AFL Preliminary Finals

The Battle Of The Titans as the last two premiers, North Melbourne and Adelaide will play next Saturday in the Big One. We hope for a good game, good weather and John Russo to be struck down by laryngitis. Oh, and John Harvey to be appointed as one of the umpires.

The 1998 All-Australian Team was announced on Monday:

B: David King (NM) Ashley McIntosh (WC) Glen Archer (NM) HB: Nathan Buckley (Coll) Sean Wellman (Ess) Nigel Smart (Adel) C: Matthew Knights (Rich) Scott West (Foot) Shane Crawford (Haw) HF: Paul Hudson (Foot) Wayne Carey (NM, cpt.) Mark Ricciuto (Adel) F: Ben Cousins (WC) Tony Lockett (Syd) Matthew Lloyd (Ess) Foll: Peter Everitt (StK) Todd Viney (Melb) Robert Harvey (StK) Int: Chris Grant (Foot) Andrew McLeod (Adel) Anthony Stevens (NM) Shaun Rehn (Adel) Coach: Terry Wallace (Foot) Umpire: Andrew Coates.

The most unlucky omissions in 1997, Lloyd, McLeod and coach Wallace were all included this time despite poorer seasons this year than last (in the case of the players, anyway). Hudson raised a few eyebrows, but 50 goals as a small forward is good work. Grant took one less mark than Carey for the year, yet doesn't get on the field. Melbourne supporters reckoned Adem Yze could've been in it, a reasonable claim and that Daniher should be coach of the year. Next year if they follow tradition. O'Loughlin and Pickett were unlucky. Most of the All-Aussie team are part of a squad to play Ireland in a revival of those pointless hybrid games against the Gaelic footballers.

Trouble at Windy Hill. The club that made the fewest list alterations last year set about the task. Olarenshaw departed under his own steam, an embarrassing leak told the world that ex-skipper Gary O'Donnell hadn't been offered a new contract. On Saturday The Age leapt into print with a story claiming that senior Essendon players had confronted the board demanding Sheedy's sacking, Sheeds himself offered no comment. Elsewhere Gary Hocking signed a new contract at Geelong, Fraser Brown rejected an offer at Carlton and we saw his oleaginous manager on TV spouting poo, rumours continue to surround Wayne Campbell's future at Richmond. It'll all come out. Saint Robert Harvey, last years' winner and North juggernaut Wayne Carey are equal favourites for tonight's Brownlow Medal at 5/2.

At the MCG:

North Melbourne  4.1    8.4   13.8   17.12.114
Melbourne        3.6    6.8   9.11   12.12.84

The hardened, experienced Roos won their eleventh consecutive game, booked a second GF appearance in three years and ended the Demon dream by stopping the rampant Melbourne forwards and running half-backs. And Carey did little, a nice rebuke to Melbourne president Joe Gutnick who referred to North as "a one-man team" early in the preceeding week. In selection North showed no inclination for sentimentality as they dropped John Longmire, unavailable through injury for North's 1996 flag-winning team, along with Brett Chandler. They made way for forward Brett Allison, back from injury and tagger Robert Scott. Football journeyman Mark "Fridge" Roberts played his 200th game. At Melbourne there was much speculation over the fitness of ruckman Jeff White, as it emerged that a "slightly bruised knee" received last Saturday was in fact a strained ligament. But Whitey played, the Dees made one change though in recalling veteran hero Garry Lyon, kid Johnstone made way.

Dry but blustery night for the prelim, North's defensive line-up saw Scott oppose Farmer, Martyn on Neitz, Archer face Lyon and McCartney on Schwarz. For Melbourne Shanahan was on Carey. Farmer roared the game into life when he rode Martyn for a hanging screamer in the first 30 seconds. But he missed the shot for goal, Steven Febey, Neitz and Schwarz also missed early chances as Melbourne again squandered early dominance. Roo McKernan was beating White in the ruck but Viney kept getting it on the ground. Carey was being double-teamed by Shanahan and Ingerson, occasionally Grgic joined in too. But Wayney kicked the first goal, from a free as Ingerson arrived too late to spoil and biffed him. Realising he'd have to move about to get the agget, Carey then marked on half-forward and punted long to the goalsquare where Grant arrived to soccer it through. Some lovely Roo handling got the ball to Roberts, who missed. The Dees were getting the ball but struggling in attack, finally Matthew Febey speared a nice goal after perfect roving, then the busy Woewodin was allowed to outmark Martyn and Nietz, he converted and Melbourne led by 2 points. Pickett drove North forward, Abraham was paid a doubtful juggling grab and he goaled, Melbourne pinched it back after a superb M. Febey smother led to a goal for Farmer. However Stevens snapped North ahead once more, Demon defenders Ingerson and Woewodin withstood some sustained Roo pressure before the first break.

Melbourne got the first goal of the second term, Lyon read that North defenders were eager to rush Farmer's shot through and positioned himself to soccer a goal, he turned and taunted Archer about it. Risky. North led once more after McKernan took a fantastic mark running head-on into a pack, he spotted Roberts alone in the 'square and passed accordingly. Farmer's snapped behind levelled the scores. Melbourne looked good when their midfielders could run freely but the big forwards couldn't mark it, Lyon spilling three chances in the quarter (admittedly two were pretty difficult). North were tackling furiously. A rugged contest from Freeborn led to a simple shot for Allison and North led by a goal, but the Dees then enjoyed a good spell. Neitz missed snap, Tingay took advantage of a flukey bounce to boot a sausage, Farmer kicked on-the-full when he had time to steady. Then a key move as Pagan introduced Capuano to the ruck and sent McKernan forward, McKernan immediately set up another goal for Roberts, missed a long shot himself, then accepted Pike's pass 20m from goal and dobbed it. Roos by 13 points. McKernan then dislocated a little finger and Neitz wobbled a long, flat torpedo for a Melbourne major just before half-time.

North put the squeeze on in the third term, the Dees' attacking problems became acute as Farmer and Neitz disappeared from the game. North kicked the first three goals. The first came after Yze was clobbered in the centre and Roberts scooped the loose ball and booted long, Abraham roved for a simple slot. Sholl kicked well for Allison to mark and convert from the goalsquare, Grant took a brave wrong-way mark from Stevens's kick and split the big ones. North by 25 points. Demon defender Seecamp took it upon himself to break his teams' goal drought, he grabbed the ball from the next centre contest, had a bounce and goaled from 50m. After Carey missed a shot, Sholl smashed a huge kick for an answering goal. Melbourne won the next centre clearance and Kowal majored, but North replied again. Abraham postered and the risky kick-in was snaffled by Simpson, he converted nicely. North by 27. The Dees continued to manufacture goals, Rigoni charged forward with 3 bounces from half-back and sausage-rolled from 50m. The Demons trailed by 21 points and were presented with two lucky chances to get closer before the final break, but wasted both. First Pickett crunched into Seecamp and opened a cut under the Demon's eye. Unsteady Seecamp was trudging off when he saw the ball coming his way, broke from the runner and marked it. Carey protested vigorously, pointing out the blood seeping from Seecamp's face. He was penalised 50m for his trouble, but Seecamp missed from 30m and departed. Then Tingay ignored the ball and deliberately charged Pickett, the North man raised his arms in self-defence and was free-kicked for taking Tingay high. The ball went forward to Schwarz, his floating shot hit the post.

Into the last stanza and North did all the early attacking for a handful of behinds, nervy Abraham missing two absolute sitters. Steven Febey kicked the first goal of the quarter, a bouncing shot after roving a throw-in and the Fuchsias were just 18 points in arrears. But North killed 'em off. Following the Febey goal, Roo rover Bell won the next centre clearance and Carey marked, he passed intelligently to Capuano who majored. Bell cleared again and the ball finished with Grant, he converted on the run and North led by 30 points with 10 minutes remaining. Pickett produced a fantastic smother and chase on the wing. Further goals to Allison and Grant stretched the margin to 7 goals before late majors to Demons Robertson and Leoncelli. Seven's Brooce spent the final minutes delisting Melbourne players: "Lyon, is this his last game?...Stynes, you'd have to wonder if we'll see him next year...Will Shanahan continue?" etc.

Truly a great team effort from North. At the back Martyn outpointed Neitz (one goal, two marks) and Pickett was very good, Archer did well on Lyon and Scott quelled Farmer after a good start by the Melbourne forward. McKernan returned to form with 15 kicks, 11 marks and a goal, he had the better of an unfit White. Rovers Bell (26 disposals, 22 gathers) and Stevens (16 kicks) were terrific again. Blakey (15 kicks) prevented the damaging running of Steven Febey and Simpson slowed Yze while having 22 touches and a goal himself. Attacking duties were shared, Shannon Grant kicked 4 goals from 19 possessions and Allison got 3 goals from 4 kicks, Abraham booted 2.3 and Roberts got 2 goals. Carey had 13 kicks, 6 marks and a goal. The Dees' best were hard-working midfielders Viney (22 disposals), who had a very good first-half, hard-running Tingay (18 possessions, a goal) and pack specialist Matthew Febey (21 touches, 16 gathers, a goal). First-year men Woewodin (19 kicks, a goal) and Rigoni (20 touches, a goal) did a power of work mopping up in defence, Ingerson played reasonably at CHB and Kowal wasn't bad. The Demons took just 7 contested marks, one less than McKernan and 16 fewer than North overall. They needed twelve players to kick their twelve goals. But they've had a great season, as Daniher acknowledged. "As a club, we're very proud of what the boys have done and been able to achieve this year. We won't rest on that. We spoke to the players and we can't rest on a prelim final. We want to win premierships, that's what this club is about" Let's hope their supporters join up. Pagan was rapt to be in another Grand Final, and in McKernan's form. "We were always confident that Corey could turn it around. He trained very well during the week and I had this funny feeling that he was going to turn it on...his performance was the Corey of old...We've got a very simple process in place that the players have adhered to. We want to live for the moment, we don't want to get ahead of ourselves and we don't want to think about the hype of a Grand Final."

At the MCG:

Footscray  2.5   7.10   9.13    13.15.93
Adelaide   5.6  13.8   18.11   24.17.161

Last Sunday Camry coach Mal Blight likened losing a preliminary final to "dancing with your sister". He needn't have worried. Mal will be dancing with the most alluring babes South Australia can produce, like Natasha Stott-Despoja and.Tania van-Heer, after his team crushed the hapless Doggies. The Bulldogs were badly exposed in the key defensive positions and played like nervous finals novices, overusing the ball terribly. The Crows were like hired assassins, arriving in town, doing their job quietly, efficiently and thoroughly then departing. If only their fans could be so discreet. Footscray went in with the same 22 which belted the Eagles a fortnight ago. The Crows lost Jameson with a calf strain and dropped young giant Marsh to recall classy defender Kane Johnson and rookie Brent Eccles. There were question-marks over the fitness of Vardy (ankle) and McLeod (knee), but both played. In case of pre-bounce Footscray aggression the brave Crows had been instructed to run and hide behind the umpire, but by the end the Bulldogs were looking for somewhere to hide.

The Crows were lucky to beat the Pups in last years' prelim but were never seriously threatened this time. They lined up with Caven on Grant, Hart at full-back on Minton-Connell and Pittman at full-forward. The Bullies put Liberatore on McLeod, Dent on Vardy and Rohan Smith at CHB on Matthew Robran, a weird move which failed immediately and spectacularly. Both sides started nervously, Robran missed three long shots and Bulldog Montgomery sprayed a sitter from 15m. Minton-Connell also missed an early chance, shortly after he was benched for the day. The Camrys were doing better, locking the ball in their forward line and after 5 behinds and 15 minutes they got the first goal, Edwards passing to Robran who finally got on target with a long punt. It triggered a goal avalanche, the umpire assisted on a couple for the Crows. An attempted Ricciuto soccer-kick almost sent Garlick's head into orbit, but the umpire waved play-on and Ricciuto handballed to Brett James who curled a nice snap through the big sticks. Then Romero was harshly penalised for holding-the-ball just 20m from goal, McLeod converted the free. McLeod got clear of Liberatore to slot another and the Crows led by 25 points, 4.5 to 0.4. The Dogs had replaced Minton-Connell at full forward with beaten Smith and Croft went onto Robran, Smith kicked the Doggies' first major with a superb effort and moments later Mark West swooped on a loose ball for a goal. But the Crows got another when Ellen's kick dropped like a stone in the swirly wind, Vardy marked and converted.

McLeod opened the second term with his third goal, racing onto Smart's long kick from defence. That was enough for Libber, he was replaced by Garlick. Footscray then had a good patch as Wynd started to win in the ruck, Romero and Kolyniuk combined to set up an easy goal for Smith to cut the margin to 18 points, then a visionary pass from Grant should have seen Montgomery kick a simple goal, but he missed again. The Crows took advantage with three consecutive majors, Robran marked and belted it through from 55m, Rehn won the next centre tap and Robran eventually gathered it, his brilliant handpass created a goal for Edwards. McLeod's slick handpass set up Vardy and it was the Crows by 35 points. Dog Brad Johnson pulled one back, answered immediately by a freakish snap from James. Then the Dogs kicked three in a row to get within 15 points. Smith was moved upfield, he punted long to the goalsquare where Montgomery marked and played on straight into a tackle, but he was lucky enough to soccer for full points. Wynd got the following centre tap and Curley handballed for Johnson to kick a running goal, then Montgomery repeated his earlier trick of playing on after a goalsquare mark, this time Hudson covered by soccering the goal. But the Corollas responded with three more goals before the long break, ubiquitous Robran set up Edwards again, Ellen handpassed for Jarman to snap truly, Pittman won a ruck free and passed to McLeod who dropped the mark but recovered and slotted the sausage.

Things didn't look good for the Bulldogs but they had a crack. For the third quarter Croft, struggling on Robran, was moved to the forward line and Cameron took over the defensive job, Liberatore got another go on McLeod and Darcy rucked while Wynd defended. The start of the term was tight and close, eventually Smith set off on a long run from defence, including a spell where he didn't bounce it for at least 30m. Smith passed to Croft and he kicked a goal, then Hudson scored with a good left-foot snap and the Dogs were coming, they trailed by 23 points. Then came a possibly decisive moment, Grant clutched a strong mark just 30m out, directly in front. However he handpassed to the unsuspecting Hudson whose snap under pressure missed. Why didn't Granty shoot? That was the end of 'em. A cunning Jarman handpass went to Eccles, he passed to Robran. Goal. Rehn tapped to Edwards, he passed to McLeod. Goal. Connell, having a big quarter, raced forward with blood streaming from a cut mouth and passed to leading Ellen on the 50m line. Goal. Rehn tapped to Eccles, McLeod marked his kick. Goal. Rehn tapped to Eccles again, he tapped it on to the running Kane Johnson. Goal, the Cows by 53 points at the final change. It became a rout in the final quarter, Robran booted three more goals including two massive drop punts from outside 50m that sailed through post-high. The margin got to 70 points before Hudson kicked a couple of late majors and Grant got one, McLeod's seventh goal was the last one. Upset Liberatore punched Caven in a pack, for which he was free-kicked. Poor ol' Dogs.

Matthew Robran had a blinder, hauling down 10 marks and booting 6 goals from 13 kicks at CHF. Andy McLeod kicked 7 goals from 21 disposals (14 kicks) and may have ended Liberatore's career in the process. Rehn took over in the ruck after half-time, Caven did well on Grant and All-Australian Smart had 17 damaging possessions off half-back. Shane Ellen kicked 2 goals from 11 touches and Tyson Edwards was potent with 2 goals and 8 marks. Midfield duties were shared in Blight's cunning rotation, Ricciuto (19 disposals), Goodwin (17), Thiessen (15 kicks), Connell (15 touches) and Eccles all important. Two goals for Vardy and James, too. For Footscray centreman Scott West stood out with 34 disposals (22 handpasses), he worked furiously around packs. Romero had 31 touches but was less damaging, Brad Johnson was good with 16 kicks and 2 goals. After a disastrous start Smith went on to have 11 kicks and 2 goals, Mark West wasn't bad. Hudson bagged 5 goals, although three came in the last quarter. Michael Martin played well, 22 possessions. They didn't play properly. Wallace was gutted. "It's embarrassing in that situation when you get routed in a final. Our efforts throughout the year have been very, very good and we haven't been lower than second at any point in the season and to play that poorly in that game was a disappointment to everyone." He went on to claim that the Dogs were "not physically strong enough". Crow coach Blight said "The whole year has been unbelievable, not so much struggle but we've been chasing our tails since day one...We had a lot of blokes injured from last year and a lot of operations...Honestly, after last year I thought everyone here and the whole football public thought well, did they fluke it or what? Now I think the Adelaide Football Club's got a bit of respect." Great for Vardy and Ricciuto, both missed last year's GF with injury. No win for the Cressidas against North in their last five meetings.

Next Week - Grand Finals:

North Melbourne v Adelaide, MCG, Saturday 2:45 PM AEST.
Reserves: Essendon v Footscray
TAC Cup Under-18: Murray Bushrangers v Geelong Falcons