AROUND THE GROUNDS
ROOS ON THE REBOUND
ANAKIE edged out East Geelong at the Richmond Crescent, just a week after the Roos were dismantled by the Giants. The Roos’ run home includes matches against Inverleigh and Bell Post Hill, therefore a return to the finals for the first time since 1998 seems unlikely. But the side proved its worth on the weekend thanks to the accuracy of captain Jamie Phillis and recruit Todd Hearn.
TOUGH DAY FOR WERRIBEE
MELBOURNE’S severe wind took its toll across the city’s western suburbs, with goalposts, trees and traffic lights swaying in Werribee. This, along with Werribee’s tough defeat, soured the commemorations for the club’s late secretary Mick O’Malley. “He loved Werribee and he loved Collingwood, so it’s fitting we pay tribute to him while facing the Magpies today,” Werribee president Ed Cachia said pre-game while battling against the wind over the public announcement speakers.
PARKER PROVES A POINT
AFTER controversially being shunned from the
Geelong Advertiser’s top 20 GDFL players list on Friday, Magpie Luke Parker had the right of reply with a dynamic display on the weekend. Contributing on both ends of the field, the 152-game veteran kicked two goals and was named in his side’s best players. Though Parker has been battling shin splints all season, he has only been named in his side’s best players twice, so we asked coach Darren Ryan if he had set too high a benchmark for his star utility when naming his best six players each week. “It’s not done on names, it’s done on performance and team effort,” Ryan responded. “You get in my best players when you’re in my best players. Today he made it again because he was genuinely one of our best players.”
SPITTING INVESTIGATION
AFL Barwon’s match review panel is set to investigate an incident in which Bannockburn star Connor Jervies was allegedly spat at during yesterday’s win over Belmont Lions. Match officials noted down the incident — which left Jervies fuming — for review during the Tigers’ 70-point win over the Lions. The investigation, which could lead to a misconduct charge, is likely to take place today. It is unclear if any of the alleged incident was caught on camera. Bannockburn was in cruise control for the majority of the 18.12 (120) to 7.8 (50) victory, but it came at a cost with Will Middleton likely to accept a one-week set penalty for striking. Victoria Park was also hammered by heavy wind, like most of the matches across the region this weekend. Bannockburn coach Peter Riccardi said it made for some ugly footy, with the Tigers looking to work the ball to the outside and the Lions keen on playing a more contested style. “Put it this way ... I usually watch the games during the week, but I won’t be watching that one. There is nothing you can get out of that,” Riccardi said. “But we did get the four points, I suppose. With the breeze you couldn’t get too much of a flow going in the game. It was played on one end of the ground.” Kieran Fulton bagged five goals and kicked as many behinds, while Nathan Kelly, Jervies and Jake Peters all stood up.