Monday, May 19, 2014: A dour and defensive tone

Professional sports is not about making friends. That is an ethos that has come to define Fremantle, who - under the guidance of the much-maligned Ross Lyon - boast two of the games bigger irritants: Ryan Crowley and Hayden Ballantyne. There is little love between that pair and Geelong forward Steve Johnson, and the pests had the last laugh on Saturday night. Not only did Fremantle run out convincing winners, Johnson will also miss a week after a 'misconduct' charge - which is surely a term that he thinks is construed too narrowly.

None of that worried Ross Lyon however, he was distracted by a free kick paid against Crowley - which appeared to be given for the injurious offence of 'being dragged through the interchange by Steve Johnson and pushed into Joel Selwood'. It was a baffling decision, but Lyon had his own description: "Sometimes when you think there's an injustice, you get frustrated" said Lyon, confirming he will contact the AFL to seek clarification on the rules for being dragged through the interchange and pushed into someone.

One imagines the AFL will take some inspiration from Ross Lyon when responding. A dour and defensive tone that, though unsightly, is almost good enough to win.


The Monday Wrap:
Thursday: 
Adelaide 76 defeated Collingwood 55
Friday:
Sydney 114 defeated Essendon 64
Saturday:
Melbourne 91 defeated Richmond 74
North Melbourne 125 defeated Brisbane 38
Fremantle 96 defeated Geelong 64
Sunday
Gold Coast 125 defeated St. Kilda 87

Ladder
Port Adelaide - 28 - 150.08% - (WWWWW)*
Hawthorn - 24 - 163.67% -  (WLWWL)*
Sydney - 24 - 124.89% - (WWWWW)
Geelong - 24 - 116.21% - (WWLWL)*
Gold Coast - 24 - 107.56% - (LWWWW)*
Fremantle - 20 - 117.58% - (LLWLW)
North Melbourne - 20 - 110.28% - (WLWLW)*
Collingwood - 20 - 107.80% - (WWWWL)*
West Coast - 16 - 131.77% - (LLLLW)*
Adelaide - 16 - 103.24% - (WWWLW)*
Essendon - 16 - 98.61% - (LLWWL)
Western Bulldogs - 12 - 87.71% - (WLLLL)*
Carlton - 12 - 84.81% - (LWWLW)*
Melbourne - 12 - 78.70% - (LLWLW)
St. Kilda - 12 - 68.10% - (WLLLL)
Richmond - 8 - 87.64% - (LWLLL)*
GWS - 8 - 75.71% - (LLLLL)*
Brisbane - 4 - 54.84% - (LWLLL)
*Game in hand

In the news...
Demon Chris Dawes has been offered a one-match ban for striking Alex Rance. Steve Johnson has been offered a week for 'misconduct' against Ryan Crowley. The full MRP report is here.

Tiger Brett Deledio is unable to explain what went wrong in his sides 17 point loss to Melbourne on Saturday. "We're searching for the answer. We're trying to find it" he Sherlock Holmesed this morning.  

And in men-in-suits news, St. Kilda CEO Matt Finnis has lashed out at Essendon chairman Paul Little following an outburst against ASADA on Friday night. "That's not a comment that the leadership of our game should be putting out there" said Finnis.