1. A horror finish for 'Goldy' and the Roos
North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein had a chance to seal the win for his team with a gettable set shot, roughly 30m out on a slight angle, but his kick sailed wide. Goldstein won a free kick in the ruck after opponent Sean Darcy was penalised for holding, but his miss left the Kangaroos devastated, with coach Brad Scott clearly riding a rollercoaster of emotions in the box. Goldstein received Bronx cheers from his own supporters in the first half after a quiet start, going without a possession in the first quarter and getting to half-time with eight touches to his name in his battle with his younger opponent, Darcy, who rucked solo for the Dockers. Goldstein had support in the ruck from Majak Daw, and finished with 32 taps and 15 possessions after an improved second half. Scott said he spoke to Goldstein after the match and told him the game was all about creating opportunities. "He's really disappointed … he created it, he had his shot, and my main challenge with 'Goldy' is just to make sure next game, given the same circumstances, he wants the ball."
2. A dream debut for Dockers rookie
Ryan Nyhuis became the 200th player to notch a senior game for Fremantle and his debut was the stuff of dreams. After coming in as a late replacement for David Mundy (illness), he kicked the first goal of the game with his first kick. But it got better. With his team trailing by five points in a desperate finish, Nyhuis kicked the last two goals of the game, roving one off the pack and converting from outside 50 on the run, and kicking the final goal of the game with a long-range set shot. The rookie finished with four goals, telling Fox Footy after the match it was the first time he had played forward, filling a negating role on defender Robbie Tarrant. He has never kicked a goal in WAFL league or reserves football. Each club unveiled their seventh debutant for 2017 and fielded eight players between them who got their start this season. North's Daniel Nielson also made his debut, playing both accountable and loose roles in defence.
A goal within five minutes! A great start to Ryan Nyhuis' debut. #AFLNorthFreo pic.twitter.com/g00MjyJxW8
— AFL (@AFL) July 9, 2017
3. Fyfe lights the fire, and Gibson puts it out
The standard Freo skipper Nat Fyfe set in his brilliant 2015 season has been difficult for the Brownlow medallist to replicate in his return from a broken leg. But North Melbourne got a reminder of how dominant the midfielder can be in the first half at Etihad Stadium. Fyfe racked up 23 possessions and seven clearances before the main break, forcing the Kangaroos' hand after the hosts gave him too much freedom. After half-time Sam Gibson went to Fyfe, keeping the free agent to just three possessions and one clearance in the third term and helping the Roos get back into the game. Ross Lyon had a long chat to Fyfe after coming down to the bench late in the third quarter, and his captain responded in the final term with seven possessions and four clearances, finishing with 33 and 12, as well as a goal.
How about that from Higgins? A miraculous finish from silky Shaun #AFLNorthFreo pic.twitter.com/YWajTJOk5t
— AFL (@AFL) July 9, 2017
4. Wounded Hamling battles on
When he limped to the boundary late in the second quarter, Fremantle defender Joel Hamling looked done for the day. It was surprising then to see the former Bulldog limp out after the main break, filling a hole in the backline for the depleted Dockers, who were already down to three on the bench after losing Tommy Sheridan to an apparent leg injury. Hamling, who lost power through his hip, could barely run and stayed deep in defence, often manning Daw and playing a goalkeeper role at times. With Brady Grey also suffering a shoulder injury, Hamling's ability to play on and allow others to rotate was critical in the end. He moved to full forward late in the game and finished with eight possessions.
5. Rodan not drowning, waving
For former Richmond, Port Adelaide and Melbourne player David Rodan, arriving at Etihad Stadium on Sunday brought on the familiar butterflies of his early playing career. This time, however, the 185-game player was a member of the whistleblowing team, making his debut as a goal umpire. "It was very similar to when I played my first game," Rodan told AFL.com.au after the match. "The way the game finished was super exciting, so it was awesome." Rodan has been building to his senior debut as a goal umpire for three seasons, working through local level and the TAC Cup and VFL competitions with the help of a personal coach. He hopes to encourage more multicultural and indigenous people to take up umpiring and says he has had a lot of calls and text messages asking, 'How's the umpiring world?' "There's been a lot [of players] who have thought about it, but hopefully now with me they've got someone to talk to about it," he said.
David Rodan gets to work on his new AFL career. Picture: AFL Photos
