Regional challenge wrap up

The preseason competition is done and dusted, congratulations to Geelong defeating Collingwood taking home the NAB Cup last night. For the 14 other teams this weeks regional challenge matches were all about getting ready for round one which is only 12 days away.

Hawthorn vs West Coast

The reigning premiers in Hawthorn brought back a whole host of premiership players to take on West Coast at Visy Park on Friday afternoon. Lance Franklin put on a show picking up 26 disposals and kicking four goals. The Hawks cruised home to a 38 point win. HAWTHORN: 2.7, 4.12, 7.13, 13.21 (99) WEST COAST: 1.4, 4.11, 8.16, 8.13 (61) GOALS: Hawthorn: Franklin 4, Rioli 2, Williams 2, Roughead, Dew, Schoenmakers, Suckling, Thorpe West Coast: Butler 2, Lynch 2, Staker, McKinley, Hansen, Rosa BEST: Hawthorn: Franklin, Sewell, Hodge, Taylor, Mitchell, Dowler West Coast: Rosa, Priddis, Butler, Staker INJURIES: Hawthorn: Hodge (corked thigh) West Coast: Nil UMPIRES: Rosebury, Chamberlain, Stevic CROWD: 1,500 approx. at Visy Park

Port Adelaide vs St Kilda

A crowd of about 4,000 turned up at AAMI Stadium to see Port take a convincing win over St Kilda. The Saints welcomed back skipper Nick Reiwoldt to the side after undergoing knee surgery later in January. Steven Salopek picked up 32 possessions while former captain Warren Tredrea made a successful comeback after spending a few weeks on the sidelines. PORT ADELAIDE: 5.3, 11.7, 14.8, 17.11 (113) ST KILDA: 2.2, 2.3, 7.5, 9.5 (59) GOALS: Port: J.Westhoff 3, Gray 3, Ebert 3, Motlop 3, Thompson 2, P.Burgoyne, Tredrea, Carr St Kilda: Ball 2, Milne 2, McQualter, Dal Santo, Riewoldt, Kozchitzke, Lynch BEST: Port: Salopek, K.Cornes, Krakouer, C.Cornes, Carr, Cassisi, Lade St Kilda: Ray, X.Clarke, Fisher, Dal Santo, Jones, McEvoy INJURIES: Port: Lade (poke in eye) St Kilda: Hudghton (calf) CROWD: Approximately 4,000 at the AAMI Stadium

Essendon vs North Melbourne

Bendigo hosted a match between Essendon and North Melbourne which saw the Roos take a 16 point win after trialling at 3 quarter time. Dean Laidley was happy with the victory but more so with the fact his Roos escaped the preseason with no major injuries. Michael Hurley, taken with pick #5 in last years draft, booted a goal and took some nice overhead marks. NORTH MELBOURNE 9.1, 10.7, 12.11, 17.14 (116) ESSENDON 4.0, 7.4, 13.9, 15.10 (100) GOALS: North: Lower 3, Wells 2, Thomas 2, Harvey 2, Hale 2, Harding 2, J Smith, Petrie, Campbell, Anthony. Essendon: Lloyd 3, Stanton 2, Lovett, Lonergan, Nash, Hille, Hurley, Lucas, Davey, Fletcher, Hocking, Skipworth. BEST: North: Firrito, Wells, Harvey, Lower, Hansen, Gibson, Urquhart. Essendon: Skipworth, Lovett, Stanton, Lonergan, Dempsey, Fletcher. INJURIES: North: Nil. Essendon: Slattery (ankle), Watson (knock to head), Myers (ankle). REPORTS: Nil. CROWD: 2500 (approx.) at QEO, Bendigo.

Adelaide vs Sydney

Trent Hentschel looks set to make his long awaited return in round one after spending the past two seasons on the sidelines nursing a terrible knee injury. The 26 year old kicked three goals, took strong marks and moved freely as the Crows 28 point win over the Swans. The Swans kicked 6 last quarter goals but never looked like winning. Coach Paul Roos was disappointed in the result but more so with the poor work rate displayed by the Swans. ADELAIDE: 4.1, 8.6, 13.11, 15.13 (103) SYDNEY: 2.2, 3.5, 7.6, 11.9 (75) GOALS: Adelaide: Hentschel 3, Tippett 3, Walker 3, Vince 2, Petrenko, Mackay, Goodwin, Shirley Sydney: Hall 4, O’Keefe 2, McVeigh, Richards, Veszpremi, Barlow, White BEST: Adelaide: Goodwin, Johncock, Hentschel, Otten, Vince, Bock, Edwards Sydney: Goodes, Kirk, Bolton, McVeigh, Grundy, Malceski INJURIES: Nil REPORTS: Nil CROWD: 7,626 at the AAMI Stadium

Brisbane vs Richmond

Brisbane coach Michael Voss believes turn overs is what led to their 15 point loss to the Tigers on the Gold coast. Daniel Bradshaw dominated kicking 5 goals, while Nathan Brown booted 3 for the Tigers. Ben Cousins was one of the Tigers best ending with 25 touches and a goal. RICHMOND: 3.4, 7.6, 10.9, 12.13 (85) BRISBANE: 3.1, 5.2, 6.4, 11.4 (70) GOALS: Brisbane : Bradshaw 5, Drummond 2, Brown, Dalziell, Johnstone, Stiller. Richmond: Brown 3, Morton 2, Schulz 2, Cousins, Moore, Riewoldt, Bowden, Tuck. BEST: Brisbane : Bradshaw, Drummond, Adcock, Power. Richmond: Richardson, Schulz, Deledio, Cousins. INJURIES: Brisbane : Nil Richmond: Foley (lower leg) REPORTS: Nil CROWD: 4,369 at Carrara Stadium.

Melbourne vs Western Bulldogs

The Bulldogs have triumphed over the Demons in a wet clash at Casey Fields on Saturday. The 38 point win adds no justice to the efforts of the Demons side who were leading at 3 quarter time but failed to add to the scoreboard in the last quarter when the wind changed directions. Melbourne could also be without Clint Bartram in there round one match against North Melbourne who was reported for forceful front-on contact on Daniel Giansiracusa. Davey and Bell may also miss with injuries. Daniel Cross was one of the Bulldogs best after he managed 29 disposals in the wet conditions. MELBOURNE: 2.1, 7.3, 10.3, 10.3 (63) WESTERN BULLDOGS: 2.7, 5.10, 9.11, 14.17 (101) GOALS: Melbourne: Green 3, Miller, Jetta, Davey, McLean, Newton, McDonald, Jones Western Bulldogs: Hill 3, Johnson 2, Higgins 2, Griffen 2, Akermanis, Hahn, Harbrow, Cross, Ward BEST: Melbourne: Green, Morton, Buckley, Jetta, Newton, Moloney Western Bulldogs: Morris, Eagleton, Higgins, Hill, Giansiracusa, Cross INJURIES: Melbourne: Davey (bruised heel), Petterd (corked hip), Bell (suspected broken thumb) Western Bulldogs: Nil REPORTS: Clint Bartram (Melbourne) for forceful front-on contact on Daniel Giansiracusa (Western Bulldogs) CROWD: 2000 approx. at Casey Fields

Fremantle vs Carlton

Fremantle have ended there preseason on a high after thrashing a star studded Carlton by 43 points in Bunbury, Western Australia. Fremantle skipper Matthew Pavlich led the Dockers from the get go and stared in the Dockers midfield. Aaron Sandilands dominated the Blues ruck stocks. Chris Tarrant began his new role down back by lining up on spearhead forward Brendan Fevola who kicked three first quarter goals, finishing with four. FREMANTLE: 6.1, 10.3, 14.4, 20.6 (126) CARLTON: 3.5, 6.8, 10.8, 12.11 (83) GOALS: Fremantle : TBC Carlton: TBC BEST: Fremantle : TBC Carlton: TBC INJURIES: Fremantle : TBC Carlton: TBC REPORTS: TBC CROWD: TBC

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