Max Holmes was busy with 27 disposals in Geelong’s Easter Monday thrashing of Hawthorn at the MCG. Photo: AFL MEDIA
BRISBANE 18.8 (116) defeated COLLINGWOOD 11.17 (83)
Cam Rayner (four goals) spearheaded Brisbane’s attack and Charlie Cameron (six) shone as the Lions – far stronger at home than on the road this season – put another flag contender to the sword at a sold-out Gabba. Fourth-gamer Will Ashcroft (26 disposals, five clearances), Josh Dunkley, Lachie Neale and Hugh McCluggage ran the midfield show as the Lions piled on 10 straight goals through the second and third quarters to take a stranglehold on the contest. Collingwood’s makeshift ruck division was smashed by Oscar McInerney, though the Pies still managed to outscore their opponent from stoppages. Nick Daicos continued his red-hot start with game-high 38 disposals, 16 contested possessions and two goals . He could have had an even greater impact but missed two further shots at goal. Jamie Elliott (0.3) was also unusually wayward in attack but Brody Mihocek kicked three goals, all in the third term. Jack Crisp was quiet 24 hours after the leaking of a video that is now the subject of an AFL investigation.
NORTH MELBOURNE 11.18 (84) lost to CARLTON 16.11 (107)
Twin towers Charlie Curnow (six goals) and Harry McKay (four) stood tall to expose North Melbourne’s under-sized defence as unbeaten Carlton’s win confirmed its best start to a season since the 1995 premiership season. Patrick Cripps (29 touches, nine clearances) asserted his influence as the Blues kicked six goals to one in a match-winning third-quarter burst. Defender Mitch McGovern (27 disposals, six marks) and silky speedster Zac Fisher (28 disposals, five clearances) were also effective. Harry Sheezel (37 disposals) continued his excellent start for North Melbourne as Jaidyn Stephenson and Cam Zurhaar kicked three goals apiece, while Luke Davies-Uniacke (30 disposals) and Jy Simpkin (29) won plenty of the ball. A bumper crowd of 49,062 at Marvel Stadium boosted the Kangaroos’ chances of retaining rights to the annual Good Friday match despite another loss in the marquee event.
ADELAIDE 17.9 (111) defeated FREMANTLE 10.12 (72)
Question marks hung over Jordan Dawson’s Showdown Medal win but few would dispute the Crows’ skipper receiving three Brownlow votes for his 27-disposal, five-clearance and one-goal performance against a listless Fremantle. Rory Laird (28 disposals), Brodie Smith (24) and Rory Sloane (23) all shone among a host of contributors for Adelaide as Taylor Walker (four goals), Izak Rankine and Josh Rachele (three each) cashed in on the hard work in attack. Caleb Serong (28 disposals, 10 clearances) was a standout for the Dockers and Andrew Brayshaw (31, five) worked hard as Lachie Schultz, Bailey Banfield and Matt Taberner kicked two goals apiece. But the visitors failed to match their hosts’ enthusiasm and work rate around the contest. The result squared the Crows’ ledger at 2-2 after a winless opening fortnight.
RICHMOND 12.12 (84) lost to WESTERN BULLDOGS 12.17 (89)
A withering second-quarter burst by the Tigers turned a 29-point deficit into a 14-point lead at half-time but it was the Bulldogs who prevailed in a classic. Shai Bolton’s goal with 30 seconds left set up a grandstand finish in a see-sawing encounter, only for the Dogs to hold on in what Luke Beveridge branded an “important afternoon” for his side. Bolton and Aaron Naughton kicked three goals each at opposite ends and Dogs star Tom Liberatore was superb with 23 disposals, 10 tackles, seven clearances and two goals. Marcus Bontempelli (25 disposals, 11 clearances) and Adam Treloar (25, 10) also had a huge say for the Dogs. Tom Lynch was referred directly to the tribunal over a collision with Alex Keath at a marking contest, which left the Bulldogs defender concussed. It was later revealed Lynch played out the match with a fractured foot, which will require surgery and sideline the star Tiger for an extended period. As well as Keath, the Bulldogs also lost Hayden Crozier (back) to injury. Tigers veteran Trent Cotchin was “managed” as the substitute but came in for injured teammate Jack Graham (hamstring) before half-time.
PLEASE HELP US CONTINUE TO THRIVE BY BECOMING AN OFFICIAL FOOTYOLOGY PATRON. JUST CLICK THIS LINK.
ST KILDA 17.11 (113) defeated GOLD COAST 8.12 (60)
Stuart Dew declared the Suns’ first quarter their best of the season but a two-point lead at the first break wasn’t enough. St Kilda pounced, torching the visitors during the second and third terms to run away with a fourth straight win in a dream start to Ross Lyon’s second stint as coach. Jack Sinclair (31 disposals, one goal), Seb Ross (30, one) and Brad Crouch (34 touches, six clearances) were important. But it was high-leaping second-year forward Mitch Owens who most excited Saints fans with an energetic display in attack, finishing with 2.2 from 27 disposals. Touk Miller (32 disposals, 10 clearances), Noah Anderson (37 disposals, 10 tackles, seven clearances) and Lachie Weller (30 disposals) didn’t stop working for Gold Coast. One sour note for St Kilda was a nasty-looking ankle injury to Jack Bytel.
SYDNEY 9.10 (64) lost to PORT ADELAIDE 9.12 (66)
Jeremy Finlayson kicked a game-high three goals as Port overran an injury-hit Sydney, which would have pinched victory if Ollie Florent’s last-gasp shot had not fallen agonisingly short. The Swans lost key defensive duo Paddy and Tom McCartin to concussion before half-time. It sparked particular fears over Paddy McCartin, given his history with head knocks. Despite the injuries, Sydney was cruising early in the final term when it opened up a 20-point lead. But Port had other ideas, kicking four of the last five goals to snatch a thrilling win that squared its season ledger at 2-2. Chad Warner (30, nine clearances, two goals) tried to drag the Swans over the line as Zak Butters (27 disposals, one goal), Xavier Duursma and Connor Rozee shone for the Power.
ESSENDON 11.22 (88) defeated GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 11.9 (75)
A brilliant torpedo on the run was the highlight from Jake Stringer as the Bombers’ X-factor exploded back to form in a match-winning display. Stringer kicked 4.6 from 15 disposals and had four clearances as teammates Darcy Parish (30), Dylan Shiel (28) and Zach Merrett (28) racked up touches through the middle. Essendon managed just three goals from 16 scoring shots in the first half but defied the woeful accuracy when it pulled away early in the final term. Bombers veteran Dyson Heppell was dropped to the substitute role as Brad Scott opted for two rucks, pairing Sam Draper with Andrew Phillips. GWS coach Adam Kingsley conceded his side was “pretty ordinary” despite the best efforts of Tom Green (34 disposals) and Josh Kelly (28) in the middle.
WEST COAST 9.9 (63) lost to MELBOURNE 19.12 (126)
Tom McDonald might have been lucky to be granted a reprieve after he was dropped the previous week – recalled in place of injured teammate Ben Brown – but made it count as the attacking focal point in what amounted to a Demons training run in Perth. McDonald finished with four goals, 16 disposals, three contested marks and three score assists, while Bayley Fritsch added three majors. Brodie Grundy starred again in opposition to injury-ravaged West Coast’s makeshift ruck department and Melbourne midfield stars Clayton Oliver (34 disposals, 10 clearances, 10 tackles) and Christian Petracca (29 disposals, three goals) shone. Tim Kelly (36 disposals, five clearances, two goals) was the Eagles’ best and Oscar Allen kicked three goals.
GEELONG 19.13 (127) defeated HAWTHORN 6.9 (45)
Jeremy Cameron kept Geelong in the contest early and finished with a game-high seven goals as the reigning premier turned a nine-point half-time deficit into an emphatic statement of intent. Winless through the opening three rounds, the Cats started slowly and coughed up the first three goals in nine minutes. But with Cameron firing and Patrick Dangerfield (27 disposals) back in form, Chris Scott’s men were not going to be denied again. They piled on 10.5 (65) and kept the Hawks scoreless in the third quarter before cruising to victory. Mitch Duncan (31 disposals), Isaac Smith (27) and Max Holmes (27) were all busy and Ollie Henry (two goals) had an impact as a substitute after Jew Bews (concussion) was taken out of the game at half-time. Luke Breust kicked two of the first three goals but it was a dirty day for the Hawks after the main break. Gary Rohan and Will Day will both be looked at for sling tackles, while Lloyd Meek raised eyebrows when he raised his knee into Mark Blicavs at a ruck contest.
