March 06, 2010

Western Bulldogs vs Port Adelaide. NAB CUP semi final...

A SEVENTH NAB cup game decided by 14 points or less took place tonight, between a rampant Bulldogs outfit and a young and surprising Port Adelaide side. It was a game of tough contests aplenty, where the umpires put the whistles down and both sides put in an input of 164 tackles.
It all started well for Port. The Dogs won the toss but the Power won the opening battle. Gray snapped one through to put them on the board in an instant, while Tredrea converted a set shot from 50 in style. Barry Hall, last week’s revelation, took his first of nine marks but dragged the set shot at goal from 30 violently to the left. A few minutes of hard, ragged footy followed, with Brodie Moles once again showing his worth to the team. The Dogs lifted, but Hill and Murphy just couldn’t convert goals. Cloke almost kicked a remarkable one from the throw in, which just clipped the post. He followed it up by marking the kick in, and bending it from left to right magnificently for the first goal in what seemed like an eternity. Port had the edge; the Dogs didn’t have the goals. It came though, just before the quarter time break.  An indiscretion from the Port Adelaide Captain saw Griffen drill home a nine-pointer from 25 metres out. The siren signalled the end to a good first term, the Dogs trailing 1.0.3 (12) to 0.3.3 (21).
The Dogs started the second term in style, a long kick inside 50 from Griffen to Hall on the lead, and a hand pass to Cooney, a clumsy one at that, for a goal. At the other end, a dubious free kick was given against Lake for a push, which saw impressive youngster Daniel Stewart drill a goal from a tough angle. Tom Williams kicked it out on the full in the back pocket, which saw Paul Stewart casually walk around and snap a goal to put the away team 16 points in the clear. It didn’t look good for the Dogs at this stage; it could’ve had something to do with leaving Hargrave and Higgins in blue vests on the pine. Behinds from Griffen and Hall followed before Hahn marked beautifully and sent it straight through the middle. The Dogs kept going. Minson sent the ball from half forward to a two on one in the pocket. Hill was the only Bulldog; he took the mark fabulously, and gave it off to Griffen who kicked the goal. It was unselfish acts galore tonight. Gray snapped a goal against the flow of play for the Power, only to be answered immediately by a rampant Akermanis on the run, who had a great night, 17 possessions, 11 tackles and a goal. The quarter ended with a goal on the siren to Hall, his first, putting the Dogs seven points ahead. 1.5.8 (47) to 0.6.4 (40).
A couple of missed opportunities early in the third came back to the haunt them when Pearce kicked a goal from outside 50, levelling the scores. Murphy evaded two tacklers before sending a long ball down the throat of Higgins. This was exciting stuff. Higgins, who had just come on the ground along with Hargrave, kicked the goal, and it was back to a goal the difference. Hall snaps a goal from a Chaplin out on the full. But, not for the first time of the night, the tide turned. Daniel Stewart put home two successive goals for Port, and newcomer Mitch Banner put the boys from Alberton in the lead. Ward delivered to Hall at the other end, who kicked a much needed third goal just before the buzzer. At three quarter time both sides were deadlocked, 1.8.13 (70) to 1.9.7 (70). It was hard to pick a winner from here.
Ebert threaded one home for the Power, before Big Bad Barry replied, kicking his fourth. He marked in the forward line again, could’ve kicked a fifth, but kicked across to Moles who guided it through to put the Doggies in front. Neither side could manage a goal for a while, but it appeared that the Bulldogs had the psychological edge. Eight points up, the Bulldogs fumbled horribly in defence, gifting a goal to (Former Lion) Harding on the run. There were four minutes left on the clock. Port pressed inside their attacking zone, and a brilliant tap from Brogan to Harding saw a second goal from him in a minute, and more importantly, a Port Adelaide lead. But it was Harding who dragged the ball underneath him in the centre, which gave the Dogs a chance to clear. Higgins marked at half forward, before sending it to the tip of the square. Hall flew in the pack, clutching the mark wonderfully, before handing it over (for the third time tonight) to Lake who kicked the clincher. That was it. The Dogs won.
Barry Hall was the star; he took nine marks, kicked four goals but could’ve easily kicked seven or eight. Despite this, I still think the Power deserved the victory. Nevertheless, you can’t help but feel gratitude towards the Western Bulldogs, who are competing for their first piece of silverware since 1970 next Saturday night.

Western Bulldogs 1.0.3 1.5.8 1.8.13 1.11.17 (92)
Port Adelaide 0.3.3 0.6.4 1.9.7 1.12.8 (89)

SUPER GOALS – Western Bulldogs: Griffen. Port Adelaide: Pearce

GOALS – Western Bulldogs: Hall 4, Griffen, Hahn, Cooney, Moles, Akermanis, Lake, Higgins. Port Adelaide: D Stewart 3, Gray 2, Harding 2, Ebert, Banner, Cloke, P Stewart, Tredrea.

BEST – Western Bulldogs: Hall, Griffen, Hill, Cross, Cooney, Harbrow, Lake, Morris, Akermanis. Port Adelaide: Boak, Cassisi, K Cornes, C Cornes, Pearce, D Stewart, Gray.
My Votes: 3. Barry Hall (WB), 2. Travis Boak (PA), 1. Ryan Griffen (WB).

Umpires: Donlon, Rosebury, Stevic.          
Crowd: 10,531 at Etihad Stadium.

• Barry Hall was the star. Photo by Michael Willson. The Slattery Media Group

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