Jonathan Brown has called time on his AFL career, newcomers GWS and Gold Coast notched wins in the AFL’s Round 14, denting the reputation of big name clubs Carlton and Geelong and Port remains on top of the ladder.
Brown, a 256-gamer, said his decision was based on strong medical advice following his third heavy head knock in 12 months in the Lions’ 45-point loss to Greater Western Sydney on June 14.
“It’s a very difficult time, but at the same time I’m very happy on reflection,” 32-year-old full forward Brown told reporters at the Gabba on Monday.
“Unfortunately though, the last week or so it’s become evident after my concussion last week that I don’t respond or bounce back like I used to from those hits.
“I had pretty strong medical advice this week that it was in my best interest to stop.
“It’s been a hard pill to swallow, even though deep down inside I knew that was the right answer.”
Brown, a three-time premiership winner, said his 15th season in the AFL was likely to have been his last anyway.
As Lions fans digested that news, Port fans were pretty happy with their full forward Jay Schulz who took a strong lead in the Coleman Medal after his eight goal haul on the weekend.
Port remain on top, while Adelaide will need to win Sunday’s Showdown to revive its finals hopes.
Here’s the wrap:
THEY SAID IT: “It was designed as a prickle. It was designed to really challenge him and wake him up in some ways. We want our big fellas to play like big fellas.” Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley explains his old-fashioned spray to ruckman Jarrod Witts during Saturday’s 29-point loss to Hawthorn. Buckley yelled at him loudly and grabbed his jumper on the bench during the third quarter, before Witts booted two goals in the final term.
STATS THAT MATTER: 66.8. That’s the league-low average score conceded by Fremantle this season.
MAN OF THE WEEK: Port Adelaide full forward Jay Schulz kicked a bag of eight against the Western Bulldogs to take a commanding lead in the Coleman Medal on 43 goals, five ahead of Geelong’s Tom Hawkins.
KEY MOMENT: In a low-scoring game, Sydney trailed Richmond by a point at three-quarter time at the MCG on Friday night. Lance Franklin played another starring role for the Swans, booting the only two goals of the final term as the visitors racked up their ninth consecutive win, 9.8 (62) to 7.9 (51).
TALKING POINTS: AFL officials would love the fact it was a big weekend for the new kids on the block. Gold Coast broke through for their first victory over their skipper Gary Ablett’s old side Geelong and Greater Western Sydney upset Carlton to notch consecutive wins for the first time. Goal reviews and holding-the-ball decisions infuriated several coaches over the weekend, however, with Richmond coach Damien Hardwick calling for quicker ball-ups to break up congestion.
TRIBUNAL WATCH: J Winderlich (Ess, striking), Zac Dawson (Freo, high contact), D Giansiracusa (WB, match-day report for rough conduct).
KEY INJURIES: R Shaw (Syd, ankle), S Hampson (Rich, ankle), T Langdon (Coll, concussion), B Matera (GC, groin), M Stokes (Geel, ankle), M Hibberd (Ess, shin), D Mackay (Adel, concussion), M Murphy (Car, hamstring tightness), R Nahas (NM, shoulder), A Swallow (NM, knee).
UNDER PRESSURE: Questions are being asked about Geelong’s premiership credentials following their loss to Gold Coast. On Friday night, the Cats face the Bombers at Etihad Stadium. Ninth-placed Essendon rested Paul Chapman for Saturday night’s game against Adelaide and coach Mark Thompson says the small forward is desperate to get back into the side to take on his former club. And the last thing the fifth-placed Cats need is Chappy in top form.
MATCH DETAILS
SYDNEY 1.2 4.2 7.5 9.8 (62)
RICHMOND 4.2 6.4 7.6 7.9 (51)
Goals: Sydney: L Franklin 4 K Jack 2 S Reid 2 J McVeigh. Richmond: A Miles 2 J Riewoldt 2 A Edwards B Deledio S Hampson.
Best: Sydney: J Kennedy L Franklin T Richards L Parker J McVeigh N Malceski H Cunningham. Richmond: D Martin T Cotchin A Rance B Ellis A Miles I Maric.
Injuries: Sydney: R Shaw (ankle). Richmond: S Hampson (ankle).
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Chris Donlon, Jeff Dalgleish, Matthew Leppard.
Official Crowd: 34,633 at MCG.
PORT ADELAIDE 3.1 7.5 13.9 19.14 (128)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 3.5 5.5 6.7 8.8 (56)
Goals: Port Adelaide: J Schulz 8 J Westhoff 3 T Boak 2 Brad Ebert J Polec K Cornes K Mitchell S Gray T Jonas. Western Bulldogs: D Giansiracusa 2 J Tutt K Stevens M Bontempelli N Hrovat T Liberatore W Minson.
Best: Port Adelaide: J Schulz O Wines R Gray A Carlile T Boak K Cornes C Wingard M Lobbe. Western Bulldogs: M Bontempelli J Macrae.
Injuries: Port Adelaide: Nil. Western Bulldogs: J Grant (concussion) J Roughead (shoulder) R Griffen (back spasms).
Reports: Port Adelaide: Nil. Western Bulldogs: D Giansiracusa by field umpire D Margetts in the fourth quarter for rough conduct against J Polec.
Umpires: Matt Stevic, Sam Hay, Dean Margetts.
Official Crowd: 34,258 at Adelaide Oval.
HAWTHORN 4.3 7.7 12.10 17.13 (115)
COLLINGWOOD 3.1 6.4 9.7 13.8 (86)
Goals: Hawthorn: L Breust 4 J Roughead 3 C Rioli 2 R Schoenmakers 2 B Hill B Sewell I Smith J Ceglar J Gunston P Puopolo. Collingwood: T Cloke 5 J Elliott 2 J Witts 2 B Macaffer C Young J Blair T Adams.
Best: Hawthorn: G Birchall B Sewell J Lewis I Smith L Breust L Hodge. Collingwood: S Pendlebury T Cloke T Adams D Swan L Ball J Blair.
Injuries: Hawthorn: Nil. Collingwood: T Langdon (concussion).
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Justin Schmitt, Troy Pannell, Brendan Hosking.
Official Crowd: 70,495 at MCG.
GOLD COAST 3.2 5.6 10.12 17.16 (118)
GEELONG 5.1 6.7 9.7 11.12 (78)
Goals: Gold Coast: H Bennell 6 C Dixon 3 J O’Meara 2 L Russell 2 G Ablett J Harbrow J Martin T Lynch. Geelong: S Kersten 3 S Motlop 3 T Hawkins 3 C Enright S Johnson.
Best: Gold Coast: H Bennell G Ablett D Prestia S May C Dixon J Harbrow. Geelong: J Selwood S Motlop J Kelly M Duncan C Guthrie T Hawkins.
Injuries: Gold Coast: B Matera (groin). Geelong: M Stokes (ankle).
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Robert Findlay, Chris Kamolins, Leigh Fisher.
Venue: Metricon Stadium.
FREMANTLE 2.2 9.3 12.7 15.15 (105)
BRISBANE LIONS 0.1 0.1 2.3 3.4 (22)
Goals: Fremantle: H Ballantyne 5 M Pavlich 3 M Barlow 2 A Sandilands C Mayne D Pearce N Suban R Crowley. Brisbane Lions: D Merrett J Green R Bewick.
Best: Fremantle: H Ballantyne N Fyfe D Mundy A Sandilands M Barlow L Neale P Duffield M Pavlich. Brisbane Lions: T Rockliff J Redden J Patfull R Bewick.
Injuries: Fremantle: M Pavlich (nose). Brisbane Lions: Nil.
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Jason Armstrong, Luke Farmer, Tristan Burgess.
Official Crowd: 25,152 at Patersons Stadium.
ESSENDON 7.0 9.2 11.10 15.11 (101)
ADELAIDE 2.6 5.7 9.7 14.8 (92)
Goals: Essendon: B Stanton 2 J Winderlich 2 P Ryder 2 B Goddard B Howlett D Zaharakis H Hocking J Daniher J Melksham M Hurley P Ambrose T Colyer. Adelaide: J Jenkins 4 E Betts 3 J Podsiadly 2 T Walker 2 B Martin B Smith P Dangerfield.
Best: Essendon: B Goddard D Heppell M Hibberd B Stanton J Melksham C Hooker P Ryder. Adelaide: S Thompson S Jacobs E Betts M Wright T Walker P Dangerfield.
Injuries: Essendon: M Hibberd (shin). Adelaide: D Mackay (concussion).
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Ray Chamberlain, Shane McInerney, Robert O’Gorman.
Official Crowd: 30,948 at Etihad Stadium.
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 5.1 10.2 13.4 15.10 (100)
CARLTON 5.1 6.5 10.8 14.8 (92)
Goals: Greater Western Sydney: R Palmer 3 D Shiel 2 J Patton 2 W Hoskin-Elliott 2 C Ward D Smith J Kelly K Jaksch L Whitfield T Boyd. Carlton: T Menzel 3 B McLean 2 D Thomas 2 J Waite 2 A Everitt A Walker B Gibbs D Armfield Z Tuohy.
Best: Greater Western Sydney: S Mumford H Shaw C Ward A Treloar S Coniglio R Palmer. Carlton: M Robinson B Gibbs T Menzel A Carrazzo A Everitt B McLean.
Injuries: Greater Western Sydney: Nil. Carlton: S White (knee) M Murphy (hamstring) replaced in selected side by D Armfield.
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Ben Ryan, Scott Jeffery, Andrew Mitchell.
Venue: Spotless Stadium.
WEST COAST 3.2 8.6 12.10 15.13 (103)
ST KILDA 4.3 6.5 8.7 10.10 (70)
Goals: West Coast: J Darling 3 J McGovern 3 S Lycett 2 A Gaff J Kennedy L Shuey M Brown M Hutchings M LeCras M Priddis. St Kilda: J Billings 3 C Jones 2 D Minchington L Hayes N Riewoldt T Lee T Simpkin.
Best: West Coast: M Priddis M Rosa L Shuey M LeCras J Darling S Lycett C Masten. St Kilda: J Steven J Billings L Hayes J Newnes.
Injuries: West Coast: Nil. St Kilda: L Montagna (ill) replaced in selected side by C Jones.
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Mathew Nicholls, David Harris, Andrew Stephens.
Official Crowd: 17,317 at Etihad Stadium.
NORTH MELBOURNE 4.5 7.8 14.12 15.17 (107)
MELBOURNE 3.0 6.0 8.4 10.6 (66)
Goals: North Melbourne: A Mullett 2 L Greenwood 2 L Thomas 2 A Black A Swallow B Brown B Cunnington B Harvey D Petrie J Ziebell R Nahas S Atley. Melbourne: B Vince 3 C Dawes 3 A Riley C Pedersen J Frawley R Bail.
Best: North Melbourne: S Thompson L Greenwood B Harvey J Ziebell A Swallow S Atley. Melbourne: B Vince N Jones D Cross M Jamar M Jones J Watts.
Umpires: Brett Rosebury, Jordan Bannister, Craig Fleer.
Official Crowd: 26,615 at MCG.
LADDER AFTER ROUND 14
P W L D PC Pts
Port Adelaide 13 11 2 – 148.5 44
Hawthorn 13 10 3 – 145.7 40
Sydney 13 10 3 – 135.4 40
Fremantle 13 9 4 – 134.2 36
Geelong 13 9 4 – 106.4 36
Collingwood 13 8 5 – 113.6 32
North Melbourne 13 8 5 – 111.1 32
Gold Coast 13 8 5 – 105.8 32
Essendon 13 7 6 – 106.2 28
West Coast 13 6 7 – 112.2 24
Adelaide 13 6 7 – 103.3 24
Carlton 13 4 9 – 87.4 16
Western Bulldogs 13 4 9 – 80.8 16
G W Sydney 13 4 9 – 78.5 16
Melbourne 13 4 9 – 76.8 16
Richmond 13 3 10 – 92.5 12
Brisbane Lions 13 3 10 – 59.9 12
St Kilda 13 3 10 – 59.3 12
LEADING GOALKICKERS
43: J Schulz (Pt Adel) 8
38: T Hawkins (Geelong) 3
37: J Riewoldt (Richmond) 2
36: J Roughead (Hawthorn) 3
35: L Breust (Hawthorn) 4, L Franklin (Sydney) 4
33: N Riewoldt (St Kilda) 1, J Kennedy (West Coast) 1
30: J Elliott (Coll) 2, J Gunston (Hawthorn) 1
