- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
The race to feature in September heated up across an exciting round.
Eleven teams can realistically make the top eight. It was great to see Rhyce Shaw get a win in his first game without the title of interim coach attached to his job description. There were also a couple of surprises, which is always a sign that the game is in good stead.
Top five coaches of Round 20
1. Ken Hinkley (Port Adelaide Power)
2. Ross Lyon (Fremantle Dockers)
3. Adam Simpson (West Coast Eagles)
4. Rhyce Shaw (North Melbourne Kangaroos)
5. Nathan Buckley (Collingwood Magpies)
Coaches under the pump
Stuart Dew (Gold Coast Suns) – After kicking the first two goals of the game, the Gold Coast Suns were uncompetitive.
Simon Goodwin (Melbourne Demons) – Melbourne are struggling. They kicked just three goals in the second half against Richmond.
John Worsfold (Essendon Bombers) – It was difficult to decipher what Essendon’s game plan was and whether they had a plan in place. The late withdrawal of Shaun McKernan clearly threw their structure out.
North Melbourne Kangaroos vs Hawthorn Hawks
It’s a Shaw thing
Hawthorn controlled the game early, taking a substantial lead of 26 points in the first quarter. North Melbourne managed to kick the last goal of the first quarter to trim the lead to 20 points at quarter time.
From there on, North Melbourne fought back, eventually taking the lead in the third quarter and winning the game by 22 points.
Magic moment: Ben Brown kicked North Melbourne’s seventh goal of the game to give them a ten-point lead in the third quarter, with a clever snap from near the 50-metre mark.
Who stood out from the pack? James Worpel was the standout for Hawthorn, with Shaun Higgins, Ben Brown and Jack Ziebell not far behind.
What went right? The game was played at high intensity, with plenty of tough contests.
What went wrong? North Melbourne should have been further ahead than ten points at three-quarter time. Grant Birchall suffered a hamstring injury.
(Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Essendon Bombers vs Port Adelaide Power
Bombers unable to fight back
Once again Essendon were forced to come back from a deficit, but on this occasion, they were unable to come back and claim the four points.
Port Adelaide are still hard to read. They are either sensational or poor. Thankfully in Round 20, they were the former.
Magic moments: Connor Rozee kicked a crumbing goal. It was brilliant play, which shows why the youngster is so highly rated.
Who stood out from the pack? Karl Amon had an impact on the game most of the time he claimed possession of the ball.
What went right? Port Adelaide started the game extremely well, leading by 16 points at quarter time. Zach Merrett’s first half was terrific – Merrett accumulated 23 possessions and kicked a goal.
What went wrong? Essendon started the game poorly yet again, but this time round they were unable to arrest the momentum that the opposition had built up.
Greater Western Sydney Giants vs Sydney Swans
Swans robbed
Sam Reid appeared to have been impeded when attempting to take a mark in the last minute of the game, but the umpire called play on. The infringement that should have led to a free kick directly in front, which would have led to an almost certain Sydney goal. At the time, Greater Western Sydney led by two points.
Magic moment: Tom Papley kicked a freakish goal from the boundary line, approximately 50 metres out, which was his second consecutive goal of the game and Sydney’s second major to give his team a good start.
Who stood out from the pack? Jacob Hopper not only won plenty of the ball, but hit the scoreboard with three goals.
What went right? Isaac Heeney kicked his 100th goal in the AFL with a classy left-foot snap around the corner. Zac Williams was outstanding in the first half. Williams was one of the reasons why Greater Western Sydney led at half time. Sydney kicked five goals straight in the first quarter.
What went wrong? Greater Western Sydney kicked four goals and six behinds after half time. Sydney were also inaccurate with their goal kicking for a fair portion of the game. They kicked seven goals and nine behinds after quarter time.
Fremantle Dockers vs Geelong Cats
Dockers delight in scrappy affair
Fremantle controlled the tempo of the game as well as putting on scoreboard pressure from start to finish.
Magic moment: David Mundy kicked an outstanding goal in the last quarter, which was his second for the game.
Who stood out from the pack? It was tough to separate Michael Walters and Nat Fyfe.
What went right? Fremantle put in a four-quarter effort. They were unrelenting with their pressure and attack on the footy.
What went wrong? Geelong showed that they have deficiencies that could be exploited.
Adelaide Crows vs St Kilda Saints
Crows swoop and survive scare
Adelaide were more efficient than St Kilda in the forward 50 and won the game due to that fact.
Magic moment: Ben Long kicked a wonderful crumbing goal from the pocket, which was St Kilda’s third for the game in the first quarter.
Who stood out from the pack? Matt Crouch was outstanding. Crouch had 36 possessions and kicked two goals. Rory Laird was also pivotal for Adelaide when the game was there to be won. Laird provided plenty of run off half back.
What went right? Both teams played to an adequate level. It was a good game of footy to watch.
What went wrong? St Kilda weren’t efficient in the forward 50, which cost them the four points.
Melbourne Demons vs Richmond Tigers
Demons fail to put in four-quarter effort
Richmond continue to play winning footy as they are hungry to cement a place in the top four.
Magic moment: Daniel Rioli’s smother that led to a goal from Jack Graham in the first quarter, which was Richmond’s third goal of the game to level the scores.
Who stood out from the pack? Bachar Houli accumulated 32 possessions and used the ball well, too.
What went right? Richmond played a solid game of footy – they put in a four-quarter effort, despite playing against a team languishing second bottom on the ladder.
What went wrong? Melbourne kicked just three goals in the second half, failing to play with the same positive intent and attack on the footy as they did in the first half.
Collingwood Magpies vs Gold Coast Suns
Suns fail to compete for four quarters
Collingwood were back in form. They ensured that they will play finals and feature in September action. It was tough to decipher whether Collingwood were outstanding or Gold Coast were shocking.
Magic moment: Sam Day kicked an outstanding goal, which was the first of the game.
Who stood out from the pack? Adam Treloar was outstanding.
What went right? The Gold Coast kicked the first two goals of the game. After that, Collingwood played some solid footy.
What went wrong? Gold Coast would be disappointed with their endeavour and attack on the footy.
Carlton Blues vs West Coast Eagles
Eagles have too much poise and class for brave Blues
West Coast did what they had to do when the game was there to be won. Carlton started well, leading on the scoreboard at quarter time, but West Coast were too good after that point in time, showing why they could win the premiership.
Magic moment: Nic Newman kicked the first goal of the game from 50 metres out.
Who stood out from the pack? Newman kicked four goals, despite starting in defence.
What went right? The West Coast Eagles were efficient, particularly in the second quarter when they scored from the majority of their entries.
What went wrong? Carlton would be disappointed with their second and third quarters as West Coast kicked 12 goals to four during those two quarters.
Brisbane Lions vs Western Bulldogs
Lions too good
The Western Bulldogs weren’t far off the Brisbane Lions as far as general play was concerned, but Brisbane were more efficient when it came to building up scoreboard pressure.
Magic moment: Cameron Rayner snapped an incredible goal in the second quarter, Brisbane’s fifth of the game.
Who stood out from the pack? Jack Macrae was outstanding, playing one of the best games of footy by any individual this round.
What went right? Hayden Crozier took nearly the mark of the year in the closing stages of the final quarter. The game was a high-tempo contest, between two teams hungry to win.
What went wrong? Dayne Zorko suffered a hamstring injury in the third quarter.
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.