THEY SAID IT #1: “It has been an unbelievable success .. an amazing weekend” – AFL chief Gillon McLachlan lauds the inaugural Gather Round.
THEY SAID IT #2: “Treat the kid with some respect. And I tell you what, some people who put pressure on kids in this game need to have a good hard look at themselves” – an offended Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley on the booing of 19-year-old Jason Horne-Francis.
PLAYER OF THE ROUND: There have been some spectacular candidates, together with Adelaide captain Jordan Dawson and Brisbane star Lachie Neale. But Collingwood younger gun Nick Daicos continues to shine, with a career-best 42 possessions within the win over St Kilda. He racked up eight inside 50s and eight rebound 50s.
THE MOMENTS: Harry Himmelberg, you star. The GWS key ahead took a hovering mark to place them again in entrance with a few minutes left on Sunday at Norwood Oval. He then went to the opposite finish of the bottom and Hawthorn’s Jarman Impey had a booming shot at purpose within the final minute. Himmelberg was on the purpose line and, after a rating evaluation, it was dominated he had saved the purpose by touching the ball because it went by way of.
TALKING POINT – Off-field. The resounding success of the inaugural Gather Round experiment, which can proceed in Adelaide for the following three years. Nine video games with sell-out crowds, the town of Adelaide stories file lodging charges, hospitality basks in roaring commerce, and a buzz within the South Australian capital the premier, Peter Malinauskas, says hasn’t been felt since internet hosting the final Formula One Grand Prix within the metropolis in 1985.
TALKING POINT – On-field. Essendon’s resurgence continues with a fourth win, taking the key scalp of Melbourne; a equally revitalised Adelaide Crows topple the beforehand unbeaten Carlton; Fremantle and Port Adelaide log gutsy comeback wins; Norwood Oval rocks as GWS beat Hawthorn in a thriller; and Collingwood and St Kilda’s unbeaten begin to the season.
STATS THAT MATTER: Gather Round attracted 204,155 followers throughout the 9 video games.
TRIBUNAL WATCH: Essendon captain Zach Merrett is the most recent participant suspended for a harmful sort out, rubbed out for one match. GWS star Tom Green may even be scrutinised for dumping Hawthorn’s Josh Ward in a sort out.
INJURIES: A Saad (Carl, hamstring), M McGovern (Carl, calf), J Riewoldt (Rich, reduce head), J Amartey (Syd, hamstring), C Spargo (Melb, concussion), J Bruce (WB, ribs), J Simpkin (NM, damaged hand), T Stengle (Geel, arm), D McStay (Coll, finger), C Wingard (Haw, lacerated tongue).
WHAT’S NEXT: Regular service resumes in a spherical unfold throughout the nation highlighted by a grand closing rematch between Geelong and Sydney on Saturday night time and the standard Anzac Day fixture between Collingwood and Essendon. Fremantle open the spherical in opposition to the Western Bulldogs on Friday night time, Carlton meet St Kilda in one other juicy match-up, Port Adelaide host West Coast, GWS play Brisbane, Hawthorn host rejuvenated Adelaide in Tasmania, Gold Coast meet North Melbourne whereas Melbourne play struggling Richmond on the eve of Anzac Day.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
