Carlton 11.9 (75) def Collingwood 7.13 (55), Friday Night, MCG
Carlton ground out a 20-point victory over traditional rivals Collingwood in the wet at the MCG on Friday night. After a poor start to the season and heavy criticism in the media, the Blues were under plenty of pressure but responded superbly to lead virtually all the way for their first win of 2002.
Midfielder Justin Murphy was outstanding for Carlton and small forwards Darren Hulme and Ryan Houlihan relished the greasy conditions, while Corey McKernan and Matthew Lappin kicked three goals.
If not for a couple of tough umpiring decisions on a night where goals were at a premium, the Pies would have made the Blues sweat. But the Pies cost themselves the chance at victory by giving away three goals through appalling defensive errors. Tarkyn Lockyer, Leon Davis, Scott Burns and captain Nathan Buckley (two goals) were among Collingwood's best.
Both sides now sit at 1-2 after three rounds.
Richmond 13.18 (96) def Melbourne 11.10 (76) at MCG, Saturday
Richmond overcame the absence of two key players to record a 20-point comeback victory over Melbourne at the MCG on Saturday.
In a match that both sides had their chances to win, the Tigers eventually seized control in the final quarter, thanks largely to an 18-possesion effort from captain Wayne Campbell.
Already without Matthew Richardson and Darren Gaspar, the Tigers’ task wasn’t made any easier when they lost Rory Hilton to a serious shoulder injury early in the game. But it was a task they stuck to manfully to eventually triumph against a previously unbeaten Melbourne side.
As well as Campbell’s sizzling 37-touch effort, Mark Chaffey shone for the Tigers on his return from injury. The Demons had many good players, but no-one was particularly outstanding. Ruckman Jeff White and defender Paul Wheatley were solid contributors. Both sides face Western Australian opposition next week.
Adelaide 17.12 (114) def Sydney 13.6 (84) at Football Park, Saturday
A blistering seven-goal first quarter burst set up Adelaide’s comfortable 30-point victory, its third of the season, against Sydney at Football Park.
The match was virtually over by quarter time as the Crows established a 39-point lead at the first break and a 51-point lead by half time. Stars of the show were ex-Swan Ryan Fitzgerald and Brett Burton who had three goals each by half time. They were given plenty of the ball from Mark Bickley, who dominated the centre in the impressive victory. He was supplied by the ruckwork of Rhett Biglands, who was clearly the best big man on the ground.
Although Sydney outscored Adelaide 9.3 to 5.6 in the second half, with Michael O'Loughlin firing with two final term goals, it was of little consequence, with the Swans getting no closer than 28 points in the last term.
The unbeaten Crows face Essendon at Colonial Stadium next week, while the inconsistent Swans return home to face the Kangaroos, having slipped to 1-2.
Geelong: 11.9 (75) def Kangaroos 10.7 (67) at Colonial Stadium, Saturday night
Geelong's youngsters showed real spirit to hold out the fast-finishing Kangaroos by 8 points at Colonial Stadium and record their first win of the season.
After a tight, bruising first half the Kangaroos looked like running away with the game before the Cats surged with four goals late in the third quarter, including one from Gary Ablett Jnr, the first of his career.
Down 21 points at the last change, the Kangaroos drew on their customary fight to climb back into the game, but the Cats’ Joel Corey found a goal when needed to withstand the Kangaroos challenge.
Glenn Archer was superb in defence for the previously unbeaten Roos as was Anthony Stevens in the middle. But their endeavour was nothing compared to the young Geelong players like Cameron Ling, Joel Corey and Ablett. Both sides suffered serious injuries, with the Cats losing young star Corey Enright for two months with a shoulder injury.
Brisbane Lions 17. 15. (117) def. Essendon 9. 13. (67) at the Gabba, Saturday Night
Brisbane established itself a clear premiership favourite after thrashing Essendon by 50-points at the Gabba in a reply of the last year’s Grand Final.
At least the Bombers were in the game for three-quarters in the Grand Final. In this game they were starved of the ball from the very beginning. Although only trailing by one point at quarter time, the Bombers looked to be always fighting a losing cause. A five-goal second quarter from the Lions broke the game open as the home side stretched their lead to 25 points at half time.
Any thoughts of a comeback from the Bombers were quashed when Daniel Bradshaw kicked back-to-back goals halfway through the third quarter to stretch the Lions’ lead beyond seven goals. The Lions then coasted to the final siren adding another six goals in final quarter.
With an in-form forward in Bradshaw, who finished with six, the Lions were playing efficient, effective and excellent football. Jason Akermanis also got in the party kicking four of his own in a dashing performance.
While James Hird and Jason Johnston were tireless, their endeavour came to nothing against a vastly superior side.
Hawthorn 13.11 (89) def Fremantle 11.13 (79) at York Park, Launceston, Sunday
Hawthorn came back from eight points down late in the last quarter to beat Fremantle by 10 points at York Park.
The Dockers looked likely to celebrate successive wins for the first time in almost two years when forward Justin Longmuir put them eight points clear with five minutes left. But late goals from Richie Vandenberg, Angelo Lekkas and Chance Bateman gave the Hawks their first win of the season.
The first half was extremely scrappy, with Hawthorn leading by 20 points at the long interval.Fremantle got back into the contest with a five-goals-to-one third quarter and they looked the better team until Hawthorn’s late surge.
Hawthorn skipper Shane Crawford finished with 29 possessions to be among the Hawks best along with Vandenberg and Daniel Chick. Dockers captain Peter Bell was his side’s best player while Shane Parker and Paul Medhurst were solid contributors.
Port Adelaide 20.19 (139) def St Kilda 8.8 (56) at Colonial Stadium, Sunday
Port Adelaide secured its first win of the AFL season with an 83-point thrashing of St Kilda at Colonial Stadium.
Port recorded its highest score and biggest winning margin over the Saints with Brendon Lade dominant in the forward line, kicking four goals.
The win was set up by a six-goal-to-three second quarter which allowed the Power a 38-point lead at the main break. The Saints, who had earlier lost Nathan Burke to a knee injury, tried to rally but it was a lost cause as Matthew Primus continued to provide Jarrad Schofield and Nick Stevens with plenty of the ball. Ten goals to three after the main break turned a defeat into a belting with Wanganeen and Burgoyne both finishing with three goals apiece.
.Stephen Milne was the Saints' only multiple goalscorer with four and he, Andrew Thompson and Lenny Hayes were the Saints’ few good contributors in front of a disappointing crowd of 17,641.
West Coast 17.11 (113) def Western Bulldogs 11.15 (81) at Subiaco Sunday
West Coast continued its impressive start to the season with a 32-point win over the injury-hit Western Bulldogs at Subiaco.
With the temperature topping 29 degrees this was always going to be a battle of attrition and after losing Nathan Brown and Matthew Robbins to injury during the match, it was the Bulldogs who wilted.
The Eagles made the most of their opportunities in front of goal in the opening quarter to take a 16-point lead into the first break. They stretched that to 28-points early in the second quarter but the Dogs fought back late in the second and in the third quarter to reduce the margin to nine points at the final break. That was as close as the Bulldogs got however, and the Eagles drew away with a seven-goal-to-three final term.
Centre half back Glen Jakovich was pivotal to the victory continually repelling the Dogs' attack while Scott West was at his courageous best for the visitors.
