Wherever it was ice in the veins or just getting it done: Round 19 had many storylines. (Pictures @westernbulldogs @CollingwoodFC @sydneyswans)
Round 19 indeed had it all. A draw, a goal after the siren, a pup coming of age, there was plenty to enjoy in a tight weekend of football.
The Inner Sanctum takes you through Round 19, complete from A-Z. The defining highs, lows, and controversies surrounding Round 19 of the 2022 AFL Premiership season.
A is For Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree: The Daicos family just know how to make goals happen. Josh Daicos may be flying under the radar with his younger brother Nick getting the attention, but he proved he is his father’s son yet again with an amazing goal of the year contender, one that could put him in contention for his second award.
B is For Bright future: The Geelong vs Port Adelaide game alone flaunted the raw talent coming through the ranks of our great game. Sam De Koning, Tyson Stengle, Brad Close, Connor Rozee, Mitch Georgiades, and Zak Butters – just to name a few. The talent pools are flooding with no room to move. It’s time to call Tasmania.
C is For Come of age: You just can’t do that, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan. His fifth and final goal, three coming in the last quarter on Saturday night officially stamped the game. The wonder kid from Warrnambool announced to the rest of the competition that his freakish abilities are here to stay.
D is For Doing it for dad: The late Ray Gunston was in his son, Jack Gunston’s thoughts when he returned to the Hawthorn side that played North Melbourne on Saturday. Gunston starred in Hawthorn’s win with five goals and four points from his 17 disposals and seven marks. He kicked the first goal which was befitting of the occasion, after which he pointed to the sky and kissed his black armband.
E is For Efficiency is everything: Carlton half-back Adam Saad was as accurate as ever against GWS on Sunday. With 25 disposals to his name (22 of which were kicks), and running at 92 per cent disposal efficiency, there didn’t seem to be a target that he couldn’t hit. It was a huge reason for the Blues’ six-goal victory, and opposing coaches will definitely have to pay attention to him in the coming weeks.
F is For First draw of 2022: Richmond and Fremantle endured a contested duel in its draw at Marvel Stadium. The two points for either side may prove costly as both teams are looking to secure certain spots in September. Only the second draw in Dockers history may cost them a top four spot, while the Tigers’ finals hopes took another hit.
G is For Game of the season? A high-scoring game with momentum swings, star players on all lines, breakout games, and a nail-biting finish. What more can you want? Saturday night’s contest between the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne which was also a grand final rematch had everything you could want and more. A neutral and Doggies fans dream.
H is For Hollands has arrived: He may have had to wait two years to make his debut, but Elijah Hollands certainly made an impression in his maiden game. The former top 10 draft pick joined the ‘first kick, first goal’ club in the first quarter, and ended the game with 10 disposals and two goals.
I is For Impact: He may not be your typical ball winner, but when Sam Powell-Pepper wakes up on the right side of the bed, there is absolutely no stopping this freight train. He pours on the pressure and makes every possession count. This late surge for a finals spot in the coming month may rest strongly in SPP’s hands. As for the Cats, look no further than the Tomahawk, with two of his four goals the last two of the night, breaking Power hearts.
J is For Just a lazy 1033: With Lance Franklin’s first goal against Adelaide, he drew level with Gary Ablett Senior’s career goals tally (1031). With his second goal, he went past him and into outright fifth place on the all-time marksman’s list, and he then added a third for good measure. Franklin is now just 24 goals short of Doug Wade in fourth: the way the game is now played, will we ever see something like this again?
K is For Karl: An unrestricted free agent at the end of this season and with reports continuing to emerge of a possible move elsewhere, Karl Amon was undoubtedly on a quest to prove his worth – racking up 13 disposals in the first term and kicking a late long goal.
L is For Leaps of faith: Carlton and GWS fans were treated to a couple of brilliant hangers at Marvel Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The first saw Giants co-captain Toby Greene fly over Lewis Young’s head to take one of the marks of the year. Adam Saad then followed up for the Blues in the late stages of the third quarter with a brilliant mark of his own.
M is For Mathieson goes bang: Looking for a spectacle in a close game? Look no further than Rhys Mathieson. With Gold Coast still pressing, the ‘barometer’ landed the knock-out blow, and if ever a goal warranted a shotgun celebration, it was this one. Mathieson ended the game with two goals and 18 disposals, to continue his run of strong performances.
N is For No man left behind: It was an impressive display from the Carlton midfield against GWS and there were contributors everywhere. Captain Patrick Cripps led the charge with 34 touches and a goal, while Adam Cerra and Matthew Kennedy each had 27 disposals and six tackles. Sam Walsh impressed with his 31 touches and five tackles as well, given he spent 11 minutes on the bench in the third quarter after injuring his ankle. Will Setterfield was also very solid with 24 disposals and a goal, while wingman Matthew Cottrell had two goals. A complete performance from a very well-rounded midfield group.
O is For Oh No-Ah: The Tigers had two late chances to put the game beyond the Dockers on Friday night. Both Noah Balta and Noah Cumberland fumbled their given opportunities. With the scores level, Balta kicked his set shot into the man on the mark, while Cumberland – within range – unfortunately, played on as the siren sounded.
P is for Purpose, persistence and pluck: With Sydney kicking nine goals to two, it could be argued that this game was done as a contest at quarter time. This Adelaide Crows unit though is nothing if not determined. Although outclassed, they regrouped to win the inside 50 count after quarter time, and kick ten goals to eight in the last three quarters to ensure that the Swans brains trust still had a few sticky moments before the four points were secured.
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Q is For Q-Clash: Arguably the most anticipated meeting between these two sides, Q-Clash 23 didn’t disappoint. With Brisbane looking to keep its top four hopes alive, and Gold Coast hanging outside the top eight, it was a must-win game. A close contest until the end, but ultimately it was the Lions who won, making it eight Q-Clash victories in a row.
R is For Rising Star performance: Rising star nominee Jai Newcombe was a shining light in the Hawks’ win against the Kangaroos. He enjoyed a day out kicking two goals along with his 30 disposals and nine clearances.
S is For Sensational skipper: The Kangaroos’ captain, Jack Ziebell was super kicking three goals in their loss against the Hawks. He had 20 disposals, seven marks, and two tackles. He led the way for North Melbourne alongside Aaron Hall and Luke Davies-Uniacke.
T is For Throw the doors open: With Richmond’s draw on Friday night, the Western Bulldogs could sense that the door was ajar and with a gritty performance it has mixed up the finals race. The Bulldogs finish Round 19 inside the top eight and take a great deal of confidence through the remainder of the season. We have seen the Bulldogs peak at the right time of the year before. Could we see it again?
U is For Unbelievable: Not many other words could be used to describe Collingwood’s win over Essendon. From 37 points up at quarter-time to falling four goals down in the fourth quarter, to Jamie Elliott, with ice in his veins, sealing Collingwood’s ninth win in a row, this game truly had it all.
V is For Very blessed: Two weeks, two amazing Sam Draper goals, and two amazing celebrations. This week’s edition: a check side from the boundary, which had the Bombers faithful on their feet.
W is For Watch your back lads: Sydney is flying at the moment, and a lot of its drive is coming from its young players in the middle of the park. And what better motivation do you have to get the job done than the fact that there’s a certain Josh Kennedy in the reserves, who registered a best-on-ground 37 disposals in a comfortable win in the wet over Frankston. Then there’s Logan McDonald putting pressure on the forwards as well.
X is For X-actly what was required to keep the season going: The Saints just had to get the job done, and that they did. It wasn’t pretty, but any win across the Nullabor is always tricky. Led by Dan Butler’s five goals and captain Jack Steele collecting a huge 40 disposals to go along with eight tackles, the Saints have put themselves just percentage outside the top eight with four rounds to go. Their destiny is in their own hands.
Y is For Young’s best outing: Fremantle defender Hayden Young was a stand-out in its draw with Richmond. Young led all comers with 31 disposals (equal-personal best), executing at a rate of 84 per cent. He took a career-best 14 marks, as well as 10 intercept possessions.
Z Is For Z may be last in the alphabet, but the Eagles are unlikely to finish last: Despite the loss, the Eagles have shown much improvement since the bye, their efforts against the Saints being no exception. They led at the first change and were just a goal down at three-quarter time, before fading in the last. With youngsters such as Jai Culley (19 disposals and his first ever AFL goal) and Josh Rotham (his first two ever AFL goals) leading the way, the future is not looking as bleak as it was earlier in the season. Their form suggests another win is possible before the season’s end, enough to ensure they don’t win the wooden spoon.
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