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| FINALS WEEK 3 MATCHES (Michael Shillito’s tips in bold – Season to Date 117/182) Friday 19th September 1st Preliminary Final - Geelong v Western Bulldogs (7:45pm, MCG) Saturday 20th September 2nd Preliminary Final - Hawthorn v St Kilda (7:45pm, MCG) All times shown are Sydney time. |
As was the case in the other semi-final on Friday night, the third quarter was pivotal to the outcome of the
match. The Saints were again deadly accurate with their scoring radar while the Magpies were letting key
opportunities slip. The Saints won the quarter 6.1 to 1.5, extending their lead to 40 points at three-quarter
time. And although the Magpies won the last quarter to salvage some respectability to the scoreboard, the
damage was done.
Nick Riewoldt kicked 5 goals for the Saints in a best-on-ground performance, while Stephen Milne and
Justin Koschitzke both contributed 3 goals to the St Kilda cause. Nick Dal Santo was a dominant force in
midfield with 32 disposals, while Steven King had the better of the ruck duel against Josh Fraser.
Collingwood's inaccuracy would cost them dearly, as did their lack of a focal point up forward, the
Magpies unable to find a multiple goalkicker. Dane Swan and Scott Pendlebury picked up plenty of the
football, creating chances up forward; but this was not Collingwood's night and nothing they tried seemed
to work.
And so Collingwood's season comes to an end, while St Kilda live to fight for another week. A grand final
berth is on offer when the Saints take on Hawthorn in the preliminary final on Saturday night. The Saints
made the prelim final in both 2004 and 2005 but failed at the last hurdle to qualify for the big day. Will it be
third time lucky for the Saints?
St Kilda 4.1 8.1 14.2 17.4 (106)
Collingwood 3.4 4.11 5.16 9.18 (72)
Goals : St Kilda - Riewoldt 5, Milne 3, Koschitzke 3, Gram 2, Dal Santo, McQualter, Schneider, Gwilt.
Collingwood - Clarke, Brown, Medhurst, McCarthy, Cloke, Goldsack, Anthony, Swan, Lockyer.
Best : St Kilda - Riewoldt, Dal Santo, Gram, R Clarke, Fisher, Blake, Koschitzke. Collingwood -
Pendlebury, Swan, R Shaw, O'Brien, O'Bree.
Injuries : St Kilda - Ball (hamstring) replaced in selected side by Allen, Allen (hip). Collingwood - Burns
(calf) replaced in selected side by R Shaw, Prestigiacomo replaced in selected side by Wakelin.
Reports : St Kilda - Koschitzke reported for rough conduct on Wakelin in the second quarter.
Umpires - Kennedy, Rosebury, McLaren.
Crowd - 76,707 at MCG.
match. The Saints were again deadly accurate with their scoring radar while the Magpies were letting key
opportunities slip. The Saints won the quarter 6.1 to 1.5, extending their lead to 40 points at three-quarter
time. And although the Magpies won the last quarter to salvage some respectability to the scoreboard, the
damage was done.
Nick Riewoldt kicked 5 goals for the Saints in a best-on-ground performance, while Stephen Milne and
Justin Koschitzke both contributed 3 goals to the St Kilda cause. Nick Dal Santo was a dominant force in
midfield with 32 disposals, while Steven King had the better of the ruck duel against Josh Fraser.
Collingwood's inaccuracy would cost them dearly, as did their lack of a focal point up forward, the
Magpies unable to find a multiple goalkicker. Dane Swan and Scott Pendlebury picked up plenty of the
football, creating chances up forward; but this was not Collingwood's night and nothing they tried seemed
to work.
And so Collingwood's season comes to an end, while St Kilda live to fight for another week. A grand final
berth is on offer when the Saints take on Hawthorn in the preliminary final on Saturday night. The Saints
made the prelim final in both 2004 and 2005 but failed at the last hurdle to qualify for the big day. Will it be
third time lucky for the Saints?
St Kilda 4.1 8.1 14.2 17.4 (106)
Collingwood 3.4 4.11 5.16 9.18 (72)
Goals : St Kilda - Riewoldt 5, Milne 3, Koschitzke 3, Gram 2, Dal Santo, McQualter, Schneider, Gwilt.
Collingwood - Clarke, Brown, Medhurst, McCarthy, Cloke, Goldsack, Anthony, Swan, Lockyer.
Best : St Kilda - Riewoldt, Dal Santo, Gram, R Clarke, Fisher, Blake, Koschitzke. Collingwood -
Pendlebury, Swan, R Shaw, O'Brien, O'Bree.
Injuries : St Kilda - Ball (hamstring) replaced in selected side by Allen, Allen (hip). Collingwood - Burns
(calf) replaced in selected side by R Shaw, Prestigiacomo replaced in selected side by Wakelin.
Reports : St Kilda - Koschitzke reported for rough conduct on Wakelin in the second quarter.
Umpires - Kennedy, Rosebury, McLaren.
Crowd - 76,707 at MCG.
The Western Bulldogs have advanced to a preliminary final showdown with Geelong after a 37-point win over
Sydney in their semi-final clash at the MCG.
Robert Murphy kicked the opening goal of the match for the Bulldogs, but there were encouraging signs for the
Swans early. Barry Hall at 13 minutes marked and goaled to give the Swans the lead, then passed to Darren Jolly
to extend the Swans' advantage. But late in time-on, Scott Welsh goaled to cut the margin to one point at the first
change.
An interchange bungle by the Western Bulldogs threatened to derail them early in the second term. Shaun Higgins
was lining up for a shot for goal when an incorrect interchange was made. Tadgh Kennelly was given a free kick
from the centre circle and a 50m penalty which put him within goal-scoring range; but the Swans failed to take
advantage of the error, Kennelly's shot hitting the post. The Swans did lead for much of the second quarter, but
replies at critical stages of the game prevented them from getting to a point where the lead was comfortable. And
during the final minutes of the quarter the Bulldogs took control, a long bomb to Welsh and a mark and goal from
close range by Murphy giving them a narrow 4-point lead at the long break.
The premiership quarter saw the Bulldogs take control of the match, and the Swans were blown out of the contest.
The Bulldogs scored 6.4 to 0.6 for the quarter, turning a close first half into a 32-point lead by three-quarter time.
John Hill was the early destroyer during the quarter, a running goal followed by a mark and goal from 30 metres,
extended the Bulldogs' advantage. Brian Lake outran Barry Hall to add another. Ryan Griffen stepped up to extend
the advantage. The Swans were inaccurate, a poster from McVeigh from close range proving costly when the
Bulldogs ran end-to-end from the kick-in to set up Will Minson.
Barry Hall kicked the opening goal in the final quarter to offer just the slightest ray of hope to the Swans, but Jason
Akermanis' instant reply snuffed out any hopes of a comeback. The Bulldogs would go on to kick 5.1 to 4.2 for the
quarter; ending Sydney's season and putting themselves into their first preliminary final since 1998. Sydney's loss
ensured the top 4 would be made up entirely of Victorian teams, a complete turnaround from just 2 years ago
when no Victorian team qualified for the top 4.
Matthew Boyd with 33 possessions and Lindsay Gilbee with 28 were the prolific ball-getters for the day, while
Murphy scored 3 goals. For the Swans, Barry Hall's 4-goal return made him their only multiple goal-kicker, while
Brett Kirk with 22 possessions was their top ball-winner.
Western Bulldogs 2.3 6.5 11.9 16.10 (106)
Sydney 2.4 5.7 5.13 9.15 (69)
Goals : Bulldogs - Murphy 3, Welsh 2, Hill 2, Eagleton 2, Johnson, Akermanis, Minson, Griffen, Lake, Hahn,
Higgins. Sydney - Hall 4, Bevan, Crouch, Goodes, Roberts-Thomson, Jolly.
Best : Bulldogs - Boyd, Morris, Griffen, Murphy, Gilbee, Minson. Sydney - Hall, C Bolton, Kirk, Kennelly, McVeigh.
Injuries : Bulldogs - Nil. Sydney - Nil.
Reports : Sydney - Barry for striking Higgins in the fourth quarter.
Umpires - Vozzo, McBurney, Ryan
Crowd - 42,731 at MCG.
St Kilda ended Collingwood's season, their accurate kicking enabling them to capitalise on every opportunity to
score and record a 34-point victory.
After an even first quarer, in which Nick Riewoldt kicked 3 of St Kilda's 4 goals, the Saints enjoyed a 3-point
advantage at the first change. But the Saints grew more confident late in the second term, their 4.1 to 1.7 quarter
opening the lead up to 14 points at the long break. It had been goal for goal, and the Magpies were ahead at the
15 minute mark, but goals to Gwilt, Milne and Riewoldt in succession gave the Saints the advantage.
Sydney in their semi-final clash at the MCG.
Robert Murphy kicked the opening goal of the match for the Bulldogs, but there were encouraging signs for the
Swans early. Barry Hall at 13 minutes marked and goaled to give the Swans the lead, then passed to Darren Jolly
to extend the Swans' advantage. But late in time-on, Scott Welsh goaled to cut the margin to one point at the first
change.
An interchange bungle by the Western Bulldogs threatened to derail them early in the second term. Shaun Higgins
was lining up for a shot for goal when an incorrect interchange was made. Tadgh Kennelly was given a free kick
from the centre circle and a 50m penalty which put him within goal-scoring range; but the Swans failed to take
advantage of the error, Kennelly's shot hitting the post. The Swans did lead for much of the second quarter, but
replies at critical stages of the game prevented them from getting to a point where the lead was comfortable. And
during the final minutes of the quarter the Bulldogs took control, a long bomb to Welsh and a mark and goal from
close range by Murphy giving them a narrow 4-point lead at the long break.
The premiership quarter saw the Bulldogs take control of the match, and the Swans were blown out of the contest.
The Bulldogs scored 6.4 to 0.6 for the quarter, turning a close first half into a 32-point lead by three-quarter time.
John Hill was the early destroyer during the quarter, a running goal followed by a mark and goal from 30 metres,
extended the Bulldogs' advantage. Brian Lake outran Barry Hall to add another. Ryan Griffen stepped up to extend
the advantage. The Swans were inaccurate, a poster from McVeigh from close range proving costly when the
Bulldogs ran end-to-end from the kick-in to set up Will Minson.
Barry Hall kicked the opening goal in the final quarter to offer just the slightest ray of hope to the Swans, but Jason
Akermanis' instant reply snuffed out any hopes of a comeback. The Bulldogs would go on to kick 5.1 to 4.2 for the
quarter; ending Sydney's season and putting themselves into their first preliminary final since 1998. Sydney's loss
ensured the top 4 would be made up entirely of Victorian teams, a complete turnaround from just 2 years ago
when no Victorian team qualified for the top 4.
Matthew Boyd with 33 possessions and Lindsay Gilbee with 28 were the prolific ball-getters for the day, while
Murphy scored 3 goals. For the Swans, Barry Hall's 4-goal return made him their only multiple goal-kicker, while
Brett Kirk with 22 possessions was their top ball-winner.
Western Bulldogs 2.3 6.5 11.9 16.10 (106)
Sydney 2.4 5.7 5.13 9.15 (69)
Goals : Bulldogs - Murphy 3, Welsh 2, Hill 2, Eagleton 2, Johnson, Akermanis, Minson, Griffen, Lake, Hahn,
Higgins. Sydney - Hall 4, Bevan, Crouch, Goodes, Roberts-Thomson, Jolly.
Best : Bulldogs - Boyd, Morris, Griffen, Murphy, Gilbee, Minson. Sydney - Hall, C Bolton, Kirk, Kennelly, McVeigh.
Injuries : Bulldogs - Nil. Sydney - Nil.
Reports : Sydney - Barry for striking Higgins in the fourth quarter.
Umpires - Vozzo, McBurney, Ryan
Crowd - 42,731 at MCG.
St Kilda ended Collingwood's season, their accurate kicking enabling them to capitalise on every opportunity to
score and record a 34-point victory.
After an even first quarer, in which Nick Riewoldt kicked 3 of St Kilda's 4 goals, the Saints enjoyed a 3-point
advantage at the first change. But the Saints grew more confident late in the second term, their 4.1 to 1.7 quarter
opening the lead up to 14 points at the long break. It had been goal for goal, and the Magpies were ahead at the
15 minute mark, but goals to Gwilt, Milne and Riewoldt in succession gave the Saints the advantage.
