Adelaide trio Jake Soligo, Luke Pedlar and Lachlan Murphy get excited after a Crows goal on Sunday. Photo: AFL MEDIA
SYDNEY 11.11 (77) defeated CARLTON 6.15 (51)
Nick Blakey (26 touches, 10 intercepts) and Chad Warner (29 disposals, two goals) starred as John Longmire’s men gave their finals hopes a huge boost, kicking away from the inaccurate and injury-hit Blues late in the game. Sydney booted the final four goals and restricted Carlton to its lowest score since 2021. The Blues have now kicked 21.41 over the last three weeks and Harry McKay (0.3) came under fire again. Isaac Heeney and Sam Wicks did superb jobs for the Swans on Patrick Cripps and Adam Saad respectively, while Blues defender Jacob Weitering kept Lance Franklin goalless from seven disposals. Cripps, George Hewett (concussion), Nic Newman (hamstring) Ollie Hollands (shoulder) were all hurt and Adam Cerra copped a one-match ban for rough conduct. Swans co-captain Luke Parker was also hit with a one-match suspension for a dangerous tackle.
ST KILDA 12.6 (78) lost to HAWTHORN 12.16 (88)
Hawks captain James Sicily produced one of the games of the season with 43 disposals and 22 intercepts – and came under fire for a high bump on Anthony Caminiti – as his side shook off goalkicking yips to boot the last five majors of the match and post consecutive wins for the first time this season. A pair of Max King goals had given St Kilda the upper hand early in the second half and it led by 20 points during the final term, but could not stop the rampant Hawks late in the match. Midfielders Jai Newcombe, Dylan Moore, Will Day and Connor Nash all won plenty of the ball as Mitch Lewis and Luke Breust booted three goals each. King finished with four majors again – as he did in his comeback match six days earlier – but the Saints lost Hunter Clark to a knee injury.
MELBOURNE 10.12 (72) lost to FREMANTLE 12.7 (79)
Luke Jackson took over the No.1 ruck role when Sean Darcy went down with a hamstring injury and got one over his old side in another strong display. Jackson finished with 19 disposals, six tackles, eight clearances and a goal as the star for Fremantle, which took control in the third term and resisted the Demons’ inevitable challenge in the final term. Melbourne’s Christian Petracca (30 disposals, eight clearances) and Fremantle’s Andrew Brayshaw (29, seven) were big for their respective sides through the middle and Demons speedster Kozzy Pickett kicked a goal-of-the-year contender from the boundary line. Dockers talls Jye Amiss (three goals) and Josh Treacy (two) impressed in attack and superstar Nat Fyfe continued to build with 20 disposals and three clearances.
GEELONG 10.14 (74) lost to GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 12.9 (81)
The Giants ensured the post-match function to celebrate Toby Greene’s 200-game milestone was a boisterous one as they hung on in a tight finish. Giants pair Jake Riccardi and Brent Daniels traded blows with Cats duo Oliver Henry and Tyson Stengle in the final term, the quartet kicking two goals each as Geelong cut a 24-point deficit back to two points before Daniels settled the issue. Greene laid the platform with four first-half goals and Stephen Coniglio and Callan Ward were strong contributors, while Lachie Keeffe earnt plaudits for his job on Tom Hawkins (one goal). The Cats suffered a third-straight defeat for the second time this season and lost tall defender Esava Ratugolea to a hamstring injury.
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GOLD COAST 13.6 (84) defeated WESTERN BULLDOGS 11.11 (77)
Jack Lukosius booted five goals – four of them from five kicks in a brilliant second-quarter performance – as the Suns held off a late challenge to post arguably their best win of the season. Matt Rowell starred in Darwin, tallying 29 disposals and a career-best 16 clearances in a superb display against the vaunted Bulldogs on-ball division. The Suns led by 23 points late in the third quarter but Cody Weightman cut the margin to one point from a free kick with more than five minutes left to play. The free kick was under the spotlight, with Weightman accused of taking a dive. Jamarra Ugle-Hagan kicked three goals for the Bulldogs, but Suns backmen Sam Collins and Charlie Ballard were strong contributors in that area of the ground.
WEST COAST 6.10 (46) lost to ESSENDON 14.12 (96)
The Bombers booted five of the last six goals to blow the margin out late as Nic Martin – a WAFL product who trained with West Coast before joining Essendon – enjoyed a career-high 31 disposals in a happy homecoming in Perth. Zach Merrett (32 touches, five clearances) and Kyle Langford (three goals) shone for the visitors, while Jake Stringer helped set up the win with a strong first half. Stringer had 18 touches, one goal, two goal assists and an equal game-high five tackles. Oscar Allen continued to be a shining light for the last-placed Eagles in attack, kicking four goals to take his tally to 29 for the season.
RICHMOND 9.13 (67) lost to PORT ADELAIDE 10.17 (77)
The Power didn’t have a single multiple goalkicker and managed just 10 majors despite a lopsided 67-45 inside-50 count but still managed to tough out an eighth straight victory – their fourth consecutive win on the road. Midfield stars Zak Butters, Connor Rozee and Jason Horne-Francis all impressed, though the latter was booed again by opposition supporters. Key defenders Aliir Aliir and Trent McKenzie were also important. Richmond trimmed a 25-point quarter-time deficit back to two points early in the final term but the Tigers couldn’t post an upset to mark their start to life after Damien Hardwick. Midfield gun Tim Taranto was best afield under caretaker coach Andrew McQualter with four goals, 33 disposals, seven tackles and seven clearances.
COLLINGWOOD 16.9 (105) defeated NORTH MELBOURNE 10.10 (70)
Magpies veteran Steele Sidebottom was substituted out of his 300th game with a right knee injury (MCL) before quarter-time. It was a sour note to an otherwise professional performance from the flag favourites, who held off their opponents in a largely scrappy affair. Jordan De Goey (35 disposals, one goal) and Nick Daicos (32, one) starred, Isaac Quaynor was prominent in defence, Brody Mihocek and Josh Daicos booted three goals each and Mason Cox kicked two in his 100th game. North spearhead Nick Larkey booted five goals as Hugh Greenwood (25 touches, 10 clearances) and Bailey Scott (30 touches, one goal) fought hard for the Kangaroos.
ADELAIDE 14.11 (95) defeated BRISBANE 10.18 (78)
Bad kicking is bad football and the Lions’ inaccuracy proved extremely costly. The margin was just three points late in the third quarter, but Adelaide kicked six of the next eight goals to pull 30 points clear and put the game to bed. Taylor Walker kicked three majors as Jordan Dawson (32 touches), Rory Laird (27) and Ben Keays (28) racked up a heap of touches. Izak Rankine (23 disposals, two goals) and running defender Wayne Milera were also outstanding. Former Crows forward Charlie Cameron kicked four goals against his old side and Joe Daniher finished with two for Brisbane. Lions veteran Dayne Zorko will come under scrutiny over contact with Luke Pedlar’s eye region. Josh Dunkley (29 disposals, seven clearances) and Lachie Neale (26, 11) worked hard for Brisbane.
