THEY SAID IT: “We need to get our hands dirty, and we didn’t at all. There’s no easy ball, particularly on a Saturday night in south-east Queensland, in those conditions.” – Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew bemoaned his aspect’s lack of combat across the contest in a 49-point hiding from Sydney.
PLAYER OF THE ROUND: Jason Horne-Francis. After controversially strolling out of North Melbourne, the previous No.1 draft choose made a shocking debut for Port Adelaide with 25 disposals, 10 inside-50s, 11 rating involvements and a aim in a 54-point win over Brisbane.
THE MOMENT: Richmond spearhead Tom Lynch stood tallest to pull in a contested mark and kicked the aim that levelled the scores in Thursday evening’s season opener with lower than 30 seconds left on the clock. Carlton launched a last-gasp ahead thrust from the subsequent centre bounce however new recruit Blake Acres dropped a mark that might’ve given him a shot at aim from simply exterior 50m after the siren. The Tigers and Blues needed to accept a share of the factors.
TALKING POINT: The state of the MCG turf got here below hearth from unimpressed Geelong coach Chris Scott, who noticed key pair Tom Stewart and Sam De Koning go away the sphere with knee accidents through the loss to Collingwood. De Koning returned, however Stewart was substituted out of the sport. About half the MCG enjoying floor was changed this month following two Ed Sheeran live shows and Scott stated the bottom was “compromised”, branding the state of affairs an “own goal” for the well-known venue. Also, all 4 “new” coaches – debutant Adam Kingsley (GWS), plus Alastair Clarkson (North), Brad Scott (Essendon) and Ross Lyon (St Kilda) have been round-one winners.
STATS THAT MATTER: No.3 draft choose Harry Sheezel set North Melbourne followers’ tongues wagging with a scintillating efficiency, gathering 34 disposals throughout half-back. The tally was the third-highest of any participant on debut in AFL/VFL historical past, behind St Kilda’s Dean Greig (39, 1991) and Geelong’s Greg Williams (38, 1984).
TRIBUNAL WATCH: Three head-high bumps attracted match assessment officer scrutiny at a time when concussion is a sizzling matter in skilled sport. Sydney famous person Lance Franklin and Melbourne livewire Kysaiah Pickett have been handed one-match and two-match bans respectively for his or her hits on Gold Coast’s Sam Collins and the Bulldogs’ Bailey Smith. Adelaide ahead Shane McAdam might discover himself in much more bother after a brutal bump on GWS opponent Jacob Wehr on Sunday.
INJURIES: J Howe (Coll, damaged arm), T Adams (Coll, foot), T Stewart (Geel, knee), S De Koning (Geel, knee), T Stengle (Geel, shoulder), T Xerri (NM, ankle), L Jones (WB, neck), H Perryman (GWS, hamstring), L Whitfield (GWS, concussion), J Kelly (GWS, concussion).
WHAT’S NEXT: A pair of heavyweight clashes kick off spherical two as Carlton meet Geelong (Thursday) and Brisbane host Melbourne (Friday), with three of these 4 flag contenders nonetheless trying to find their first wins of the season. Collingwood face Port Adelaide in a mouth-watering contest, whereas the Western Bulldogs meet St Kilda at Marvel Stadium. Sydney can be out to proceed their robust early type at dwelling in opposition to Hawthorn.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
