Tragic luck for the Tigers, who came up a couple of goals short in a very key game. For awhile there things were looking brilliant for the side though. Sneaking into the lead at the final change and seeing Essendon heading Brisbane would've had the Tigers faithful firmly planning for finals tickets. They may still get to see September action, of course, but a win followed up with a Brisbane loss would've been a veritable 8 pointer!
Cam & Craig would rightly be buoyed by a strong showing under duress, particularly given that the Tigers have never beaten Port at AAMI. Shane Tuck continues to wow and Richo remains a marvel, but the side can ill afford to be kept so vulnerable down back at this time of the season.
For Port, the win was hardly convincing and should count for nought in the long run anyway. I've had a look at their remaining draw and I'd be surprised if they made the finals given the quality of games they still have to play.
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In order to make the eight the Tigers will definitely need to roll the Bulldogs, who I wrote off for the season last week, only to see them roll comfortably over the top of Geelong at the Dome???!!!
Sensational effort by the Hounds who had their burgeoning young midfield running hot throughout the afternoon. Their season is finished, but if they can maintain that sort of form they will prove a major spoiler for more fancied teams in the run-in to September.
As for Geelong, all one can say is - "What the flock was that???!!!" Probably best to just put it behind you and forget it never happened, but geez it has to be worrying.
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Brisbane will be happy to be back in the eight, but didn't leave themselves a lot of room to move against a resurgent Essendon side.
I haven't heard reports, but I strongly suspect that Aker is injured, as after a sizzling start (tracking via AFL.com) he sat anchored on 18 possessions during the second half. Sensational player and a key to Brisbane's revived fortunes this season, and its hardly surprising that his absence should have allowed the opposition back into the game. Could be a savage blow to the Lions if the injury requires extra weeks of layoff.
Great showing by Essendon who only a fortnight ago looked like a totally lost cause. I was actually daring to think that we might finally get to roll the buggers in a few weeks time, but form like that strongly suggests otherwise
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I've mentioned across the fortnight that I believe St Kilda are steeling themselves for a full-on premiership tilt, and Friday night did little other than reaffirm this for me. Some people at work were readily tipping the Magpies and I couldn't possibly have been more flabbergasted! At near full strength and in good form, the Saints are the best side in this competition. They'll get far tougher tests than embattled Collingwood, but you can bet that its a sobering thought for the rest of the competition to note the calibre of players expected to return to the Saints side over the next few weeks.
Another fantastic showing from Kozitschke and I can well see why Carlton have been making such a big play for him. I think Hawthorn should be doing the same, not that it really matters, as I can't seriously see him going anywhere. He may already have re-signed with the Saints.
Collingwood? Rightly looking forward to the offseason, but worryingly for the club I don't think they've fully bottomed out yet. Should be in for a very long 2006.
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Hawthorn certainly knows all about long seasons on 2004-05 showings, but can smile tonight after a rare win. Carlton is hardly a huge scalp, but the win at least allows Clarkson to square things away with last season's record. More tellingly, we saw a paradigm shift for the Hawks today and got a glimpse into a revised 2006 gameplan with the side continually attacking the corridor. Croad's strong form at CHF has enabled this switch, and in turn has permitted young Roughead to shine at CHB. Hodge was again great and Franklin threaten to singlehandedly tear the Blues apart early before fading. A good showing from a side missing its three best CHF options, two form defenders and its 2nd, 3rd & 4th best midfielders. Doing a crap job (again) of tanking, I must say.
Carlton responded solidly to the revised Hawk style by doing the same thing and the game proved a very entertaining spectacle, particularly during the first half. Koutifides, Stevens & Scotland all played well, and while he didn't get a lot of ball, Fevola kicked 4 goals and showed signs of a return to his best. Special mention should also go to the much maligned Whitnall who played a strong game in defence for the Blues. I don't think the spoon is a done deal, but the Blues can certainly look ahead to the draft with excitement at the prospect of having a priority pick to use.
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In closing, I suspect that 48 points may not necessarily be enough to ensure a finals berth this season, as Hawthorn found out to their chagrin in 2003.
And to Brian Taylor & Sam Newman...
You friggin' idiots! How many games can you play or be intimately involved in, but still not understand basic elements of the overall code???!!!
