Here is Part
Two of the 2017 AFL Round Two Review, summarising each team from Hawthorn to
the Western Bulldogs. If you did not read Part One, click here.
Hawthorn
Showing
signs of decline in the opening rounds of the 2017 season but facing Gold Coast
in Round 3 should give the Hawks a boost of confidence. Hawthorn started in
emphatic fashion against Adelaide kicking 6.2 to 2.2 in the first quarter but
that momentum wasn’t sustained for the remainder of the game.
New
additions Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O’Meara were positive performers for the
Hawks gathering 38 and 36 respectively but the remainder of the team was rather
uninspiring. The mercurial Cyril Rioli was disappointing, kicking the solitary
goal and laying just four tackles.
Melbourne
The Demons
broke their Carlton hoodoo and won despite the absence of star midfielder
Bernie Vince. It was a tight and low-scoring encounter at the MCG but Simon
Goodwin’s team kicked six goals in the final quarter to pull away from the
Blues.
Max Gawn won
his ruck battle with Matthew Kreuzer winning 28 hit-outs to 21, Jeff Garlett
kicked three goals, and Dom Tyson, Christian Salem, and Clayton Oliver
collected over 30 possessions each.
North Melbourne
Despite
dominating for three quarters, the Kangaroos faded when they really didn’t need
to. North Melbourne lost it in the last minute of the game as the youngsters
couldn’t cope with Geelong’s more established stars.
On the
positive side, Robbie Tarrant got 28 touches as a key defender, Ben Brown
kicked three goals in the absence of Jarrad Waite, and Braydon Preuss was a
late replacement for Todd Goldstein and he smashed Rhys Stanley in the ruck
with 46 hit-outs.
Port Adelaide
Who would
have thought that the Power would have won their first two matches for 2017?
After grabbing a shock victory against Sydney in Round 1, Port Adelaide
humiliated Fremantle by 89 points on Sunday.
Midfielder
Robbie Gray got 30 disposals and kicked six goals straight while Charlie Dixon
kicked four goals. Ollie Wines also starred in midfield with 31 disposals and
two goals.
Richmond
Not as
convincing as last week but the big names lifted, especially as the game
improved in the second half. An improved performance from Alex Rance in defence
and Jack Riewoldt showed why he should be in the goal square, not roaming
around the ground.
Riewoldt
kicked only two goals but he was a reference point up front. Dustin Martin was
still a danger in the forward 50, gathering 25 touches and kicking two goals.
Trent Cotchin played like a true captain by collecting 26 disposals for the
game and kicking two goals in a tight first half.
St Kilda
The Saints
have suffered two defeats in the opening two rounds and after losing Nick
Riewoldt in Round 1, midfielder Jack Steven suffered from a punctured lung
against West Coast.
Alan
Richardson’s side was leading for most of the game but it only scored 1.2 in
the final quarter while the Eagles kicked 5.3.
Sydney
Although the
Swans have started poorly, they are another team that you should not write off
too quickly.
Kurt Tippett
has been a disappointment for Sydney for about four years but Sam Reid showed
that he could be an excellent target in the forward 50 by kicking 6.1. Perhaps
bringing Tony Lockett back to the club has already paid off dividends.
Dan
Hannebery has not been anywhere near his best, failing to collect over 20
possessions for the second week in a row.
West Coast
Survived an early
scare against St Kilda and got another victory. The Eagles were trailing until
three-quarter time but Josh Kennedy scored three goals in the final quarter to
help the Western Australian side win by 19 points.
Matt Priddis
and Sam Mitchell are the big names in midfield but Andrew Gaff collected 36
possessions like he did against North Melbourne in Round 1.
Western Bulldogs
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