Goalsneaks,
Word around the campfire has been that apparently, in reaction to the Swans appalling accuracy in front of goal, SC Roos took The Goodes Train aside at last week’s smoko and told him something along the lines of “now look Goodsey, for the rest of the home and away season, bugger how fit you are, I want you to range around and across the half forward line, go deeper if you want, don’t worry about who the opposition put on you, and kick five goals a game”.
A masterstroke as it turned out with The Train going above and beyond and booting eight!
Adam probably hasn’t kicked that many goals in a game since the glory days of the under 15’s.
More than even Plugger ever kicked against the Dockers.
But you can imagine what would have happened without those eight -- a gigantic tusk up the runter in terms of the top four.
The midfield looked a little feeble for mine with not much go forward as Rhino Keefe had an uncharacteristically quiet night, while Odd Head McVeigh, the most unlikely of footballers, after having a blinder last week and playing in his 100th was not much to be seen.
Freo would have also won easily if it wasn’t for the starch that Mattner and Kennelly bring to the defence, while J.Bolton probably picked up the Brownlow votes that The Train didn’t get
Also pleasing to see the recovering mental patient BBB “Slugger” Hall back to his best – booting the winning goal on the run after out muscling three opponents without the need for the use of the fist or elbow!
See, it can be done, Barry, all you need to do is throw your weight around.
The hardy 15,000 or so fans in the ground on one of the coldest nights in Sydney this winter [took me much longer that usual to find the published crowd figure – perhaps the official book cookers were in the bar watching The Games?] would have been reaching for the heart pills, but in the final analysis, were well rewarded.
Freo supporters are used to weeping into their beers this season.
A crucial escape with the Cats, Pies and Bears to come, and who knows snapping at their heels.
mmmm…will need to beat them all to be any chance of progressing very far in September.
SC Roos must be wondering how do you train a side that’s about to have the blowtorch applied to the belly?
SYDNEY: 2.4, 7.6, 13.8, 17.10 (112). Goals: Goodes 8, Hall 4, J.Bolton 2, Veszpremi 2, O'Keefe.
FREMANTLE: 3.5, 8.8, 10.13, 15.18 (108). Bradley 3, Tarrant 2, Campbell 2, Duffield 2, Palmer, Mayne, Michael Johnson, Crowley, Pavlich, Peake.
At Sydney Cricket Ground.
Crowd: 20,846,
Due to shocking scheduling and being required at the office at some ungodly hour, in bed, fast asleep during the entirety of the Tigers match.
However, seasoned observers at the ground suggest the forwards laid down a solid platform to allow Benji Marshall to put in by far and away his best game of the season, scoring a well-worked try in the corner late in the piece to seal the result.
The kiddie’s been stringing a few good games together now, no longer does his dodgy surgically repaired shoulders weigh on his subconscious, getting back to working more through the centres and trying to hide less on the wing.
And its got the point where SC Sheens has enough confidence n the bloke’s kicking boot that he’s told him to have a shot at penalty goal; from anywhere up to thirty yards out, instead of getting yourself bashed up trying to plough your way through a set defence to the tryline.
A rarity now in the modern game.
But points are points, son.
Thought that it was unlikely this season, but at last Benji appears to be earning his considerably reduced contract money, Lord knows, he might be putting his hand out for more if they get to the finals.
And lo, the Tigers are miraculously back in the top eight!
In the rugby league caper, you generally need 12 wins and 12 losses at a minimum to make the finals, 13/11 would get you there for sure, so need to win at least two of the last four.
Should be able to roll the Eels next week, the Silvertails will be a different bottle of mussels altogether, then the advantage of starting against Sharks ten points up at Leichhardt, before the Titans away.
While there’s hope…
Abacus remains where the club secretary left it last time.
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS 10. Tries: Morris. Goals: Soward (3).
WESTS TIGERS 18. Tries: Ryan, Marshall. Goals: Marshall (5).
At Wollongong Stadium.
Crowd: 14,207.
