AFL wrap: Injury concerns for Port, Crows
Port Adelaide and Adelaide will assess key players this week, as victories by both local teams resulted in some banged-up stars.
Crows ruckman Sam Jacobs sustained a corked hip in yesterday’s home win against Gold Coast, but his presence will be very much needed next week against Fremantle giant Aaron Sandilands.
Port says it will assess Chad Wingard (mild concussion) and captain Travis Boak (rolled ankle) mid-week following Saturday’s closer-than-expected game in Alice Springs against the rapidly improving Melbourne Demons.
After a round in which the Power drew clear at the top of the table, and the Crows kept in touch with the eight, two of last year’s finalists look shot.
Richmond and Carlton, who faced off in an elimination final in 2013, both suffered miserable round-11 losses and remain locked outside the top eight.
The Tigers were steamrolled by Essendon on Saturday night in a performance so poor it had coach Damien Hardwick questioning the club’s personnel.
“We’re going to have to find some players who are willing to play the Richmond way, because at the moment we’re a long way short,” Hardwick told radio station 3AW the day after the 50-point loss.
Richmond are 3-7 and 13th on the ladder, one spot below Carlton who have tallied four wins from their 10 matches.
The Blues’ inability to defeat bottom-placed Brisbane the week after downing Adelaide is an example of the sort of stark inconsistency that is not seen by teams occupying the top half of the table.
The Lions kicked the final four goals of the game to win 14.14 (98) to 13.13 (91) at the Gabba on Saturday night.
“We built some reasonable momentum up over the past four or five weeks,” defender Michael Jamison told the Nine Network.
“To lose that one, honestly it probably just shows where we’re at as a club.
“I don’t think we’ve earned the right to think about things in the long term (like finals).”
Port Adelaide skipped two games clear atop the ladder after rallying late to beat Melbourne by 20 points in Alice Springs on Saturday.
But despite having lost only once this season, the Power were unable to earn the mantle of premiership favourites after their seventh straight win.
That title was bestowed on Sydney at the SCG on Thursday night when they ripped Geelong apart by 110 points.
The Swans’ pressure was relentless and they can create more of a buffer over Gold Coast when they tackle the Suns next Sunday at Metricon Stadium.
Hawthorn (second), Sydney (third), Collingwood (fourth), Gold Coast (fifth) and Geelong (sixth) all have 7-3 records as they jostle for a double chance in the finals.
The Magpies mauled St Kilda by 86 points on Friday night, while the Suns suffered a 32-point defeat to the Crows at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
In Sunday’s other fixtures, Fremantle posted a 38-point win over Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium, while the Hawks flirted with disaster against GWS before prevailing by seven points.
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North Melbourne consolidated their place in the top eight with an upset 38-point win over West Coast in Perth.
SNAPSHOT: AFL ROUND ELEVEN
THEY SAID IT: “We’re a very mediocre football side,” Richmond coach DAMIEN HARDWICK, after delivering a fierce spray to his players in response to arguably their worst performance of the season.
STATS THAT MATTER: Port Adelaide went two games clear atop their ladder with a seventh straight win. The most recent time the club achieved such a streak was in their 2004 premiership season.
MAN OF THE ROUND: Kurt Tippett and Lance Franklin. Take your pick of Sydney’s classy cashed-up forwards who kicked a combined 9.6 as the Swans inflicted Geelong’s biggest loss in 24 years.
KEY MOMENT: Carlton’s Chris Yarran flies for a mark in the goal square, his legs are yanked by Brisbane veteran Jonathan Brown. Josh Green gathers the crumbs and kicks the sealer for the Lions’ first win in Australia this year. How costly will it be for the Blues?
TALKING POINT: The 34,855 that watched Collingwood crush St Kilda represented the lowest crowd for a game involving the Magpies and another Victorian club on Friday night.
TRIBUNAL WATCH: Essendon’s Heath Hocking clattered into Richmond youngster Ben Lennon’s head when the ball was in dispute, while bumps by Collingwood midfielder Steele Sidebottom and Sydney icon Adam Goodes will also be assessed. GWS key forward Jeremy Cameron was reported for rough conduct when he crashed into Jarryd Roughead, while Fremantle’s Hayden Ballantyne appeared to trip Shaun Higgins by hand.
KEY INJURIES: A Mackie (Geel, back), N Maxwell (Coll, calf), M Weller (StK, concussion), L Delaney (StK, hip), T Boak (Port, ankle), C Wingard (Port, concussion), T West (Bris, knee), D Ellard (Carl, achilles), S Jacobs (Adel, groin), T McKenzie (GC, shoulder),
UNDER PRESSURE: Many pundits and Richmond fans had already written off hopes of finals, but such a loss can only result in a lot of scrutiny.
FULL RESULTS AND LADDER
SYDNEY 4.4 8.9 14.11 22.16 (148)
GEELONG 0.3 1.3 2.4 5.8 (38)
Goals: Sydney: K Tippett 5 L Franklin 4 A Goodes 3 D Hannebery 2 K Jack 2 T Derickx 2 B McGlynn C Bird J Lloyd L Jetta. Geelong: T Hawkins 3 D Simpson S Johnson.
Best: Sydney: N Malceski C Bird R Shaw B McGlynn K Tippett K Jack. Geelong: J Selwood M Blicavs J Bartel M Stokes S Johnson M Duncan.
Injuries: Sydney: D Rampe (knee). Geelong: A Mackie (back).
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Ben Ryan, Mathew Nicholls, Leigh Fisher.
Official Crowd: 37,355 at SCG.
COLLINGWOOD 7.2 10.5 14.8 21.14 (140)
ST KILDA 3.2 6.2 8.5 8.6 (54)
Goals: Collingwood: T Cloke 5 A Fasolo 4 J Elliott 4 J Thomas 3 J White 2 D Beams J Blair J Witts. St Kilda: N Riewoldt 3 A Siposs F Ray J Steven L Dunstan T Milera.
Best: Collingwood: D Beams T Cloke J Thomas S Pendlebury J Elliott J White. St Kilda: L Montagna J Newnes N Riewoldt L Hayes J Steven.
Injuries: Collingwood: J White (finger) N Maxwell (calf) B Grundy (back) replaced in selected side by J Thomas, D Swan (heel) replaced in selected side by P Seedsman. St Kilda: L Delaney (hip) M Weller (concussion).
Reports: Collingwood: S Sidebottom (Collingwood) for engaging in rough conduct against M Weller (St Kilda) in the first quarter. St Kilda: Nil.
Umpires: Chris Donlon, Matt Stevic, Jason Armstrong.
Official Crowd: 34,855 at Etihad Stadium.
PORT ADELAIDE 5.4 8.4 10.9 14.11 (95)
MELBOURNE 2.2 7.4 10.5 11.9 (75)
Goals: Port Adelaide: J Schulz 2 J Westhoff 2 R Gray 2 A Young Brad Ebert J Neade J Polec K Mitchell M White O Wines T Boak. Melbourne: C Pedersen 2 C Salem 2 D Tyson 2 J Frawley 2 R Bail 2 M Gawn.
Best: Port Adelaide: M Broadbent T Boak K Cornes O Wines K Mitchell J Hombsch. Melbourne: D Tyson B Vince J Frawley J Howe C Pedersen J Viney.
Injuries: Port Adelaide: C Wingard (concussion) T Boak (ankle). Melbourne: Nil.
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Justin Schmitt, Jeff Dalgleish, Nicholas Foot.
Venue: Traeger Park.
BRISBANE LIONS 5.5 7.8 10.10 14.14 (98)
CARLTON 1.1 7.4 11.9 13.13 (91)
Goals: Brisbane Lions: J Brown 3 D Merrett 2 D Zorko 2 J Green 2 C Beams J Paine J Redden M Paparone Z O’Brien. Carlton: J Garlett 3 L Henderson 3 A Everitt D Ellard J Waite M Murphy S Docherty T Menzel Z Tuohy.
Best: Brisbane Lions: T Rockliff J Redden D Zorko J Patfull J Adcock J Brown. Carlton: R Warnock M Murphy S Docherty B McLean L Henderson.
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Injuries: Brisbane Lions: T West (knee). Carlton: D Ellard (achilles).
Reports: Brisbane Lions: Nil. Carlton: C Yarran (Carlton) reported in fourth quarter for striking P Hanley (Brisbane).
Umpires: Chris Kamolins, Brett Rosebury, David Harris.
Venue: Gabba.
ESSENDON 4.4 9.8 11.11 15.14 (104)
RICHMOND 0.1 3.5 3.8 7.12 (54)
Goals: Essendon: B Howlett 5 J Daniher 3 Z Merrett 2 D Fletcher D Heppell M Hibberd P Chapman T Bellchambers. Richmond: J Riewoldt 3 D Martin 2 S Edwards T Cotchin.
Best: Essendon: B Goddard B Howlett J Watson J Carlisle D Fletcher M Hibberd H Hocking D Zaharakis. Richmond: B Ellis D Martin T Cotchin.
Injuries: Essendon: C Dempsey (ankle) M Hurley (back) replaced in selected side by J Daniher. Richmond: D Jackson (hip).
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Scott Jeffery, Shane McInerney, Heath Ryan.
Official Crowd: 74,664 at MCG.
ADELAIDE 5.2 9.7 12.9 16.13 (109)
GOLD COAST 5.1 8.3 11.6 11.11 (77)
Goals: Adelaide: T Walker 5 E Betts 2 J Jenkins 2 B Smith D Mackay J Lyons J Podsiadly M Jaensch R Douglas R Laird. Gold Coast: C Dixon 2 D Prestia 2 D Swallow 2 G Ablett 2 A Hall B Matera K Kolodjashnij.
Best: Adelaide: T Walker B Smith M Jaensch E Betts J Podsiadly S Thompson P Dangerfield. Gold Coast: D Swallow D Prestia C Dixon J Harbrow G Ablett S May.
Injuries: Adelaide: C Cameron (leg) S Jacobs (hip). Gold Coast: D Stanley (shoulder) T McKenzie (shoulder).
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Jacob Mollison, Dean Margetts, Tristan Burgess.
Official Crowd: 49,069 at Adelaide Oval.
FREMANTLE 4.2 8.3 9.6 13.11 (89)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 1.4 2.8 5.12 6.15 (51)
Goals: Fremantle: S Hill 4 H Ballantyne 3 M Pavlich 2 A Sandilands N Suban P Duffield R Crowley. Western Bulldogs: K Stevens 2 L Dahlhaus N Hrovat S Crameri T Williams.
Best: Fremantle: S Hill R Crowley Z Clarke M Barlow L Neale M Johnson. Western Bulldogs: T Liberatore R Murphy M Wallis A Cooney W Minson.
Injuries: Fremantle: Nil. Western Bulldogs: M Boyd (calf) replaced in selected side by C Howard.
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Sam Hay, Ray Chamberlain, Andrew Mitchell.
Official Crowd: 14,913 at Etihad Stadium.
HAWTHORN 3.2 7.5 11.6 14.10 (94)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 4.2 6.4 11.5 13.9 (87)
Goals: Hawthorn: I Smith 4 J Gunston 4 J Roughead 2 L Breust 2 B Sewell W Langford. Greater Western Sydney: D Smith 4 J Patton 2 R Palmer 2 W Hoskin-Elliott 2 A Treloar D Shiel J Cameron.
Best: Hawthorn: I Smith A Litherland W Langford J Simpkin L Shiels B Sewell J Gunston. Greater Western Sydney: L Whitfield C Ward A Treloar D Smith T Scully W Hoskin-Elliott.
Injuries: Hawthorn: D Hale (quad) J Lewis (adductor) replaced in selected side by W Langford. Greater Western Sydney: J Cameron (arm).
Reports: Hawthorn: Nil. Greater Western Sydney: J Cameron for rough conduct on J Roughead in the second quarter.
Umpires: Simon Meredith, Matthew Leppard, Robert O’Gorman.
Official Crowd: 17,904 at MCG.
NORTH MELBOURNE 4.0 6.6 10.9 12.10 (82)
WEST COAST 3.3 3.4 4.6 6.8 (44)
Goals: North Melbourne: A Black 2 D Petrie 2 L Adams 2 A Swallow B Cunnington B Harvey L Anthony L Thomas S Atley. West Coast: M LeCras 2 M Priddis 2 J Cripps N Naitanui.
Best: North Melbourne: N Dal Santo B Cunnington L Greenwood R Bastinac L Adams S Thompson B Harvey. West Coast: M Priddis E MacKenzie N Naitanui M LeCras S Hurn.
Injuries: North Melbourne: L Thomas (hamstring). West Coast: X Ellis (corked leg).
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Robert Findlay, Luke Farmer, Brendan Hosking.
Official Crowd: 35,914 at Patersons Stadium.
LADDER AFTER ROUND 11
P W L D For Agst PC Pts
Port Adelaide 10 9 1 – 1094 760 144.0 36
Hawthorn 10 7 3 – 1162 787 147.6 28
Sydney 10 7 3 – 971 697 139.3 28
Collingwood 10 7 3 – 905 763 118.6 28
Gold Coast 10 7 3 – 950 884 107.5 28
Geelong 10 7 3 – 873 862 101.3 28
Fremantle 10 6 4 – 865 711 121.7 24
N Melbourne 10 6 4 – 838 758 110.6 24
Adelaide 10 5 5 – 918 868 105.8 20
Essendon 10 5 5 – 814 774 105.2 20
West Coast 10 4 6 – 904 767 117.9 16
Carlton 10 4 6 – 842 964 87.3 16
Richmond 10 3 7 – 853 881 96.8 12
W. Bulldogs 10 3 7 – 796 973 81.8 12
Melbourne 10 3 7 – 644 818 78.7 12
St Kilda 10 3 7 – 671 1046 64.2 12
GWS 10 2 8 – 817 1158 70.6 8
Brisbane Lions 10 2 8 – 648 1094 59.2 8
LEADING GOALKICKERS
31: J Riewoldt (Richmond) 3
29: L Breust (Hawthorn) 2
28: J Schulz (Pt Adel) 2, T Hawkins (Geelong) 3
27: N Riewoldt (St Kilda) 3
26: J Gunston (Hawthorn) 4
25: J Kennedy (West Coast) 0
23: J Elliott (Coll) 4, L Franklin (Sydney) 4
22: T Lynch (Gold Coast) 0, J Roughead (Hawthorn) 2
– with AAP
