AFL Semi Finals

The 1998 Rising Star award for the AFL's best rookie went to North Melbourne's fast, skilled and very hard half-back flanker Byron Pickett. Pickett won easily and certainly had a great season, although plenty of people can't work out why he hasn't been reported yet for his head-directed bumping method. More coaching moves during the week, as expected Brisbane appointed Leigh Matthews for 3 years on a hefty 550K a year, allegedly. Collingwood released Graeme "Gubby" Allan to join Leigh at the Gabba. Rumours circulating that Brisbane are going to dump all association with Fitzroy, reverting to the nickname "Bears" and their old guernsey. They moved swiftly at Port Adelaide, Mark Williams is their new coach. Cahill's former assistant picked up a wealth of playing and coaching experience at Port, Collingwood, Essendon and Brisbane. Down at Pieland (Collingwood, that is) the decks were cleared for the ascendency of Eddie McGuire to the presidency, the inescapable media buffoon will lead his four-man team into club elections in December following the resignation of vice-president Bob Rose. Pretty quiet elsewhere, so far, except at Richmond where failure means multiple sackings. Just for a change it looks like being the players rather than the coach or officials, Jeff Gieschen accepting a new 2-year contract.

North Melbourne announced a plan to play 5 home games per year in Sydney, starting next year. Presumably the SCG will be used before the Olympic Stadium becomes available in 2001. As part of the plan, the Roos requested to play all of their Melbourne games (that's including all away games) at the MCG. Sod off Kangas.

By the way, our friends at Footy Tipping Software have a final-8 calculator at: http://www.footy.com.au/dags/final8/final8.htm

At the MCG:

Melbourne  1.5   6.11   9.15   15.17.107
St. Kilda  2.3   4.6    5.10    7.14.56

Melbourne's excellent adventure continued in front of 88,500 at headquarters. Where on earth do they come from, them Dee supporters? Although being a Tiger that's like accusing a blackened kettle of being a glass house or something. Anyway, all around us Dee supporters shouted things like "Go number 34!" and "Come on, kick it down to the little black boy" and so on. The Dees were way too good for the Saints, whose own siege mentality helped see 'em off. The original Melbourne 22 were the same as last week, however Lyon withdrew with more back trouble, unfortunately, and was replaced by Travis Johnstone. The Saints regained Darryl Wakelin after suspension and Peckett from Bondi belly. Kids Campbell and Knowles made way.

Intermittent rain made the 'G a slippery surface. The Saints began with Darryl Wakelin on Neitz and Peckett opposed to Farmer. Melbourne totally controlled the opening 15 minutes, half-backs Steven Febey and Yze pressed forward and the ball was locked in the Dees' attacking half. But they missed shots hopelessly, Neitz postered from 15m and Farmer couldn't get that close from the same spot, later the same two Demon forwards missed again. It was 0.5 to nothing before St. Kilda managed to get going, Burke and half-back Young providing the spark. Jones and Winmar were swapping at full forward, after an early miss Jones doubled back to mark between the goal and point-posts and banana his shot for the first goal. Jones's handpass created the second goal, for Lappin as the Saints were going well. Melbourne got their first goal just before quarter time, Wakelin penalised for either over-the-shoulder or knees-in-the-back on Neitz, it was hard to tell. A 50m penalty for backchat gave the Dee an unmissable shot. Saints carried their improved form into the second term, Harvey started getting kicks against Rigoni and Brown snapped an early goal. After more Demon misses Winmar glided forward and kicked long for Jones to race down and mark it, blasting through his second major. Stakilda by 14 points, 4.4 to 1.8. However the Demons took charge from there. Daniels spilled an uncontested mark and the turnover led to a mark and goal for Farmer, a roved contest saw Farmer snap truly, another sprightly leap from the Tambellup man saw Farmer's third goal and the Dees take the lead. At the other end Saint Barry Hall went mad, kneeing Stephen Febey in the back and punching Yze, big Baz was reported and benched for the rest of the day. Watching the TV on Sunday, we saw both Febey and Yze got their shots in first. Wonder if anything'll come of those? Anyways, on went the amazing Farmer, gathering the ball in the forward pocket and handpassing perfectly for Yze to arrive and goal, then Schwarz fisted the ball goalward where Tingay soccered another major. Half-time and not much in it on the scoreboard, but plenty between 'em on the field.

A tight opening to the third term, however springheeled Demon Jeff White was now dominating the ruck while the pathetic St. Kilda forwards didn't look like getting a goal, Loewe and Heatley obliterated by Shanahan and Seecamp, Ingerson took whoever else was tried. We decided to taunt White - "Why can't you jump, wallet too heavy?" just seconds before he soared for a spectacular grab over Sierakowski. Boy were we popular with the Dee supporters after that. Ten minutes in before Schwarz sold a pair of dummies, bounced and punted long to the goalsquare, the ball spilled from the pack and Farmer soccer-volleyed it over his shoulder for a goal, to the great delight of the Demons around us. Matthew Febey cantered forward for a running goal and Schwarz dobbed a deserved major as the lead stretched inexorably. Late in the term Rob Harvey managed to create a bit of space and wobble a mongrel punt which just cleared the players on the goal-line. But that was pretty much it, Melbourne romped home in the last. Viney snapped a great goal and it was all over after skinny Johnstone galloped down to score, Woewodin snaggled a couple of goals too. St. Kilda got a major from Darryl Wakelin, now in attack, and the last goal of the game from the very quiet Everitt, to much sarcastic cheering.

Jeff Farmer's magic run continued, he saw off Peckett, Sziller and Daniels here, kicking 4 goals from 9 kicks and setting up 2 others, his speed of thought and handling as much as the more traditional type makes him very dangerous. Schwarz kicked just 1 goal but played very well across half-forward and White set 'em up in the middle again, after an early physical buffetting from Everitt and Cook he went on to have 12 touches and 11 effective hitouts. The Febeys were very good, Matt had 25 touches and a goal against Jones while Stephen got 28 possessions, both frequently gathered the loose ball. Rigoni had 24 disposals while doing reasonably on Harvey, Yze had 17 kicks and a goal. At the back Seecamp kept Heatley goalless, Shanahan did likewise on Loewe. In fact the Saints had no effective key forward, Hall, Wakelin and Everitt were all tried. On-ballers Nathan Burke (24 disposals) and Harvey (25, a goal) were probably their best although Rigoni's close attention prevented Harvey doing much damage. Young (22 disposals) was very good running from half-back and Brown was good early before fading. Jones kicked 2 goals and was also a good starter but disappeared as the game went on. Nicky Winmar played honourably for 28 disposals, but missed 3 shots at goal. "The first 10 or so minutes, the disappointment was I think we weren't really aggressive at the ball. We were tentative but at the end of the quarter the signs were really good...but from then on the wheels fell off and that was the disappointing thing, " was Alves's summation. On the season he said "We were top and flag favourites going into the State-Of-Origin break, but I felt we'd been carried by our senior players, our next-rung players hadn't stepped up and played the way we wanted...after the break the form of some senior players fell away a bit, and still those blokes on the next level didn't improve. It's hard to have a game plan when blokes aren't playing properly." Fair enough. Demon coach Daniher said "It was a good win. It was one goal to four and they were coming at us, so it was terrific that our blokes regrouped when they were under the pump. In other games we have got to the front and stayed there, so this was a real challenge." Indeed, they did go well after being denied the now-traditional fast start. Asked if they could play any better, Daniher said "We'll have to play better to beat North Melbourne."

At the SCG:

Sydney    3.1    4.4    5.6   10.7.67
Adelaide  4.3    7.5   10.7   14.10.94

After being Melbourned last Saturday the Crows hit back with a tough, skilled performance in knee-deep Sydney water, setting up a repeat of last years' preliminary final game against the Doggies. Brooce cried a river as Sydney went out, they didn't have enough midfield or forward power, especially after Cresswell was KO'd in the first quarter. But more of that later. In selection the Swans made one change, axing big forward Leo Barry for aggressive midfielder Troy Cook. The Cows went to Dhaka-on-Paramatta without Liptak, who did a hamstring last Saturday, Modra and Linden Stevens, both dropped. Modra was informed of his dumping last Monday, allowing him to prepare with SANFL finals participants West Adelaide and you kinda doubt we'll see him again this season. In for the Crows were ruckman Pittman, veteran big man Rod Jameson and runner Rintoul.

Heavy rain beforehand and during turned the SCG into a slushpit. They're always going on about the harbour up there, it looks all harbour to me. Adelaide had Pittman line up at full back on Lockett and Goodwin on O'Loughlin. Plenty of scoring in the first term despite the conditions, Crow Vardy swept up a loose ball to slot the first goal, O'Loughlin replied for the locals with a deliberately grubbed snap which slithered through. Brooce was uncertain what to make of Sydney receiving 7 free kicks to nought in the first 15 minutes but the Corollas' first free, to Bickley, led to a goal for Ricciuto after the latter slid 20m on his back taking a diving mark. O'Farrell scrambled an answering major for Sydney, then The Cresswell Incident when the Swan centreman was shirt-fronted off the ball by Aaron James. Groggy Crezza was escorted off and didn't re-appear as James goaled following a good mark. Straight from the following bounce Lewis punted the ball forward, arms, legs and torsoes flailed 'round the ball in the goalsquare before O'Loughlin thrusted his arms skyward - apparently he'd soccered a sausage. McLeod snapped a nice goal from a throw-in, O'Loughlin had a chance to establish parity but messed it up. At the first break we pondered the 11-1 free kick count favouring the home team while Eade exhorted his men using The Cresswell Incident. But Cresswell's physical absence soon proved a larger factor. The Crow midfield did a bit better, their backline held the Swans and the Camry forwards showed more skill. Robran tapped from a throw-in and Vardy gathered to snap truly, then a panicky Nicks handpass flopped into the arms of McLeod, he stabbed the Crows 19 points clear. Rehn drifted forward for a mark and conversion, the Swans were in some trouble. Lewis got a much-needed goal late in the term.

More of the same in the third, the Swans tried as Schwass and Roos drove 'em forward but they ran into the Camry defence who filled the space like Beazley fills a TV screen, especially the superb Smart and Hart. Goodwin had tightened on O'Loughlin. Lewis got another goal to cut the margin to 13 points. But up stepped the sublime Vardy to slot 3 goals in six minutes as Warfe allowed him far too much space. The first was an excellent shot from the boundary, then one from a mark, another snap from close-in and the Swans were staring down the barrel. At the final break Eade told his men to get the first two goals and get the crowd into it. "First two, they need the first five, ha ha," trumpeted Neil Kerley. Nevertheless the Swans did get the first two goals of the final stanza, Saddington's long shot wobbled short but Lockett managed to get under the ball and hold it, he slotted his first of the evening. O'Loughlin cleared the next centre contest and passed towards Plugger, he gathered cleanly on the bounce, turned impossibly well and passed to Luff. Goal and the Swans trailed by 19 points, the crowd got more vocal. But the professional Camrys snuffed out the mini-comeback, Vardy roved a ball-up at CHF to snap another goal and the umpires tired of James being bashed by narky Swans, when Dunkley hit him late James goaled from the free. James checksided another major following a mark from Thiessen's high kick, the visitors led by an unassailable 37 points. Sydney kicked three late goals, O'Loughlin creating 2 and kicking the other, punctuated by a fantastic goal by McLeod who burnt off two persuers and snapped casually from 30m. After the siren Sydney veteran Paul Roos was cheered off, this being his final game after 356 contests and a superb performance at Fitzroy, plus his four years at Sydney which weren't bad either.

Adelaide half-forward Peter Vardy was the star, he booted 6 goals from 25 disposals in terrible conditions, his sure handling and disposal exemplifying the team. Sydney made a huge effort to sign him last summer, apparently. Nigel Smart was superb in defence with 29 disposals and fellow defenders Caven and Hart were also very good, Goodwin did much better on O'Loughlin after quarter time. Pittman did the job on Lockett, although the conditions helped a lot. Ricciuto (28 disposals, a goal) and Jarman (19) played well midfield, Jarman's last quarter in particular. McLeod had 20 disposals playing in attack and kicked 3 goals, James also kicked 3 goals from 6 kicks. Michael O'Loughlin was still the Swans' best despite patchy efforts, he kicked 3 goals and gave away another 3 from 19 disposals and 8 marks, Brooce was enraptured again. Lewis (27 disposals, 2 goals) and Schwass (26, a goal) played well, Nicks had 17 kicks from half-back, Maxfield got the ball often but didn't do much with it. The Swans couldn't get anything happening in attack, O'Loughlin apart. Eade said "It was pretty tough losing Daryn Cresswell in the first quarter. He's one of our best on-ballers. But I was pleased with the way the guys fought it out to the end. I though Adelaide's skills were fantastic in the conditions." Summing up the year, he said "A lot of people thought we'd struggle after we lost Kell (Paul Kelly) but we went on alright, losing Cresswell here really hurt us (OK, already!). We probably need another marking forward, a centre-half forward and probably another skilled running player." Blighty said "It was pretty tough out there, I think we probably just slipped and slid a bit better than they did. It was a very big week. Everyone just knuckled down and we won a slog, which is always pleasing." They'll all be back here next weekend, which is great. We really miss 'em after last year...