SNAPSHOT OF ROUND 12 AFL ACTION
THEY SAID IT: “Coaches are only ever happy when they’re winning grand finals … the rest of the time they’re shitty on something and I’m probably the worst of them in that regard.” – Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson after his side’s 108-point thrashing of Essendon.
STATS THAT MATTER: A bumper crowd of 47,945 fans watched St Kilda upset Carlton at Etihad Stadium. The venue had budgeted for 34,000 with the extra fans causing long delays, with hundreds missing the start of the match.
MAN OF THE ROUND: Not for the first time this season at his new AFL home, Patrick Dangerfield put on a show that was the key factor in a Geelong win. The Cats knocked off ladder leaders North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium and Dangerfield’s 48-possession, 13-mark, two-goal effort was a sight to behold.
KEY MOMENT: If it’s not already, Richmond’s season would’ve been shot if Gold Coast had pulled off the upset they looked headed for at the MCG. The Tigers have Dustin Martin to thank in no small part for their come-from-behind 17-point win. His 38-possession, two-goal game was the difference with the key moment his pass to Sam Lloyd who goaled to put them back in front with 23 minutes gone in the last quarter.
TALKING POINT: Geelong forward Daniel Menzel has had more than his share of injury misfortune and he didn’t hold back after he rolled his ankle on the synthetic surface that rings the grass at Etihad Stadium. The Cats forward is demanding answers after the scary incident that he says could possibly have led to a fifth knee reconstruction.
TRIBUNAL WATCH: Reasonably civilised round of AFL action, but St Kilda’s Josh Bruce can expect some scrutiny for his late and high swinging arm to Kade Simpson in the Saints’ win over Carlton.
KEY INJURIES: N Dal Santo (NM, groin), R Nahas (NM, finger fracture), S Atley (NM, ankle), B Cunnington (NM, thigh), A Swallow (NM, concussion), K Kolodjashnij (GC, concussion), L Dahlhaus (WB, knee), S Jacobs (Adel, knee), T Lee (StK, knee), B Goddard (Ess, broken nose), D Menzel (Geel, ankle), S Butler (WC, groin), S Johnson (GWS, foot), K Tippett (Syd, hamstring, knee), G Rohan (Syd, hamstring).
WHAT’S NEXT: Friday night’s clash between North Melbourne and Hawthorn promises to be a beauty, with the Western Bulldogs-Geelong game on Saturday night in the same category. Round 13 is the start of the rolling AFL byes, with Adelaide, Richmond, Gold Coast, St Kilda, Carlton and Collingwood having a week off.
