Pirate Galaxy » are travelling.FRONT OFFICE ADDI

The bye rounds have now concluded and the top seven sides (yes, you read that correctly) are split by just one win.The shortened round 15 kicked off on Thursday night for the second successive week with the?Eagles belting the Bombers to ensure the top eight maintained a two game advantage over the chasing pack.?Friday night saw?Port Adelaide claiming the four points over Richmond for the second time in 2016 and now the Power seem the only side that can realistically push themselves into finals contention.The Gold Coast Suns were able to snap a 10-game losing streak when they got the better of a disappointing St Kilda outfit, before the Western Bulldogs stunned Sydney at the SCG in a thrilling four point win which will please ladder leaders Hawthorn who remain a game clear on top.?Arch-rivals Carlton and Collingwood played out a snoozefest on Saturday night, but the Magpies were able to make amends for their round seven loss to the Blues and ran out 12 point winners. It was the first time since 1966 that both sides failed to kick 60 points in their blockbuster clash.Adelaide overcame a gallant Melbourne on Sunday afternoon to extend their winning streak to six. The Demons played bold, exciting football, but couldnt match the firepower of the Crows who booted their 100 points in a match for the 11th time this year.HEROESThe Bulldogs selection committee:?The Dogs swept in the changes after their poor outing against Geelong prior to the bye. Out went Tom Campbell, Fletcher Roberts, Mitch Honeychurch, Josh Dunkley (all omitted) and Bailey Williams (knee). In came Jason Johannisen, after missing 9 games, Easton Wood, who had missed a month of football along with triple ACL victim Clay Smith, Lukas Webb and veteran Will Minson. All the inclusions played important roles as the Dogs won a last-gasp thriller at the SCG. Johannisen of course kicked the match-winner seconds before the final siren, but Wood added vital leadership and class with 11 intercepts, Minson battled hard in his first senior game of the season, while Smith showed just why he is so highly regarded with six tackles to go with 16 touches. It was a bold move by the Dogs to make so many changes pre-match; they then produced a statement performance to inflict the first loss for the seasoned Swans on their home deck in eleven outings.Travis Boak:?Boak has been criticised this season, having failed to reach the heights he has in previous years. But with Ports finals hopes on the line against Richmond on a drizzly Friday night in Adelaide, he stood up. It was a real captains game, featuring 26 possessions, a huge 11 tackles and two goals, and especially noteworthy after the clubs leaders had been challenged in the lead-up to the contest. Boak was hard and clean in the slippery conditions and really set the tone for his side, which outhunted the Tigers.Gold Coasts spine:?Any good side needs to have a strong list, particularly through the spine. Before feasting on the Saints on Saturday, the Suns had suffered 10 straight losses, with poor form and injury concerns hampering them all season. But in Stephen May, Rory Thompson, Aaron Hall, Tom Lynch and the emerging Peter Wright, Gold Coast have a spine that should hold them in good stead for years to come. Wright was particularly impressive against St Kilda with three goals and 10 marks, and he will be a terrific foil for Lynch, who is without doubt one of the best key forwards in the competition.VILLAINSSt Kildas away form:?What happens to the Saints as soon as they leave the cosy confines of Victoria? So far this season, theyve been largely uncompetitive interstate - losing by 33, 3, 103, 88 and now 40 points. Against the Suns on Saturday, they looked off from the first minute, lacking energy and making sloppy mistakes. Luckily for Alan Richardson and Co. the Saints dont travel outside of Victoria for the rest of the year but if they want to take the step from a promising team to a genuine finals contender, they need to address this inconsistency.Sydneys reliance on Lance Franklin:?Buddy was electric against the Dogs, collecting 21 disposals, 10 marks and booting five goals. He almost single-handedly dragged the Swans over the line, but the club needs to be careful in not becoming too Buddy-centric. Sydney only had five goal kickers against the Bulldogs, with several players missing very gettable shots on goal. They are missing Kurt Tippett massively and a few forwards are down on previous form. Franklin is red-hot but he needs more help especially as they prepare for the formidable defences of Geelong and Hawthorn in the next fortnight.Carlton vs. Collingwood:?Over the years, this has always been a game to look forward to - two genuine rivals who detest each other and go toe-to-toe for a full four quarters. But what a fizzer it was at the MCG on Saturday night. It really was a forgettable game of football. Both sides made shocking errors, but I guess it was no surprise that it was a clash between 13th and 14th on the ladder. Only the debut of third-generation Blue Jack Silvagni and the Collingwood skipper Scott Pendlebury, who looked a class above, provided any highlight.Darnell Savage Jr. Jersey . No. 13-seeded John Isner and No. 21 Philipp Kohlschreiber were among six players who dropped out of the tournament on Tuesday, joining No. 12 seed Tommy Haas and two other players who withdrew on Monday. Dave Robinson Packers Jersey . Blackwood, 28, has played the last three seasons in the San Diego Padres system, including the past two summers with Class AA San Antonio of the Texas League. http://www.shoptheofficialpackers.com/Elite-Brett-Favre-Packers-Jersey/ . Bjorn, who had a 36-hole total of 8-under 134, made a testing six-foot putt to save par on the 16th and a birdie on the 17th before bogeying the final hole after a misjudged approach shot. American Kevin Streelman was in second place after shooting a 69. Paul Hornung Youth Jersey . The 15th-ranked Canadian men lost the opening two games of their European tour: 19-15 to No. 17 Georgia and 21-20 to No. Custom Green Bay Packers Jerseys . Goals from Jerome Boateng, Franck Ribery and Thomas Mueller extended Bayerns unbeaten run to a record 37 matches. "This record is incredible," Bayern coach Pep Guardiola said.TORONTO -- Some old feelings of stress and satisfaction came flooding back to Tampa Bay pitcher Alex Cobb as he walked off the mound Wednesday.Cobb pitched 6 2/3 innings to win for the first time in almost two years, Kevin Kiermaier and Corey Dickerson hit two-run homers and the Rays beat the Toronto Blue Jays 8-1.Cobb (1-0) allowed one run and two hits to win for the first time since Sept. 23, 2014, against Boston. The oft-injured right-hander, who recently returned from elbow surgery, had gone 722 days between victories.I love winning, Cobb said. Its why starters go out there. You want to win the ball game, you want to work deep.Torontos Devon Travis doubled to lead off the first and scored on Edwin Encarnacions sacrifice fly, but the Blue Jays didnt get another hit until Dioner Navarros one-out single in the seventh.Ryan Garton came on after a two-out walk to Kevin Pillar and got Ryan Goins to pop out.First of all, I forgot how stressful it is leaving the game with runners on, Cobb said. Garton came up big for me and got that pop up. Before it was even caught I started having those feelings of satisfaction. You want to see the fruit of your labor.Third baseman Evan Longoria called Cobb the emotional leader of Tampa Bays staff.Its good to have him back, Longoria said. Im happy for him. I know how hard he worked to get back to this point.Dickerson echoed Longorias remark.Ive watched (Cobb) work from spring training through the season, seen the competitor that he is, Dickerson said. Hes an ace and he goes out there and pitches like it.Dickerson had three hits and four RBI as the Rays won for the sixth time in eight games at Rogers Centre.Last-place Tampa Bay now has a franchise-record 200 homers, eclipsing the previous mark of 199 in 2009.Reigning AL MVP Josh Donaldson sat out his third straight game for Toronto and underwent an MRI on his sore right hip. The results were not immediately available.Hopefully Ill be able to get back out there tomorrow, Donaldson said after the game.Toronto, now 3-9 in Seeptember, holds the second AL wild card after falling one game behind Baltimore, which beat Boston later Wednesday night.ddddddddddddThe Red Sox lead the AL East by one game over the Orioles and two over the Blue Jays.Ive got to believe were at rock bottom, manager John Gibbons said. I dont see how much lower it could go.Marco Estrada (8-9) allowed four runs and four hits in 5 1/3 innings. Hes 1-5 with an 6.95 ERA in his past seven starts.Im not going to change anything, Estrada said. I felt like I threw the ball really well.The right-hander struck out the Rays first five batters of the game, becoming the first Blue Jays pitcher to achieve the feat. Estrada was perfect through three before giving up three runs and three hits in the fourth.Logan Forysthe singled and Keiermaier followed with a first-pitch home run. Estrada left after Nick Franklins one-out single in the sixth. Matt Dermody came on and gave up Dickersons homer.GOOD TIMES ON GETAWAY DAYThe Rays have won three straight and six of seven on days when they are travelling.FRONT OFFICE ADDITiONLate in the game, Toronto announced the hiring of former Boston general manager Ben Cherington as Vice President of Baseball Operations.TRAINERS ROOMBlue Jays: GM Ross Atkins said Donaldsons hip was not responding to treatment. Atkins said he expected Donaldson to travel with his teammates to the West Coast as the Blue Jays begin a four-game series against the Angels on Thursday.UP NEXTRays: LHP Blake Snell (5-8, 3.62) faces the Orioles for the first time as Tampa Bay opens a four-game series at Baltimore on Thursday. Snell has faced every other AL East rival at least twice. RHP Yovani Gallardo (5-7, 5.44) starts for the Orioles.Blue Jays: LHP J.A. Happ (18-4, 3.33) starts against the Angels on Thursday. Happ snapped a three-start winless streak by beating Boston on Saturday. RHP Daniel Wright (0-2, 7.50) starts for Los Angeles. ' ' '