Well, we picked Fremantle as the lowest scoring team of the round. They managed just 2-points for the second half and a pathetic 37-points for the entire match. Hope you got on at $3.75. Two games drew for the lowest margins (9 points) so our Richmond vs. St. Kilda bet ($100 @ $5.50) was halved to a payout of $275.
Let’s look at a few of the highlights (and lowlights) from Round 22…
Oh Yes!
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Sydney rookie, Callum Mills is such a quality player, it’s genuinely hard to believe this is his first year of senior footy. His ability to make the right decision, whilst under enormous pressure, is mind-blowing. Likewise, Allir Allir is all class.
Fremantle’s, Shane Yarran, kicked the first three goals for the Dockers on Saturday afternoon. Given the fact that he was released from jail in March 2013, after a six-year sentence for burglary, Fremantle gave him a second chance. He was pick No. 61 in the 2015 NAB AFL Draft. After two years in the WAFL, he’s now a shining-light for the struggling Dockers and showing a whole lot of promise at that.
Giant, Jonathon Patton kicked a career-high 6-goals!
The Showdown in Adelaide was closer than we all thought…it was a hard-contested contest all night and it was a narrow 15-point win for the Crows. Eddie Betts’ 250thgame and he didn’t disappoint, kicking 5 goals. Mid-fielder, Matt Crouch won the Showdown Medal.
A 71-point win to Collingwood over the Gold Coast Suns. One of the Pies’ biggest margins in a while, but the opposition was hardly competitive.
There isn’t a North Melbourne supporter who doesn’t love Carlton now. The Blues’ upset win over the Demons have secured the Roos’ eighth spot and a shot at finals footy. After a perfect, unbeaten start to the season, a poor second half meant they hung on by the hair of their chinny-chin-chin!
We all know that Joel Selwood gives as good as he gets, but he’s earned that right. Selwood’s shotgun sledge to Brisbane’s Rhys Mathieson at the Gabba on Sunday afternoon was gold! After Mathieson kicked a goal following a played-for high tackle free kick against Selwood, which is Mathieson’s go-to-move, Mathieson thought it might be a good idea to chest bump Selwood and let him know all about it. Joel Selwood’s smooth, cool, mocking pistol shot toward goal was the perfect response. Karma!
A standing ovation from Essendon and Western Bulldogs’ supporters for Adam Cooney’s 250th, and final game. After playing this year as a top-up player for the embattled Bombers, ex-Cat, Matthew Stokes hung up his playing boots for the last time.
One round of the home and away season to go, and the top four still isn’t set!
Oh No!
The goal umpire at Domain Stadium calling a point for the Eagles’ when the ball clearly went to the outer side of the point post, on the full, by a long, long way! Worst score review – ever!
Hawthorn lost to the Eagles (25 points) and their top spot is now gone! The pre-round prediction of this loss meaning they’d drop to fourth on the ladder has come to fruition. The stakes were high, but the Eagles were in control all night. The Hawks were sloppy with their ball use, which is very un-Hawthorn-like. Coleman Medal favourite, Josh Kennedy booted four goals in the first half (five for the game).
Rucking hell! What are the chances of Hawthorn ruckman, Jon Ceglar and Eagles’ ruckman, Nic Naitanui suffering serious knee injuries within minutes of each other? Both of the big men landed heavily on one leg, with their knees seemingly buckling under the pressure of their weight. The injuries (confirmed ACL’s) will keep both ruckman from playing finals! Their seasons are over. It’s a cruel blow for both big men. Ceglar has never played in any of Hawthorn’s premiership wins and Nic Nat has just returned from double-Achillies surgery. He kicked the winning goal in the dying seconds to get the upset win over GWS last week. His presence in the ruck gives the Eagles’ the run and carry they’re known for. Without him, they’re a different team. Without him, they will not make the Grand Final.
The MRP will be looking at Jordan Lewis’ jaw jab on Scott Lycett. He’s lucky he didn’t make full contact or he’d certainly be on the sidelines for finals. Lycett played out the rest of the game with no adverse effects, and in Lewis’ favour, Lycett looked to be holding Lewis down, preventing him from getting up off the ground. The way the MRP have been this year, it’s anyone’s guess if it’ll be a fine or a suspension.
The return of young Saint, Paddy McCartin was met with yet another major injury blow – a broken collarbone. Two goals to McCartin early and the youngster looked “on” for a great afternoon. It’s another unfortunate blow for McCartin. The No. 1 draft pick has been plagued with ongoing concussion issues all season.
Sydney’s, Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin copped an innocuous-looking elbow to his lower back/hip area early in the first quarter at Blundstone Arena. He was slow to recover and soon left the ground for treatment. He played out the game but he lacked freedom of movement and had little influence (1 goal) in their 9-point win.
Fremantle only managed 2 points for the entire second half, and with a final score of 5.7.37, it was a 92-point thrashing by the Giants at Spotless Stadium. Historically speaking, it’s the biggest loss for the Dockers’ under coach, Ross Lyon’s reign.
Richmond lose to St. Kilda, and many players look completely disinterested. The Tigers’ have put the cue in the rack. They’re done. Jack Riewoldt looks a broken player. He tallied 9 possessions, 5 marks and 1 goal for the game. Collectively, as a team, Richmond laid 44 tackles. It’s their worst stat in the tackling department for the season. Jack Riewoldt will be 28 years old when the 2017 starts. Riewoldt is now approaching the twilight years of his footy career. He now has to be seriously wondering if he’ll ever hold up a premiership cup wearing the yellow and black. Ty Vickery looks set to depart Punt Road, and if Jack takes the ride with him, that forward line exit is a shake up that won’t be easy to replace. There’s the Travis Cloke rumour, of course…which really just makes you wonder if Jack’s lack of effort on Saturday has something to do with Cloke’s rumoured trade to Richmond being a future reality.
Ugly crowd footage of a rogue Port Adelaide supporter throwing a whole banana onto the ground, and in Eddie Betts’ direction, following his fifth and final goal of the night. Disgusting behaviour! The Port Adelaide Football club has banned her “indefinitely.” Banned for life would be more appropriate, don’t you think? Zero tolerance!
Melbourne’s slim finals hopes have been ruined by a lacklustre display in wet conditions at the MCG. It was a game that everyone expected Melbourne to cover with ease. Not to be. Carlton controlled the game from the outset, winning by 20-points. North Melbourne is now safely in eighth spot. That won’t change now.
Another dog down! Namely, defender Easton Wood. He landed awkwardly in a marking contest and injured his left ankle in the third quarter. Crutches and ice on the injury was enough to make coach, Luke Beveridge put his head in his hands and lament how a solid finals campaign will unfold when his injury list is longer than his arm. Long-term injuries to key position players this round has been horrendous!
Only 17,644 supporters turned up to Etihad Stadium on Saturday night. It was the lowest Collingwood home crowd since 1989!
This week, Collingwood veteran, and Brownlow Medalist, Dane Swan is expected to announce his retirement following a serious foot injury that has kept him from playing all season. It’ll be an unfortunate exit that’ll rob him of one last game and the fanfare that he deserves. Thanks for the memories, Swanny!
See you at the end of the week for all our tips and best bets for Round 23, the lucky last round of the 2016 home and away season!
