WHAT HAPPENED IN ROUND 14 OF THE AFL
THEY SAID IT: “It’s rare that I confront them and raise my voice … I’m a rational person.” Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge ripped into his players after their agonising two-point loss to North Melbourne.
STAT THAT MATTERS: As always, bad kicking is bad football. West Coast had more scoring shots than Essendon in their upset Thursday night loss, but kicked a wasteful 6.16. The Bulldogs also had three more scoring shots than the Kangaroos.
MAN OF THE ROUND: That’s how you mark a four-year contract extension. Three days after ending speculation about his AFL future, Port Adelaide star Ollie Wines shone with 29 disposals and eight clearances in their big Friday night home win over Melbourne.
KEY MOMENTS: Jack Ziebell’s goal with seconds left gave North their tight win. But it also said plenty about Port’s win that they closed out their game with four successive contested marks, from one end of Adelaide Oval to the other.
TALKING POINTS: Adelaide had some badly-needed good news on Sunday, with Tom Lynch re-signing for three years. But the previous day, they tried to “put out the trash” by holding a 3pm media briefing to announce the end of the relationship with Collective Mind. The briefing raised the hackles of the media, amid accusations there remain more questions than answers about Adelaide’s controversial pre-season camp.
TRIBUNAL WATCH: GWS star Jeremy Clarkson can expect a direct referral to the tribunal for his big hit on Brisbane defender Harris Andrews in a marking contest. Andrews spent Saturday night in hospital and Cameron faces a four-game ban, at least.
KEY INJURIES: Mason Redman (Ess, ankle) Neville Jetta (Melb, head) Tom McDonald (Melb, ribs) Shaun Burgoyne (Haw, hamstring) Sam Day (GC, shoulder) Harris Andrews (Bris, concussion) Darcy Gardiner (Bris, ankle) Jack Trengove (WB, ankle) Billy Hartung (NM, hamstring) Lachie Plowman (Carl, knee) Matthew Kreuzer (Carl, ankle) Levi Casboult (Carl, broken finger).
WHAT’S NEXT: The Giants host Hawthorn on Saturday night in a massive clash, with the two teams just outside the top eight. Adelaide must upset West Coast in Perth to stay in the finals hunt. Likewise, in-form Essendon are two games plus percentage behind eighth-placed North Melbourne and they play on Sunday. Round 15 opens on Thursday night when top side Richmond host second-placed Sydney at Etihad Stadium.
