It only feels like yesterday when Essendon handed the new AFL franchise in the Gold Coast a footballing lesson. But 5 weeks on and you wouldn't believe the Bombers form could stoop so low, having now lost to fledging sides Richmond and Melbourne in recent weeks.
With a loud chorus of media commentators talking up their chances of a Top 4 finish having all but sounded out to a whisper, one must ponder the question; where to now for the Bombers? If the popular opinion is that Judd is central to the success of the Carlton side, I guess you could say in relative terms that the same applies to Watson for Essendon.
For Hirdy, it appears the honeymoon is over, and the reality of a long and difficult marriage is only starting to sink in. Poor bloke.
Essendon vs Melbourne
Possible Votes: Moloney, McKenzie, Trengove, Gysberts
Geelong vs Western Bulldogs
Possible Votes: Johnson, Ottens, Bartel, Corey
West Coast vs Gold Coast
Possible Votes: Cox, LeCras, Priddis, Ablett
Brisbane vs Sydney
Possible Votes: Bird, Bolton, O'Keefe, Goodes
Collingwood vs St Kilda
Possible Votes: Cloke, Thomas, Pendlebury
Hawthorn vs Fremantle
Possible Votes: Rioli, Hill, Broughton, Mitchell
North Melbourne vs Adelaide
Possible Votes: Petrie, Swallow, Goldstein, Ziebell
Port Adelaide vs Carlton
Possible Votes: Robinson, Walker, Murphy
*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*
Explaining how she asked me
for 6", and I gave her a footlong...
The results are in!
"But hold on", I hear you say. "Why is there a gratuitous
picture of some random chick accompanying this blog post?" That folks is female goal umpire Chelsea Roffey... who I may or may not have a little thing for. If anything she distracts me from wanting to punch in the face of that smirking guy that always sits behind the goals at Subiaco games waving those stupid 'Messages on Hold' hand-shaped signs.
But I digress...
So for the poll which asked all of you fellow Brownlow devotees, as of Round 10 "Which 3 players listed below do you think would feature in the Top 3 of the count at this stage of the season?", you voted...
1. C. Judd (67%)
2. J. Watson (62%)
3. S. Pendlebury (34%)
4. M. Murphy (25%)
5. J. Selwood (20%)
6. Other (20%)
7. D. Swan (16%)
8. M. Boyd (11%)
9. A. Sandilands (2%)
TOTAL VOTES: 42.
The results haven't sprung any surprises, although with Watson on the sidelines, i'd say he'll fall back off the pace given he isn't expected to return until Round 12 against Freo. There's still a long way to go, but can Judd sustain his lead coming into the half-way mark of the season, or will the likes of Pendles/Murphy/Selwood attain the upper hand? We’ll pose that question to you very soon, so keep an eye out!
Also, you may have noticed this blog hasn't been as quite up to date. The trouble is, I have been quite busy over the past few weeks and have had little time to dedicate to the write ups of this blog compared to last season. A few of you have even shot me emails in anticipation of my write-ups asking when the next is going to be posted, and i'm humbled to see there are still those out there who actually read this blog on a weekly basis. Kudos to you, good sir!
As a result of my busy schedule, from now on i'll be sacrificing my game-by-game write ups, as I just don't have time to do one for each game. I will, of course, continue to post up the top players from each game who I think are a chance at votes. Of course, if you want to discuss votes for any particular game feel free to reply to the blog entry located at the bottom and i'll be happy to share my thoughts. Hope that keeps you keen punters at bay!
All in all never fear though, folks, as this blog is still alive and well, it's just been in hibernation mode for a few weeks... much like Essendon's early season form of late! Anyway, on with the show...
Melbourne vs Carlton
Possible Votes: Murphy, Judd, Robinson, Walker
North Melbourne vs Sydney
Possible Votes: Swallow, Bird, McGlynn, Wells
Fremantle vs St Kilda
Possible Votes: Schneider, Dal Santo, Gilbert, Peake
Gold Coast vs Geelong
Possible Votes: Johnson, Selwood, Kelly, Podsiadly
Richmond vs Port Adelaide
Possible Votes: Gray, Boak, Foley, Thomas
Adelaide vs Brisbane
Possible Votes: Clarke, Thompson, Black
Collingwood vs West Coast
Possible Votes: Thomas, Ball, Pendlebury, Didak
West Bulldogs vs Hawthorn
Possible Votes: Guerra, Mitchell, Hodge, Sewell
*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*
With Cyril Rioli, Leigh Montagna and Sam Mitchell ruling themselves out of the Brownlow race after being found guilty by the match review panel in recent weeks, the competition for the illustrious medal was almost thinned of one more player with Adam Goodes escaping with a reprimand for tripping Hawthorn's Brent 'The Rug' Guerra.
As a result, the dual Brownlow Medallist remains eligible for this year's award after accepting a reprimand and 66 points towards his future record.
But I guess this outcome was only inevitable given it involved the AFL's love-child, and ump favourite in Goodesy. Hahaaaa! Just kidding folks... well, half kidding. But i'm surprised that Guerra wasn't cited for running into the leg of Goodes. How dare he make it look as though Goodes tripped him! In fact I reckon the AFL would've done this back in the day just to preserve the clean image of the one Adam Goodes. No need to nowadays, though, as the match review panel gets it wrong 90% of the time now, so they can rely on him getting off without any further intervention needed. I can hear the champagne being uncorked at AFL House as we speak. Time to put on your birthday suit AD!
Carlton vs Geelong
Possible Votes: Scotland, Selwood, Murphy, Varcoe
Scotland really stood up and assumed the role of the general commanding his troops, particularly in the last when Judd was restricted with a sore foot. His possessions were flawless along the wing, and through the middle. Selwood was headed for a blinder up until 3QT, when he barely touched it and faded out of the game. Murphy continued his run of good form in recent weeks and was again dominant in the middle. Varcoe was quiet somewhat, but had a very influential say in the result of the game in the latter stages of the game, with a dominant 3rd Q.
St Kilda vs Melbourne
Possible Votes: Goddard, Montagna, Riewoldt, N. Jones
Goddard was quite the accumulator, earning 37 possessions. Montagna hit back well, after having a weeks break through suspension, and was a solid contributor. Riewoldt prowess up forward proved lethal to the Dees, kicking 3 important goals. Nathan Jones was the best for the Dees, gathering 31 possies and setting up his side with quite a few scoring opportunities with 7 inside 50s.
Lower played one of his best games for Freo, amassing 28 possies and kicking a nice goal. Fyfe and Pav were the other standouts through the middle, and Sandi was very noticable up until he came off with injury. Duffield got plenty of quality touches off half back, and was also good.
Brisbane vs North Melbourne
Potential Votes: Brown, Adcock, Black, Swallow
Brown was the difference in the end, snatching 11 marks and 4 goals. Adcock thrived on the hard contested ball, and Black's ball use was superb given the tough conditions. Swallow was by far the best for North.
Richmond vs Essendon
Potential Votes: Deledio, Cotchin, Jetta, Heppell
Deledio played a bit part superbly both in the middle and mopping up down back, whilst Cotchin was again superb, with his extraction skills the stand out. Jetta's electrifying speed and 3 goals were a rare highlight in what was a grim match for the Dons. Heppell contested the packs at every opportunity and can walk away with his head held high.
Collingwood vs Adelaide
Thomas was electrifying all day, and Thompson had 33 possessions in a dominant display for the Crows who dropped the bundle in the last Q. Ball worked tirelessly all day with his in and under work, and Pendles was crucial with his penetrating kicking.
Franklin played a blinder kicking 6.6, and could've had 10+ had he kicked straight. Shiels had a lot around stoppages and Roughead played a great game pinch hitting in the ruck and going forward at stages throughout the game. Sewell did well to give his team mates first use of the ball around the stoppages, and Hodge was overly solid throughout.
West Coast vs Westerm Bulldogs
Potential Votes: Kennedy, Shuey, Embley, Le Cras, Cox
Kennedy kicked 10, so his game speaks for itself. Shuey kicked his own bag, converting 5 goals and was involved in heaps of midfield work. Embley dominated with his usual ran and dash, and Le Cras gathered 29 possessions to go with 3.3 along the way. Cox was a beast in the ruck, and smashed the Bulldogs at the stoppages.
*DISCLAIMER: The deliberate random order of the players above is not indicative of the order I think they will poll in, and should be treated/used only as a guide.*
In an encounter that was touted the match of the round, it sure lived up to expectations with the clash between the two undefeated titans - Geelong and Collingwood - going right down to the wire. Coming away victorious were the Cats who fought bravely against the reigning premiers, and very much had the ascendancy all night.
One player that stood out and set the tone early for the Catters was Selwood, who capped off his 100th game in style with a 28 possession performance, which included 7 clearances, 8 inside 50's and a whopping 17 contested possessions.
Selwood has gone under the radar up until now, with many bookies writing him off. Could this be the beginning of a run of promising performances to come that will thrust his name back into the Brownlow spotlight? He has the runs on the board in previous seasons, particularly in the latter half of last year when he polled a total of 14 votes in a run of 8 consecutive games. Almost Judd-esque is our resident 'Wood Seller'!
Geelong vs Collingwood
Possible Votes: Selwood, Thomas, Swan, Bartel, Ottens.
Selwood purely awesome in his milestone game, and Thomas' stoppage work was a feature of his game that stood out and kicked a late goal to bring the Pies within striking distance. Swan played a solid game with 30 possessions, whilst Bartel was very quiet early on in the match, but kicked 2 crucial goals.Ottens dominated the ruck and could figure.
North Melbourne vs Melbourne
Possible Votes: Goldstein, Wells, Edwards, Adams.
Goldstein dominated all day against Melbourne's depleated and non-existant ruck setup. Wells' run, carry and precise movement of the ball was invaluable, and Edwards' performance speaks for itself with 6 goals 10 marks. Adams tried his heart out and was very damaging. Adelaide vs Gold Coast
Possible Votes: Dangerfield, Van Berlo, Thompson, Ablett.
Dangerfield kicked 6 and smashed the GC. Van Berlo played a very nice captains game, leading from the front and gathering 36 possies. Thompson's in and under work was flawless. Gazza was showing glimpses of his Brownlow medal form in the first quarter and a bit, kicking 4 goals and amassing 41 possessions in a dominant display, but slowed just as his side did as the game wore on.
Brisbane vs Essendon
Possible Votes: Myers, Zaharakis, Rockliff, Hocking.
Myers was quiet up until the last half when he was racking up possessions off half-back in a rebound role that went some way to negating Brisbane's forward entries. Zaharakis played a starring role in the Bomber's win, with 4 goals. Rockliff was among the best stoppage players on the night, along with Hocking who had 11 contested possessions.
Sydney vs Port Adelaide
Possible Votes: Bolton, Kennedy, Goodes, O'Keefe.
Bolton was courageous as always, laying 13 tackles to go with his 33 touches. Kennedy had a day out as well, kicking 2 goals whilst smashing out 17 contested possessions among his 31 possessions. Goodes had a very servicable game kicking a couple of nice goals, and O'Keefe played a crucial role in the Swans win.
Hawthorn vs St Kilda
Possible Votes: Savage, Franklin, Hodge, Lewis.
This is a very hard game for votes! Savage really grew into the match and was a dominant force down the wings, whilst Franklin was his influential self kicking 5. Hodge worked his way into form with arguably his best game for the year, and likewise Lewis was an accumulator. Western Bulldogs vs Richmond
Possible Votes: Gilbee, Ward, Boyd, Minson.
Gilbee booted 5 goals in a very dominant display. Ward was outstanding in the midfield, likewise Boyd who played a solid game. Minson should come into calculations, smashing it not only in the ruck, but up forward as well.
West Coast vs Fremantle
Possible Votes: Priddis, Naitanui, Fyfe, Mundy.
Priddis was BOG, winning the match day medal. NicNat played a great ruckmans game, working in tandem with Cox to get the better of Sandilands. Fyfe was among the best for Freo, and kicked a classy goal that put him in contention for goal of the year. Mundy is another that tried hard for the Dockers.
*DISCLAIMER: The deliberate random order of the players above is not indicative of the order I think they will poll in, and should be treated/used only as a guide.*
When I first heard news that Melbourne's Jack Trengove had been cited and suspended for 3 matches, I thought he must've whacked someone behind play or something of that nature, but having watched the Melbourne vs Adelaide match in its entirety I didn't recall him being involved in any malicious acts, nor did I remember him being reported or hear any of the commentators mentioning any particular incident during the game. What could he have done I thought?
Well, when I saw a replay of the incident in question I had no words... at first. I was too shocked to see what he had been reported for, and more specifically in utter disbelief at what our game, the game I follow almost religiously, the game I know and love dearly, had decended to. The profanity laden reponse that followed was a combination of frustration, anger, and disbelief. A small part of my passion for the game had wilted at that very moment.
Here we have a second year rookie; with no tribunal history; not renowned for being violent or malicious on the field; who was not reported during play; had laid a hard, fair tackle in play; didn't catch Dangerfield high; didn't irresponsibly sling him, or let him fall to the ground after the tackle; didn't intend on hurting him; and was even defended by Adelaide themselves who gave evidence to support his case. Heck, even Dangerfield was fit enough to play in Round 8! And yet, the end result is he gets 3 weeks.
To put this in greater perspective as to how ridiculous this is, compare this to the Campbell Brown case who deliberately elbowed Callan Ward IN THE FACE. His actions were high; it was behind play; had the deliberate intent of hurting his opponent; and biggest of all - has a long history of malicious reports. But somehow for this incident alone (he was also reported for another incident), he recieved 2 weeks. How I hear you ask, well the all conquering MRP ruled that the contact he made was reckless (not intentional), and medium impact (not high). WTF?!
Errr... care to elaborate here AFL? I would seriously love to hear justifications behind both rulings.
Let me end my rant by giving you a look at an old AFL advertisement that ran during the 90s, promoting our wonderful game for what it was - hard, tough, passionate, skillfull, entertaining, among other things. Does anyone else find it rather ironic that a large majority of the particular aspects of the game which feature in the video, are now either absent from the game or being fazed out thanks largely to the rules committee and the tribunal.
"Rules? What rules?" Dean Richards asks - Haha, well good sir that'd be the very thing that is slowly ruining the game, and what has made it almost a different sport entirely compared to that put on display in that advertisement. In essence its stolen away the games indentity.
It's the very reason that passionate supporters like myself could very well lose interest over time and be turned away. Because if the AFL don't overall their MRP process, ruling system, interpretations and the like, i'm sad to say this is a very real realization. Let's just hope it doesn't come to that.
"I'd like to see that" I hear them say. In response I say so would I...
So would I...
Port Adelaide vs Hawthorn
Possible Votes: Sewell, Mitchell, Chaplin, Pearce
Sewell was the hardest working midfielder, and his in and under work is sublime. Mitchell had a TON of the ball, but was scrappy at times. Chaplin was a rock in defence, and Pearce solid.
Western Bulldogs vs Sydney
Possible Votes: Goodes, Boyd, O'Keefe, Griffen
Goodesy played a very solid game, and Boyd likewise. O'Keefe was a standout and was a linkman across the ground, whilst Griffen's clean disposal stood out like a beacon. Geelong vs North Melbourne
Possible Votes: Podsiadly, Kelly, Selwood, Corey
Pods was marking all and sundry, and kicking goals to boot (ha!). Kelly was seemingly everywhere, and was great in tight as usual, whilst Selwood also excelled in the middle. Corey also stood out and had a very workmanlike game.
Richmond vs Fremantle
Possible Votes: Nahas, Cotchin, Sandilands
Nahas has been in ripping form over the past few weeks, and backed it up with another great game. Cotchin broke lines, and kicked goals in an impressive overall game, and Sandilands dominated in the ruck as per usual.
Gold Coast vs Brisbane Possible Votes: Brennan, Rischitelli, Krakouer, McGrath, Black, Rich
Brennan was clear BOG and recieved the match day medal. Rischitelli played a great game, and Krakouer helped lock in the win for the Suns with 5 goals. McGrath went one better, kicking 6 goals in a dominant display. Black was consistent, and Rich's raking kick was a feature.
Essendon vs West Coast
Possible Votes: Kerr, Watson, Hocking, Jetta
Kerr was simply awesome in the first half, but faded. Watson contributed well with 2 goals, and had a stack of possessions. Hocking was solid throughout, and Jetta was damaging with his run through the middle late in the game.
Melbourne vs Adelaide
Possible Votes: Sylvia, Moloney, Trengove, Davey
Sylvia stood out with his 4 goals, and Moloney was a beast at the stoppages as he has been in recent weeks. Trengove was silky smooth as usual, and Davey's evasiveness and run and carry was impeccable on the day.
St Kilda vs Carlton
Possible Votes: Gibbs, Fisher, Nick Dal Santo, Yarran, Judd
Was the hardest game of the week to try and narrow down votes. Gibbs nullified Goddard for the entire match, and kicked a couple of very classy goals. Fisher was the rock for St. Kilda and ensured St Kilda had a steady ship. Dal Santo was quiet early, but worked into it, especially in the last Q. Yarran was a wizard down back, sweeping the ball up and disposing of the ball with both feet, with his usual charm. Judd was held quite well by Gilbert, but came into his own in the last 2 Q's to help secure a win for his side.
*DISCLAIMER: The deliberate random order of the players above is not indicative of the order I think they will poll in, and should be treated/used only as a guide.*
A week after the Suns recorded their first win in emphatic style, the elation soon came to a crashing halt this round when Essendon absolutely pantsed them... and I don't mean just any regular shelacking, I mean record breaking.
Can you believe the score at quarter time was Essendon 94, Suns 1?! Wow! Of course that horror start set the tone for the rest of the match, and Essendon were ruthless up until the final siren. Among the records that were smashed included; the highest score kicked in a first quarter, and not surprisingly; the biggest deficit at quarter time. It's one thing to be beaten by 139 points, but to have Kyle Reimers kick 8 goals against you is definitely more embarrassing!
But chin up to any Suns supporters out there. With such a young team, you'll find that the Suns will be the Jekyl and Hyde throughout much of the year, similar to Port Adelaide (whom they only beat last week - ironic much?). No doubt there will be weeks when they put in a solid competitive effort or even come up with a win, and then there will be those instances where they are humiliated - akin to the poor bloke on his bucks night when he is bound and tied naked to a lamppost by his mates. Just the nature of the business I suppose... except in his case the poor sod goes on to get married and faces a life of misery, whereas the Suns' future looks much brighter in comparison.
Not so bleak afterall, eh? Huzzah for crazy, random analogies! Winning!
West Coast vs Melbourne
Possible Votes: Embley, Priddis, Cox, Kerr
Embley played well, particularly in the first half and kicked 3 goals in a dominant display by the Eagles. Priddis was the cog in the Eagles' midfield, and Cox monstered his opponent Jamar all night. Kerr put in a fantastic effort and showed flashes of his brilliance circa his premiership days playing alongside Juddy and Cousins.
Sydney vs Carlton
Possible Votes: Judd, McGlynn, Kennedy, Bett, Curnow
No jokes about it really, Judd was a clear BOG and played quite possibly his best game in the Navy Blue. McGlynn had a great game, kicking 4 goals, which is very solid when you factour in the rain. Kennedy impressed me a lot and worked tirelessly for Sydney in what were horrid conditions, and little Eddie played a very nice game to work his way back into form. Curnow thrived on the contested ball, and did well you clear the ball from congestion on numerous occasions.
North Melbourne vs Pt Adelaide
Possible Votes: Goldstein, Swallow, Harvey, Hartlett
Was a pretty ordinary game, let be honest.
Goldstein was very dominant in the ruck for the Kangas, and played a Sandi type game, even roving his own ruckwork and dishing out clearances. Swallow played a very solid game, and his skill and composure shone through in patches. Harvey was impressive, and stood out with his running goal. Hartlett was the best for Port, which was a fair effort when your team is on the receiving end of a thumping. Richmond vs Brisbane
Possible Votes: Nahas, Martin, Foley, Black
Nahas was everywhere! Probably played his best game for Richmond over the journey. Martin was terrific and put in another outstanding performance on the back of last week, and Foley had a tonne of the ball. Black's silky disposal and nouse to know exactly where his teammates are in congestion and have to the ability to dish it out to advantage is superb.
Adelaide vs St Kilda
Possible Votes: Tippett, Thompson, Douglas, Knights, Dal Santo
Tippet and Thompson were both as equally damaging as each other, with the former marking everything that came his way and the latter carving the Saints midfield to shreds, seemingly always having first opportunity at the ball. Douglas played a decent bit-part alongside Thompson at stages, kicking 2 very nice goals, and Knights was the steadying hand up forward, kicking 2 crucial goals when the Saints came within 3 points. Dal Santo had a nice day out by his own accounts, gathering 29 touches and laying 6 tackles in what was another glum day for the Saints. Essendon vs Gold Coast
Possible Votes: ANYONE!
Quite seriously, anyone could potentially poll in the votes given the whopping margin... well... anyone that wore an Essendon guernsey. Reimers is obviously one that should figure with his career high 8 goals. Collingwood vs Western Bulldogs
Possible Votes: Krakouer, Shaw, Sidebottom, Brown
Krakouer showed the footballing world his bag of tricks, when on a couple of occasions he dodged and weaved around numerous opponents to snap around his body and goal. Very flashy! Shaw played his usual ran and carry gamestyle, much to the advantage of the Pies. He also won the Rose/Sutton medal for best afield, as voted by a selection of Fox Sports panellists. Sidebottom was ruthless all day, and kicked 3 goals, whilst Brown slotted 4 crucial goals in the last to put some space between the reigning premiers and the Bulldogs, when it looked as though the latter were pressing.
Only a few minutes out from 3/4 time in the Port Adelaide vs Gold Coast match, the visitors were trailing by a lengthy 40 points and were headed for another certain defeat. But what transpired over the next quarter can be described as both quite hilarious, and quite remarkable! It really can only be seen to be believed - Gold Coast, a new side, down and out, and much renowned as the whipping boys of the AFL, rose from the ashes against all the odds to come back and overcome the much fancied home side to record their first win in it's short history.
I don't think i've ever barracked for another team as hard as what I did for the Suns against Port - but how couldn't you, for the lulz alone it was worth it. Poor Port...
Oh, and on another note, I was very close to publicly declaring that the AFL were taking the piss when it looked as though Fremantle and the Western Bulldogs were headed for a draw late in the last quarter. On the back of my blog post last week, I was half expecting the football gods to dish up another LOL at my expense but thankfully it wasn't to be! But I somehow have the feeling that this won't be the last we'll see of the draws.
Brisbane v St Kilda
Possible Votes: A. Schneider, L. Montagna, J. Adcock, S. Black, J. Redden.
Montagna, I felt, was among the Saint's best with 10 clearances. Adcock was solid across the whole game and really commanded the game for Brisbane, whilst Schneider kicked 2 very important goals in the last to tip the game in the Saints' favour. Others of note; Black/Redden. Pt Adelaide v Gold Coast
Possible Votes: M. Rischitelli, B. Matera, G. Ablett, D. Swallow, H. Hartlett.
Rischitelli was an absolute beast all day and recieved the match-day medal, ajudged the best man afield. Matera had the x-factor and the goals he kicked were pure class for such a young player, and really stepped it up a cog in the last Q. Ablett kicked a nice captains goal to kick start the Suns resurgence. Swallow was quiet early, but stood up in unison with the rest of his team to lift the side to victory in the last half. Hartlett was Port's best in what was a close loss in a side that dominated play all day until the final 30 minutes of the match Carlton v Adelaide
Possible Votes: M. Murphy, P. Dangerfield, A. Walker, C. Judd.
Murphy was pure class all night and had a well rounded game. Danger was fantastic for the Crows and was by far their best in the engine room. His ability and strength to shrug tackles and break open into space astounds me. Walker came out firing in the first quarter, and even took a very nice grab, whilst kicking 4 very nice goals. Judd was looking to break the game apart in the first few minutes, but finished with what was a solid game.
North Melbourne v Richmond
Possible Votes: J. Riewoldt, D. Petrie, D. Martin, A. Swallow.
JRoo kicked another bag and was the shining light for the Tiges up forward leading his side to victory. Petrie marked everything that came his way and kicked 6 in a very dominant display. Martin played a huge game for a bloke who's only in his 2nd season, and has all the hallmarks of a future Richmond captain. Swallow played a solid game also. Essendon v Collingwood
Possible Votes: S. Pendlebury, H. Shaw, D. Heppell, T. Cloke.
Pendles was simply awesome, not much else can be said about his performance. A clear BOG, winning the Anzac Day Medal. Shaw was everywhere, and in top form demonstrating his famous run and carry throughout the match. Heppell was awesome across half back, and at times running through the centre with great composure. Cloke kicked 2 crucial goals in the space of a few minutes to snuff out any hope of Essendon winning in the last.
Fremantle v Western Bulldogs
Possible Votes: D. Mundy, M. Boyd, A. Sandilands.
Mundy kicked 2 impressive goals and was unsighted early until he was thrown into the centre and started to dominate. Boyd played like a man possessed, and stood out, but with 40 odd touches how can you not? Sandilands owned the ruck, but the Bulldogs roved his taps for most the night.
Hawthorn v Geelong
Possible Votes: H. Taylor, P.Chapman, B. Sewell, J. Bartel, J. Selwood
Taylor took a ton of contested marks, dropping back into space, while Franklin didnt get near it. Chapman was a dominant force up forward for the Cats, and swining through the middle to apply fantastic pressure. Sewell, I felt, was one of the best performing Hawks midfielders. Bartel was a standout, and whilst Selwood wasn't at his best that's for sure, but with 32 possies/14 CP/6 CL, he's hard to ignore.
*DISCLAIMER: The deliberate random order of the players above is not indicative of the order I think they will poll in, and should be treated/used only as a guide.*
