The goals Hawthorn scored running the ball out of their defensive 50 told the story of the night. Firstly, Port Adelaide beat them around the ball and scunged – yes, scunged – the ball inside 50, but they could not mark it or keep it in there. Hawthorn were able to run the ball out with clean possession.
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Jack Scrimshaw was excellent behind the ball; his delivery off half-back and deep running is creative. Changkuoth Jiath’s athletic interceptions created turnovers and his run disrupted the Power. Dylan Moore linked up with hard running up and down the field as a high forward.
Hawthorn are still young, but their kids – Connor MacDonald, Denver Grainger-Barras and Josh Ward – all held their own. Ned Reeves continues to grow, at least in confidence. He is seven feet tall, after all.
Integrity issues
The integrity of the season demanded games go ahead, the AFL said. Games will be played when they are scheduled no matter how many players are sidelined with COVID-19.
Two rounds in, those words have been tested. The integrity of the season has been undermined by that determination that games go ahead. North Melbourne v West Coast was more like North Melbourne v the WAFL.
OK, West Coast had enough good players to be competitive, but that was against last year’s wooden spoon team. The league was lucky the Eagles were not drawn to play Melbourne. Next week the Eagles have a derby. The AFL will be hoping their players recover as much as coach Adam Simpson does.
Bombers’ Neale deal
Essendon delivered an immediate first quarter response to last week’s poor effort but could not sustain it.
Lachie Neale had a field day against Essendon in round two – just like he so often does against the Bombers.Credit:AFL Photos
But why the Bombers chose to socially distance from the opposition’s most damaging midfielder remains a mystery.
Lachie Neale had amassed 2, 3 and 3 Brownlow votes in his past three games against the Bombers and then had a picnic against them on Saturday night – 41 touches, 12 clearances and two goals.
Essendon don’t like to tag. Last week it was Paddy Dangerfield running out of the front of the square unchecked who tore them apart. Some coaches don’t like taking one player out of a system to run with one opposition player but when that player is torching you , surely you have to consider putting more work into him.
Swans coach John Longmire sent Callum Mills to Dangerfield on Friday night and it was a commanding performance. Dangerfield had one touch for the first term. That system held up pretty well.
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Tigers are Giant killers
Some games define teams and clubs. This one did for both Richmond and GWS. No Dustin Martin, Dylan Grimes, Dion Prestia, Jack Riewoldt, Nick Vlastuin or Kane Lambert. And they won.
Yes, the Giants missed Toby Greene and Jacob Hopper, and lost Phil Davis during the match, but this was as much a victory of system over talent. Richmond folded back on their system of pressure and territory against a Giants team that played without adventure or desire to pressure and tackle the ball forward.
Noah Balta is proving a canny shift forward, especially with Josh Gibcus emerging behind the ball. The two rucks in tandem worked over poor Matt Flynn. The Giants’ attempt to use Tom Greene as an under-sized second ruck didn’t work.
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Four Points: Mitchell’s message to Hawks, AFL integrity issues, the Dons’ deal with Neale
Source: Philippines Alive
