Spurred on by a partisan crowd of 44, 235, the Swans had victory well in hand at the long break with a 39-point advantage after a dominant first-half display.

The undermanned Eagles simply had no answer for the in-form Swans who continued to employ a more direct approach with good effect on their way to a 62-point victory.

New recruit Martin Mattner continued his impressive start to the season with 25 touches but he was not alone – Ted Richards (23), Tadhg Kennelly (21), and Michael O’Loughlin (four goals) among the pick of an impressive bunch.

In contrast West Coast’s big guns had minimal impact – Daniel Kerr managing just 15 touches as he was well held by Kieran Jack – Ben McKinley’s four goals as well as the performance of Matt Rosa (23), the only bright spots on a dismal night for the 2006 Premiers.

The Swans’ emphatic display was tarnished, however, by a moment of madness from Barry Hall who was reported for striking Brent Staker with a fearsome blow to the jaw which left the 23-year-old badly shaken late in the first-term.

Staker played no further part in the match while Hall faces a lengthy vacation, although the Sydney spearhead would probably have been absent regardless, having injured his wrist during the last-quarter after slamming into the boundary hoardings and some metal bars behind it.

O’Loughlin was sharp early booting the first two majors as the hosts skipped away early in the contest.

The Swans continued to dominate with goals to Hall and former Adelaide Crow Mattner – his first major for the Sydney siders.

McKinley gave the Eagles’ faithful a glimmer of hope with a goal in the shadows of quarter-time to cut the deficit to 18 at the first break.

The Swans were full of running in the second quarter adding three goals to their tally with Jarrad McVeigh, Adam Goodes and Ryan O’Keefe all getting in on the action.

As he had done in the first-term, McKinley answered for the Eagles just before the break before Brett Kirk kicked his first to re-establish the Swans’ 39-point advantage at half-time.

The hosts had plenty of contributors in the first-half with Tadhg Kennelly (15 possessions), Mattner and Kirk (14 apiece) leading the way.

But the second-term belonged to Adam Goodes who grabbed eight touches and added a goal in a dominant display while, for West Coast, Rosa gathered 10-first-half possessions as Kerr was well held with just six.

Two-goals in the first-four minutes of the third saw the Swans extend their advantage to 51-points.

The Swans added to the Eagles misery with four unanswered goals to start the final quarter before McInley booted his fourth goal for the Eagles in the final minute.

SWANS: 4.2, 8.6,12.8, 16.11(107)
EAGLES: 1.2, 2.3, 4.5, 5.15(45)

GOALS: Swans: O’Loughlin 4, McVeigh 2, Barlow 2, Hall, Mattner, Goodes, O’Keefe, Kirk, J.Bolton, Jolly, Jack,
West Coast: McKinley 4, Armstrong,
BEST: Swans: Mattner, Kirk, Kennelly, Goodes, O’Loughlin.
West Coast: Matt Rosa, Ben McInley.
INJURIES: Swans:
West Coast: Brent Staker (jaw),
REPORTS: Barry Hall for striking Brent Staker in the 26th minute of the first quarter.
CHANGES: Luke Brennan in for Heath Grundy (foot).
UMPIRES: Donlon, Kennedy, Wenn.
CROWD: 44,235 at ANZ Stadium.

Source – Sportal.com.au

Swans punish dismal Eagles is a post from: worldwormweb

The Swans’ hard, contested style of footy was back on show as they subdued a disappointing Port winning 22.14(146) to 11.12(78).

Barry Hall, with a game-high five goals, showed he was back with a confident display harking back to Big Barry’s golden days.

The win was set up by a dominant third quarter from the Swans who rolled a tiring Port 7.5 to 0.1 to take a 62 point advantage into the final break. The Bloods were never going to lose it from there as their superior fitness shone through as they kept their feet on the pedal in the last quarter.

Best for the home side were Hall, Michael O’Loughlin with four goals, Ryan O’Keefe, Marty Mattner and Jude Bolton while youngsters Kieren Jack, Jarrad McVeigh, Craig Bird and Ed Barlow used the ball well and ran hard all day in 25 degree heat.

In defence, Leo Barry kept small forward Brett Ebert very quiet.

An even spread of scorers throughout showed the Swans weren’t as “Hall-focused” as they have been in the past, a stat that would’ve pleased coach Roos.

And even though Port dominated the hitouts, the Swans’ won the clearances. However, an ankle injury to ruckman Darren Jolly mid-way through the second quarter will be a worry for Paul Roos. The return of big Spida Everitt in a fortnight will be most timely.

On a balmy day, the Swans led at each break to delight the 24,700 crowd. The Swans began kicking to the Paddington end and Roos, coaching from the bench, witnessed a seesawing first term.

The Swans scored the first major after two minutes. Barry Hall marking confidently on his chest just outside the 50m found a running Kieren Jack who blasted home from 30m to get the home side on the scoreboard for the game’s first major.

But the Power using the flanks well booted the next three goals to take the sting out of the Bloods. The Swans kicked the next five to take the lead into the break.

Despite the talented Port ruckman Brendon Lade dominating the hitouts against the tag team of Jolly and Roberts-Thomson, the Swans held their lead going into the main break going in 22 points to the good.

However, if spearhead Warren Tredrea had been more accurate, the margin could’ve been much closer.

The Swans started the second half strongly but four points from the first four shots at goals kept the home side’s lead within Port’s grasp. However, McVeigh’s snap from 40m pushed the lead out and the Swans sensed the win was in their grasp.

For Port, two losses from their first two games is not the ideal lead up to next week’s grudge match against the Crows.

Shaun Burgoyne, however, stood up today with a dominating disposals stat with 19 and four goals.

Nevertheless, the victory will give the Swans a much-needed shot of confidence ahead of next week’s match against the Lions in Brisbane, whose coach Leigh Matthews was watching.

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.

Sydney Swans 6.2 10.5 17.10 22.13 (146)

Port Adelaide 4.1 6.7 7.8 11.12 (78)

GOALS
Swans: Hall 5, O’Loughlin 4, Bevan 2, Kirk 2, McVeigh 2, Goodes, Jack, Roberts-Thomson, Grundy, Barlow,, J. Bolton. Barry
Port: S Burgoyne 4 D Motlop 2, Tredrea 2,, K Cornes, Pettigrew, Rodan
BEST
Swans: Hall, O’Loughlin, Mattner, J Bolton, Jack, McVeigh
Port: Lade, S Burgoyne, Tredrea, Rodan, Salopek

INJURIES
Swans: Jolly (ankle)
Port:Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: McLaren, Rosebury, Stevic

Official crowd: 24,700 at SCG

Author: Aidan Ormond

Source AFL.com.au

Swans smash Port is a post from: worldwormweb

Arthur Ross Cradock, a 48-year-old orchard worker, admitted in the Nelson District Court yesterday to the charge of using a phone for a fictitious purpose, after calling police with the message, “I've been raped by a wombat”.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Chris Stringer told the court that on the afternoon of February 11 Cradock called the police communications centre, threatening to “smash the filth” if they arrived at his home that night.

When asked if he had an emergency, he replied “yes”, Mr Stringer said.

On a second subsequent call to the communications centre, Cradock told police he was being raped by a wombat at his Motueka address, and sought their immediate help.

He called police again soon after, and gave his full name, saying he wanted to withdraw the complaint.

“I'll retract the rape complaint from the wombat, because he's pulled out,” Cradock told the operator at the communications centre, who had no idea what he was talking about, Mr Stringer said.

“Apart from speaking Australian now, I'm pretty all right you know, I didn't hurt my bum at all,” Cradock then told the operator.

Mr Stringer said alcohol had played a big part in Cradock's life. However, defence lawyer Michael Vesty said alcohol was not a problem that day.

Judge Richard Russell said he was not quite sure what motivated Cradock to make those statements to the police.

In sentencing, he warned Cradock not to do it again.

Source – SMH.com.au

NZ man sentenced after claiming to have been raped by a wombat is a post from: worldwormweb