IT was a day of big injuries to key players, and important results regarding finals contention in Saturday action of Round 18 in the Peter Jackson VFL.
The likes of Troy Selwood, Dale Thomas and Jesse Hogan all did not see past half time in their respective matches, as Geelong, Collingwood, Essendon and Casey Scorpions took the points today.
Cats win 10 in a row
Geelong and Port Melbourne fought out an enthralling encounter at North Port Oval today, with the Cats prevailing by six points. The ABC TV audience were treated to some of the best the VFL can offer, with 13 points the biggest margin between the two teams across the afternoon.
Port Melbourne had everything to play for with their finals spot under siege from a host of teams, and they played that way in the first term, stunning the Cats early. With Dean Galea out of the side with an ankle injury, Adrian Bonaddio was the main target up forward for the home side, proving a handful for Mitch Brown early.
Geelong entered the second term with a seven point lead, but the result reversed at half time after a 12-goal shootout.
The likes of Chris Cain and John Baird started to get on top in the middle, as all the Port forwards hit the scoreboard to set up a big second half.
A defensive third term went the way of Geelong, as Josh Hunt rallied the troops to set up a thrilling final term, with the home side in front by two points.
The final term did not disappoint, with neither team able to gain the momentum and kick consecutive goals. That was until Sam O’Sullivan and Caleb Vearing kicked back to back majors to give Port a five point lead, 24 minutes into the final term. However Geelong were able to collect back to back goals themselves, firstly to Ryan Bathie kicking his fourth of the afternoon, then Paul Chapman running into an open goal to seal the 10th win on the trot for the ladder leaders.
Josh Cowan (26 disposals) and Josh Hunt (16 plus 8 marks) were best for Geelong, along with George Horlin Smith (25), Mark Corrigan (17) and Trent West (47 hitouts). Bathie finished for four goals, with Dom Gleeson kicking three, and West, Corrigan and Cowan two each.
Cain, Baird, Bonaddio and Sam Pleming were best for Port Melbourne, with Danny Hughes, Josh Scipione, O’Sullivan and Bonaddio kicking two each.
The win was dampened for Geelong with captain Troy Selwood suffering a dislocated should close to half time. The captain will have x-rays on his shoulder to find out the extent of the injury.
Magpies back in eight
Collingwood jumped back in the Peter Jackson VFL top eight with a convincing 60-point win over Sandringham.
A suspected ankle injury to returning Dale Thomas soured the win, with Thomas taking no further part in the match after midway through the second term.
Sandringham struggled to contain the tall timber of Collingwood, with Ben Hudson kicking three of his match high four goals in the first term as the Magpies set up a 28-point quarter time lead.
While the Zebras fought back in the second term kicking five goals with the breeze, the inaccuracy of Collingwood was keeping them in the contest.
This continued in the third term, as Collingwood had double the amount of scoring shots, with an inaccurate four goals eight costing Collingwood a bigger three quarter time lead that their 51-point advantage.
The Magpies kicked away in the final term, with Jackson Paine (20 disposals, four goals) adding three goals to help his side to a 10-goal win.
The win gives the Magpies a 3% addition to their percentage, and sees them move to sixth. Ben Hudson and Ben Kennedy (30 disposals) were their best, along with the continued good form of Adam Oxley in defence, and Alan Didak (34) and Kyle Martin (22 and 3 goals) in the middle.
For Sandringham, Adam Cockie led the way in the middle with 23 disposals, with Sam Dunnell (3 goals) and James Munro (23 d) their best.
Clinical Casey
Casey Scorpions were clinical in their 129-point win over Bendigo Gold today at Casey Fields.
Despite the early loss of young gun Jesse Hogan in the first term – hyperextending his knee – the Scorpions did not struggle for goal scorers as Rory Taggert and Jake Best both kicked five apiece.
Ball magnet James Magner continued his rich vein of VFL form with a staggering 51 disposals, fed the ball by Max Gawn who dominated in the ruck with 59 hitouts, 27 disposals, 14 marks and three goals.
The Scorpions kept the Gold goalless in the second half, kicking 15 unanswered majors – 10 of those in the final term.
Magner, Gawn, David Rodan (3 goals), Jimmy Toumpas and Joel Macdonald were best for Casey in their big win.
For Bendigo, McInnes and Daniel Toman were their goal kickers, while Alik Magin, Jake Aarts, Sam Heavyside and captain Steve Stroobants were their best.
Bombers keep finals hopes alive
Essendon kept their finals hopes alive with a commanding 59-point win over Frankston at Windy Hill.
Jumping out to a 27-point lead at quarter time, the Bombers made the Dolphins chase all afternoon.
Essendon had numerous options to goal, with Matthew Bate and Cory Dell’Olio finishing with four and three goals apiece, and Matt Firman and Patrick Ambrose kicking two.
Michael Lourey kicked two goals to move two goals in front of Werribee Tigers’ Ben Warren in the ‘Frosty’ Miller Medal, but Ariel Steinberg played a key role in defence helping hold the Dolphins to just nine goals for the game.
It was a consistent performance by the home side, kicking six goals in the first and third terms, while matching the Dolphins with three goals in the second and final terms.
Former Frankston player Dylan Van Unen was among the best for Essendon, along with Jason Ashby, Zac O’Brien, Ben Duscher and Will Hams.
For Frankston, Chris Irving, Corey Buchan and Luke Potts were their best.
- Click HERE for the Rd 18 best and goals
- Click HERE for the updated ladder
Sunday games
North Ballarat vs Williamstown
Coburg vs Box Hill Hawks
Northern Blues vs Werribee Tigers
Last Modified on 17/08/2013 20:55