If anyone needed reminding just why AFL is the greatest sport on earth all they have to do is watch the round 6 tie between Hawthorn and Carlton. The sides seemed inseparable and went in to the final quarter with just one point between them. It was here that Hawthorn seemed to have the game wrapped when Buddy Franklin and Stuart Dew scored five majors between them to give the Hawks a 25 point advantage. But Carlton never gave in and Judd, Murphy, Gibbs and co replied with three unanswered goals to get themselves within five points. In the dying seconds Brendon Fevola, who had missed an easy chance early in the first quarter, found himself thirty yards from goal with an opportunity to claim and amazing victory. At this point he had kicked an impressive 8 goals 3, but it just wasn’t to be. Fev left punters all around the country kicking whatever was closest to them as his shot dipped and swerved only to hit the post, giving Hawthorn a 106 to 102 victory.
Round 6 also saw St Kilda continue their 100% start to the season and cemented their status as Geelong’s main rivals for the 2009 flag. The Saints were extremely wasteful in the first quarter kicking 3 goals 7, but they soon clicked in to gear with Nick Dal Santo playing a vital role in what was his 150th game. Nick Riewoldt continued his amazing season by scoring another 4 goals as he terrorised the Doggies defence all afternoon and proved that he could be a good outside bet for the Brownlow. The 104 to 76 defeat is the Bulldogs third in a row, but they definitely showed enough in this game to not be counted out just yet.
Garry Ablett went in to Geelong’s match against the Demons as the hottest Brownlow favourite since betting was allowed on the medal. So punters all over the country were left crying in to their meat pies when the star limped from the field with a suspected groin injury. Ablett will miss at least three weeks of action confirming many people’s fears and lengthening his Brownlow odds ever so slightly. The injury to Ablett was the only downside to another dominant Cats display. Paul Chapman, Jimmy Bartel and Joel Selwood all racked up over 30 possessions in the 111 to 68 win at the MCG. The win continues Geelong’s 100% start to the season. But they can only slot in to second place behind St Kilda, while another loss sees the Demons in a world of trouble at the bottom of the ladder.
Elsewhere in Round 6. Collingwood bounced back from last week’s disappointing defeat against Essendon, defeating North Melbourne 127 to 75. The Pies are looking good and could be a good bet to hand St Kilda their first defeat of the season in round 7.
Dustin Fletcher’s 300th game for the Bombers will definitely be one he would rather forget. After limping off with a hair line fracture in his leg, he then had to watch Brisbane Lions Captain Jonathan Brown lead his side to a 43 point win. After round 6 both sides have a patchy 3 and 3 record with the Lions sitting 9th and Essendon 10th.
The Tigers tried to back up their round 5 win over North Melbourne with a good performance against Sydney. They showed a lot of spirit coming back from 27 points down at half time to get within 6 points in the final quarter, only to fall away losing by just 15 points.
West Coast Vs Freemantle was the first of two derbies in round 6. West coast led at half time, but wasteful kicking saw them finish on 9.20.74 while Freemantle and Captain Matthew Pavlich playing his 200th game got over the line scoring 13.9.87.
Port Adelaide totally dominated their local rivals in the other round 6 derby. Warren Tredrea, Daniel Motlop and Robbie Gray all scored three goals a piece to seal a 105 to 79 victory over the Crows.
on Ground performances on Anzac Day.
Scott Pendlebury [COLL] 10.00
