Round 10 is over and finally, the AFL ladder has started to make some sense.
Another thrilling round in AFL football saw intensely close matches (Collingwood/West Coast and Carlton/Adelaide), some high quality games (Geelong/North Melbourne and Port Adelaide/Hawthorn) and some true domination and class (GWS/Richmond and Gold Coast/ Western Bulldogs).
Round 10 featured a blow out and a few crazy blockbuster finishes – and now we wrap it up and look forward to the true rounds resuming.
Did the Kangaroos dish out back-to-back losses to the proud Cats?
No, but they weren’t too far away. The Kangaroos didn’t show the form that has seen them attain some recent dominance over Geelong, with the Cats outclassing the erratic Roos – setting up a 21 point quarter time margin on the back of some classy goals by Murdoch and Hawkins.
North Melbourne couldn’t find a way back in, and the margin remained around five goals for the rest of the match until the Roos nearly mounted an impossible comeback. The game showed signs of slipping from Geelong’s grasp until Blicavs pushed the margin back out to 20 points and the Cats came home after a very competitive North Melbourne comeback in the last quarter.
The Kangaroos were left bitter after a game that would have been won if not for the poor start. Geelong now sit happily in second while the Roos are in eighth and need to beat the Eagles at Paterson’s next week.
Did the Pies return to the winners’ list?
Yes. A resilient and proud effort saw the Magpies dig themselves out of a hole without their two key defenders. The Pies got off to the best possible start with White and Goldsack kicking the first two goals within a few minutes before the Eagles snagged the next three.
The Pies then hit back through a fluke goal from Blair, with another unlikely goal from Witts was followed by a reply from Cripps. Beams then stepped up to the plate in his 100th game to cut the margin back to two points. In the second quarter West Coast established a lead through Kennedy, Hill and Hurn despite goals from Collingwood’s Macaffer and Blair.
The Pies set to reduce a 14 point half time deficit with Ball and Blair trimming the margin quickly, before Priddis and Hill pushed the margin back out. Collingwood somehow found a way to pluck back the score with Fasolo and then Sidebottom, who cut the margin to a goal at the last break. The Magpies should have been gone by three quarter time but managed to snatch the lead through Elliot before Pendlebury turned his poor showing around by lifting the house off with a typical Pendles goal.
The Pies looked clear, but the game was still there to be won, and the Eagles scored two quick goals putting them back in front. Yet the valiant Magpies defended well and pressured the Eagles as they slammed on two goals, with Beams putting his Pies in front and Elliot following it up by tapping the ball between an opponent’s legs before kicking an inspirational goal.
Hurn replied promptly and the game was back in the balance. Collingwood showed their class though, with Grundy and then Cloke finishing off a strong and gutsy eight point win. The Pies can look towards the top four now while the Eagles look to break into the top eight.
Did Port prove themselves?
Yes. Not even some Jordan Lewis magic could dispel the strong work of Port Adelaide, with Wingard again starring as Port proved to the competition that they are the team to beat.
The Hawks pressed hard early in the fourth but the Power steadied and showed that some Wingard magic wasn’t just Port’s game, as they gritted out an exciting 14 point win. The Power now takes on Melbourne and the Hawks look to boost their percentage against the struggling Giants.
Tipping:
I had a shocker, tipping 4/6, with my incorrect matches being GWS/Richmond and Carlton/Adelaide.
Sidenote: I tipped the margin for Port/Hawthorn exactly correct.
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