Round 23….without doubt, it was the best final round of football that we’ve had in years. Let’s take a look at the highs and lows…
Oh Yes!
Jimmy Bartel kicked his 200th career goal for Geelong, and three goals for the game. Six goals for Tom Hawkins, four goals for Daniel Menzel, including the last goal of the game, it was an even spread of brilliance, in all areas of the ground for the Cats…Geelong claim the coveted top two spot with their triple-digit win over Melbourne.
Essendon’s first half was inspiring. They went into the game as underdogs. The only incentive to win was to avoid the 2016 wooden spoon. It was a big enough incentive to get a 25-point win over their arch rivals, Carlton, but they just missed out on avoiding the wooden spoon, by a mere .6 of a percent!
With the highest score of the round (164), Sydney are the 2016 Minor Premiers! As predicted, the Sydney vs. Richmond game was downright ugly…for the Tigers anyway. From Sydney’s point of view, it was sheer perfection. It was an 81-point lead to Sydney…at half time! The Tigers managed just one goal to the main break. It was a 113-point victory to the Swans. They managed six more goals (mostly, junk time) for the second half, finishing on seven…the same amount that Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin kicked off his own boot for the Minor Premiers! Can Damien Hardwick survive a Richmond review with this pitiful performance as a bookend to what was already, a season lost? Secondly, how many free agents will want to pack their bags and make their way to Punt Road? Richmond have hit rock bottom!
GWS secured a top four spot (and the double chance) by getting the win over North Melbourne on Saturday night.
Josh Kennedy (WC) has won the 2016 Coleman Medal with 80 goals for the season. Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin made a late run for it with his 7-goal haul against Richmond, but he couldn’t quite bridge the gap, finishing as runner-up on 74 goals for the season.
Nick Riewoldt captained his last game for St. Kilda and did he go out with a bang, or what?! Nine goals, the most for the round, along with 21 marks and 26 disposals, it was an emphatic 58-point win to the Saints over the Lions at Etihad Stadium. Finishing the season with 12 wins. They missed out on eighth spot by percentage only. Lots to like for the 2017 season.
There wasn’t a drawn game all year, but we almost got one in the second last game of the home and away season at the MCG on Sunday afternon. Scores were level many times, and it came down to the last few minutes to get a clear win. It was a one-point victory to Hawthorn (over Collingwood), and it was only grabbed in the dying minutes of the game, securing Hawthorn’s top four spot. The coveted ladder position was on the line, and right from the very first bounce, the Pies were out to spoil that double chance for the Hawks. The Pies stuck with Hawthorn all day and they very nearly pulled off the upset. It was hardly a convincing display from the reigning premiers. The scare was real. They now meet Geelong in a qualifying final at the MCG.
Daniel ‘Sauce’ Merrett ended his 200-game career for the Lions with an unlikely goal in his last game. Merrett was swung forward in the third quarter to attempt to replicate a stat from his debut game. It was the perfect bookend for the defender and he’ll make the trivia cards for all eternity now. Why? Because he also kicked a goal on debut.
Matthew Pavlich wrapped up a stellar 17-year career (353 games) with an unlikely win over the Western Bulldogs. Just one goal for the game, but it was all he needed to end on exactly 700 career goals. It was the perfect end. He got the fairytale. I’m pleased to say the Fox Footy coverage stuck out the telecast for the duration of the post-game celebrations. Pav got his 700th goal, but teammate, Lachie Neale broke a home and away season record of his own. He needed 21 disposals to beat Bulldog, Matthew Boyd’s 721 disposals record that was set in 2012. Neale finished the game on 36 disposals.
Oh No!
What now for Adelaide? An embarrassing 29-point loss on home turf to a Nic Nat-less Eagles, and in contrast to what everyone thought, his ruck absence made no difference. In fact, Jon Giles filled his shoes nicely. On the flip side, Rory Sloane’s suspension was costly. He was sorely missed. The Eagles had the Crows covered all night, in all areas of the ground. The Crows looked like a pack of deer in headlights. So much to play for, and they blew it!
When Joel Selwood and Patrick Dangerfield went down hard, a collective gasp, followed by a nervous hush enveloped the hometown Geelong crowd at Simmonds Stadium. Luckily, both were okay, but in the moment, it was the stuff nightmares are made of!
Dylan Buckley’s celebratory point…oh, he thought it was a goal, and he celebrated big time…albeit, a bit too soon.
A 111-point mauling was not the way Paul Roos’ expected to end his senior coaching tenure at Melbourne. Ironically, it was the worst loss that Paul Roos’ has ever experienced as a coach. It was an embarrassingly meek display to end, what was, a much-improved season for the Demons.
It seems disgruntled North Melbourne supporters voted with their feet and stayed away from the last game that Firrito, Petrie, Dal Santo and Harvey played for the Roos. A very disappointing crowd of a little over twenty-two thousand showed up at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night. Loads of empty seats – everywhere. Not a good look for a team about to play finals. Veteran, Brent Harvey bowed out gracefully. He played his usual solid game, getting 26-disposals and 2 goals. Not bad for the AFL games record holder, huh? No place on the list for Boomer, Brad Scott? Might be eating those words now, Scotty!
A mediocre 10-win/12-loss season for Port Adelaide. They’ve finished in 10th spot after a win over the injury-plagued Suns at Metricon Stadium. The end of the season is a relief for both teams.
The Lions have only just managed to avoid the wooden spoon, by the skin of their teeth (.6 of a percent). However, it will do little to save Justin Leppitsch’s senior coaching position. It’s been a horror year for the Lions and he’ll more than likely be sacked before week’s end.
Dennis Cometti’s velvet vocals were heard for the last time on Sunday afternoon (Hawthorn vs. Collingwood), at least for a home and away game. We still have finals to come, but the end is near. He’ll be missed next year, and beyond.
As if the Gold Coast Suns haven’t had enough bad luck with injury, now the end-of-season exodus begins. Jaeger O’Meara and Dion Prestia are the first to indicate they want trades to a Melbourne club. Additionally, David Swallow, brother of North Melbourne Captain, Andrew Swallow reportedly wants to be traded too, despite being contracted for next year. With the Roos’ list freed-up by the veteran cull of last week, Swallow will likely request a move to Arden Street to play out his career alongside his brother. Coach, Rodney Eade is about to have as many headaches in the off-season as he’s had all year. No doubt, the upcoming trade period, for all clubs, is about to get very, very interesting.
Pav’s send off was a fitting end to the most respected, and longest serving Fremantle player of all time. It was the send off that ‘Boomer’ Harvey deserved when he eventually decided to call it a day at North Melbourne. Unfortunately, that decision was made for him by the Roos’ last week, and he walked off the ground on Saturday night as a de-listed player. It was hard to watch. Will North Melbourne’s membership suffer because of the mismanagement of Harvey’s exit?
We now have a week’s bye before the finals series begins. It’s a definite momentum killer! What will we do? Well, don’t forget to tune in on Friday night (Etihad Stadium) for the EJ Whitten Legends Game. It’s always good for a laugh. As for the weekend’s break…for me, my garden needs a pre-Spring makeover, so that’s where I’ll be.
First Week of Finals…
QUALIFYING FINAL
Sydney Swans vs. GWS Giants
QUALIFYING FINAL
Geelong vs. Hawthorn
ELIMINATION FINAL
West Coast vs. Western Bulldogs
ELIMINATION FINAL
Adelaide vs. North Melbourne
