Australian Football

Match Report

There were four Saturday afternoon games of offer this round, the first takes us to the west side of town and into Hisense Stadium in Richmond where the Bloods hosted the Roosters. The Roosters were one side that the Bloods managed to put one over on last season, though the points were shared over their two encounters. In the opening round of 2023, despite fluffing a swag of opportunities on goal the Roosters won by 16 points at Menzies Crescent, but then a defensively-stoic second half by the Bloods in Round 9 at Richmond saw them home by 29 points. North kicked a total of 10.19 in that earlier game, 6.11 by half-time. Last week, the Bloods got to within seven points of Glenelg before falling away to a 27-point loss at the bay, in contrast to the Roosters' 14-goal demolition of Port at Alberton. So who wouldn't think that the Roosters were favourites? Well clearly no one told Westies that, because there was just one point between them at quarter-time with the board reading 3.3 to 3.2. If not for some inaccuracy early in the second term, the Bloods' late term surge would had them up by more than just eight points at the long break after kicking 4.3 to three goals. Half-way through the third quarter, the Roosters were back to within a kick of the lead with the only goal for more than 18 minutes. But from there, it was to be all Westies. They doubled their half-time advantage going into the final term, scoring 2.4 to 1.2 to lead by 16 points at three quarter-time. The home side would kick four of the last five goals to finish off, not missing once while the Roosters blew a further three scoring shots to take their third victory for the year by 31 points. The Stevens brothers combined for seven goals, but it was Ned that ended up as best afield for the Bloods with 17 disposals, 11 marks and four majors. The Roosters named league newcomer Cody Raak as their best with 29 disposals and 12 marks.