Hello and welcome, once again, to the 2004 Troy Luff Medal countdown. Tonight is our eighth instalment, covering the games against Adelaide at the SCG and Geelong at Kardinia Park. We have well and truly entered the business end of the season; with only eight games remaining after tonight, any player able to make a run against Barry Hall must do so in these two matches.
Before we get into the games themselves, let?s review the leaderboard as it stands at the end of round 14:
46 ? Barry Hall
28 ? Brett Kirk
22 ? Paul Williams
21 ? Leo Barry
12 ? Ryan O?Keefe
11 ? Paul Bevan
9 ? Jude Bolton
8 ? Jared Crouch, Adam Goodes, Ben Mathews
The Crows game in round fifteen was rather tedious to watch. There?s no denying it; the style of football the Swans employed in 2004 is far from enjoyable for spectators. In a game where only fourteen goals were scored, Barry Hall?s four were the difference. At the other end, Adelaide forward Scott Welsh ? who had kicked fifteen goals in the previous two weeks ? could manage only two. Leo Barry ? who only five weeks earlier had held Fraser Gehrig goalless ? applied the clamps, demonstrating how versatile a defender he has become. In the middle, it was Brett Kirk who dominated with 30 touches.
The votes:
5 ? Brett Kirk
4 ? Barry Hall
3 ? Jude Bolton
2 ? Tadhg Kennelly
1 ? Jason Ball
Kirk takes a vote off Hall?s lead, but at this rate won?t draw level until round eight, 2005. Congratulations to all five players, particularly Kirky. This was a noteworthy week for Kirk, as he polled, for the first time since the TLM began, every possible vote. Every voter who participated in week 15 gave their three votes to Brett Kirk.
The Swans travelled to Geelong the week after looking to challenge for a spot in the top four. They had won six of their past seven games, but the Cats promised to be a massive challenge. Unbeaten at home throughout the season, that record would survive the Swans match. It was an arm wrestle where Geelong broke late in the last quarter, the Swans running out of time and losing by fifteen points. Throughout, the Swans were too one-dimensional. Against Matthew Scarlett, Barry Hall was clearly beaten for the first time since round one, and while Ryan O?Keefe stood up and kicked five goals, the job was too big for one forward. Amon Buchanan returned to the side and continued his good form.
The votes:
5 ? Ryan O?Keefe
4 ? Jude Bolton
3 ? Amon Buchanan
3 ? Brett Kirk
1 ? Ben Mathews
1 ? Leo Barry
1 ? Matthew Nicks
Congratulations to all seven players. In the three year history of the Troy Luff Medal, this was the closest round of votes, the first time there has been so many ties.
This brings us to the updated leader board, and Brett Kirk may yet be making a late run at Barry Hall. He has closed the gap to 14 votes, with eight runs and several very good performances to come. Nevertheless, he will still have to poll very well.
50 ? Barry Hall
36 ? Brett Kirk
22 ? Leo Barry, Paul Williams
17 ? Ryan O?Keefe
16 ? Jude Bolton
11 ? Paul Bevan
9 ? Ben Mathews
8 ? Amon Buchanan, Jared Crouch, Adam Goodes
Join me tomorrow night as we cover the games against Fremantle at Subiaco, and Brisbane at the SCG. Please feel free to post any thoughts in this thread.
Charlie
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