Two rounds into the byes and how are we finding it?

Me, Im very happy with how I balanced my team around it, but am finding it extremely frustrating that each injury, and late withdrawal, is an instant donut. Just seems to bring a little too much luck to the equation for mine.

Anyways, before I move onto the review, I just wanted to note something about the results-

Excluding the easybeats (sorry GWS amd Brisbane), the winners of every game this week, scored themselves a bye last week- in particular, that Adelaide/Saints game- just cant help but wonder how it would have gone had last weeks bye teams played each other this week, rather than giving one side a significant advantage leading into the game.

But hey, thats just me perhaps- the review is over the break.

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West Coast vs Carlton

Result: West Coast by 10, 10.19.79 to 10.9.69

Yep, this was meant to be the first of many games this weekend where I could tutt and jump on my usual bandwagon of teams losing simply because they couldnt kick straight.

But no, out of the 5 games this week in which the team with the most scoring shots was horribly inaccurate, they all ended up getting over the line.

This game was no exception, with West Coast registering a 10 behind win.

Naitanui was an utter gun. 25 disposals, 185SC and pretty much a lock in my squad next year Im thinking. The man is an utter freak and a beast and you just cant help but love to see him out of the field. I want to enjoy that, without worrying about my opponent carrying him!

His partner in crime, Cox did pretty well for himself with a 14 touch 132SC, while Selwood split the middle with a very tidy 33 disposals and 155SC, all the while completely toweling up the Juddmeister.

Priddis rewarded those coaches who jumped on him this week, picking up 30 touches (23 handballs) and a 131SC.

For the Blues, they got two of their core back this week in Carrazzo and Scotland. The Former top scoring with 28 touches and a 132SC, with the latter in second place with a 113SC off 26 tpuches.

The latter however also broke plenty of hearts with his "4 week injury" lasting just a single round. For that reason, hes going in the villian column this week.

The other one to make the villians list, on his own merit, was C. Judd. Just 12 touches, 3 brownlow votes and an abysmal 47SC as Selwood saw him become completely ineffectual.

Heroes: Naitanui, Selwood, Cox, Priddis, Carrazzo
Villians: Judd, Scotland


Adelaide vs St. Kilda

Result: Adelaide by 4, 17.13.115 to 16.15.111

This was the only close game that wasnt left close purely because of horrible kicking from the winners side. But that said, I did think that the 4 point margin (10 when the siren went), was never overly under threat, with the Crows holding the lead for the Crows holding the lead the entire game.

But, Thunda, gotta say mate, it was an honorable loss and your blokes never let up...

Dal Santo top scored for the Saints with 34 disposals and a 130SC, despite having a little bit of a scare early in the game. Montagna managed a 123SC of 29 touches, in one of his better games for the year I thought.

But I wouldnt really write home about much more- Goddard struggled to get into the game, with just 16 touches and a 67SC, while Riewoldt, after leaving the game early with a sore knee of somekind, could only manage a 59SC.

That said though, Riewoldt was seen limping during training before the game, so Im shocked that they actually risked him- then continued to risk him when it flared up. Still, I guess they know what they are doing right? And he does have the week off this week.

A big welcome back to Jacobs, knocking up a monster 136SC after a few weeks in struggle town- off the back of 45 hitouts.

Thompson and Tippett both managed a 126SC, the former off 39 touches, the latter from his 5.3

Rookie Sam Shaw broke his bubble with a very tidy 71SC off 14 touches, so you should be very happy with yourself if I brought the boy in this week.

Heroes: NDS, Jacobs, Thompson, Tippett, Shaw
Villians: Goddard, Riewoldt


GWS vs Richmond

Result: Richmond by 12, 12.2.86 to 11.20.74

Seriously, 18 more behinds than the opposition. 18! Those Tigers got let off a little this week I reckon, and hopefully will come back, after the break, with their kicking boots on!

Top scoring for the game was none other than Ivan the Mullet. Again. 16 touches, 34 hitouts and a very very nice 146SC.

Tuck wasnt far behind though, his 29 enough for a 142SC. Deledio bounced back from last week, 30 touches and a 132SC was very nice.

Of course, there wasnt enough pie for all the Tigers, with Cotchin and Martin both just missing the ton on 99SC

With such dominance around the ground, there were always going to be some hurt- particularly in the backline, and particularly to captain Chris Newman. Could only touch the ball 9 times, though it did make him a 60SC.

For the Giants, youd be happy if you held onto Greene, Cameron or Bugg, scoring 106SC, 105SC and 90SC respectively.

A lot of 70s around the place, and a pretty weak 33 from Devon Smith.

However, it was Treloars 7SC, from a full game of footy, which has gotten me to overlook my no rookies on the villian list rule. Sorry champ- we expected better!!

Heroes: Maric, Tuck, Deledio, Greene, Cameron, Bugg
Villians: Newman, Treloar


Gold Coast vs North Melbourne

Result: North by 7, 11.21.87 to 12.8.80

So many behinds as the Gold Coast nearly snagged their first win of the year- though I reckon it was the three they closed out the match with, they would have rued the most had Captain Gaz managed to sneak in a 5th goal on the death.

And it would have been a massive score for the little master- 42 disposals and 4 goals got him a 188SC. Imagine if hed kicked the sealer! It would have been record threatening!

Bennell did nicely for himself, really coming into his own this year with a 127SC off 27 touches.

Horsely bounced back from his week off, picking up a nice 85SC, while Sexton save a few people a donut, being a late in for Brown- sadly, he could only manage a 30SC playing as the sub.

For the Roos, it was the usual suspects with Petrie knocking up 156SC off 23 touches and 2.3, while Harvey picked up 29 touches and a 138SC.

Grima is looking in awesome form since coming back into the squad, adding a 126SC to his tally for the year.

Gibson cracked his first game for the year and looked likely- though he did go missing in the 1st and 4th quarter, picking up just 11DT points through those two quarters. Still- definitely looks a good downgrade option.

Heroes: Ablett, Bennell
Villians:


Hawthorn vs Brisbane

Result: Hawthorn by 65, 19.21.135 to 11.4.70

It was funny, I was listening to this game on the radio- and for the longest time, they spend ragging on Franklin, declaring how hed been shut down by Maguire- and had been ineffectual on the game thus far- before noting that hed kicked 2 goals and was the 3rd highest stat getter on the ground. Ha. Made me laugh anyways.

He went on to kick 5.1, but managed just 118SC. Roughy had him beat, his 2.3 worth 129SC (Though his 17 hitouts did help there!) while Burgoyne top scored for the Hawks on 137SC.

Hale I reckon can carry a villians cap this week. He managed 20 hitouts, but just 9 touches and 52SC.

For the Lions, Dayne Zorko we love you. Top scored the game with 24 touches, 3 goals and a 137SC. Brilliant.

Meanwhile, due to byes, I reckon a lot of people would have brought in Adcock this week. Big reward as he knocked out 27 touches and a 120SC.

Hopefully you didnt choose the other Lions defender, Hanley, who could only manage 9 touches and 41SC for his coaches. Ouch.

Heroes: Burgoyne, Roughead, Mitchell, Zorko, Adcock
Villians: Hale, Hanley

Western vs Port Adelaide

Result: Western by 38, 13.17.95 to 8.9.57

The last game for the round, and well- it was fairly obvious.

The higly for this game for mine, was my cash league game. To top score for the round (and cash in a little), I needed Lake + Redden to outscore Boyd + 19. Needless to say, to the math- I was a little shattered.

Anyways, it was Murphy who top scored for the game, with a very nice 32 touches and 142SC. Plenty of dogs broke the ton, 6 others in fact, but most just squeaked over the line.

Dickson did his coaches will, providing a 78SC off 4 goals. Like smith though- its always a worry when it takes 4 goals to score that highly.

Speaking of Smith however, he managed just 8SC as a late in for Hargrave - whos late withdrawal gave me yet another DT Duckegg. Damn you byes!!

Ebert top scored for the Power with a 112SC- still cursing that I didnt listen to the Bearfly who was talking him up for a long time in the pre-season. Ah well, maybe next year Ill listen...

Redden is the other that we all would have been watching at Port. And he started the game massively, 30 of his eventual 40DT coming from the first quarter alone. If only his didnt go missing after that!

Heroes: Murphy, Ebert
Villians:

Anyways, I reckon thatll do us for this week. Got some stats to upload, and maybe a few sorrows to drown- though looking around the place, my 2,103 was a decent score.

That said, the top score for the round was a MASSIVE 2,794 this week. Obviously it was built jsut for this round, and looking at their overal of 174,686, they were a round3 special.

Ah well, congrats to em I reckon.