3 minute read
A look at round 14 of the AFL season, where Richmond, Port Adelaide and Gold Coast made finals moves and Toby Greene kicked a career-best seven goals.
THEY SAID IT: "It's a reality check for our players. You're never as good as you think you are and you're never as bad as you think you are, but tonight's performance was very, very bad." - St Kilda coach Brett Ratten didn't hold back after his side wilted in a costly defeat to lowly Essendon.
PLAYER OF THE ROUND: GWS co-captain Toby Greene did his best to lift the Giants with a career-high seven goals in a free-scoring shootout against the Western Bulldogs. Greene had 21 disposals, 14 score involvements and three goal assists in an outstanding individual display.
THE MOMENT: Harry McKay had dragged Carlton back into their clash with Richmond with three goals in four minutes, and Jack Newnes' quick snap looked like it had put the Blues within a kick during the final term. But Newnes' shot was controversially ruled touched by Tigers defender Nathan Broad on video review. The Blues' momentum came to a screeching halt and Richmond kicked away for an important win.
TALKING POINT: Jordan De Goey continues to cause headlines for the wrong reasons off the field. This time, the 26-year-old Magpies star was filmed partying in Bali during his mid-season break, just eight months since his drunken behaviour overseas got him arrested in New York. De Goey is out of contract at the end of the year and it remains to be seen whether his behaviour will affect the size of his new deal, or the number of clubs that will try to lure him away from Collingwood.
STATS THAT MATTER: West Coast's ninth consecutive defeat marked the worst losing streak in club history on Saturday as decorated Geelong forward Tom Hawkins became the 26th player to reach 700 career goals.
TRIBUNAL WATCH: Sydney ruckman Peter Ladhams has been handed a one-match suspension for striking former teammate and Port Adelaide star Ollie Wines. GWS ruckman Braydon Preuss was handed a one-match ban for a dangerous tackle on the Bulldogs' Tim English. It was Preuss' third susepnsion from seven matches this year. Willie Rioli was fined $2000 for his elbow to Geelong defender Sam De Koning's stomach.
INJURIES: N Balta (Rich, hamstring), Jack Martin (Carl, tight calf), S Durdin (Carl, knee), Zak Butters (PA, knee), Brynn Teakle (PA, collarbone), Jeremy McGovern (WC, ribs), B Preuss (GWS, ankle), T Duryea (WB, knee), C Weightman (WB, elbow), W Powell (GC, knee), C Budarick (GC, hamstring), R Thilthorpe (Adel, ankle).
WHAT'S NEXT: The bye weeks are over but Thursday night footy remains as Melbourne and Brisbane lock horns in a heavyweight battle at the MCG. There are two Friday night games - Bulldogs-Hawthorn and West Coast-Essendon - but there is more riding on Saturday's contests, which all have finals implications for the competing clubs. Carlton host Fremantle, Geelong take on Richmond and Sydney meet St Kilda. Port Adelaide and Gold Coast will be desperate to boost their hopes of cracking into the top eight on Sunday.