Josh Rachele celebrates a goal during Adelaide’s big win over St Kilda on Sunday afternoon. Photo: AFL MEDIA
RICHMOND 16.6 (102) defeated GEELONG 11.12 (78)
Trent Cotchin and the Tigers silenced some critics as they banked consecutive wins for the first time this season. Former skipper Cotchin returned from a week off and booted three goals, while fellow veteran Dustin Martin kicked four. Nathan Broad did a superb job on Jeremy Cameron (one goal) and Noah Balta impressed after coughing up two early goals to Tom Hawkins, who finished with three. A philosophical Chris Scott didn’t seem too concerned with his undermanned Cats’ defeat, buoyed by the performance of new additions like Jhye Clark and Tanner Bruhn, while comfortable in the knowledge he has eight premiership players to return from injury and suspension.
WEST COAST 6.7 (43) lost to GOLD COAST 16.17 (113)
Scores were level five minutes into the second term before the Suns flicked a switch and eclipsed their hosts with eight unanswered goals leading into the main break. Gold Coast won a staggeringly lopsided contested possession count 43-16 during the second-quarter obliteration. Suns midfielder Matt Rowell had a monster 17 tackles to go with 29 possessions, six clearances and a goal. Ben King booted four majors, Jarrod Witts had 48 hit-outs and Charlie Ballard shone with 11 marks – eight of those contested – after recovering from Jacob van Rooyen’s clumsy spoil six days earlier. Eagles stand-in captain Liam Duggan had 32 disposals and rising star Reuben Ginbey laid 16 tackles. Injury-ravaged West Coast’s woes worsened when Jack Darling (arm) and Jamaine Jones (broken nose) were hurt.
SYDNEY 13.8 (86) lost to FREMANTLE 16.7 (103)
Luke Jackson played his best game in Fremantle colours with 17 disposals, 10 contested possessions, three contested marks and three goals. The former Demons ruck-forward combined with Josh Treacy and Jye Amiss (two goals each) to expose Sydney’s injury-hit back-line. Dockers midfielders Caleb Serong (33 disposals, eight clearances) and Andrew Brayshaw (31, seven) shone at the feet of dominant big man Sean Darcy (44 hit-outs, 18 disposals, nine clearances). Lachie Schultz kicked four goals and skipper Alex Pearce held Lance Franklin goalless from four touches, while Nat Fyfe had six touches in 25 per cent game time in his second appearance as a substitute. Errol Gulden was the Swans’ best with 39 disposals, eight clearances and two goals.
NORTH MELBOURNE 10.5 (65) lost to PORT ADELAIDE 20.15 (135)
Jason Horne-Francis got the last laugh against his old side as Port Adelaide made it six wins in a row with a comfortable victory in Hobart. “The Hornet” kicked one goal from 15 disposals and Jeremy Finlayson booted three, while Power skipper Tom Jonas slotted his second career major and first since 2014. The trio were among their side’s 14 goalkickers – the most Port Adelaide has had in a single game since 2006. Veteran North ruckman Todd Goldstein had 56 hit-outs, 24 disposals and 11 clearances, and Luke Davies-Uniacke (29 disposals, eight clearances) had a crack, but the Kangaroos lacked enough contributors to compete. They also had Darcy Tucker (hamstring), Flynn Perez (concussion), Jack Mahoney (shoulder), Paul Curtis (corked leg) and Davies-Uniacke (hamstring) go down with injuries. To complete a dirty day, Aidan Corr was handed a one-match suspension for striking Port Adelaide’s Ollie Lord.
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HAWTHORN 7.7 (49) lost to MELBOURNE 15.13 (103)
The Demons ended this game as a contest early as they led by 34 points at quarter-time and kicked eight goals to one in the first half. Hawthorn showed fight after the main break and outscored their opponents in the third quarter, but the damage had been done and Melbourne kicked away again in the final term. Christian Petracca had 30 disposals, six clearances and five goal assists, and attempted to allay fears over a late foot injury, declaring himself fine in a post-match interview. Fellow midfield guns Clayton Oliver and Jack Viney were also busy in the engine room, and Kysaiah Pickett epitomised the Demons’ commitment to one-percenters with his pressure game. Melbourne had a dozen goalkickers, but lost Harrison Petty, who was lively early with two majors, to a bruised foot in the first half.
BRISBANE 12.15 (87) defeated ESSENDON 6.9 (45)
Joe Daniher booted six goals against his former side as the Lions made it six wins on the bounce with a strong second half. Brisbane trailed by 10 points at half-time but quickly took charge when Daniher, who had kicked the Lions’ only two goals of the first half, added the first two majors after the main break. It sparked a run of five straight for the home side. Lachie Neale (34 disposals) and Will Ashcroft (28) were prolific for Brisbane and Mason Redman had 30 touches for Essendon, who missed Darcy Parish (calf) in the midfield. Andrew McGrath shut down dangerous Lions forward Charlie Cameron.
CARLTON 8.11 (59) lost to WESTERN BULLDOGS 11.13 (79)
Blues fans vented their anger when their side trailed four goals to one at half-time and rode an emotional rollercoaster after the main break. Carlton trailed by 31 points but kicked six consecutive goals to hit the front before the Bulldogs steadied with five of the last six goals. Tom Liberatore (26 disposals, 13 clearances) and Bailey Smith (30 disposals, 10 clearances) were massive for Luke Beveridge’s side and both kicked crucial final-quarter goals. Coleman Medal contender Charlie Curnow kicked 2.3, including an important goal at a big moment in the last term, but forward line partner Harry McKay finished goalless. Dogs forward Anthony Scott and Blues counterpart Matthew Owies kicked three majors each for their respective sides.
ADELAIDE 19.7 (121) defeated ST KILDA 10.9 (69)
Taylor Walker led the charge with five goals as the Crows stormed back into the top eight. Adelaide kicked six first-quarter goals to one in another hot start at home, which set the tone for this encounter. The Crows didn’t let up, posting their biggest score of Matthew Nicks’ tenure and fourth triple-figure tally of the season. Captain Jordan Dawson (33 disposals) excelled again as Brodie Smith (32) and Wayne Milera (26) shone at half-back. Izak Rankine, Darcy Fogarty and Luke Pedlar kicked two goals each. After a 4-0 start, St Kilda has now lost three of its last five games. Saints forward Tim Membrey was concussed when his head hit the turf in landing heavily from a marking contest.
COLLINGWOOD 18.12 (120) defeated GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 7.13 (55)
Jordan De Goey and Mason Cox were the brightest stars as the Magpies brushed off GWS to post a fifth-straight win, which sent them back to the top of the ladder. De Goey had 20 disposals and five clearances in the first half when the game was there to be won and Cox was the dominant big man on the ground, sparking celebrations in the stands when he took a strong grab and booted his second goal early in the final term. Bobby Hill (two goals) kicked a superb dribbling goal – the game’s first – as he celebrated his 50th AFL game in style against his old side. Jamie Elliott booted three majors as one of seven multiple goalkickers for the Pies. GWS midfielders Tom Green (30 disposals, eight clearances), Stephen Coniglio and Lachie Ash (both 32 touches) fought hard for the visitors and Jesse Hogan booted three goals.
