Pavlich kicks milestone goal in Dockers win

Updated May 13, 2012 20:46:28

Fremantle captain Matthew Pavlich kicked his 500th career goal, as the Dockers overpowered Port Adelaide by 40 points at Subiaco to break into the top eight.

The loss was Port Adelaide's sixth defeat in a row, putting more pressure on embattled coach Matthew Primus.

The Power started strongly, attempting to draw a line under the proverbial week from hell since its insipid performance against Richmond last weekend.

But after taking an early lead, Port Adelaide produced a very patchy display, with a lot of skill errors.

The Power was still just in the contest at three-quarter time, despite Fremantle having 22 scoring shots to 10 at that point.

Dockers coach Ross Lyon delivered a ferocious spray to his players at the final break, and the message stuck, as his team kicked four goals to one in the final term to seal the win.

Port captain Domenic Cassisi told Grandstand his team had tried to remain focused despite what he called "a tough week".

"Today I thought our efffort, our contested stuff was pretty good," Cassisi said.

"What really let us down was our skill level once again, so we need to keep working on that - until we can tidy that up, we are going to make life pretty hard for ourselves."

Following the Richmond game, which Port Adelaide lost by 37 points at Football Park, the Power received a barrage of criticism with some media outlets saying it was time for Primus to go.

On Sunday Cassisi defended Port Adelaide's start to the year, despite the setbacks.

"We thought prior to last week, the 10 weeks we had including the NAB Cup were more than capable," he said.

"Last week was totally unacceptable, the criticism we copped was probably a little bit over the top but we've just got to move on."

The highlight of the match came with five minutes left in the match, as a mark in the left forward pocket gave Pavlich a chance to reach the milestone.

He did not disappoint, kicking truly to prompt a huge roar and a standing ovation from the home crowd.

Pavlich becomes the 51st AFL / VFL player to reach 500 goals.

He is now the third highest active goalkicker in the AFL, behind only St Kilda's Stephen Milne (501) and Brisbane's Johnathan Brown (504).

The Dockers now face another tough trip to Tasmania to play Hawthorn at York Park.

Fremantle defender Michael Johnson told Grandstand that the Dockers were beginning to adapt to coach Ross Lyon's new game style.

"(The style) is a lot more defence, getting the defence right and working from there," Johnson said.

"The only thing letting us down right now is the midfield clearances ... but the guys are getting more used to the game plan (Lyon) brought over, we're 5-2, the guys are pretty happy at the moment."

Dockers: 12.15 (87) - Pavlich 4, Mayne 3, Crowley, Ballantyne, Pearce, De Boer, Sandilands.

Port: 7.5 (47) - Butcher 2, Broadbent 2, P Stewart, Westhoff, Ebert.

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, wa, subiaco-6008

First posted May 13, 2012 19:51:45

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Goodes hits milestone as Swans sink Hawks

Updated April 29, 2012 18:14:43

It was a big day for Adam Goodes but a bigger day for the Sydney Swans, who beat the fancied Hawthorn by 37 points at York Park to start the year with five wins from five.

Goodes reached a milestone for the Swans, breaking his cousin Michael O'Loughlin's club record by playing his 304th game for Sydney.

Like his team, the co-captain started slowly, but he led from the front in the second half to finish with three crucial goals.

Sydney looked anything like winners in the first half, as the Hawks shut down Sydney's attack, while Jarrad Roughead looked unstoppable up front kicking five goals to half-time.

Hawthorn led by 20 points at half-time, 8.6 (54) to 5.4 (34).

It was a totally different story in the second half, as the Swans rediscovered the path to goal, overwhelming Hawthorn by 11 goals to two after the main break.

Sydney smashed the Hawks in the middle and improved its delivery to the forward line to turn the match around.

Josh Kennedy told ABC there was a simple explanation for the change in fortunes between the first and second half.

"It was pretty basic, we got smashed in contested possessions, that was really where the game was won in the first half,'' he said.

"Probably in the second half we were able to turn that around, get numbers to the ball and get it going forward and make the most of our opportunities."

The crucial period came in the third quarter. Two early goals to Goodes put the Swans back on track, as Sydney shut down Roughead and the rest of Hawthorn's attack, kicking 4.3 to no score for the term.

The Hawthorn-dominated crowd willed the Hawks on to victory in the final quarter, but even some trademark moments of brilliance by Cyril Rioli were not enough to take back the momentum.

The Hawks could not make headway in the final term as Sydney answered the challenge, and fittingly a goal to Goodes in time on sealed the win.

A seven goals to two final quarter for the Swans left the Hawks looking dispirited by the end. Hawthorn now sits at 2-3, raising questions about the team's ability to challenge for the flag.

In contrast, there were many positives for Sydney. In defence, Ted Richards lowered Lance Franklin's colours, keeping the Hawks spearhead goalless, while Luke Parker had Sam Mitchell well covered all day.

Craig Bird and Jude Bolton were also important for the Swans, but the clear best on ground was Sydney midfielder Josh Kennedy.

Kennedy had 28 possessions, 11 tackles and three goals, as Hawthorn failed to find anyone to stop him in the second half.

Kennedy said the result was a huge win for the club and for Goodes.

"Obviously he's a legend of the club, and of the game,'' Kennedy said.

"Micky O'Loughlin was down there, to present him with his record-breaking jumped before the game ... it was really important that we lifted for him in the second half and showed how much it meant to us that we were able to do that.''

Sydney: 16.10 (106) - Kennedy 3, Goodes 3, O'Keeffe 2, Bolton 2, Bird 2, McVeigh, Jetta, Hannebery, Jack.

Hawthorn: 10.9 (69) - Roughead 5, Hale 2, Lewis 2, Rioli.

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, tas, launceston-7250

First posted April 29, 2012 15:59:27

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