May 1 this year marked the nine-year anniversary of Essendon monstering the Gold Coast Suns by kicking 94 points in the opening quarter.
May 2 this year marked the 28-year anniversary of Jason Dunstall monstering the Richmond defence to kick 17 goals from 29 disposals in 1992.
Brisbane Highest Score In Afl History />
Watch Foxtel in an instant. Catch up and settle in with no installation & no lock-in contract. Sign up to all of Foxtel Now with a 10-day free trial. New customers only.
Afl Finals 2021: Razor Ray Chamberlain Dropped For Preliminary Final, Brisbane V Western Bulldogs Umpires
May 3 in 1992 started as the day after Dunstall kicked 17 goals, but ended as the day Geelong monstered the Brisbane Bears at Carrara and ended up with 239 points, setting a new record for the highest score in VFL/AFL history.
“Our No. 1 plan was to have Roger Merrett do the centre bounce which he never did in the past, ” then-Brisbane coach Robert Walls told foxfooty.com.au upon reflection.
“The plan was for Roger to set the standard, he’s going to come in at the centre bounce and just run through the opposition ruckman. Everyone’s pretty excited about that.”
Cats Vs Dogs: The Ultimate Showdown
“What happens? Roger takes off, buckles his knee running in and gets carted off on the stretcher. So ‘Plan A’ goes out the window straight away.”
Plans B through to Z didn’t do much good either. Things seemed to be manageable at quarter-time. The scoreboard read Brisbane 2.2 (14) to Geelong 7.4 (46).
By half-time, things read a little differently. Brisbane trailed 2.4 (16) to Geelong 16.9 (105). The Bears were, ironically enough, getting mauled. Brisbane managed five goals in the third quarter, a respectable effort. Geelong managed seven.
Crows Reign Supreme In One Sided Showdown
With the scoreboard now reading Brisbane 7.8 (50) and Geelong 23.14 (152), Walls charged towards his team like a soldier charges towards a crash site to salvage something from the wreckage.
“The boys said ‘What’s the matter with you?’ He said ‘I’ve got a stiff neck watching the ball going over my head!”
It didn’t dawn on Walls that the record for the highest score could be broken. After all, Geelong needed another 14 goals and change to get there — a monster effort.
Afl Finals Live Scores: Brisbane Vs Geelong Kick Off Time, Results, News For The 2020 Finals
“Matt Rendell was our ruckman for most of that year but he was injured so he sat in the coaches box with me, ” Walls said.
“With a few minutes to go he tapped me on the shoulder and said Fitzroy’s record score is going to get beaten unless you load the backline.
“I said to him — I can’t give you the exact words — but words to the effect of ‘I couldn’t give a stuff.’”
Who's Leading Your Afl Club's Best And Fairest?
Next door in the coaches box, but worlds away, Geelong coach Malcolm Blight didn’t need anyone to inform him a place in the history books was on the cards when Billy Brownless lined up with the Cats on 237 points.
“I actually said in the box, because I’m a bit of a footy nut, I said ‘This is for the world record’, ” Blight recounted.
“It was only in the last quarter (I thought about the record) because we kicked 14 goals in the last quarter. You just don’t kick 14, it never looked on that pace until the last quarter and I thought ‘238, Fitzroy kicked it’. It was 36.22.
Zach Tuohy Backs Mayo Man Mullin Ahead Of His Afl Debut
“My wife and kids, we were going to a golf resort that night and it was supposed to be a terrific night with the family and kids, ” Walls said.
Not for the first time and not for the last, Gary Ablett Sr put on a show with nine goals that day and, in case you needed any reminding of his ability, he didn’t even do it as a full-time forward.
“I used to do a little trick with him by resting him in the forward pocket and then moving him up the ground, it was a little trick that we did.
Afl Round 12 Preview & Tips
Ever one for detail, Blight was at pains to point out Brisbane were underdone by injuries heading into the game before Merrett was the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back.
“Sometimes the roll of the dice goes your way and it did for us that day no doubt about that, everything turned to gold really.”
Much like Walls found his own scoring record circling back on him, Blight was dealt a dose of his own medicine 19 years later, being on the Gold Coast Suns board during the aforementioned match that saw Essendon set a first-quarter scoring record.
Gun Recruit Izak Rankine, Exciting Forward Riley Thilthorpe Lead Crows In Showdown Classic
So, 28 years on, perhaps it is, like Blight says, all in the roll of the dice. Just try to steer clear of rolling them whenever May comes around.Tom Hawkins has kicked five goals to help Geelong extend their 19-year home winning streak against Brisbane with a tense 10-point victory.
Isaac Smith starred on a wing as the Cats won the territory battle on Friday night but wasted a string of chances in front of goal in a high-intensity contest.
It almost cost them as the Lions twice snatched the lead during a see-sawing third quarter and were level in the last when Charlie Cameron kicked the second of his two brilliant second-half goals.
Brutal 10 Goal Third Term Sees Geelong Break Season Duck
But goals to Hawkins and Jeremy Cameron in a low-scoring final term got the Cats over the line, winning 11.14 (80) to 11.4 (70) at Kardinia Park.
The result means Geelong have joined the Lions with a 3-1 record ahead of their Easter Monday clash with traditional rivals Hawthorn.
There was a sour note for the Cats when Quinton Narkle had to be helped off with an ankle injury during the third quarter.
Sydney Vs Geelong Predictions & Betting Tips: Afl Round 16 2023
Narkle was a late in inclusion when Geelong lost ruck-forward Esava Ratugolea (ankle) and star defender Tom Stewart (gastro) before the match.
Stewart had been in line to captain the Cats in the absence of record-breaking skipper Joel Selwood, who was rested, but the duty instead fell to co-vice captain Patrick Dangerfield.
Lachie Neale copped the Mark O'Connor tag but it didn't overly concern Brisbane's Brownlow medallist, who had an influence in traffic with 30 disposals, 21 contested possessions and 11 clearances.
Victorious Cats Hoping Dangerfield Injury 'minor'
Fireworks lit up the sky as the Cats ran through the banner for their first home game of the season — their first in front of an unrestricted crowd since 2019.
But there were few real sparks in a metaphorical sense, the likes of which had littered several recent meetings between two sides that had developed a fierce on-field rivalry.
It was a tough but clean contest that went goal for goal through the opening 50 minutes of play as Brisbane answered each of Geelong's first six majors with one of their own.
Afl Finals: Brisbane Lions Defeat Melbourne Demons, Scores, Video. Preliminary Final, Fixture
Both sides moved the ball with speed and the lead changed hands three times in the third term as Brisbane outscored their hosts 4.0 to 2.2 despite a 6-20 deficit in forward-50 entries.
The trend continued with Geelong wasting shots at goal before Hawkins ultimately gave them breathing space with a strong mark and goal at the 19-minute mark of the last quarter.Watch every match prior to the AFL grand final Live & Ad-Break Free In-Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
Was part of a fascinating bit of coaching. Took ruck contests backward of centre, but played as a full-back on a Lions key forward when the footy was in the Cats’ forward half. Looked a bit uncertain bringing the ball out of defence at times, but was still more than serviceable by foot. 6
The 10 Moments That Just Sucked
Was on the wing at the opening bounce. Won plenty of the ball between the flanks, linking the Cats’ defence and forward line. 7
Very little impact on the game, despite the margin and Cats goal avalanche. Got up the ground to try and get into the game and added a last-quarter goal, but overall was beaten by Darcy Gardiner. 5
A rare quiet night. Began the game as a high half-forward trying to drag Daniel Rich up the ground. Just two touches in the first half and missed his rare opportunities in front of goal. Didn’t join the party — but he won’t care. He’s into another Grand Final. 4
Cream Rises To Top After Geelong's Bloodless Win Over Insipid Collingwood
Starred in defence. Took Dan McStay at the opening bounce and blanketed him all night. Not usually one to set the Cats up off half-back, but took several intercept marks and used the ball superbly by foot off half-back. Was the leading intercept player on the ground. 8
Started on a wing and started with a bang — but his night finished in heartbreak. Was terrific in and under, applying strong defensive pressure and snapping a crucial goal on the quarter-time siren. But limped from the field midway through the third term with an apparent hamstring injury and was a shattered figure. When he was subbed out, he was the highest-rater player on the ground. 7
Began the game on the bench before being injected into the midfield. Limited time on ground, but brought ample energy at the coalface and made every disposal count. Will play his 40th final next week — a VFL/AFL record. Incredible. 7
Round 16 To 23 Fixture Announced
Went straight to Joe Daniher and took the points. As he has done all year, played with maturity beyond his years and looked assured under the ball, beating Daniher one-on-one then plucking several