Patrick Dangerfield of the Crows tackled by Paul Hasleby of the Dockers during the AFL Round 15 match between the Adelaide Crows and the Fremantle Dockers at AAMI Stadium. The Slattery Media Group
You’d be hard pressed to come up with superlatives to describe how bad Fremantle were against Adelaide. They could only muster a solitary point in the first half and would kick just one goal for the entire match.
For this to happen in the AFL in 2009 is simply unacceptable.
A scorecard such as this is embarrassing for all concerned. With Melbourne winning, Fremantle have slumped into last place on percentage.
They just don’t seem to be responding to the coaching of Mark Harvey. When he took over in the middle of the 2007 season, they won four of seven, then six games in 2008 and now just three from 15.
If they take the wooden spoon, you couldn’t see him being given another season. Fremantle has never appointed a senior coach who had previous AFL head coaching experience. They need to get rid of Harvey and find themselves a coach who can knock this club into shape.
Coaching Carousel Spins at Richmond
Speaking of coaches, is it a good thing or bad thing for Richmond that Kevin Sheedy has withdrawn himself from the coaching race? It appears as though the two were never destined to come together in terms of Sheedy coaching at Punt Road.
He made some comments in making his announcement, the most interesting of which was : “They haven’t had a top-class coach since Tom Hafey left in 1976. If they don’t think they need an experienced coach, good luck to them.”
Maybe he forgot that Allan Jeans coached there for a year, but then again Jeans’ 5-17 record was hardly memorable. Wonder what his former team-mates in Tony Jewell, Francis Bourke, Kevin Bartlett and John Northey would think of this?
Buddy Comes to Life
It was good to see the Buddy of old against North Melbourne. Four goals in the last quarter by Franklin saved the small aspirations the Hawks have in terms of defending their title.
It is interesting though how everything can go from effortless to proving such a struggle. Hawthorn fans are probably wondering why it has taken two thirds of the season for form like this to appear and then just in the last quarter.
The team seems to be mired in a rut and requires Houdini-like escapism to win games. The chemistry the team had in 2008 is gone, but don’t be surprised if it reappears in 2010 – it’s just that mercurial.
Micky You’re So Fine
The Magpies have won seven in a row and are looming as a darkhorse to topple the St Kilda – Geelong applecart.
These wins seem to have complicated the coaching situation at Collingwood as it was assumed that Mick Malthouse would be on his way out after the current season. If the Magpies wanted to get rid of Malthouse, this shouldn’t affect their thinking. If they win the flag, how could he top that?
After having climbed the mountain for the third time, at 56 years of age would he have the motivation to do it again? But whatever happens, this games streak proves that Malthouse is a quality coach. He has achieved results everywhere he has been and when you win over 50% of the games you coach over a 25 year period you have to be good.
St Kilda Keep on Keeping On
Even when they are struggling, to beat the Eagles in Perth is an achievement.
At three-quarter time scores were all level between the two but the Saints found that extra gear to blow the Eagles out of it. Four goals in the first five minutes sealed the deal. This is the sign of a quality team.
Whenever St Kilda has been challenged they have found a way to win; found a way to break free. This is important now but even more important in the finals when it matters less so how you when and more so that you do.
Every week it seems to be different players who put up their hand which is another sign of a team which is really purring along.
Can they keep this up or will their history catch up with them?
Redb
Roar Guru
"All that matters now is St Kilda and Geelong - the rest is window dressing." DW, Don't agree. I think there are five teams in contention: St Kilda Geelong Bulldogs Collingwood Adelaide We'll know how good Adelaide are this week against the Saints. Geelong are in trouble at the moment. Bulldogs are capable of beating Geelong in a Prelim. Collingwood as much as it pains me to say are capable of beating any of them on their day, except perhaps St Kilda. St Kilda are just ahead of the pack at the moment, the next few rounds will sort the wheat from the chaff. Redb
beaver fever
Roar Pro
I dont know what it is about the Dockers, i know quite a few East freo and South freo but mainly East Freo supporters who wont touch the dockers and East freo have a a very proud culture. They have around 35 to 40 k of members, not short of a quid and have facilities the envy of many clubs, arguably a better home base than the Eagles with community feel. That winning at all costs mentality is just not there as it has been with Port adelaide which is a similar sort of expansion club. Maybe they need to fight for their existence like North or WB do or a northern club like SYdney or Brisbane who have their existence threatened from time to time. But in this state they are guaranteed existence, money and heaps of fans so what do we do ??.
David V.
Guest
Well, we had to beat Essendon to breathe life into the season, this we did not do. But I've been well prepared for the Swans' decline in all honesty- like Essendon following 2000, no thought was seemingly given to long-term renewal of a successful side.
David Wiseman
Roar Guru
Thanks for your points - let me address some of them Obviously the Crows were good but that isn't the story here - the story is more the constant ineptitude of the Dockers. I think the coaching issue at Collingwood is becoming a bigger story and given that I only have five points I have, I can't talk about everything. The Magpies are playing some great football and it was a great contest against the Bulldogs. Ditto with the Bombers - yes it was a good win for them but in the scheme of things the Bombers will at best be eliminated in the second week of the finals so it won't amount to much. I'm not the type of person who gets overly excited by something that happens in the home and away season. At the end of the day all it is is a build up to the Grand Final. Like the Bombers win on Anzac Day was fantastic as was Melbourne's three wins to date but they have to be taken with a grain of salt. All that matters now is St Kilda and Geelong - the rest is window dressing.
mattamkII
Guest
I have said it before but how do Freo expect to compete when Pavlich is their first choice for every position on the park.
thesportsfreak
Guest
The problem with Fremantle is that they exist! They need to wipe away the whole list and start again.
Redb
Roar Guru
oops, sorry about that, the Hawks are mentioned.
Redb
Roar Guru
no worries Brett. It's a shame Hawthorn's comeback against North is not mentioned or Essendon's fine win at the SCG over the Swans - a tough task even when the Swans are in decline. Lazza, I agree, the Crows are looking formidable. Redb
David V.
Guest
Fremantle managed to set a new standard for ineptitude in today's AFL. It didn't help that top players were out, and Hasleby was out there on his own without support. But that does not excuse the futility of their efforts, a performance that can rank among the lowest seen in any sport anywhere in recent times.
Lazza
Guest
Low scoring is good in 'Soccer' - that's why you don't get as many boring one-sided non contests as you do in the AFL? How about a bit of praise for the Adelaide Crows instead of just bagging the Dockers?
Brett McKay
Guest
Redb, you'd have to ask David that. All I was doing was pointing out to Timeless is that this is David's standard delivery each Monday...
Redb
Roar Guru
Brett, If this is a weekly AFL wrap, why no real mention of the Bulldogs v Collingwood game on Friday decided by one point in front of 50,000+ fans. Going to straight the negative, again. Yes the Freo game was appalling in terms of scoreline, Adelaide are very good this year they have been underestimated. Freo were without Pavlich and Sandilands to name a few amongst a very ordinary team. St Kidla v Adelaide looms as a cracker. Redb
Dave
Guest
I wouldn’t criticize soccer, if The Adelaide crows scored 19 goals in every game of soccer.
Kurt
Guest
One goal for the entire match? Well I suppose that means we can't criticise soccer for being low scoring anymore.
Brett McKay
Guest
Timelessness, in David's defence, he presents his AFL wrap this way every week, and has done so all year. And I think "a paragraph of subjective tripe" is the best way to describe Fremantle's performance anyway...
Timelessness
Guest
any chance of keeping to the original topic ? perhaps you should write multiple stories. I expected to read about Fremantle. Instead I got a paragraph of subjective tripe.
Brett McKay
Guest
David, the ABC Offsiders show yesterday floated the notion of Malthouse going to Richmond, with Collingwood to embrace Nathan Buckley - could there be any merit to this idea??