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After the siren: Eagles kicking themselves, not goals


SANFL 
TAYLOR Walker rounded off preparations for his likely return to the Adelaide line-up with a classy display in the SANFL on Sunday.
 
Walker contributed four of his team's first nine goals in a 45-point loss to Port Magpies.
 
The spearhead, who hasn't played at AFL level since having a knee reconstruction 12 months ago, had 15 disposals (12 kicks), seven marks and kicked 4.3, with a couple of late misses blotting his copybook.
 
The Crows have a bye next weekend and will be tempted to welcome Walker back into an attack now missing Tom Lynch (broken jaw) when they host Collingwood in a crucial round nine clash.

Another Crow under consideration for promotion is Andy Otten, who did his chances no harm by collecting 22 possessions, including 16 handballs and three rebounds from the defensive arc.
 
Ben Rutten played his first SANFL match for a decade after the Crows wanted him to prove he was over his knee problem. The veteran had six disposals.
 
Crows midfielder Brodie Martin won a game-high 34 possessions, six clearances and five inside 50s and Jarryd Lyons wasn't far behind with 30 touches, 10 clearances, five tackles, four inside 50s and a goal.
 
Another solid Crow was Cameron Ellis-Yolmen, who had 23 disposals and kicked a goal.
 
Best for Port was rookie-listed Kane Mitchell with 31 disposals, six clearances, five inside 50s, four tackles and 1.2.
 
Andrew Moore (24 and 1.1), lightweight teenage midfielder Karl Amon (22 and 1.0) were also prominent, while another youngster Mitchell Harvey kicked three goals, while John Butcher and rookie Sam Gray slotted two each.
 
WAFL
West Coast duo Sharrod Wellingham and Dom Sheed have responded strongly after being dropped, with both being solid contributors in East Perth's 10-point win over East Fremantle.
 
Wellingham accumulated 25 possessions and seven inside 50s, while first round draft pick Sheed had 21 touches and four inside 50s.
 
Several other Eagles were also standout performers, with Patrick McGinnity collecting 26 possessions and big man Callum Sinclair producing an all-round performance with 17 disposals, eight marks, 23 hit-outs and two goals.
 
Josh Hill and Fraser McInnes kicked three goals apiece, while Brant Colledge (20 disposals) and rookie Will Magginness (17 and a goal) were also handy.
 
Several Dockers were also prominent in a Peel Thunder side that suffered a 29-point defeat to Perth.
 
Rookie Jacob Ballard gathered 26 touches and four inside 50s, Kepler Bradley had 24 touches and six marks, Garrick Ibbotson collected 23 possessions, while Jonathon Griffin had 41 hitouts and 14 touches.
 
Ex-Demon Colin Sylvia stepped up his fitness and form with 19 touches (seven kicks, 12 handballs), four inside 50s and a behind.
 
VFL
St Kilda defender Sam Fisher and Essendon counterpart Tayte Pears both suffered injuries in the VFL on Sunday.
 
Fisher's injury issues have flared again, with St Kilda confirming the veteran suffered a "tight hamstring" while playing for VFL affiliate Sandringham against Essendon at Trevor Barker Beach Oval.
 
Fisher, who has not played an AFL game this year after suffering a back-related hamstring problem, left the field in the opening minutes of the match and never returned.

Saints fans could now have genuine fears for the playing future of the dual club best-and-fairest winner, who will turn 32 in July.

His injury will be assessed on Monday.
 
Soon after Fisher's exit, Essendon defender Pears suffered a calf injury.
 
Among the Saints to impress in Sandringham's nine-point win were Arryn Siposs (20 touches, eight marks and four tackles) and rookie Cameron Shenton (20 and six marks),  
 
Essendon ruckman Tom Bellchambers, on his way back after an ankle injury and regarded as a potential key to his club's fortunes this year, was one of Essendon's best and must be in line for a senior return. At one point Bellchambers pulled down a big mark and converted.
 
Bombers rookie Corey Dell'Olio slotted four goals while Kurt Aylett and Nick O'Brien were also strong contributors.
 
North Melbourne skipper Andrew Swallow wasn't prolific but still made his presence felt with two of North Ballarat's 10 goals in a two-point win over Footscray at Eureka Stadium.
 
Swallow, in his second VFL hit-out since overcoming his Achilles problem, was overshadowed by Kangaroos teammates Ben Jacobs (32 touches), Liam Anthony (26) and youngster Trent Dumont (24).
 
Among the best-performed Bulldogs were Brett Goodes, Fletcher Roberts in defence and runner Jason Tutt.
 
Meanwhile, North Melbourne-listed youngster Mason Wood kicked three goals in Werribee's five-point win at Casey Fields, to give the athletic forward seven goals in his past two outings.
 
Rookie Richmond midfielder Anthony Miles dominated the Tigers' VFL win over Geelong at Punt Road, amassing 37 possessions, including 23 contested and 12 clearances.
 
Ben Griffiths bagged four goals to press claims for reinstatement at AFL level, as did Nathan Foley and Ricky Petterd, who each had 30 touches, while Ben Lennon's 19 disposals and defensive acts were valuable.
 
Paul Seedsman made strong progress in Collingwood's VFL loss at Williamstown and Kyle Martin was typically consistent.
 
On Saturday, Carlton draftee Patrick Cripps kicked three goals and gathered 22 possessions in the Northern Blues' nine-point loss to Coburg at Preston City Oval.
 
Nick Graham had 31 touches, rookie Jaryd Cachia 26 and former Collingwood big man Cameron Wood amassed a whopping 73 hit-outs in the ruck.
 
However, defender Matthew Watson didn't finish the game after suffering a finger injury before half-time.
 
It was Coburg's first win as a standalone VFL club since 2000, after ending its alignment with Richmond this season.
 
As Hawthorn made a mess of St Kilda at the MCG, the Box Hill Hawks were just as menacing against Frankston with a 106-point win at Box Hill City Oval.
 
Hawthorn-listed players Tim O'Brien and Jonathan Simpkin kicked two goals each while defender Kyle Cheney was one of their best players.
 
NEAFL
Gold Coast veteran Nathan Bock was the Suns' best in their 50-point loss to Aspley.
 
Other Suns-listed players to shine included Jack Hutchins, Leigh Osborne and Jeremy Taylor.

In the UWS Giants' 49-point win over Ainslie at StarTrack Oval, Greater Western Sydney midfielder Jake Barrett was named the team's best.

Liam Sumner bobbed up to kick three goals, as did tall ruck prospect Rory Lobb and James Stewart.

Top draftees Tom Boyd and Lachie Whitfield chipped in with a goal each while former Western Bulldog Dylan Addison managed two majors and a spot in the best players along with 2012's No.3 overall draftee Lachie Plowman.


Twitter: @AFL_JenPhelan