FAFL 360: Round 4, 2020

Match Results:
Gold Coast 18.14 (122) defeated East Sydney 17.10 (112) at Carrara Stadium on the Gold Coast QLD
Melbourne 13.15 (93) defeated Melbourne City 2.6 (24) at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne VIC
Darwin 22.6 (138) defeated Geelong 13.4 (82) at Marrara Oval in Darwin NT
Hobart 18.7 (115) defeated Fremantle 14.14 (98) at Bellerive Oval in Hobart TAS
Adelaide 21.11 (83) defeated by Orange 16.8 (104) at Adelaide Oval in Adelaide SA
Perth 8.10 (58) defeated by Brisbane 25.18 (168) at Perth Stadium in Perth WA

Previous Jimmy Newman Medal Nominees for 2020:
Round 1: Ashlynn Adler (Darwin Storm)
Round 2: Dee Ashcroft (Hobart Wolves)
Round 3: Gunārs Krūmiņš (Melbourne City Mariners)

Jimmy Newman Medal Nominee for this round:
Round 4: Jay Samuelson (Adelaide Butcherbirds)
This week, There could really only be one nominee. With 40 disposals, 15 marks, 1 goal and 4 tackles to his name and inspiring his team to go from being drubbed by a huge margin to almost defeating the Orange Miners in 1 quarter. It is of course the No. 1 Draft Pick from the 2020 FAFL Draft, Jay Samuelson from the Adelaide Butcherbirds.

Coming into the game, Jay had not officially played a game of Aussie Rules Football but thanks to his athleticism shown in Division 2 College Basketball and his friendship and shared passion of the game with fellow draftee Ashlynn Adler. The down on their luck, Adelaide Butcherbirds took a punt on him with Pick No. 1 in the 2020 FAFL Draft.

Samuelson in his first couple of games was quite underwhelming and some were quick to label him with the “bust” label but this week, He proved himself as a star of the future with a breakout performance that saw him tackle Orange head on in a courageous performance and helped spur on the Butcherbirds to put in a great final quarter performance. Jay looks to be a star in the making and we hope he becomes the star that Adelaide needs right now.

Michael “Bendy” Bruce Medal Goalkicking Tally:
1. Colin Traveston (FRE) 25
2. Sky Corvidae (DAR) 24
3. Wolfe Hayward (HOB) 20
4. Lula Millward (PER) 18
=5. Angela Condie (MELB) 15
=5. Derrick Bristol (ESR) 15
=5. Lido Smith (BRIS) 15
8. Anthony Spalding (GCD) 14
=9. Katherine Slater (GCD) 13
=9. Liam King (ORA) 13
=9. Rudy Walker (ORA) 13
=9. Virginia Wilson (BRIS) 13

Current Injuries and Suspensions:
Darwin Storm:
Basil Onions (MID) - Striking Marco Donovan (GCD) Back by: Round 6
Sally McEwan (DEF) - Left Groin (3 Rounds) Back by: Round 6
Vickie Moss (FWD) - Osteitis Pubis (Rest of Season) Back by: 2021

East Sydney Roosters:
Seth Savege (DEF) – Right Quad Muscle (2 Rounds) Back by: Round 7

Fremantle Panthers:
Casey Moody (MID) – Left Quad Muscle (2 Rounds) Back by: Round 7

Geelong Generals:
Antía Abreu (DEF) - Right Shoulder (6 Rounds) Back by: Round 7
Alfred Gurns (DEF) - Left Hamstring (3 Rounds) Back by: Round 8

Gold Coast Dragons:
Brad Roy (DEF) - Right Hamstring (3 Rounds) Back by: Round 7
Brendan Murphy (FWD) - Left Hamstring (3 Rounds) Back by: Round 8

Hobart Wolves:
Dee Ashcroft (DEF) - Right Hamstring (3 Rounds) Back by: Round 7

Melbourne City Mariners:
Tyler Summers (MID) - Left Hamstring (3 Rounds) Back by: Round 6

Melbourne Hammerheads:
Michelle Black (MID) - Osteitis Pubis (Rest of Season) Back by: 2021

Perth Ospreys:
Vanessa Erickson (MID) - Osteitis Pubis (Rest of Season) Back by: 2021

This Week’s Games:
Round 5 | April 9 – 12
Thursday April 9th:
Gold Coast Dragons vs. Hobart Wolves @ Carrara Stadium, Gold Coast QLD (night)
Friday April 10th:
Perth Ospreys vs. Adelaide Butcherbirds @ Perth Stadium, Perth WA (night)
Saturday April 11th:
Orange Miners vs. Darwin Storm @ Bloomfield Oval, Orange NSW
Geelong Generals vs. Melbourne Hammerheads @ Kardinia Park, Geelong VIC (night)
Sunday April 12th:
Fremantle Panthers vs. Brisbane Brumbies @ Perth Stadium, Perth WA
Melbourne City Mariners vs. East Sydney Roosters @ Docklands Stadium, Melbourne VIC (twilight)

We hope your team wins this week but for now, See you next week.
Wes Kerry, Voice of FAFL Grandstand