Anzac medallist Darcy Parish, who had 42 disposals, drives Essendon forward against Collingwood. Photo: GETTY IMAGES
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 9.11 (65) lost to WESTERN BULLDOGS 15.14 (104)
Two arch-rivals faced off in the nation’s capital and class eventually told as the ladder-leading Bulldogs broke the game open midway through the final term to maintain their unbeaten start to the season. Their midfield work and stoppage dominance was a highlight as Stefan Martin and Tim English combined with the likes of Jackson Macrae, Josh Dunkley and Adam Treloar, who continued his hot start to life in the tri-colour jumper. The Dogs turned for home three points in front and kicked nine goals to three in the final term. But the win came at a cost, with Dunkley (shoulder), English (head knock) and the terribly unlucky Lin Jong (hamstring) all suffering injuries. Jong’s return after a long list of serious injuries lasted just 20 minutes and he’s now set for another extended stint on the sidelines. Stand-in captain Toby Greene kicked four goals for the Giants, who lost Nick Haynes to a hamstring injury.
GEELONG 21.10 (136) defeated WEST COAST 5.9 (39)
There was doubt over whether this game would even go ahead because of Perth’s COVID-19 outbreak, and the West Australian side was probably wishing it didn’t. Leading by five points at quarter-time, the visitors went to water as rain fell at the Cattery and lost Jeremy McGovern to a groin injury in the process. The Cats’ 10-goal second term was capped off by Mitch Duncan’s 60-metre barrel after the half-time siren, which was confirmed as a goal on review as he took part in a television interview. Duncan, who finished with four majors, kicked his third of the day within 15 seconds of the restart after half-time as the procession continued. After trailing three goals to one, the Cats kicked the next 13 goals, and 20 of the last 22. Boom recruit Jeremy Cameron cashed in on McGovern’s absence, kicking 3.2 on his Cats debut and handing off another in the goal square. Former Cat Tim Kelly was held to just 16 disposals by Mark O’Connor in West Coast’s biggest defeat since 2009, one which had Eagles coach Adam Simpson admitting his side’s capitulation was embarrassing and weak.
GOLD COAST 15.10 (100) defeated SYDNEY 9.6 (60)
Young star Ben King kicked five goals in a career-best performance for the Suns as they bounced back from a humiliating defeat to the Western Bulldogs in emphatic fashion. Ben Ainsworth (three goals), Izak Rankine and Josh Corbett (two each) also hit the scoreboard as Touk Miller (36 disposals) and Noah Anderson (34) starred for the home side, while Nick Holman had a whopping 13 tackles. Gold Coast kicked nine goals to two during the second and third quarters to take complete control of the game. Veteran midfielders Josh Kennedy (42 disposals) and Luke Parker (36) worked tirelessly for the Swans, who have now lost two straight games after starting with four straight wins. Sydney’s George Hewett copped a head knock and had to be substituted out of the game.
CARLTON 12.13 (85) lost to BRISBANE 15.13 (103)
Carlton forward Harry McKay took All-Australian full-back Harris Andrews to the cleaners with a six-goal haul but couldn’t drag his side over the line. The Lions led by 31 points during the second quarter and kept the Blues at bay despite the hard work of Sam Walsh and Ed Curnow. Joe Daniher put the full-stop on the contest with a 60-metre bomb – his only goal of the night – with three minutes left on the clock. Hugh McCluggage and Daniel Rich were everywhere for Brisbane as the Lions temporarily climbed back into the top eight. There were two unusual incidents, with Brisbane star Lachie Neale coming under fire for touching an umpire when he attempted to alert the whistle-blower to his bleeding head, while Carlton’s Liam Stocker miscued a kick backwards and slotted one through the big sticks from the boundary line at the wrong end of the ground!
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MELBOURNE 12.10 (82) defeated RICHMOND 6.12 (48)
Christian Petracca stood up to be counted with an influential display in a showdown with Richmond superstar Dustin Martin, who looked a shadow of himself before sitting out the final quarter with concussion. Martin was well held by Michael Hibberd and was later revealed to be battling a foot injury. Petracca was dominant, registering 38 disposals, 10 clearances and a goal in a performance that earned him the Frank “Checker” Hughes Medal as best afield. Christian Salem and Clayton Oliver were important for the Dees, as was Tom McDonald, who kicked three goals. Jack Riewoldt kicked a goal of the year contender off the ground to open proceedings, but Damien Hardwick lamented Richmond’s inability to convert a whopping 60 forward entries into a winning score as Steven May and Jake Lever led Melbourne’s resolute defence.
FREMANTLE 14.15 (99) defeated NORTH MELBOURNE 6.12 (48)
Fremantle’s annual Len Hall Tribute match was played in front of empty stands as a result of Perth’s COVID-19 outbreak and three-day lockdown, but it didn’t adversely affect the home side. Evergreen veteran David Mundy played another starring role with 30 disposals, eight clearances and three goals as the Dockers comfortably put the winless Kangaroos to the sword. Andrew Brayshaw, Caleb Serong and captain Nat Fyfe were also influential as Matt Taberner and Lachie Schultz kicked four goals apiece. Jack Ziebell was the Kangaroos’ best but lacked help, while teammate Jy Simpkin will be looked at for a blow to Ethan Hughes’ ribs. The result saw Fremantle climb into the top eight, while North is the last remaining winless club after six rounds.
HAWTHORN 15.12 (102) defeated ADELAIDE 16.3 (99)
Hawthorn looked all but gone when it trailed by 32 points during the third quarter in Launceston, but produced a stunning turnaround late in the match. Jacob Koschitzke kicked five goals and Jaeger O’Meara (31 disposals) starred in the fightback as the Hawks booted six of the last seven goals in an irresistible surge. Impressive young defender Changkuoth Jiath and experienced midfielder Tom Mitchell were also important contributors for Alastair Clarkson’s side. Adelaide kicked 10 straight goals in the second quarter, including three to highly-rated debutant Riley Thilthorpe, and at one point had 15.0 on the scoreboard. But it still wasn’t enough to get the job done. No.2 draft pick Thilthorpe finished with five majors in an impressive first outing at senior level. The Hawks’ manner of victory was remarkably similar to their most recent triumph, when they fought back from 39 points down to beat Essendon in round one.
COLLINGWOOD 13.7 (85) lost to ESSENDON 16.13 (109)
Anzac Day Medal winner Darcy Parish produced a career-best game with 42 disposals and two goals as Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti (five goals) lit up the Bombers’ forward line. Collingwood kicked the first three goals of the match within six minutes but was then outplayed for long periods as poor foot skills proved costly. Isaac Quaynor, Josh Daicos Darcy Cameron (three goals) were good for the Pies, but the weight of numbers told as the Bombers made their chances count and kicked away during the final term. Essendon got good service from tall duo Peter Wright and Andrew Phillips, but lost unlucky key defender Aaron Francis to an ankle injury. Zach Merrett and Dyson Heppell were also good, while substitute David Zaharakis was important in defence after replacing Francis. The game was played in front of 78,113 fans – a world record crowd at a sporting event since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
PORT ADELAIDE 14.9 (93) defeated ST KILDA 5.9 (39)
The injury-hit Saints were an easy Sunday night kill at home for a Power unit that has hardly put a foot wrong this season. Orazio Fantasia and Steven Motlop kicked three goals apiece and Karl Amon had the ball on a string in the first half, finishing with 34 disposals as experienced campaigners Ollie Wines and Travis Boak racked them up through the midfield as usual. Seb Ross and co-captain Jack Steele worked hard for the outclassed Saints, who had five individual goal kickers. St Kilda’s Daniel McKenzie will come under scrutiny for a late bump on Ollie Wines that resulted in a head clash, which drew comparisons to the hit that landed Geelong star Patrick Dangerfield in hot water earlier this season.
