'Cats fall off scratching post' - Round 23, 2011 Wrap

The top 8 may finally be set in stone, but that doesn't mean we won't see any surprises pulled in a couple of matches. The first came in the form of Geelong losing it's first home match at Skilled Stadium since 2007, at the hands of Sydney. Whilst the defeat doesn't mean too much for Geelong, it does however guarantee Sydney a finals spot and a shot at the top 4.

The other surprise was Dale Thomas ruining his Brownlow chances after being rubbed out for 2 matches by the Match Review Panel for a late bump on Freo's Ibbotson.


Fremantle vs Collingwood

Possible Votes: Beams, Pendlebury, Swan


Hawthorn vs Western Bulldogs

Possible Votes: Hodge, Franklin, Sewell


Geelong vs Sydney

Possible Votes:  Mumford, Goodes, Ling


St Kilda vs North Melbourne

Possible Votes:  Goddard, Riewoldt, Dal Santo


Brisbane vs West Coast

Possible Votes:  Masten, Rockliff, Shuey


Adelaide vs Richmond

Possible Votes:  Martin, Cotchin, Van Berlo


Melbourne vs Gold Coast

Possible Votes:  Blease, Ablett, Garland


Essendon vs Pt Adelaide

Possible Votes:  Rodan, Gray, Watson


*DISCLAIMER: The deliberate random order of the players above does not reflect the order I think they will poll in, and should be treated/used only as a guide. My own actual votes will be revealed at the conclusion of the season*

'A half century of possessions' - Round 22, 2011 Wrap

Adelaide have well and truly turned around their early season slump to record their 3rd win in the past 4 weeks. They came out breathing fire against the hapless Suns, kicking 9 goals in the first quarter, but it was Scott Thompson who set the match alight. The Crows midfielder raised his bat as it were, gathering a staggering club record 51 disposals - a feat surpassed only by Greg Williams in VFL/AFL stats history.


Carlton vs Hawthorn

Possible Votes: Hodge, Lewis, Simpson


Gold Coast vs Adelaide

Possible Votes: Thompson, Ablett, Van Berlo


West Coast vs Essendon

Possible Votes: Priddis, Kerr, Shuey


North Melbourne vs Fremantle

Possible Votes: Swallow, Harvey, Wells


Collingwood vs Brisbane

Possible Votes: Swan, Cloke, Beams


Sydney vs St Kilda

Possible Votes: Goodes, Mumford, Hannebery


Port Adelaide vs Western Bulldogs

Possible Votes: Hall, Boyd, Tutt


Melbourne vs Richmond

Possible Votes: Sylvia, Jones, Martin


*DISCLAIMER: The deliberate random order of the players above does not reflect the order I think they will poll in, and should be treated/used only as a guide. My own actual votes will be revealed at the conclusion of the season*

'Power outage for Port' - Round 21, 2011 Wrap

After being smashed by Collingwood in the previous week, Port have been dealt another massive defeat, this time at the hands of Hawthorn who dished out a 165 point drubbing. It was a very one sided affair, mirroring the Geelong vs Melbourne match 2 weeks prior, with Port unable to put a major on the board until the second term.

Franklin booted a handy bag of 8, whilst Rioli was as 'delicioussss' as ever, kicking 4 of his own - all in what was a fast starting first quarter.


St Kilda vs Collingwood

Possible Votes: Davis, Thomas, Swan


Hawthorn vs Port Adelaide

Possible Votes: Rioli, Franklin, Mitchell


Fremantle vs Carlton

Possible Votes: Gibbs, Murphy, Judd, Betts


Western Bulldogs vs Essendon

Possible Votes: Hurley, Stanton, Boyd


Brisbane vs Gold Coast

Possible Votes: Black, Redden, Leuenberger


Melbourne vs West Coast

Possible Votes: Embley, Priddis, Gaff


Richmond vs Sydney

Possible Votes: Houli, Kennedy, Cotchin


Adelaide vs Geelong

Possible Votes: Sloane, Kelly, Corey


*DISCLAIMER: The deliberate random order of the players above does not reflect the order I think they will poll in, and should be treated/used only as a guide. My own actual votes will be revealed at the conclusion of the season*

'Can't quite deliver the Goodes' - Round 20, 2011 Wrap

It was a case of close but no cigar for Adam Goodes, who had the chance at stealing victory from the clutches of Essendon with a kick for goal after the siren.

In one of the closest and most intense matches of the year, the lead to-and-frod on numerous occasions, before the Swans broke clear by 12 points with just minutes left on the clock. But of course the Bombers were not done with yet, and lived up to the spirit of the match by snatching the lead in the closing stages. With seconds left, the Swans bombed the ball forward, finding the chest of the best man on the ground in Adam Goodes, with the siren sounding shortly after. But what could have been a fairytale ending soon turned into heartbreak, with the kick swinging late to sail through for a behind, giving Essendon a 1 point victory.


St Kilda vs Fremantle

Possible Votes: Jones, Dal Santo, Mzung


Carlton vs Melbourne

Possible Votes: Judd, Gibbs, Scotland


Geelong vs Gold Coast

Possible Votes: Johnson, Selwood, Podsiadly


Essendon vs Sydney

Possible Votes:Goodes, Watson, Ryder


Port Adelaide vs Collingwood

Possible Votes: Swan, Blair, Beams


Brisbane vs Adelaide

Possible Votes: Thompson, Rockliff, Van Berlo


Hawthorn vs North Melbourne

Possible Votes: Sewell, Mitchell, Campbell


West Coast vs Richmond

Possible Votes: Shuey, Kerr, Ebert


*DISCLAIMER: The deliberate random order of the players above does not reflect the order I think they will poll in, and should be treated/used only as a guide. My own actual votes will be revealed at the conclusion of the season*

'SJ *puts on his wizard robe and hat*' - Round 19, 2011 Wrap

Well, if a 100 point loss is traditionally thought to be a 'flogging', what then would you call a 186 point loss? I'm sure that's one of the many questions the Demons would be asking themselves - all of which I assume they have no answer for given the swift sacking of Dean Bailey. The 31 goal margin was the second biggest winning margin in the history of the VFL/AFL.

Stevie J was phenomenal all day, with a clear best on ground performance consisting of 34 possessions, 7 goals and 9 marks. Fair to say front row tickets will already be sold out for his next showing of the 'Stevie J Show' on that back of that performance.


North Melbourne vs Carlton

Possible Votes: Gibbs, Scotland, Swallow, Yarran


Western Bulldogs vs West Coast

Possible Votes: Cox, Priddis, Boyd


Geelong vs Melbourne

Possible Votes: Johnson, Selwood, Corey


Gold Coast vs St Kilda

Possible Votes: Dal Santo, Ablett, Goddard


Fremantle vs Hawthorn

Possible Votes: Sewell, Mitchell, Broughton


Collingwood vs Essendon

Possible Votes: Pendlebury, Swan, Fasolo


Adelaide vs Port Adelaide

Possible Votes: Sloane, Van Berlo, Vince


*DISCLAIMER: The deliberate random order of the players above does not reflect the order I think they will poll in, and should be treated/used only as a guide. My own actual votes will be revealed at the conclusion of the season*

'Skywalker!' - Round 18, 2011 Wrap

Every clash fought out between raditional rivals Carlton and Essendon always promises to deliver in some form or another. Whilst it didn't so much in terms of it being a close encounter, we were however treated to quite possibly both the goal and mark of the year in the same match, thanks to Betts and Walker!

Betts' solo effort in the forward pocket was an amazing sight. He danced and skipped around 3-4 Essendon players, all of who tried to run him over the boundary, only for Betts to slide through traffic and snap truly.

Betts' goal was only then to be overshadowed by Walker's screamer. What made his mark even more spectacular was that it was taken on the shoulders of Essendon's Carlisle who stands a touch under 200cm! Hard to believe he had the spring to catapult up so high. If the nickname of 'Skywalker' didn't stick before, well it sure will now!


St Kilda vs Adelaide

Possible Votes: Milne, Riewoldt, Dal Santo,


North Melbourne vs Brisbane

Possible Votes: Bastinac, Swallow, Black


Sydney vs Western Bulldogs

Possible Votes: Goodes, Bird, Jack


Gold Coast vs Collingwood

Possible Votes: Johnson, Pendlebury, Ablett


Essendon vs Carlton

Possible Votes: Judd, Murphy, Betts


Geelong vs Richmond

Possible Votes: Bartel, Christensen, Corey


Melbourne vs Hawthorn

Possible Votes:  Mitchell, Sewell, Franklin, Rioli


Fremantle vs West Coast

Possible Votes: Shuey, Cox, Broughton


*DISCLAIMER: The deliberate random order of the players above does not reflect the order I think they will poll in, and should be treated/used only as a guide. My own actual votes will be revealed at the conclusion of the season*

'Suns coast to another win' - Round 17, 2011 Wrap

Gold Coast has secured their 3rd win of the season, narrowly beating Richmond by 15 points. It was a gallant effort by the young Suns, who trailed by as much as 36 points at the first change only to peg back the Tigers and finish over the top.

Gary Ablett again featured among the best for the Suns, and is beginning to loom as a smokey for the Brownlow, whilst Swallow and Stanley were prominent.

Adelaide vs Essendon

Possible Votes: Monfries, Zaharakis, Thompson, Sloane


Richmond vs Gold Coast

Possible Votes: Stanley, Rischitelli, Ablett, Swallow


Carlton vs Collingwood

Possible Votes: Pendlebury, Thomas, Judd


St Kilda vs West Coast

Possible Votes: Montagna, Gaff, Naitanui


Melbourne vs Port Adelaide

Possible Votes: Pettard, Sylvia, Cassisi


Sydney vs Fremantle

Possible Votes: Lower, Fyfe, Broughton


Brisbane vs Geelong

Possible Votes: Bartel, Podsiadly, Christensen


North Melbourne vs Western Bulldogs

Possible Votes: Petrie, Wells, Ziebell


*DISCLAIMER: The deliberate random order of the players above does not reflect the order I think they will poll in, and should be treated/used only as a guide. My own actual votes will be revealed at the conclusion of the season*