There were a few issues that will be talked about from Round 11 in the AFL.
The highlight of the weekend was Rhyce Shaw coaching his first game and coaching well with North Melbourne surprising Richmond.
Another story that will be talked about will be the future of Carlton coach Brendon Bolton. There were a few one-sided games, particularly, the three games on Sunday. It’s funny how things change in sport; a few weeks ago all coaches were contracted past season’s end, now one coach has moved on, in Brad Scott, Brendon Bolton’s days as Carlton senior coach are numbered and there are some other coaches that deserve to be under pressure, because their teams have been uncompetitive at times.
Due to the one-sided result, the game in China wasn’t as exciting to watch as it could have been, had the margin between the two teams been closer.
Top five coaches of Round 11
1. Rhyce Shaw (North Melbourne Kangaroos)
2. Ken Hinkley (Port Adelaide Power)
3. Adam Simpson (West Coast Eagles)
4. Ross Lyon (Fremantle Dockers)
5. Leon Cameron (Greater West Sydney Giants)
Round 11 key points
North Melbourne Kangaroos v Richmond Tigers
Roos dismantle Tigers in Rhyce’s maiden voyage
The Kangaroos controlled the tempo of the contest from start to finish. It was a thoroughly impressive performance from the Kangaroos in what was Rhyce Shaw’s first game as a senior AFL coach.
If the first game that he coached at AFL level is the norm for him then he will definitely be given the job on a full time basis. Rhyce Shaw instilled an unbelievably good game plan and it is an accurate assumption that despite the Tigers injuries that Shaw outcoached Damien Hardwick, but to be fair I don’t think any team would have beaten the Kangaroos the way they played.
They had a strong belief and every player played their role for the team, it was an inspiring performance from the Kangaroos.
Kangaroos Team lifter: Mason Wood
Tigers Team Lifter: Dustin Martin
Collingwood Magpies v Fremantle Dockers
Cold Pies
The Magpies proved that they are beatable and that they need to improve to live up to some of the media hype surrounding them; when you are in the top four then it’s inevitable that you get labelled a contender, but the Magpies must improve.
The Magpies were outplayed and Nathan Buckley was outcoached in the second half. The game came down to one act, which was an inspirational one on one that was won by Andrew Brayshaw, that was an inspirational piece of play.
For the second week in a row Michael Walters had a shot for goal to win the Dockers the game, on this occasion Walters had to kick a goal to win the match and he executed the kick calmly and kicked it straight through the middle.
Unfortunately the game may be remembered will be a controversial goal kicked by the Dockers that was touched by Chris Mayne, but wasn’t reviewed properly as it was relatively clear that Mayne touched the ball and the decision should have been a behind.
Magpies Team Lifter: Scott Pendlebury
Dockers Team Lifter: Michael Walters
Scott Pendlebury of the Magpies, Saturday, May 21, 2016. (AAP Image/Julian Smith)
Greater West Sydney Giants v Gold Coast Suns
Giants destroy Suns
The Giants were challenged by the Suns early in the first half. Unfortunately, the Suns missed three successive shots at goal in the third quarter; if they had kicked those goals then they would have had some momentum, as it eventuated the Giants obliterated the Suns after those missed opportunities.
The Suns are well coached, but they need to be more competitive in the last quarter of games.
Giants Team Lifter: Stephen Coniglio
Suns Team Lifter: Jarrod Witts
Geelong Cats v Sydney Swans
Swans waste golden chance
The Swans had an opportunity to keep their slight hopes of a top eight finish alive; they controlled the tempo of the contest early, but they failed to capitalise on the scoreboard.
Remarkably the Swans were trailing at quarter time, despite playing some good footy. That was the theme of the day with the Swans having 22 shots at goal to the Cats 20, but the Swans lost the game by 22 points.
Cats Team Lifter: Mitch Duncan
Swans Team Lifter: George Hewett
Brisbane Lions v Hawthorn Hawks
Lions fight back after early ambush
The Hawks led the Lions five goals to nil at quarter time with the game looking as if the Hawks would be victorious, but that wasn’t what eventuated; the Lions clawed their way back into the contest. The Hawks kicked just five goals after quarter time, while the Lions kicked all of their twelve goals following the opening break.
It was fantastic to watch how the Lions regrouped and altered their game plan after quarter time.
Lions Team Lifter: Jarryd Lyons
Hawks Team Lifter: James Worpel
Brisbane’s Lachie Neale is a favourite for the Brownlow Medal after a sensational start to the 2019 AFL season. (Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Melbourne Demons v Adelaide Crows
Demons choke
The Demons led at every change; they appeared in control of the contest, but they threw away a lead of sixteen points at three quarter time.
The Demons managed to lose a game that appeared to be unloseable, they had 28 shots at goal to 20, but their failure to kick straight cost them in the end. The result was decided late on with Demon Sam Weideman with the opportunity to win the game for the Demons late on, but he missed the opportunity, kicking a behind.
On a positive note for the Demons some of their players did console Weideman after his miss, but unfortunately their season is all but over.
Demons Team Lifter: Clayton Oliver
Crows Team Lifter: Brad Crouch
St Kilda Saints v Port Adelaide Power
Saints capitulate, Power surge
It was an unfortunate that the AFL’s only game in China for the season was one sided with the Power destroying the Saints. It was a thoroughly one-sided contest with the Saints failing to turn up. A feature of the Power’s game was their accurate kicking for goal.
It was a shame for the Saints that three players were sick and had to be withdrawn from the team, but that’s no excuse for the fact that they were uncompetitive.
Saints Team Lifter: Jade Gresham
Power Team Lifter: Travis Boak
Essendon Bombers v Carlton Blues
Blues fall apart
The Blues kicked just four goals for the game; that sums up the season for them, it has been simply unacceptable and their display in Round 11 was indicative of that.
On top of that fact the Blues managed to kick just two goals after quarter time. It appeared as if there was a lack of effort from the Blues players, in particular towards the end of the game.
It was painful to watch at times, hopefully the Blues improve and there are some alterations played, whether it be the game plan, coaching staff and playing group. Patrick Cripps failed to lead from the front with just eleven possessions, but it was difficult to blame him as he showed some endeavour as he finished with eight tackles.
Dylan Clarke did an outstanding job tagging the Blues captain, with Cripps having no impact on the contest.
Bombers Team Lifter: Dylan Clarke
Blues Team Lifter: None
West Coast Eagles v Western Bulldogs
Eagles thump Dogs
The Eagles were challenged early on with the Bulldogs bringing a good game plan, but they failed to capitalise on the scoreboard and therefore they didn’t build up momentum and create any scoreboard pressure.
From half time onwards it was pretty much one way traffic with the Eagles annihilating the Bulldogs on the scoreboard with the final margin over 60 points.
The Bulldogs can look back on the game and use the Eagles display, especially in the second half as a yard stick of where they need to be as far as their performance is concerned.
Eagles Team Lifter: Jack Darling
Bulldogs Team Lifter: Josh Dunkley
Munro Mike
Roar Rookie
As a North long time member - the Friday night game was enthralling to watch. It was a battle of styles - Richmond more fleet of foot - North trying to make it a more physical game. Up to half time there was a sense North should've been further ahead - after 4.1 in the first term the 2.6 in the second had let Richmond regain the lead momentarily before a vital goal from Wood. Some of the missed shots in that 2nd term, including Wood himself twice, and Larkey - really should have been converted. This has been North's major issue this season - forward wastefulness and the Mason Wood lack of confidence. The third term - and North got reward via a 6.0 output to Richmonds 1.1. Game pretty well iced, a 3.2 to 2.4 final term was enough given North had pushed it out to 51 points. But this wasn't so different to what we'd managed a few weeks earlier against ladder leader Geelong. Alas that day, instead of 4.1 in the first term we only managed 1.5 and trailed Geelong (3.0). And in the final term that day, we kicked 2.6 to edge close enough before conceding 2 late goals to Geelong. We'd actually had 2 20 minute phases where out output was 3.9 to 1.1. You can't afford that. Earlier matches saw successive 1.6 first terms v Adelaide and Essendon. We got to 1.9 v Adelaide and so easily could have blown that game. Essendon made us pay. Ben Brown started the year with 12.10 from the first 6 games. His last 5 have produced 18.2. Mason Wood 3 games in had 0.5 to show. 7 games in and he had 4.8 to show. The last 2 weeks he's produced 7.2. One of the key things that is happening is less about change of coach. It's far more to do with a structure getting bedded down. The forward line of Larkey, Brown and Wood is learning how to function. 19 goals between them the last 2 weeks. Confidence is a fickle thing - it was obviously absent early in the season - - it is seeping back and Rhyce Shaw will be made to look good because of this. And then there's Zurhaar - his first 2 games this season he was used as a backup ruck of all things. He's found is value proposition in the team now and that's far from pinch hitting in the ruck - he is a tackling beast and has a great footy brain and his development is a huge factor. And that - Zurhaar - combined with Anderson, Ziebell, Cunnington, and even Turner ensured that Richmond got choked of clean air. It was great to watch - at the ground - I'd love to see a full replay on tele.
Doran Smith
Roar Guru
You make a good point.
WCE
Roar Rookie
When i got home from the West Coast game i watched the replay and was quite amazed at the wonderful performance of Oscar Allen , this kid played forward, ruck and down back and for such a young kid his efforts were brilliant . Its funny you dont always pick everything up at the game and vis versa when you watch on the TV as well.