The extended second round of AFL Footy for 2018 is in the books with big wins for Adelaide, North Melbourne, Fremantle, and perhaps most of all, Hawthorn and Port Adelaide. A lot of tips were busted in the secound round, and here is your full round review.

Hawks Edge Cats on Easter Monday

The final clash of the round was the best, as Hawthorn built a lead in the second half and staved off Geelong’s comeback attempt to win 118-117 thanks to a Jarryd Roughhead behind in the final minute and a half. The Hawks dominated the attack with a 62-43 inside 50 advantage, Ben McEvoy ruled the ruck giving the Hawks a 50-35 hitout advantage, and the Hawks were able to compete with the star studded Geelong midfield (even though Mitch Duncan was a late out for the Cats.)

Hawks midfielder Tom Mitchell continued to build his early Brownlow case with 40 disposals and 2 goals, Jaeger O’Meara and Ricky Henderson joined the team effort from the Hawks with 21/1 and 19/2 disposals and goals. Jarman Impey, Roughhead, and Ben Stratton were also major contributors.

Daniel Menzel was a primary contributor for Geelong with 4 goals, while veteran star Gary Ablett led the cats with 35 disposals, 6 tackles, and a goal. Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood combining for 60 disposals in their own right, with rookie Tim Kelly posting a massive 27 disposal game. The Cats aren’t a bad team at all, but they still need better contributions from their forward line, including Brandan Parfitt who scored to tie the game late, and much better ruck play.

Meanwhile the Hawks, absent from finals last season, could well be back after another solid performance.

Port Adelaide and Adelaide Claim Big Wins

Port Adelaide‘s new lineup passed their first big test with a 94-71 win in Sydney against the Swans. Port put together a massive second half where they took more advantage of their opportunities, while also keeping the Swans firepower in check with a tight defensive showing.

Ollie Wines was best on ground with 35 disposals, 6 tackles, and a goal in the midfield. Robbie Gray returned with a bang with 26/10/1 in his own right while Riley Bonner and Dougal Howard helped keep the Swans attack in check and Todd Marshall added 3 more goals, with Chad Wingard contributing another 2.

Charlie Dixon was massive as a replacement ruck that the Swans could not counter. The Swans got 4 goals from Lance Franklin but limited contributions from other forwards despite good delivery by midfielders Josh Kennedy and Luke Parker who combined for 60 disposals. Sydney, like Geelong, should be fine, but Port showed real spark with the early season upset.

Adelaide continued their solid recent record against Richmond at home prevailing against the reigning premiers 118-82 in Thursday night footy. The Crows led most of the contest and pulled away late as they dominated all aspects of the game including disposals, contested possessions and inside 50’s. Rory Laird and Bryce Gibbs combined for 70 disposals as key contributors, Paul Seedsman and Cam Ellis-Yolmen were solid, while forwards Josh Jenkins and Tex Walker combined for 9 game changing goals.

Richmond only had one player with more than 20 touches, their star Dustin Martin, who also kicked five goals. Besides Martin and Josh Caddy (3 goals), the Tigers looked lost and will need to recover quickly.

North Melbourne drubs St. Kilda on Good Friday

In a sloppy Good Friday contest North Melbourne secured a surprise 95-43 win against a St. Kilda side that posted one of its worst performances in recent years. The contest was tied at halftime, but from that point North kicked 11 goals, while the Saints added just 3. In the end North stepped up to win contested possessions, dominate the ruck, and gain a major advantage in inside 50’s.

Ben Brown and Jarrad Waite were major contributors up forward for North, Brown had 6 goals and Waite had 24 disposals. Tagger Ben Jacobs had 10 tackles while new Roo Billy Hartung added 24 disposals. Todd Goldstein dominated in the ruck, and Robbie Tarrant was a lockdown defender against the Saints.

The Saints were relatively hapless despite a decent effort from Jack Steven, they will need to make significant changes next week and moving forward to prevent another disastrous performance.

Gold Coast and GWS Start 2-0

AFL expansion sides Gold Coast Suns and GWS Giants have both started 2-0. The Giants were tested more than they expected by a competitive Collingwood side but recovered from a fourth quarter deficit to win 95-79 in a game that Collingwood gave away.

The Pies were much better than last week as Tom Phillips (32 disposals), and Brodie Grundy(45 hit outs, 20 disposals, and 2 goals) stepped up in a big way, while Adam Treloar (2 goals), and Scott Pendlebury (30 disposals and 9 tackles) answered the call. GWS had the midfield edge though with Callan Ward, Stephen Coniglio, Dylan Shiel and Lachie Whitfield. Coniglio, Jeremy Cameron, and rookie Zac Langdon were multi-goal scorers for the Giants, while Josh Kelly and Tim Taranto added more than 20 tackles combined.

Tom Scully (GWS), and Tim Broomhead (Collingwood) suffered serious injuries in the opening term of a game that got much better late. GWS was better, but the Pies weren’t roadkill. Forwards Darcy Moore and Ben Reid were also out for the Pies as they have forward line concerns.

The Suns, championed by star forward Tom Lynch, dominated the Blues, Lynch kicked 8 goals in a 101-67 victory. The Blues simply failed to mark Lynch, while Jarryd Lyons added 36 disposals, Nick Holman was tough with 11 tackles, and Jack Martin added 3 more goals.

The Blues badly missed Matt Kreuzer as Jarrod Witts dominated the ruck for the Suns, Ed Curnow was special with 38 disposals, but otherwise the improvements the Blues showed in round 1 went missing with a sloppy round 2 performance. Top pick Jacob Weitering struggled badly for the Blues as Brendon Bolton needs to ponder changes to his side.

Melbourne battles past Brisbane

Brisbane tried to rise in the final term to knock off Melbourne, but the Demons rebuilt their lead and won 100-74 at the Gabba. The Dees lead throughout thanks to 35 disposals from Clayton Oliver and 28 from Nathan Jones, while Jesse Hogan and Jeff Garlett combined for 9 goals. Charlie Cameron and Allen Christensen combined for six goals as Brisbane tried to comeback but their midfield play was sorely lacking outside of Dayne Zorko and they’ll need to offer more if they are going to avoid the wooden spoon in 2018.

Fremantle and West Coast sweep Victorian based sides

Fremantle entered their home contest against Essendon, the first at the new Optus Stadium, with a tough minded attitude and came away surprise victors 106-90. Nat Fyfe was far better than last week with 29 disposals, while the rest of the Dockers also raised their level. Connor Blakely, Lachie Neale, Michael Walters, and Nathan Wilson were all key, Matt Taberner added 4 goals, and future stars Adam Cerra, Bailey Banfield, and Andrew Brayshaw were solid.

Alex Pearce and Liam Ryan joined Wilson in helping to strangle the Bomber attack. Joe Daniher failed to contribute posting zero goals for the first time in a while. Only one Bomber, Michael Hurley, had more than 25 disposals as the prolific attack the Bombers showed in round 1 was missing in action.

West Coast went into Melbourne and continued the Western Bulldogs woes pulling away for a dominant 121-70 result where the Bulldogs lacked pressure and skill against the Eagles. Nic Naitanui and Scott Lycett combined for a great rucking performance, Jack Darling and rookies Daniel Venables and Liam Ryan combined for six goals, while Jake Waterman and Lycett added 2 more. Shannon Hurn had another great game with 29 disposals, and Elliot Yeo added 7 tackles. The performance was everything the Eagles needed.

The Dogs will be looking at major changes despite decent showings from Jack Macrae and Toby McLean, in particular they need help in the midfield and backline as Dogs coach Luke Beveridge faces pressure.

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