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Posted:
2024-07-27 03:06:49
Original link:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-07-27/afl-live-kangaroos-cats-qclash-derby-saints-essendon-dees-gws/104148102
Brad Scott has been left searching for answers after Essendon's finals hopes were dealt another massive blow, with star defender Jordan Ridley hurt in an upset 53-point thrashing from St Kilda.
Ridley was substituted out after a nasty knock to the hip before the Bombers capitulated during the third quarter of the 17.6 (108) to 8.7 (55) loss at Docklands Stadium on Saturday.
The Saints piled on seven goals to one during the decisive period, including three majors to skipper Jack Steele, as Essendon failed to fire a shot in one of the most important moments of their season so far.
It led to a third consecutive defeat for the Bombers and sixth in their past eight games, leaving them in a precarious position in a hotly contested race for finals spots.
Sitting third at the end of the bye rounds, Essendon could finish this weekend out of the top eight with four home-and-away matches left to play.
Bombers coach Scott had no explanation for his side's "lack of competitiveness" and "negligible pressure" in such an important fixture.
"It's extremely disappointing," Scott said.
"The end result is disappointing but more disappointing than that was our lack of effort and intent, which has been present for most of the year.
"Particularly in the third quarter, our effort and intent in the contest was really poor.
"Across the course of the game it was poor and it doesn't take much, if you drop off in that area, for you to look second-rate.
"We looked third-rate today."
Ridley missed the first half of the season with a quadriceps injury and took a heavy blow to the same leg in a marking contest.
"It was to the front of his hip and we had some concerns around his quad that he's injured before," Scott said.
"He had a fair bit of pain and couldn't function, so we had no choice but to sub him off.
"We'll scan that and fingers crossed.
"It presents like a knee to the hip which is a pretty severe cork and hopefully it's nothing more serious."
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera starred for St Kilda, who are out of finals contention but have won three of their past four games in a late-season purple patch.
Dashing playmaker Wanganeen-Milera had 30 disposals and six score involvements at half-back, and capped off a fine display with his first goal of the season.
Cooper Sharman kicked three goals and had 10 marks in a career-best performance, while Jack Sinclair (28 disposals), Riley Bonner (22) and veteran Zak Jones (22) were all busy.
Skipper Steele (21 touches) and ruckman Rowan Marshall (27 disposals, eight clearances) led from the front.
Anthony Caminiti (three) and Tim Membrey (two) also kicked multiple goals as St Kilda racked up their second-highest score of the season.
The Saints' conversion rate — 23 scores from 43 forward entries — and accuracy were superb, highlighted by Owens, Membrey and Caminiti all nailing goals from deep in the same pocket.
In a telling statistic, the Saints finished with a massive tally of 133 uncontested marks while winning the contested mark count 16-5.
"I thought we played really smart football," St Kilda coach Ross Lyon said.
"Our opposition (analyst) understands them really well and we executed on it.
"Everyone stood up but some of our younger guys like Wanganeen-Milera and Sharman and (Ryan) Byrnes … there was a bit to like."
Essendon captain Zach Merrett (24 disposals, one goal) never stopped trying in a well-beaten side, while Dylan Shiel kicked two goals.
Bombers midfielder Darcy Parish had just 13 disposals on his long-awaited return from injury.
AAP
For a recap of all of Saturday's AFL action as it happened, check out our live blog below.
FULL TIME: Fremantle 17.8 (110) def. West Coast 11.9 (75)
Harley Reid has officially stamped himself as the No.1 villain of Fremantle supporters on a night when the Dockers overcame a scare to post a 35-point win over West Coast.
Fremantle trailed a Reid-inspired West Coast by 19 points late in the second term of Saturday night's match before kicking eight consecutive goals to set up the 17.8 (110) to 11.9 (75) win.
The result lifted Fremantle (12-6-1) into third, just percentage behind the second-placed Lions.
Caleb Serong won his Glendinning-Allan medal as best afield after tallying 32 disposals, 10 clearances and a goal to go with 525m gained, while Josh Treacy, Michael Frederick and Tom Emmett kicked three goals apiece.
Reid, just like he was in West Coast's shock 37-point win against Fremantle earlier this year, was the spark for the Eagles as last year's wooden spooners threatened another derby boilover.
The 19-year-old tallied a career-high 29 disposals and 10 clearances for the match, but it was his running battles with Fremantle's biggest stars that proved to be the most memorable part of a spiteful derby.
Reid and Andrew Brayshaw (36 disposals, one goal) took part in a particularly heated battle, with the pair going tit-for-tat throughout the match.
It didn't go unnoticed by the 56,536 predominantly-Dockers crowd, who booed Reid every time he got the ball or manhandled a Fremantle player.
Tempers threatened to boil over late in the third quarter when Reid took down Sam Switkowski off the ball.
Switkowski was given a free kick and duly converted, with a wild melee ensuing that is sure to attract plenty of fines.
Eagles veteran Elliot Yeo ensured Reid stayed out of the fracas by escorting him to the middle of the ground.
With Andrew Gaff's AFL career almost over, it seems the mantle of the most hated Eagle among Fremantle fans has now officially been passed to Reid.
The opening quarter was a bruising affair, with young Eagles midfielder Zane Trew lasting just five seconds before suffering a game-ending neck injury after colliding head-first into a teammate.
Fremantle ruckman Sean Darcy looked wobbly late in the quarter after suffering two knocks to the head in the space of a minute.
Jack Petruccelle could be in trouble for the first hit, with the Eagles speedster running past and collecting a sliding Darcy with his hip.
Darcy took the free kick, but a minute later he was on his haunches following an accidental clash of heads with teammate Jordan Clark.
The Fremantle ruckman was taken off the field and assessed — both for the head knock and a shoulder injury — with the Dockers clearing him to return for the start of the second term.
Fremantle dominated clearances 14-7 in the first quarter, but West Coast kicked five goals to three to open up a 13-point lead.
The spiteful nature of the clash continued in the second term, and Reid was in the thick of the action and loving it.
Frustrations got the better of Brayshaw late in the term, with the star midfielder bowling over Reid in brutal fashion after the Eagles young gun had disposed of the ball.
Two clutch 45m set shots from Dockers veteran Jaeger O'Meara — including one on the half-time siren — kept the margin at 13 points.
There were plenty of spotfires in the opening half, but it was nothing compared to the animosity displayed in the third quarter as Fremantle kicked 5.5 to 0.1 to take control of the contest.
Treacy kicked two goals for the term in a monster effort, and when he landed a 52m bomb to start the final quarter and then helped shepherd through an Emmett major, the margin was 33 points and it was as good as game over.
AAP
FULL TIME: GWS Giants 13.7 (85) def. Melbourne 12.11 (83)
GWS have jumped back into top-four contention and have delivered a savage blow to Melbourne's AFL finals hopes by hanging on for a thrilling two-point win at the MCG.
After being destroyed by Fremantle last Sunday, the determined Demons stormed out of the blocks on Saturday night to lead by 27 points at quarter-time.
But the Giants booted 12 of the next 15 goals to set up the 13.7 (85) to 12.11 (83) victory in front of just 16,246 fans — the lowest crowd at the MCG this season.
GWS endured some tense moments late when Melbourne kicked three-straight goals to cut the margin to eight points with five minutes remaining.
Melbourne's Alex Neal-Bullen snapped an unlikely goal with 70 seconds left to give the Demons a chance to pinch a classic win.
But GWS star Tom Green surged the ball out of the next centre clearance and the Giants were able to do enough to secure their 12th win of the season.
Veteran Callan Ward put GWS front for the first time with two minutes remaining in the third quarter, allowing the Giants to lead by three points at the final change.
But GWS flattened Melbourne by slamming through four goals in the first five minutes of the last quarter.
After kicking just one goal in the first-half, star GWS forward Jesse Hogan added three more from late in the third quarter to early in the last term to hurt his former club.
Young Giants midfielder Finn Callaghan was outstanding with a career-high 36 possessions, while Green (33 touches, nine clearances) impressed just days after he was reprimanded by the AFL for a rant on his podcast.
Melbourne midfielder Clayton Oliver recaptured some of his best form by collecting a team-high 26 disposals, while star ruck Max Gawn still look hampered in his first game back from a leg injury.
In a clanger that will be replayed for years, Giants young gun Harvey Thomas blew a certain six-pointer during the second quarter when, from less than 10m out, he booted the ball straight into teammate Jesse Hogan on the goal-line.
The Demons could finish the round a game and percentage outside of the top-eight with four games left.
Melbourne will next face the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on Friday, while the Giants host Hawthorn at Manuka Oval in Canberra next Sunday.
AAP
Caleb Serong wins Glendenning-Allan Medal
Fremantle star Caleb Serong has won the Glendenning-Allan Medal for the third time in his career after another best-on-ground performance in a Western Derby.
Serong ended the night with 32 disposals, 10 clearances, 12 score involvements, eight inside 50s and a goal.
What a midfielder he's turning out to be. It's hard to believe he's still just 23 years old.
FT: Dockers ease to Derby win after dominant second half
This is going to be one of those matches where the final score doesn't tell the full story at all.
Fremantle ends up running out with what looks like a comfortable 35-point win, but this was anything but a comfortable outing for the Dockers.
West Coast gave Justin Longmuir's side all it could handle in that first half, but as good teams do, Fremantle eventually ground their opponents to a complete halt.
Fremantle with 10 goals to two in the second half and they rise up to third on the ladder.
Two straight goals give the Eagles a sniff
Jake Waterman kicks his third of the evening after nailing a set shot to keep the Eagles in it.
That ends a run of eight consecutive goals for the Dockers.
Jack Williams adds another just minutes later and Freo's lead is trimmed to 19 points.
Plenty of time left for West Coast.
Cohuna continues Fremantle's onslaught
The Big Cohuna Josh Treacy is up and about once again!
He kicks his third goal of the second half, this one is a bomb from outside 50.
Fremantle's lead out to 27 points now.
3QT: Fremantle flip the script after incredible surge
Fremantle flexed their muscles in that quarter.
After trailing by 13 points at the main break, the Dockers take a 21-point lead into the final term after five unanswered goals in the third quarter.
The Dockers scored 3.4 to 0.1 from stoppages in the third term, winning the clearance count 11-10 and the contested possession count 33-26, but trailing the centre bounce clearance count 1-4.
They recorded 16-8 inside 50s at a scoring rate of 50 per cent to West Coast's 13 per cent.
FT: Giants hold on in thriller over Demons at the MCG
WHAT. A. MATCH.
The Giants are massively relieved after surviving a manic Melbourne comeback attempt in the last quarter.
GWS looked home and hosed when Toby Greene put them 27 points early in the fourth quarter.
However, with the game looking dead, Melbourne kicked the last four goals of the contest, including the final with a minute to go.
A massive, massive win for the Giants' hopes of finishing in the top four.
Neal-Bullen gives Demons a sniff
THIS GAME IS WELL AND TRULY ON!
Alex Neal-Bullen snaps it through to trim the margin to two points with 1.08 left on the clock.
Incredible comeback!
Two minutes left at the MCG
The Giants are managing this game well here.
Two minutes left on the clock and they're just keeping possession of the footy by switching the ball.
Melbourne has to man-up.
Three in a row for the Dees
GAME ON AT THE MCG!
Kozzie Pickett kicks Melbourne's third straight goal and the Giants lead is down to eight points with just over four minutes left.
Plenty of time fo the Dees.
Treacy puts Dockers ahead for the first time since the first quarter
The Big Cohuna is up and about as he nails a set shot to give Fremantle a one-point lead!
Two straight goals for Freo after the half-time break with Josh Treacy's goal coming after Sam Switowski struck earlier in the third quarter.
Two in a row for Melbourne as Chandler strikes
Here come the Dees!
Kade Chandler with his second goal of the evening and the Giants lead, which was 27 points a short time ago, is back down to 14.
A brilliant finish on the left on the run under pressure from Chandler.
Van Rooyen gives Demons some life
Jacob van Rooyen grabs the ball out of a ruck contest inside Melbourne's attacking 50 and snaps it through!
Some life for the Dees after they'd been rattled by that incredible Giants surge.
Still plenty of time for Melbourne to stage a comeback with 12 minutes left on the clock.
That goal breaks a run of five straight majors for GWS.
Greene continues incredible Giants blitz
The Orange Tsunami engulfing the MCG here in the final quarter!
Toby Greene the latest Giant to strike after forcing a turnover with a smother.
The Giants have kicked four goals in just over four minutes, meanwhile Melbourne has four kicks for the entire quarter.
Incredible stuff. GWS out to a 27-point lead, a 54-point turnaround from quarter time.
Second half underway in Perth
We're off and running in the third quarter of the Western Derby.
Can the Eagles keep up their manic pressure?
Another contested mark, another Hogan goal
Oh boy, Jesse Hogan is turning it on here at the MCG!
The Giants forward once again just outmuscles his marker, this time Tom McDonald, to take another brilliant contested mark inside 50.
Hogan makes no mistake on the set shot despite that awkward stuttering run-up.
He's now nailed 20 of his last 21 shots on goal.
The Giants all over the Demons here in the final term.
Danger zone for Demons after double-strike
Two goals in the space of about 30 seconds for GWS here at the MCG and the lead has ballooned out to 15 points.
Brent Daniels crumbs perfectly and snaps it through.
That's the Giants' sixth goal from stoppages tonight.
Hogan gives Giants a handy break
Another massive contested mark for Jesse Hogan, and he's starting to tear this one apart.
Hogan kicks his second goal in a row and his third of the night and the Giants are out to a nine-point lead.
What a season the former Demon is having!
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