that he booted eight goals the last time these two sides met in round 18 last year to inspire the Hawks to a convincing 54-point win.

O’Brien has the athletic capabilities to match Franklin and will most likely be given first crack at the Hawthorn star in what shapes as being a pivotal duel in determining the outcome of this match.

In last weekend’s win over the Bulldogs the Magpies were relentless in their pressure - they laid 66 tackles for the match.

They will need to play with the same level of intensity on Saturday night otherwise O’Brien will struggle to contain Franklin who will receive plenty of quality supply from his midfield.

Brad Sewell vs. Dane Swan

Swan continued his stellar run of form with a team-high 34 possessions, two goals and six inside 50’s against the Dogs.

If the Hawks are going to have any hope of containing the Magpies’ multi-pronged attack they will need to shut-down the drive that Swan provides.

Sewell is Hawthorn’s number one stopper in the midfield and will be given the task of tagging the Pies star in what will be a crucial match-up.

Not only will Sewell make Swan earn every possession - he is ranked fourth in the AFL for tackles per game with an average of 6.8 - he will also try and hurt him going the other way - the Hawthorn midfielder has racked up almost 27 disposals per game so far in 2009.

Shane O’Bree vs. Sam Mitchell

When these two sides met in round 18 last year Mitchell was influential with 35 touches and nine inside 50’s.

Mitchell is damaging with his ability to not only win the football at the stoppages and use it by hand to find his teammates in space but also deliver it cleanly inside 50.

If the Magpies are going to have any chance of starving Hawthorn’s talent laden forward line of quality supply they will need to quell the influence of Mitchell at the stoppages.

Like Mitchell, O’Bree is highly effective in close - he is second at the Pies for contested possessions - and looms as the obvious candidate to go head-to-head with the Hawthorn skipper.

The Magpies will need O’Bree to be proactive and get his hands on the football otherwise Mitchell will dictate terms and continually dish the football out to his runners.

Chance Bateman vs. Alan Didak

Didak continued his recent run of form with 33 disposals - 27 of which were kicks - and six inside 50’s against the Bulldogs.

Hawthorn will be keen to keep him quiet as he is not only dangerous around goals but is also highly effective at setting up scoring opportunities for his teammates with his clever use of the football.

Bateman has been given some big run with roles in the past and could well be given first crack at the classy Magpie.

While the Hawks will need Bateman to pay close attention to Didak they also need him to push forward and try and have an impact on the scoreboard as it will force him to be accountable which in turn will help limit his impact on the contest as a creative midfielder.

VERDICT: Hawthorn will head into this clash with some confidence given that they defeated Collingwood by 65 and 54 points in the two matches last year. However, they aren’t the same side they were last year while the Magpies are firing on all cylinders. The Pies have eight players that have kicked ten or more goals so far this season and it is their multiple options in attack that should prove to be the difference in what promises to be an engrossing contest. Magpies by 14 points.

COLLINGWOOD v HAWTHORN
COLLINGWOOD
B: Harry O’Brien, Simon Prestigiacomo, Tyson Goldsack
HB: Nick Maxwell, Nathan Brown, Dale Thomas
C: Brad Dick, Tarkyn Lockyer, Scott Pendlebury
HF: Dayne Beams, Travis Cloke, Paul Medhurst
F: Alan Didak, John Anthony, Heath Shaw
Foll: Cameron Wood, Dane Swan, Shane O’Bree
I/C: Ben Johnson, Leigh Brown, Leon Davis, Alan Toovey
Emg: Sharrod Wellingham, Ryan Cook, Chris Dawes

In: N. Brown, Wood
Out: Josh Fraser (knee), Sharrod Wellingham

HAWTHORN
B: Brent Guerra, Stephen Gilham, Thomas Murphy
HB: Grant Birchall, Luke Hodge, Xavier Ellis
C: Jordan Lewis, Sam Mitchell, Liam Shiels
HF: Michael Osborne, Lance Franklin, Ben McGlynn
F: Cyril Rioli, Jarryd Roughead, Campbell Brown
Foll: Simon Taylor, Brad Sewell, Chance Bateman
I/C: Beau Dowler, Josh Kennedy, Brent Renouf, Ryan Schoenmakers
Emg: Cameron Stokes, Travis Tuck, Brendan Whitecross

In: Renouf, Schoenmakers
Out: Robert Campbell (inj), Rick Ladson (knee)
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Round sixteen preview: Carlton v Sydney

July 17th 2009 14:48
VENUE and TIME: Etihad Stadium, Saturday 18 July, 2.10pm (AEST)

HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 212, Carlton 124, Sydney 82, Drawn: 6

LAST TIME: Sydney 12.12 (84) def Carlton 9.13 (67), Round 4 2009 at the SCG

RECENT HISTORY: Sydney has won its past twelve against Carlton.

FORM: Carlton has won its past two against Fremantle and Richmond to move to seventh place on the AFL ladder with an 8-7 win-loss record. Sydney has lost five of its past six to slump to 11th spot with six wins from 15 matches.

MEDICAL ROOM: The Blues welcome back defender Paul Bower from a knee injury but are still without Setanta O’Faolain (general soreness), Simon Wiggins (hamstring) and Sam Jacobs (foot). Andrew Walker will make his return from a shoulder injury via the VFL while Jarrad Waite is out for the season with a knee injury. For Sydney, midfielder Jarrad McVeigh returns from a hamstring injury but Lewis Johnston (foot), Daniel Currie (foot), Brett Meredith (forearm), Henry Playfair (hamstring) Campbell Heath (knee) remain unavailable.

KEY MATCH-UPS: Jarrad McVeigh vs. Chris Judd

Judd played a key role in the win over the Tigers, helping himself to a team-high 29 possessions and eight inside 50’s.

The Carlton skipper is damaging with his ability to win the football in close, break the lines and deliver it cleanly inside 50.

The Swans will need to quell the influence of Judd if they are going to have any hope of containing a potent Blues forward line that is the third most productive in the competition.

The last time these two sides met in round four McVeigh had the better of his duel with the 2004 Brownlow medallist, collecting 17 possessions and booting three goals.

McVeigh was able to limit the impact of Judd that day because he opted to be attacking rather than purely play a negating role - Sydney will need him to do the same again on Saturday afternoon.

Bryce Gibbs vs. Adam Goodes

Goodes has been one of his side’s most consistent players so far this season, averaging 21.5 disposals per game.

The dual Brownlow medallist is an integral part of Sydney’s midfield with his run and carry and ability to kick goals.

Carlton will be keen to keep him quiet as he is the one player in the middle for the Swans that is capable of breaking the game wide open with a quick burst of brilliance.

Gibbs has done the job on Goodes in the past and could well be given first crack at the Sydney star in what shapes as being an intriguing duel.

The Blues young gun will need to be proactive and try and hurt Goodes going the other way as it will force him to be accountable which in turn will help limit his impact on the contest as an attacking midfielder.

Craig Bolton vs. Brendan Fevola

Fevola starred against the Tigers, booting nine goals to move to the top of the Coleman Medal standings.

The Blues spearhead will struggle to replicate that performance against the Swans as he will be matched up by the in-form Bolton who will make him earn every goal.

Fevola will need his midfield to be switched on at the stoppages and move the football quickly into the forward line if he is going to have any chance of winning his duel with Bolton.

If the Blues allow the Swans to dictate the tempo of the game Fevola will struggle to find enough space in which to lead into.

Michael Jamison vs. Michael O’Loughlin

O’Loughlin was Sydney’s only forward that looked dangerous in the loss to the Bombers, finishing the match with three goals.

Jamison has shown some promising signs down back during his 34-game career and will most likely be given first crack at the Swans veteran.

In last weekend’s loss to the Bombers the Swans nearly had the same number of handballs as they did kicks - they finished the game with 171 kicks and 170 handballs.

If O’Loughlin is going to have any hope of having a major impact on the scoreboard he will need his teammates to be long and direct with their use of the football.

The 32-year-old will also need the likes of Heath Grundy, Jesse White and Ryan O'Keefe to step up and be productive in front of goal as he can't be expected to do it all on his own.

VERDICT: Sydney may boast an imposing record against Carlton but they are yet to win away from home in 2009. Don’t expect that to change on Saturday with the Swans simply lacking the firepower up front to kick a winning score to overcome a Blues side that should get enough quality supply into Fevola and co. Blues by 29 points.

CARLTON v SYDNEY SWANS
CARLTON
B: Bret Thornton, Michael Jamison, Aaron Joseph
HB: Heath Scotland, Paul Bower, Chris Yarran
C: Kade Simpson, Jordan Russell, Chris Johnson
HF: Marc Murphy, Brad Fisher, Andrew Carrazzo
F: Shaun Hampson, Brendan Fevola, Eddie Betts
Foll: Matthew Kreuzer, Chris Judd, Bryce Gibbs
I/C: Joe Anderson, Greg Bentley, Shaun Grigg, Ryan Houlihan
Emg: Cameron Cloke, Adam Hartlett, Nick Stevens

In: Scotland, Yarran, Bower
Out: Adam Hartlett, Dennis Armfield, Jeff Garlett

SYDNEY SWANS
B: Nick Malceski, Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Craig Bolton
HB: Rhyce Shaw, Ted Richards, Martin Mattner
C: Nick Smith, Brett Kirk, Jarrad McVeigh
HF: Ryan O’Keefe, Heath Grundy, Ed Barlow
F: Jesse White, Michael O’Loughlin, Adam Goodes
Foll: Darren Jolly, Kieren Jack, Jude Bolton
I/C: Craig Bird, Dan Hannebery, Mike Pyke, Patrick Veszpremi
Emg: Luke Ablett, Paul Bevan, Kristin Thornton

In: Hannebery, McVeigh, White
Out: Luke Ablett, Paul Bevan, Jared Crouch


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Round sixteen preview: Geelong v Melbourne

July 17th 2009 14:33
VENUE and TIME: Skilled Stadium, Saturday 18 July, 2.10pm (AEST)

HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 205, Geelong 120, Melbourne 83, Drawn 2

LAST TIME: Geelong 15.21 (111) def Melbourne 10.8 (68) Round 6 2009 at the MCG

RECENT HISTORY: Geelong has won four of its past five against Melbourne with the other result during that stretch being a draw in round 21, 2006.

FORM: Geelong has lost its past two to St Kilda and Brisbane - the first time they have lost back-to-back matches since early 2007. The Cats are still second on the ladder with a 13-2 win-loss record. Melbourne has won its past two games against West Coast and Port Adelaide to move of the bottom of the table.

MEDICAL ROOM: The Cats welcome back Gary Ablett, Matthew Scarlett, Andrew Mackie, Travis Varcoe, Cameron Ling and Darren Milburn from injury but star midfielder James Bartel (hip) and Nathan Djerrkura (corked thigh) will miss while Steve Johnson remains on the sidelines with a hip injury. For the Demons, lively small forward Austin Wonaeamirri (knee) is at least three weeks away while is at least three weeks away as he continues to battle a knee injury but Simon Buckley (groin) and Jake Spencer (ankle) will miss at least another week. Colin Garland (foot), Daniel Bell (shoulder), youngster Addam Maric (shoulder) and ruckman John Meesen (foot) have all been ruled out for the rest of the season

KEY MATCH-UPS: Cameron Ling vs. Aaron Davey

Davey has been below his best in the past couple of weeks and will be keen to bounce back with a big performance against Geelong.

When he is up and firing Davey is able to continually set up scoring opportunities for his teammates with his clean use of the football.

However, he faces a tough afternoon at the office with Geelong’s best midfield stopper in Ling likely to be his opponent.

Not only will Ling make Davey earn every possession he will also try and hurt him going the other way - Ling has averaged 22 disposals per game so far this season.

It is vital for the Demons that Davey works hard going both ways.

James McDonald vs. Gary Ablett

Ablett has been his side’s most damaging midfielder so far in 2009, averaging just under 35 disposals per game and booting 17 goals in 12 matches.

The Brownlow medal favourite is damaging with his ability to win the football in close, break the lines and kick goals.

If the Demons are going to have any hope of containing a Geelong side that has the best attack in the AFL they will need to shut-down Ablett’s creative run.

The last time these two sides met in round six McDonald was given the job on Ablett and more than held his own - the Melbourne skipper collected 16 possessions and kept the Geelong star to 25 touches.

Expect McDonald to be given the task of running with Ablett once again in what shapes as being a pivotal duel.

The Demons will need McDonald to be proactive and win the football at the stoppages otherwise Ablett will be able to dictate terms and help get his side’s running game going.

Andrew Mackie vs. Liam Jurrah

Jurrah showed he is a star of the future with four goals and a couple of spectacular marks in the win over Port Adelaide.

The Demons will need him to fire once again if they are going to have any hope of coming close to a Geelong side that will be desperate to snap a two-game losing streak.

Mackie is a mobile defender who is good overhead so you would expect him to be given first crack at Jurrah.

If Jurrah is going to have any hope of having an impact on the scoreboard he will need his midfield to be smart and clean with their use of the football going forward otherwise they will be punished on the rebound by the likes of Mackie who collected 31 possessions in the clash between these two sides earlier in the year.

Cameron Bruce vs. Paul Chapman

The last time these two sides met in round six Chapman starred with a game-high 41 possessions, 12 marks, one goal and 11 inside 50’s.

Chapman will need to be watched closely as he is highly effective at winning the contested football, kicking goals and set up scoring opportunities for his teammates.

Bruce has the ability to go with Chapman if he starts in the middle and also when he pushes forward and will most likely be given the job on the underrated Cat.

Expect Bruce, who racked up a game-high 37 disposals in the win over Port Adelaide, to run off Chapman at every available opportunity and try and hurt him going the other way.

VERDICT: Melbourne has its tail up after two straight wins but their joy will be short-lived with Geelong simply having too much class and depth through the middle for the Demons to contain. Expect Dean Bailey’s men to stick with the Cats for a quarter or two before Geelong’s stars take control. Cats by 41 points.

GEELONG v MELBOURNE
GEELONG
B: Darren Milburn, Matthew Scarlett, Corey Enright
HB: Harry Taylor, Tom Harley, Andrew Mackie
C: Joel Corey, Cameron Ling, David Wojcinski
HF: Mathew Stokes, Cameron Mooney, Shannon Byrnes
F: Paul Chapman, Tom Hawkins, Max Rooke
Foll: Shane Mumford, Joel Selwood, Gary Ablett
I/C: Travis Varcoe, Simon Hogan, Tom Lonergan, Kane Tenace
Emg: Tom Gillies, Trent West, Jeremy Laidler

In: Ablett, Scarlett, Mackie, Varcoe, Ling, Milburn
Out: Jimmy Bartel (hip), Nathan Djerrkura (corked thigh), Mark Blake, Ryan Gamble, Jeremy Laidler, Tom Gillies

MELBOURNE
B: Cale Morton, Matthew Warnock, James Frawley
HB: Brent Moloney, Jared Rivers, Jack Grimes
C: Neville Jetta, Brock McLean, Aaron Davey
HF: Cameron Bruce, Matthew Bate, Ricky Petterd
F: Russell Robertson, Brad Green, Liam Jurrah
Foll: Mark Jamar, James McDonald, Nathan Jones
I/C: Lynden Dunn, Stefan Martin, Paul Wheatley, Clint Bartram
Emg: Paul Johnson, Jamie Bennell, Brad Miller

In: Bartram
Out: Daniel Bell (shoulder)


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Dogs down Dons

July 17th 2009 13:01
THE Western Bulldogs have consolidated their place in the top four with a 33-point win over Essendon at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.

The Bulldogs took control of the contest in the third term before cruising to a 15.13 (103) to 11.4 (70) victory.

The Dogs have now won their past six matches against Essendon and hold onto third spot on the AFL ladder with an 11-5 win-loss record.

Bulldogs skipper Brad Johnson led from the front with 30 possessions and 14 marks while Matthew Boyd helped himself to 29 disposals.

Adam Cooney (28 touches, one goal) won his duel with Heath Hocking, Ryan Griffen was also prolific while Daniel Cross kept Essendon midfielder Jobe Watson to just 11 possessions.

Brian Lake kept Bombers skipper Matthew Lloyd to just two goals while Robert Murphy showed his class with 18 touches, eight marks and one goal.

The Bulldogs had eight individual goal kickers for the match - Mitch Hahn the most effective with five while Scott Welsh chimed in with three second half majors.

For the Bombers, Andrew Lovett worked hard all night and finished with a team-high 27 possessions.

Brent Stanton, Andrew Welsh and Brent Prismall also won plenty of the football while Dustin Fletcher was busy in defence with 25 touches.

Essendon started brightly, kicking the first two goals of the match - the first coming in the opening minute of play through Hocking.

The Western Bulldogs have been one of the slowest starting teams and looked set to be behind at quarter-time but they hit back with three of the last four goals of the quarter to go into the first change with a four-point advantage.

However they should have been further in front after booting a wasteful 3.5 for the quarter.

Essendon’s willingness to play on at all costs paid handsome dividends in the second term as they booted three unanswered goals in the opening 11 minutes to open up a 15-point buffer.

A late goal from Hahn ensured the Dogs remained within striking distance at the main break with the Bombers holding an eight-point lead.

Hahn was unstoppable in the third term, booting three of his side’s six goals to help the Dogs skip out to a 19-point break at three-quarter time.

Lloyd’s first goal of the night early in the final stanza reduced the deficit to just 13 points but the Bulldogs had all the answers.

WESTERN BULLDOGS 3.5, 4.6, 10.9, 15.13 (103)
ESSENDON3.1, 6.2, 8.2, 11.4 (70)
GOALS: Western Bulldogs: Hahn 5, Welsh 3, Higgins 2, Cross, Murphy, Hill, Cooney, Minson.
Essendon: Lloyd 2, Davey, Reimers, Hurley, Winderlich, Hocking, Prismall, Ryder, Lonergan, Stanton.
BEST: Western Bulldogs: Cooney, Murphy, Johnson, Boyd, Hahn, Lake, Griffen
Essendon: Lovett, Stanton, Fletcher, Welsh, Prismall
INJURIES: Western Bulldogs: Nil.
Essendon: Matthew Lloyd (finger).
REPORTS: Nil.
CHANGES: Nil.
UMPIRES: Scott McLaren, Ray Chamberlain, Scott Jeffery.
CROWD: 47,120 at Etihad Stadium.
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AFL Teams: Round Sixteen

July 17th 2009 07:10
2009 Toyota AFL Premiership Season

ROUND SIXTEEN (All times local)

Friday July 17
Essendon v Western Bulldogs at Docklands, 7.40pm

Saturday July 18
Carlton v Sydney Swans at Docklands, 2.10pm
Geelong v Melbourne at Skilled Stadium, 2.10pm
Fremantle v Brisbane Lions at Subiaco Oval, 5.40pm
Collingwood v Hawthorn at the MCG, 7.10pm

Sunday July 19
Port Adelaide v West Coast at AAMI Stadium, 12.40pm
Richmond v North Melbourne at the MCG, 2.10pm
St Kilda v Adelaide at Docklands, 4.40pm

ESSENDON v WESTERN BULLDOGS
ESSENDON
B: Henry Slattery, Tayte Pears, Michael Hurley
HB: Courtenay Dempsey, Dustin Fletcher, Adam McPhee
C: Brent Prismall, Ricky Dyson, Andrew Lovett
HF: Sam Lonergan, Scott Lucas, Heath Hocking
F: Jason Winderlich, Matthew Lloyd, Alwyn Davey
Foll: Patrick Ryder, Andrew Welsh, Jobe Watson
I/C: Brent Stanton, Mark McVeigh, Kyle Reimers, Cale Hooker
Emg: Bachar Houli, Nathan Lovett-Murray, Hayden Skipworth

No change

WESTERN BULLDOGS
B: Jarrod Harbrow, Brian Lake, Ryan Hargrave
HB: Lindsay Gilbee, Tom Williams, Dale Morris
C: Nathan Eagleton, Matthew Boyd, Daniel Cross
HF: Shaun Higgins, Mitch Hahn, Brad Johnson
F: Jason Akermanis, Scott Welsh, Robert Murphy
Foll: Ben Hudson, Adam Cooney, Ryan Griffen
I/C: Will Minson, Josh Hill, Liam Picken, Callan Ward
Emg: Dylan Addison, Tim Callan, Brennan Stack

No change

CARLTON v SYDNEY SWANS
CARLTON
B: Bret Thornton, Michael Jamison, Aaron Joseph
HB: Heath Scotland, Paul Bower, Chris Yarran
C: Kade Simpson, Jordan Russell, Chris Johnson
HF: Marc Murphy, Brad Fisher, Andrew Carrazzo
F: Shaun Hampson, Brendan Fevola, Eddie Betts
Foll: Matthew Kreuzer, Chris Judd, Bryce Gibbs
I/C: Joe Anderson, Greg Bentley, Shaun Grigg, Ryan Houlihan
Emg: Cameron Cloke, Adam Hartlett, Nick Stevens

In: Scotland, Yarran, Bower
Out: Adam Hartlett, Dennis Armfield, Jeff Garlett

SYDNEY SWANS
B: Nick Malceski, Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Craig Bolton
HB: Rhyce Shaw, Ted Richards, Martin Mattner
C: Nick Smith, Brett Kirk, Jarrad McVeigh
HF: Ryan O’Keefe, Heath Grundy, Ed Barlow
F: Jesse White, Michael O’Loughlin, Adam Goodes
Foll: Darren Jolly, Kieren Jack, Jude Bolton
I/C: Craig Bird, Dan Hannebery, Mike Pyke, Patrick Veszpremi
Emg: Luke Ablett, Paul Bevan, Kristin Thornton

In: Hannebery, McVeigh, White
Out: Luke Ablett, Paul Bevan, Jared Crouch

GEELONG v MELBOURNE
GEELONG
B: Darren Milburn, Matthew Scarlett, Corey Enright
HB: Harry Taylor, Tom Harley, Andrew Mackie
C: Joel Corey, Cameron Ling, David Wojcinski
HF: Mathew Stokes, Cameron Mooney, Shannon Byrnes
F: Paul Chapman, Tom Hawkins, Max Rooke
Foll: Shane Mumford, Joel Selwood, Gary Ablett
I/C: Travis Varcoe, Simon Hogan, Tom Lonergan, Kane Tenace
Emg: Tom Gillies, Trent West, Jeremy Laidler

In: Ablett, Scarlett, Mackie, Varcoe, Ling, Milburn
Out: Jimmy Bartel (hip), Nathan Djerrkura (corked thigh), Mark Blake, Ryan Gamble, Jeremy Laidler, Tom Gillies

MELBOURNE
B: Cale Morton, Matthew Warnock, James Frawley
HB: Brent Moloney, Jared Rivers, Jack Grimes
C: Neville Jetta, Brock McLean, Aaron Davey
HF: Cameron Bruce, Matthew Bate, Ricky Petterd
F: Russell Robertson, Brad Green, Liam Jurrah
Foll: Mark Jamar, James McDonald, Nathan Jones
I/C: Lynden Dunn, Stefan Martin, Paul Wheatley, Clint Bartram
Emg: Paul Johnson, Jamie Bennell, Brad Miller

In: Bartram
Out: Daniel Bell (shoulder)

COLLINGWOOD v HAWTHORN
COLLINGWOOD
B: Harry O’Brien, Simon Prestigiacomo, Tyson Goldsack
HB: Nick Maxwell, Nathan Brown, Dale Thomas
C: Brad Dick, Tarkyn Lockyer, Scott Pendlebury
HF: Dayne Beams, Travis Cloke, Paul Medhurst
F: Alan Didak, John Anthony, Heath Shaw
Foll: Cameron Wood, Dane Swan, Shane O’Bree
I/C: Ben Johnson, Leigh Brown, Leon Davis, Alan Toovey
Emg: Sharrod Wellingham, Ryan Cook, Chris Dawes

In: N. Brown, Wood
Out: Josh Fraser (knee), Sharrod Wellingham

HAWTHORN
B: Brent Guerra, Stephen Gilham, Thomas Murphy
HB: Grant Birchall, Luke Hodge, Xavier Ellis
C: Jordan Lewis, Sam Mitchell, Liam Shiels
HF: Michael Osborne, Lance Franklin, Ben McGlynn
F: Cyril Rioli, Jarryd Roughead, Campbell Brown
Foll: Simon Taylor, Brad Sewell, Chance Bateman
I/C: Beau Dowler, Josh Kennedy, Brent Renouf, Ryan Schoenmakers
Emg: Cameron Stokes, Travis Tuck, Brendan Whitecross

In: Renouf, Schoenmakers
Out: Robert Campbell (inj), Rick Ladson (inj)

FREMANTLE v BRISBANE LIONS
FREMANTLE
B: Greg Broughton, Chris Tarrant, Nic Suban
HB: Antoni Grover, Luke McPharlin, Paul Duffield
C: Garrick Ibbotson, Paul Hasleby, Tim Ruffles
HF: Stephen Hill, Adam Campbell, Dean Solomon
F: Hayden Ballantyne, Kepler Bradley, Andrew Foster
Foll: Zac Clarke, Steven Dodd, David Mundy
I/C: Brett Peake, Matt de Boer, Clancee Pearce, Scott Thornton
Emg: Clayton Hinkley, Marcus Drum, Ryan Murphy

In: Foster, Campbell, Pearce
Out: Byron Schammer (calf), Clayton Hinkley, Ryan Murphy

BRISBANE LIONS
B: Ashley McGrath, Daniel Merrett, Tom Collier
HB: Joel Patfull, Josh Drummond, Joel Macdonald
C: Jared Brennan, Simon Black, Daniel Rich
HF: Michael Rischitelli, Jonathan Brown, James Polkinghorne
F: Tim Notting, Daniel Bradshaw, Luke Power
Foll: Mitch Clark, Cheynee Stiller, Justin Sherman
I/C: Albert Proud, Bradd Dalziell, Sam Sheldon, Jack Redden
Emg: Jason Roe, James Hawksley, Pearce Hanley

In: Dalziell, Brennan
Out: Jed Adcock (knee), Matt Austin (back)

PORT ADELAIDE v WEST COAST
PORT ADELAIDE
B: Alipate Carlile, Toby Thurstans, Jacob Surjan
HB: Nathan Krakouer, Chad Cornes, Paul Stewart
C: Steven Salopek, Dom Cassisi, Travis Boak
HF: Robert Gray, Warren Tredrea, David Rodan
F: Brett Ebert, Brendon Lade, Justin Westhoff
Foll: Dean Brogan, Kane Cornes, Danyle Pearce
I/C (from): Matthew Broadbent, Jason Davenport, Nick Lower, Michael Pettigrew, Nick Salter, Danny Meyer, Matthew Westhoff

In: Boak, Broadbent, Lower, Salter, M. Westhoff, Meyer
Out: Tom Logan (illness), Josh Carr, Peter Burgoyne

New: Matthew Broadbent (Woodville-West Torrens)

WEST COAST
B: David Wirrpanda, Darren Glass, Matt Spangher
HB: Shannon Hurn, Eric Mackenzie, Andrew Embley
C: Matt Rosa, Matt Priddis, Adam Selwood
HF: Pat McGinnity, Josh Kennedy, Sam Butler
F: Mark LeCras, Mitch Brown, Quinten Lynch
Foll: Mark Seaby, Brad Ebert, Chris Masten
I/C (from): Adam Cockie, Ryan Davis, Ashley Hansen, Tim Houlihan, Tyson Stenglein, Nic Naitanui, Mark Nicoski

In: Seaby, Naitanui, Davis, Houlihan
Out: Dean Cox (groin)

RICHMOND v NORTH MELBOURNE
RICHMOND
B: Jake King, Will Thursfield, Chris Newman
HB: Dean Polo, Luke McGuane, Matthew White
C: Trent Cotchin, Shane Tuck, Brett Deledio
HF: Robin Nahas, Jack Riewoldt, Jayden Post
F: Tyrone Vickery, Mitch Morton, Ben Cousins
Foll: Angus Graham, Daniel Jackson, Richard Tambling
I/C: Tom hislop, Alex Rance, Shane Edwards, Jarrod Silvester
Emg: Adam Pattison, Jordan McMahon, Mark Coughlan

In: Silvester
Out: Kelvin Moore (calf)

NORTH MELBOURNE
B: Brady Rawlings, Scott Thompson, Nathan Grima
HB: Scott McMahon, Josh Gibson, Michael Firrito
C: Levi Greenwood, Liam Anthony, Drew Petrie
HF: Leigh Harding, Lachie Hansen, Lindsay Thomas
F: Brent Harvey, David Hale, Corey Jones
Foll: Hamish McIntosh, Adam Simpson, Andrew Swallow
I/C: Sam Power, Leigh Adams, Todd Goldstein, Daniel Pratt
Emg: Daniel Harris, Ben Ross Aaron Edwards

In: Goldstein, Pratt
Out: Gavin Urquhart (groin), Daniel Harris

ST KILDA v ADELAIDE
ST KILDA
B: Jason Blake, Sam Gilbert, Zac Dawson
HB: Steven Baker, Sam Fisher, Farren Ray
C: Brendon Goddard, Andrew McQualter, Leigh Montagna
HF: Jason Gram, Nick Riewoldt, Robert Eddy
F: Clint Jones, Justin Koschitzke, Stephen Milne
Foll: Michael Gardiner, Lenny Hayes, Nick Dal Santo
I/C (from): Luke Ball, Raphael Clarke, Sean Dempster, David Armitage, James Gwilt, Steven King, Adam Schneider

In: Armitage, King, Gwilt, Schneider
Out: Ben McEvoy

ADELAIDE
B: Graham Johncock, Ben Rutten, Andy Otten
HB: Simon Goodwin, Nathan Bock, Brent Reilly
C: David Mackay, Scott Thompson, Nathan van Berlo
HF: Chris Knights, Scott Stevens, Andrew McLeod
F: Jason Porplyzia, Kurt Tippett, James Sellar
Foll: Ivan Maric, Bernie Vince, Patrick Dangerfield
I/C (from): Michael Doughty, Robert Shirley, Brad Symes, Phil Davis, Brett Burton, Richard Douglas, Brodie Martin

In: Burton, Davis, Douglas, Martin
Out: Tyson Edwards (hamstring)

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Round sixteen preview: Essendon v Western Bulldogs

July 16th 2009 14:49
VENUE and TIME: Etihad Stadium, Friday July 17, 7.40pm (AEST)

HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 147, Essendon 87, Western Bulldogs 58, Drawn 2

LAST TIME: Western Bulldogs 23.13 (151) d Essendon 15.15 (105) , Round 21 2008 at the MCG

RECENT HISTORY: The Western Bulldogs have won their past five against Essendon.

FORM: The Western Bulldogs almost snatched victory from the jaws of defeat against Collingwood last Friday night but they fell agonisingly short as they went down by one-point. The Bulldogs have won seven of their past nine matches to occupy third place on the AFL ladder with a 10-5 win-loss record. Essendon has one three of their past four and are in eighth spot with eight wins for the season.

MEDICAL ROOM: Essendon will be without midfielder Angus Monfries (hamstring) for a fortnight while Scott Gumbleton is sidelined indefinitely with a back injury. David Hille and Jason Laycock are out for the season with knee and foot injuries respectively. For the Bulldogs, classy forward Daniel Giansiracusa (knee) is five weeks away from playing while youngster Ayce Cordy (back) will miss at least another week.

KEY MATCH-UPS: Liam Picken vs. Andrew Lovett

Lovett continued his brilliant season with 29 possessions and eight inside 50’s against Sydney.

The 26-year-old is an integral part of Essendon’s midfield with his ability to break the lines and kick goals.

Picken has been a revelation in the middle as a tagger for the Bulldogs in 2009 and looms as the obvious candidate to tag Lovett in what shapes as being a pivotal duel.

The Bulldogs will need Picken to apply relentless pressure all night and deny Lovett any time or space in which to work in otherwise he will cut them to shreds with his blistering pace.

Tayte Pears vs. Brad Johnson

Johnson failed to kick a goal against the Magpies but the Bulldogs skipper rarely goes goalless two games in a row and could well prove to be the match-winner on Friday night if his side’s midfield gets on top.

Not only is Johnson capable of kicking a bag but he is also highly effective at setting up scoring opportunities for his teammates with his clever use of the football, so keeping him quiet will be vital for the Bombers.

Pears, who has impressed down back so far this season, has the ability to match Johnson in the air and also at ground level and could well be given first crack at the 339-game veteran.

The promising young Essendon defender will need his midfield to suffocate the Bulldogs’ run with their pressure skills and also deny them the use of the corridor otherwise Johnson will feast on plenty of quality supply.

Matthew Boyd vs. Jobe Watson

Watson was instrumental in the win over the Swans with a team-high 29 disposals - 18 of which came by hand.

The 25-year-old is highly effective at winning the football in close and use it cleanly by hand to find the likes of Jason Winderlich and Lovett in space.

Limiting Watson’s influence in the middle will be a key for the Dogs if they are going to shut-down the Dons’ running game.

Like Watson, Boyd is proficient at winning the contested football and will most likely go head-to-head with the Bombers midfielder in what will be a crucial match-up in determining the outcome of this contest.

The Bulldogs will need Boyd to be switched on and proactive at the stoppages otherwise Watson will be able to dictate terms.

Heath Hocking vs. Adam Cooney

Cooney was among his side’s best against the Magpies with 31 possessions, one goal and four inside 50’s.

The 2008 Brownlow medallist is damaging with his ability to break the lines, set up scoring opportunities for his teammates and also kick goals.

If the Bombers are going to have any hope of containing the Bulldogs’ multi-pronged attack they will need to shut-down Cooney’s run and carry.

Hocking has been given some big run with roles so far this year and will be given the job of quelling the influence of Cooney.

The 21-year-old, who has averaged 18 possessions per game so far in ‘09, can’t afford to be reactive and will need to try and hurt the Bulldogs star going the other way.

VERDICT: Both sides have plenty of pace through the middle and like to play an attacking brand of football so a high-scoring affair is on the cards. The Western Bulldogs appear to have a slight edge in the ruck with the bigger Ben Hudson and Will Minson to go up against Patrick Ryder. Expect Hudson and Minson to outmuscle Ryder and provide their classy on-ball division with first use of the football. Bulldogs by 22 points.

ESSENDON v WESTERN BULLDOGS
ESSENDON
B: Henry Slattery, Tayte Pears, Michael Hurley
HB: Courtenay Dempsey, Dustin Fletcher, Adam McPhee
C: Brent Prismall, Ricky Dyson, Andrew Lovett
HF: Sam Lonergan, Scott Lucas, Heath Hocking
F: Jason Winderlich, Matthew Lloyd, Alwyn Davey
Foll: Patrick Ryder, Andrew Welsh, Jobe Watson
I/C: Brent Stanton, Mark McVeigh, Kyle Reimers, Cale Hooker
Emg: Bachar Houli, Nathan Lovett-Murray, Hayden Skipworth

No change

WESTERN BULLDOGS
B: Jarrod Harbrow, Brian Lake, Ryan Hargrave
HB: Lindsay Gilbee, Tom Williams, Dale Morris
C: Nathan Eagleton, Matthew Boyd, Daniel Cross
HF: Shaun Higgins, Mitch Hahn, Brad Johnson
F: Jason Akermanis, Scott Welsh, Robert Murphy
Foll: Ben Hudson, Adam Cooney, Ryan Griffen
I/C: Will Minson, Josh Hill, Liam Picken, Callan Ward
Emg: Dylan Addison, Tim Callan, Brennan Stack

No change

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Adcock injury not as bad as first thought

July 16th 2009 04:41
BRISBANE has received some good news with vice-captain Jed Adcock's knee injury not as bad as first thought.

The Lions initially feared that Adcock would require a full knee reconstruction which would keep him out for 12 months after his knee twisted and buckled in a tackle laid by Geelong's Paul Chapman early in the first term of last Saturday night's clash at the Gabba.

But scans have revealed that the 24-year-old has suffered just a tibial plateau fracture which will not require surgery.

The injury is expected to sideline Adcock for 10-12 weeks, meaning he will only be available for the finals if the Lions progress deep into September.
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Walker close to return

July 15th 2009 04:57
CARLTON utility Andrew Walker could return to the side as soon as next week according to coach Brett Ratten.

Walker will play for the North Bullants in the VFL this weekend after recovering from his third bout of reconstructive shoulder surgery.

Speaking on Wednesday, Ratten said if the 23-year-old performs well he could play in the blockbuster clash against Colllingwood in round 17.

"'Walks' will be in the VFL this week. The fitness-wise is not a worry for us, he's nearly the fittest in the club - even fitter than Juddy," Ratten said on Wednesday.

"He could be one week away if he impresses straight up ... he might be in the following week."

Ratten also dismissed concerns over whether Walker's shoulder could withstand the rigours of AFL football

"Previously he has been really nervous when he's coming back but this time he's had a different operation and when he gets knocked the whole body moves this time," he said.

"Instead of rotating like a normal shoulder it's a bit tied down so it's a lot tighter and it'd probably take a Mack truck to probably move him."

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Bell, Maric out for season

July 15th 2009 02:04
MELBOURNE defender Daniel Bell and youngster Addam Maric will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery.

Bell had surgery on Tuesday to stabilise the AC joint he dislocated in Sunday's 11-point win over Port Adelaide at the MCG while Maric underwent a shoulder reconstruction after injuring his shoulder while playing for the Casey Scorpions.

The Demons said in a statement that Bell will now enter into a rehabilitation phase and it is expected that he will be ready to take part in pre-season training in October while Maric is also expected to make a full recovery in time for the club's pre-season.

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Blues re-sign trio

July 15th 2009 01:59
CARLTON trio Dennis Armfield, Paul Bower and Bret Thornton have signed two year deals which will see them remain with the club until at least the end of the 2011 season.

Carlton's general manager of football operations manager Steven Icke said all three players were an important part of the club's future.

"We are delighted to re-sign Dennis, Paul and Bret for a further two seasons. They are all important young players, who will play a major role in the long-term future of the Carlton Football Club," Icke said.

Armfield, who was recruited from Swan Districts with Carlton's third round selection at the 2007 national draft, has played 21 games for the Blues since making his debut in round 10, 2008.

Originally from North Mandurah, Bower was taken with pick 20 in the 2005 national draft and has played 37 games since making in round 21, 2006.

Thornton, who was elevated to the senior list in 2002 after being recruited to the club through the 2002 rookie draft is Carlton's most experienced defender with 141 games under his belt.



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Lewis free to play

July 14th 2009 09:15
HAWTHORN midfielder Jordan Lewis is free to play in Saturday night's must-win clash against Collingwood at the MCG after escaping suspension for striking North Melbourne's Michael Firrito at the AFL Tribunal on Tuesday night.

The strike was assessed as low impact as well as to the body and intentional conduct and with his previous record added on he was facing 162.5 demerit points and a one-match ban

The prolific ballwinner admitted to punching Firrito but the Hawks successfully argued that the blow that Lewis delivered to Firrito's stomach was not of sufficient force to constitute a reportable offence.




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Posted By: TonyK - Category: AFL News, Hawthorn Hawks
   


Key Cats to return

July 14th 2009 06:25
GEELONG will be bolstered by the return of at least four key players for Saturday's clash against Melbourne at Skilled Stadium.

Star midfielder Gary Ablett (calf), veteran defender Matthew Scarlett (back), the much-improved Travis Varcoe (shoulder) and Andrew Mackie (thigh) are certainties to play while Darren Milburn (ankle) and Cameron Ling (knee) could also return.

Classy forward Steve Johnson will need to pass a fitness test on his sore hip if he is to resume after missing two matches but James Kelly (hamstring) will miss at least another week.

Meanwhile, Cats coach Mark Thompson is hopeful that veteran ruckman Brad Ottens, who has been sidelined with a knee injury since round two, returns for the round 18 match against Adelaide.

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Star Eagles to see specialist

July 14th 2009 05:40
WEST COAST stars Dean Cox and Daniel Kerr will travel to Adelaide with the team on Friday to see a groin specialist.

Cox returned against St Kilda after missing two matches but spent the entire last quarter on the bench while Kerr hasn't played since the round 13 win over Hawthorn.

Eagles coach John Worsfold said the club was hoping to get some answers to determine when Cox and Kerr can play again.

"Both players are going to fly to Adelaide with the team on Friday to see a specialist in that area over there just for another opinion on what he thinks may be happening. That's the next step and the issue is that the soreness came on reasonably suddenly, and hasn't gone suddenly," Worsfold said.

"If it was just a muscle strain in either case you would expect that it would clear up reasonably quickly, but they haven't. It's something that we want to make sure we know exactly what it is."

"At this stage, we are hoping that they might only miss two or three weeks and that we will get them back up and going. We expect both to be unavailable this week and next, and then we don't know from there."

Worsfold also said Mark Seaby will come in to the side to replace Cox for the clash against Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Sunday.


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Posted By: TonyK - Category: AFL News, West Coast Eagles
   


Lewis to face tribunal

July 14th 2009 03:00
HAWTHORN midfielder Jordan Lewis will face the AFL Tribunal on Tuesday night after electing to contest his one-match ban for striking North Melbourne's Michael Firrito.

Lewis, who couldn't escape with less than a one-match ban due to his poor record, won't be risking having his suspension extended when he fronts the tribunal.

Meanwhile, Adelaide's James Sellar has accepted a $1950 fine for making negligent contact with umpire Chris Donlon during Saturday night's match against Fremantle at AAMI Stadium.

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Jurrah earns nomination

July 14th 2009 01:37
MELBOURNE forward Liam Jurrah has received the round 15 NAB Rising Star nomination.

Jurrah booted four goals in jjust his fourth AFL match to help the Demons beat Port Adelaide by 11 points at the MCG on Sunday.excitement machine Liam Jurrah has received the Round 15 NAB AFL Rising Star nomination.

The exciting 20-year-old, who is from Yuendumu, 300 kilometres north-west of Alice Springs, was recruited by the Demons with the first selection in the 2009 AFL pre-season draft.

Jurrah is Melbourne's second consecutive AFL Rising Star nominee following Jack Grimes in Round 14.

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Lewis hit with one-match ban

July 13th 2009 09:17
HAWTHORN midfielder Jordan Lewis has been hit with a one-match ban for striking North Melbourne's Michael Firrito during Sunday's clash at Aurora Stadium at Launceston.

Due to his poor record Lewis cannot escape with less than a one match suspension although he will not risk a heavier ban if he decides to challenge the case at the AFL tribunal on Tuesday night.

Meanwhile, Lewis' teammate Lance Franklin is free to play in Saturday night's must-win clash against Collingwood at the MCG after being cleared of engaging in rough conduct against North's Drew Petrie.

It was the view of the match review panel that the impact was below the minimum level of impact required to constitute a reportable offence.

In other tribunal news, Geelong star James Bartel's report for engaging in rough conduct against Brisbane midfielder Luke Power was thrown out after the panel ruled the clash was below the minimum impact required to sustain the charge.

Adelaide's James Sellar was fined $1950 for making negligent contact with an umpire while West Coast ruckman Dean Cox was cleared of the same offence.

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Saints remain unbeaten

July 12th 2009 10:06
ST KILDA has maintained its unbeaten start to the season with a 20-point win over West Coast at Subiaco Oval on Sunday.

Scores were level at three-quarter time before the Saints blew the game wide open with a brilliant burst of football early in the final stanza, eventually prevailing 13.12 (90) to 11.4 (70).

The Eagles had their chances to cause the biggest upset of the season but they repeatedly let themselves down with their poor use of the football.

Leigh Montagna starred in the middle with a game-high 43 possessions while Nick Dal Santo showed his class with 26 disposals and three goals.

Michael Gardiner won his ruck duel with Dean Cox while Stephen Milne did the damage up forward, booting four majors.

For West Coast, Adam Selwood racked up a team-high 29 possessions while Chris Masten was a busy contributor with 27 disposals.

Quinten Lynch (24 possessions, 24 hit outs) tried hard all day while Andrew Embley and Ashley Hansen booted three goals apiece.

West Coast looked set for a long afternoon when Saints skipper Nick Riewoldt kicked the first goal of the match after just 13 seconds of play.

But the Saints, clearly feeling the effects of last week’s epic clash against Geelong, were uncharacteristically sloppy and lethargic and led by just nine points at quarter-time.

A clever snap from Farren Ray saw the Saints skip out to a 17-point break at the 11-minute mark of the second term.

It looked as if St Kilda was set to run away with the contest but back-to-back majors from Josh Kennedy got the Eagles back into the match before Dal Santo kicked a superb goal from the boundary to give his side a 10-point buffer at the main break.

Two goals in the first five minutes of the second half from Mark LeCras and Embley gave West Coast the lead for the first time in the match before the Saints hit back with two goals of their own.

The Eagles opened up a seven-point buffer thanks to majors from Embley, Hansen and LeCras but Milne’s second from the boundary ensured both sides went into the final change on level terms.

St Kilda dominated the final stanza, continually winning the football at the stoppages and pumping it inside 50 as they slammed on five unanswered goals in a 16-minute burst with Robert Eddy and Milne booting two apiece to put the result beyond doubt.

WEST COAST: 2.1, 4.3, 9.3, 11.4 (70)
ST KILDA: 3.4, 5.7, 8.9, 13.12 (90)
GOALS: West Coast: Embley 3, Hansen 3, Kennedy 2, Le Cras 2, Cockie
St Kilda: Milne 4, Dal Santo 3, McQualter 2, Eddy 2, Riewoldt, Ray,
BEST: West Coast: Masten, Embley, Selwood, Hurn, Lynch, Glass, Priddis
St Kilda: Montagna, Dal Santo, Ray, Goddard, Gram, Gardiner, Fisher
INJURIES: West Coast: Cox (foot TBC)
St Kilda: Nil
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Adam Schneider (St Kilda) replaced in selected side by Robert Eddy
UMPIRES: Margetts, Chamberlain, Kamolins
CROWD: 36,251 at Subiaco Oval
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Demons upset Power

July 12th 2009 07:45
MELBOURNE has dealt a blow to Port Adelaide’s finals aspirations with an 11-point win at the MCG on Sunday afternoon.

The Demons led at every change and eventually prevailed 15.11 (101) to 13.12 (90) in a scrappy contest.

The result means sees Melbourne move off the bottom of the AFL ladder while the Power has now won just one of their eight matches away from home are still outside the eight with a 7-8 win-loss record.

Liam Jurrah showed he is a star of the future with four goals and two spectacular marks while Ricky Petterd also chimed in with four majors.

Cameron Bruce generated plenty of run from defence with a game-high 37 possessions while Brad Green, Brent Moloney and Brock McLean were also prolific.

For Port, skipper Domenic Cassisi (36 disposals) tried hard all day while Kane Cornes (35 possessions, two goals) kept Aaron Davey quiet.

Jurrah stamped his authority on the contest in the opening stanza - the exciting youngster from the remote Aboriginal community of Yuendumu in Central Australia kicking three goals for the quarter including two in the space of four minutes to help give his side a five-point buffer at quarter-time.

The Power entered inside their forward 50 14 fewer times than Melbourne in the first half but they trailed by just 12 points at the main break as they were able to make the most of their limited opportunities.

The margin blew out to 32 points early in the third term thanks to goals from Petterd, Jurrah and McLean.

Melbourne looked on course for a big win but Port refused to be blown away and responded with three of their own before Russell Robertson kicked a clever goal from the pocket late in the quarter to give his side a 19-point buffer heading into the final change.

Port came out firing in the final stanza, slamming on three of the first four goals of the to reduce the deficit to just seven points.

They looked set to run over the top of Melbourne but the Demons had the final say with Petterd kicking truly at the 19-minute mark after taking a strong mark in the goal square.

The Power had their chances to snatch a come-from-behind win but Nathan Krakouer, Brett Ebert and Warren Tredrea missed shots at goal.

Melbourne will now face Geelong at Skilled Stadium on Saturday afternoon while Port will clash with West Coast at AAMI Stadium on Sunday in what is a must-win match for the club.

MELBOURNE: 4.2, 9.6, 13.9, 15.11 (101)
PORT ADELAIDE: 3.3, 7.6, 10.8, 13.12 (90)
GOALS: Port Adelaide: K Cornes 2, Lade 2, Westhoff 2, Tredrea, Rodan, Gray, Brogan, Pearce, Salopek, Davenport.
Melbourne: Jurrah 4, Petterd 4, Bate 2, Robertson 2, Moloney. Dunn, McLean.
BEST: Port Adelaide: Cassassi, K Cornes, C Cornes, Pearce, Salopek.
Melbourne:Green, Bruce, McLean, Jurrah, Morton, Frawley, Warnock.
INJURIES: Port Adelaide: Nil.
Melbourne: Daniel Bell (collarbone).
REPORTS: Nil.
CHANGES: Nil.
UMPIRES: James, Sully, Wenn.
CROWD: 15,888 at the MCG.
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Franklin keeps Hawks' season alive

July 12th 2009 06:48
HAWTHORN star Lance Franklin has helped keep his side’s slim finals hopes alive as the reigning premiers came from behind to record a thrilling nine-point win over North Melbourne at a wet Aurora Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Franklin booted four last-quarter goals to lift the Hawks to a 10.13 (73) to 9.10 (64) victory.

The result sees Hawthorn move to ninth place on the AFL ladder - just one game and percentage outside the top eight with six rounds remaining.

Brad Sewell racked up a game-high 30 possessions, skipper Sam Mitchell (26 disposals) led from the front while Luke Hodge was influential in the final term and finished with 24 touches and two goals.

For the Kangaroos, Liam Anthony continued the impressive start to his AFL career with a team-high 25 disposals and one goal while Brady Rawlings kept Cyril Rioli quiet.

Goals were hard to come by in the opening stanza as rain, hail and lightening lashed the field with both sides managing just one goal for the quarter as North Melbourne went into quarter-time with a one-point advantage.

North continued to play the conditions better than their opponents and booted three goals to one to open up a handy nine-point break at half-time,

The Kangaroos extended their advantage out to 15 points on two occasions during the third term but the Hawks refused to be blown away and trailed by just 14 points heading into the final change.

Franklin got his side off to a perfect start in the final stanza, kicking his first in the opening minute but Hawthorn’s joy was short-lived with David Hale kicking truly to give the Roos some breathing space.

Last year’s Coleman medallist took a great one-on-one mark and slotted one home from close range to reduce the deficit to just nine points before snapping a brilliant goal almost directly from a boundary throw-in to get his side to within three points at the 17-minuter mark.

North had two chances to increase their lead but Corey Jones and Lindsay Thomas failed to convert.

Those misses proved to be costly with Hodge goaling on the run to put the Hawks in front before Franklin sealed a much-needed win for the Hawks.

HAWTHORN: 1.3, 2.6, 5.9, 10.13 (73)
NORTH MELBOURNE: 1.2, 4.3, 8.5, 9.10 (64)
GOALS: Hawthorn: Franklin 4, Roughead 2, Hodge 2, Shiels, Osborne
North Melbourne: Adams 2, Thomas, Harvey, Anthony, Jones, Simpson, Harding, Hale
BEST: Hawthorn: Franklin, Mitchell, Hodge, Sewell, Lewis, Shiels
North Melbourne: Anthony, Rawlings, Grima, Simpson, Swallow
INJURIES: Hawthorn: Nil
North Melbourne: Nil
UMPIRES: Stuart, Vozzo, Grun
REPORTS: Hawthorn Franklin reported by field umpire Vozzo for rough conduct in the third quarter
CHANGES: North Melbourne: Goldstein (omitted) replaced in selected side by Greenwood
CROWD: 15,000 at Aurora Stadium



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Posted By: TonyK - Category: AFL News, Hawthorn Hawks
   


Round fifteen preview: West Coast v St Kilda

July 11th 2009 15:02
VENUE and TIME: Subiaco Oval, Sunday 12 July, 4.40pm (AEST)

HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 35, West Coast 20, St Kilda 14, Drawn 1

LAST TIME: St Kilda 25.11 (161) def West Coast 9.10 (64), Round 3, 2009 at Etihad Stadium

RECENT HISTORY: The honours have been shared in the past four clashes between these two sides.

FORM: West Coast backed up its impressive win over Hawthorn in round 13 with a disappointing 20-point loss to bottom-placed Melbourne last weekend. The Eagles have now lost 18 in a row away from home. St Kilda maintained its unbeaten start to the season with a thrilling six-point win over Geelong in a classic contest at Etihad Stadium last Sunday.

MEDICAL ROOM: West Coast welcomes back star ruckman Dean Cox and Mark Nicoski from groin and back injuries respectively but are still without classy midfielder Daniel Kerr (general soreness) while defender Brett Jones (hamstring) and youngster Scott Selwood (general soreness) will miss. For the Saints, veteran defender will be out for one to two weeks with an ankle injury while. Jarryd Allen (hip) and Xavier Clarke (ACL) areunlikely to play again this season.

KEY MATCH-UPS: Clinton Jones vs. Matt Priddis

With Kerr still out of the side the Eagles will need Priddis to win plenty of the football at the stoppages to help get them going.

However, he faces a tough afternoon at the office with Jones likely to be given the task of tagging him.

Jones not only applies relentless pressure - he laid a staggering 14 tackles when these two sides met in round three - he is also capable of hurting his opponent going the other way.

Priddis is more than capable of winning plenty of the football but if he is going to have any hope of having an impact with his possessions he will need his teammates to block for him at the stoppages.

Adam Selwood vs. Nick Dal Santo

In that round three clash Dal Santo starred with a game-high 31 possessions, one goal and eight inside 50’s.

If the Eagles are going to have any hope of containing St Kilda’s potent forward line they will need to quell the influence of Dal Santo who consistently creates scoring opportunities with his clean use of the football.

Selwood is West Coast’s best stopper in the midfield and will be given the task of running with Dal Santo in what will be a pivotal duel.

West Coast will need Selwood to not only be proactive and get his hands on the football at the stoppages but also apply relentless pressure when he doesn’t have the football otherwise Dal Santo will tear the Eagles to shreds with his exquisite skills.

Zac Dawson vs. Josh Kennedy

Kennedy has hit his straps in recent times, booting two bags of four goals in the past three weeks.

West Coast will need a similar performance from him on Sunday otherwise they will struggle to kick enough goals to be competitive.

Dawson has been a revelation down back since joining the Saints after a brief stint with the Hawks and will most likely be given first crack at Kennedy.

If Kennedy is going to have any hope of having an impact he will need his midfield to not only be clean with their use of the football going forward but also move it quickly otherwise the Saints will be able to push numbers back and continually rebound it out of defensive 50.

Darren Glass vs. Justin Koschitzke

Koschitzke was one of three players that booted four goals the last time these two sides met.

The 26-year-old has already had his most productive season in front of goal - booting 35 goals in 13 games.

Koschitzke will most likely start closer to goal while skipper Nick Riewoldt will play further up the ground so you would expect Glass to be given the job