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For the second year in a row the Western Bulldogs are through to the preliminary final. The Bulldogs booked
themselves a clash with St Kilda next week after a comfortable 51-point win over Brisbane at the MCG on
Friday night.
A crowd of over 47,000 was at the MCG for the match, including Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Deputy Julia
Gillard. And it was Gillard’s beloved Bulldogs that had the edge over Rudd’s Lions all night, the Bulldogs
being in front throughout the evening; and the Lions never looked a chance of getting into the contest.
Flukey winds made conditions difficult, but it was an evenly-contested first quarter in every aspect except the
one that counts – the scoreboard. The Lions had as much of the ball as the Bulldogs, and were thereabouts
in every contest, but could only manage six behinds for their efforts while the Bulldogs scored four goals to
go to a 22-point lead at the first change.
The Lions, for all their efforts, were unable to score a goal until midway through the second quarter. The
Bulldogs, making better use of their opportunities, looked to have the game under control; but the Lions
finally found some cohesion in their game late in the second term to cut the margin to 17 points at the long
break. The Bulldogs had been quicker, and better in the midfield; but the Lions had the two tall targets up
forward, who would remain tall in the final stages even when the Bulldog midfield tired. With less than three
goals in it, and the Lions to be coming home with the wind in the final term, if they could have stayed in
contact with the Bulldogs in the third quarter, they looked to still be well and truly in the contest.
But the Lions were unable to stay with the rampant Bulldogs during the premiership quarter, as the Bulldogs
assumed control of the contest to put the result of the game beyond doubt. The Lions did manage two goals
for the quarter, but it wasn’t enough to stay in contact with the Bulldogs. The Bulldog midfield, who had been
more efficient than the Lions during the first half, became even more prolific ball-winners; and the pressure
applied was too much for the Lions to handle. And, overcoming the windy conditions that had made goal-
scoring difficult in the first half, the Bulldogs completed a haul of 5.2 for the quarter; and by the last change
the margin was 39 points. Even with the Lions to be coming home with the wind in the last quarter, the
margin was too great to make up.
And as it turned out, the Bulldogs won the final quarter, despite going into the wind. Mitchell Hahn with four
goals and Nathan Eagleton with three were the main beneficiaries of the Bulldog forward line pressure; and
showing no signs of fatigue, the Bulldog midfield kept running to the end.
And so the Bulldogs, for the second year in a row, get through a semi final against an interstate side to set
up a prelim final appearance. Last year they went down to the Cats. This time round, their opponents will be
minor premiers St Kilda.
But for the Lions, their season is over. Their first appearance in the finals since their Grand Final appearance
in 2004 saw a win in the first week but the Lions bowing out in week 2. But it had been a creditable season,
and Michael Voss in his first season as Lions’ coach has a solid base to build on in 2010.
Western Bulldogs 4.2 6.6 11.8 16.11 (107)
Brisbane 0.6 3.7 5.7 8.8 (56)
Goals : Bulldogs – M Hahn 4, N Eagleton 3, W Minson 2, S Higgins 2, C Ward 2, A Cooney, R
Griffen, L Gilbee. Brisbane – J Brown 3, D Bradshaw 3, A McGrath, J Redden.
Best : Bulldogs – N Eagleton, M Boyd, A Cooney, D Giansiracusa, L Picken, D Cross. Brisbane
– J Brown, L Power, T Notting, J Brennan, S Black, A McGrath.
Injuries : Bulldogs – R Griffen (corked calf). Brisbane – Nil.
Reports – Nil. Umpires – M Stevic, B Meredith, S Ryan.
Crowd - 47,030 at the MCG.
themselves a clash with St Kilda next week after a comfortable 51-point win over Brisbane at the MCG on
Friday night.
A crowd of over 47,000 was at the MCG for the match, including Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Deputy Julia
Gillard. And it was Gillard’s beloved Bulldogs that had the edge over Rudd’s Lions all night, the Bulldogs
being in front throughout the evening; and the Lions never looked a chance of getting into the contest.
Flukey winds made conditions difficult, but it was an evenly-contested first quarter in every aspect except the
one that counts – the scoreboard. The Lions had as much of the ball as the Bulldogs, and were thereabouts
in every contest, but could only manage six behinds for their efforts while the Bulldogs scored four goals to
go to a 22-point lead at the first change.
The Lions, for all their efforts, were unable to score a goal until midway through the second quarter. The
Bulldogs, making better use of their opportunities, looked to have the game under control; but the Lions
finally found some cohesion in their game late in the second term to cut the margin to 17 points at the long
break. The Bulldogs had been quicker, and better in the midfield; but the Lions had the two tall targets up
forward, who would remain tall in the final stages even when the Bulldog midfield tired. With less than three
goals in it, and the Lions to be coming home with the wind in the final term, if they could have stayed in
contact with the Bulldogs in the third quarter, they looked to still be well and truly in the contest.
But the Lions were unable to stay with the rampant Bulldogs during the premiership quarter, as the Bulldogs
assumed control of the contest to put the result of the game beyond doubt. The Lions did manage two goals
for the quarter, but it wasn’t enough to stay in contact with the Bulldogs. The Bulldog midfield, who had been
more efficient than the Lions during the first half, became even more prolific ball-winners; and the pressure
applied was too much for the Lions to handle. And, overcoming the windy conditions that had made goal-
scoring difficult in the first half, the Bulldogs completed a haul of 5.2 for the quarter; and by the last change
the margin was 39 points. Even with the Lions to be coming home with the wind in the last quarter, the
margin was too great to make up.
And as it turned out, the Bulldogs won the final quarter, despite going into the wind. Mitchell Hahn with four
goals and Nathan Eagleton with three were the main beneficiaries of the Bulldog forward line pressure; and
showing no signs of fatigue, the Bulldog midfield kept running to the end.
And so the Bulldogs, for the second year in a row, get through a semi final against an interstate side to set
up a prelim final appearance. Last year they went down to the Cats. This time round, their opponents will be
minor premiers St Kilda.
But for the Lions, their season is over. Their first appearance in the finals since their Grand Final appearance
in 2004 saw a win in the first week but the Lions bowing out in week 2. But it had been a creditable season,
and Michael Voss in his first season as Lions’ coach has a solid base to build on in 2010.
Western Bulldogs 4.2 6.6 11.8 16.11 (107)
Brisbane 0.6 3.7 5.7 8.8 (56)
Goals : Bulldogs – M Hahn 4, N Eagleton 3, W Minson 2, S Higgins 2, C Ward 2, A Cooney, R
Griffen, L Gilbee. Brisbane – J Brown 3, D Bradshaw 3, A McGrath, J Redden.
Best : Bulldogs – N Eagleton, M Boyd, A Cooney, D Giansiracusa, L Picken, D Cross. Brisbane
– J Brown, L Power, T Notting, J Brennan, S Black, A McGrath.
Injuries : Bulldogs – R Griffen (corked calf). Brisbane – Nil.
Reports – Nil. Umpires – M Stevic, B Meredith, S Ryan.
Crowd - 47,030 at the MCG.
Collingwood are through to the preliminary final and a date with the Cats, while Adelaide’s season is over,
after the Magpies ensured an all Victorian Grand Final when they completed a thrilling 5-point victory in the
second semi-final at the MCG on Saturday night.
It wasn’t a result that was looking likely at quarter time. The Crows burst out of the blocks with a
scintillating opening quarter. A run of six goals to one saw the Crows lead by 29 points at the first change.
And although the Crows were only able to add one more goal in the second term, the margin of 26 points
at half time was looking comfortable for Adelaide. The Crows should have been even further in front,
having a clear lead in possessions and inside 50s, creating chance after chance. But during the long
break, few could have forseen the change in momentum that would come when play would restart for the
second half.
The pace the Crows showed in the first half slowed to a walk after half time. The marking power lost its
grip on the ball, and errors and silly turnovers began to manifest themselves. But Collingwood were a
contrast, emerging after a pedestrian first half to step up the pressure and methodically work themselves
back in the contest. The defence tightened, and the Crows were only able to manage two behinds for the
quarter. And at the other end, a six goal burst turned the deficit into an unlikely 10-point lead at the last
change.
But the Crows weren’t finished yet. Two goals in the opening five minutes of the final quarter restored the
lead. And it would be a topsy-turvy final quarter. Five more goals would be scored during the final quarter,
each of them resulting in a lead change. But it was the Magpies who would be holding the parcel of victory
when the music stopped. At the 31 minute mark, Brad Dick slammed through the final goal of the game,
which restored the lead for the Magpies; and when the final siren sounded the Magpies had taken a 5-
point win.
It had been a brave fight by the Crows, who had started so well and threatened to end the Collingwood
party early. But the Magpies dug deep, refusing to concede after their poor start, and had done enough to
take out the result. Adelaide’s season is over, while the Magpies have a clash against Geelong next week
for a grand final berth.
Collingwood 1.4 3.5 9.7 12.11 (83)
Adelaide 6.3 7.7 7.9 11.12 (78)
Goals : Collingwood – B Johnson 2, B Dick 2, T Lockyer, H O'Brien, S Wellingham, D Swan,
T Cloke, B Macaffer, L Brown, L Anthony. Adelaide – K Tippett 4, P Dangerfield 2, S
Thompson 2, C Knights, B Hentschel, B Burton.
Best : Collingwood – D Swan, S Sidebottom, N Maxwell, H Shaw, B Macaffer, S
Wellingham. Adelaide – B Vince, S Goodwin, K Tippett, S Stevens, B Symes, D Mackay.
Injuries : Collingwood – Nil. Adelaide – C Knights (hamstring).
Reports – Nil. Umpires - Rosebury, Chamberlain, McInerney.
Crowd - 62,184 at the MCG.
after the Magpies ensured an all Victorian Grand Final when they completed a thrilling 5-point victory in the
second semi-final at the MCG on Saturday night.
It wasn’t a result that was looking likely at quarter time. The Crows burst out of the blocks with a
scintillating opening quarter. A run of six goals to one saw the Crows lead by 29 points at the first change.
And although the Crows were only able to add one more goal in the second term, the margin of 26 points
at half time was looking comfortable for Adelaide. The Crows should have been even further in front,
having a clear lead in possessions and inside 50s, creating chance after chance. But during the long
break, few could have forseen the change in momentum that would come when play would restart for the
second half.
The pace the Crows showed in the first half slowed to a walk after half time. The marking power lost its
grip on the ball, and errors and silly turnovers began to manifest themselves. But Collingwood were a
contrast, emerging after a pedestrian first half to step up the pressure and methodically work themselves
back in the contest. The defence tightened, and the Crows were only able to manage two behinds for the
quarter. And at the other end, a six goal burst turned the deficit into an unlikely 10-point lead at the last
change.
But the Crows weren’t finished yet. Two goals in the opening five minutes of the final quarter restored the
lead. And it would be a topsy-turvy final quarter. Five more goals would be scored during the final quarter,
each of them resulting in a lead change. But it was the Magpies who would be holding the parcel of victory
when the music stopped. At the 31 minute mark, Brad Dick slammed through the final goal of the game,
which restored the lead for the Magpies; and when the final siren sounded the Magpies had taken a 5-
point win.
It had been a brave fight by the Crows, who had started so well and threatened to end the Collingwood
party early. But the Magpies dug deep, refusing to concede after their poor start, and had done enough to
take out the result. Adelaide’s season is over, while the Magpies have a clash against Geelong next week
for a grand final berth.
Collingwood 1.4 3.5 9.7 12.11 (83)
Adelaide 6.3 7.7 7.9 11.12 (78)
Goals : Collingwood – B Johnson 2, B Dick 2, T Lockyer, H O'Brien, S Wellingham, D Swan,
T Cloke, B Macaffer, L Brown, L Anthony. Adelaide – K Tippett 4, P Dangerfield 2, S
Thompson 2, C Knights, B Hentschel, B Burton.
Best : Collingwood – D Swan, S Sidebottom, N Maxwell, H Shaw, B Macaffer, S
Wellingham. Adelaide – B Vince, S Goodwin, K Tippett, S Stevens, B Symes, D Mackay.
Injuries : Collingwood – Nil. Adelaide – C Knights (hamstring).
Reports – Nil. Umpires - Rosebury, Chamberlain, McInerney.
Crowd - 62,184 at the MCG.
| FINALS WEEK 3 FIXTURES Michael Shillito's tips in bold (132/182) Friday 18th September St Kilda v Western Bulldogs (7:40pm, MCG) Saturday 19th September Geelong v Collingwood (7:30pm, MCG) |