3 minute read
A snapshot of the action from round 11 of the AFL season.
WHAT'S HAPPENED SO FAR IN ROUND 11 OF THE AFL:
* THEY SAID IT: "If I sit there and look at one of the sides I would pay money to watch, they would be one of those sides." - Dual Richmond premiership coach Damien Hardwick can't help but admire the way ladder leaders Port Adelaide have gone about delivering their attacking brand of football this season.
* STATS THAT MATTER: Brisbane kicked into gear and registered their highest score of the season in a 14.12 (96) to 11.6 (72) win over the Bulldogs on Saturday night. The powerful attacking display came four days after the Lions had managed just four goals from 21 scoring shots in a woeful performance in front of goal against Richmond.
* MAN OF THE ROUND: Brownlow Medal favourite Lachie Neale. The gun on-baller racked up personal season-best tallies of 36 disposals and 12 clearances against the Bulldogs. Neale also kicked a clever goal and almost certainly collected another three votes. The numbers would have been impressive under normal circumstances, let alone with game time shortened by about 20 per cent this season.
* KEY MOMENT: Brisbane fans had their hearts in their mouths when Charlie Cameron slumped to the deck after landing awkwardly from a marking attempt late in the win over the Bulldogs. The All-Australian forward clutched his left knee as the Lions' premiership hopes seemingly hung in the balance. Cameron hobbled off and later made a brief return to the field with the joint strapped, but he faces a nervous wait for the results of further medical assessment.
* TALKING POINT: Seemingly everyone outside of Port Adelaide had doubts about whether Ken Hinkley's side are a genuine contender or pretender. But the stirring win against the reigning premiers erased any question marks about their status. The Power have been top of the ladder since the end of round one and sit a win and percentage clear of second-placed Brisbane.
* TRIBUNAL WATCH: Brisbane veteran Daniel Rich was the latest player charged under new dangerous tackle rules when he was offered a one-match suspension for rough conduct against Bulldogs youngster Ed Richards. Richmond spearhead Jack Riewoldt was offered fines for two separate offences, including an unusual striking incident where he delivered a low blow to Power defender Tom Jonas. West Coast skipper Luke Shuey will come under scrutiny for tripping Carlton's Ed Curnow.
* KEY INJURIES: Charlie Cameron (Bris, knee), Jack Martin (Carl, calf), Marc Pittonet (Carl, finger).
* WHAT'S NEXT: The unusual round 11 schedule continues with weeknight matches from Monday to Wednesday, including a Gabba showdown between top-four aspirants St Kilda and Geelong. Last-start winners Fremantle and Hawthorn do battle in Perth, while Collingwood will be favoured to take the points when they tackle last-placed Adelaide. The Gold Coast-Essendon battle shapes as a tipster's nightmare to complete the round.
