Bayley Fritsch and Lachie Hunter celebrate a Melbourne goal against Collingwood on Monday. Photo: GETTY IMAGES

SYDNEY 9.12 (66) lost to ST KILDA 12.8 (80)
The Saints crashed Lance Franklin’s 350game milestone party as a streaker and a pair of 50-metre penalties shifted momentum during a tense final term. A dour, low-scoring first quarter was almost forgotten by the time Max King sealed the result with his third major in the dying stages. Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (30 touches, one goal) shone and Jack Sinclair (32 disposals, seven clearances) was superb, helping the Saints score their first SCG victory since 2009. Franklin kicked two goals from just six disposals, taking him past Doug Wade into outright fourth on the all-time AFL/VFL goal-kicking list. There was controversy in the aftermath when Dan Butler copped a one-match ban for what the match review officer determined was a “dangerous tackle” on Nick Blakey.

WESTERN BULLDOGS 13.7 (85) lost to PORT ADELAIDE 16.11 (107)
Charlie Dixon marked his return from injury with four goals as Zak Butters (31 disposals, one goal) shone again in the Power’s 10th consecutive victory. Also important were ruckman Scott Lycett, who outpointed mobile opponent Tim English, and key defender Aliir Aliir, blunted Dogs spearhead Aaron Naughton. Jason Horne-Francis was one of five Power players who kicked two goals apiece. Tom Liberatore (34 disposals, 21 contested possessions, 11 clearances), Marcus Bontempelli (31 touches, nine clearances) and Cody Weightman (three goals) impressed for the Bulldogs but couldn’t prevent a third straight defeat. The Dogs breathed a sigh of relief when captain Bontempelli was cleared of wrongdoing by the match review officer over a collision with Port’s Dan Houston.

HAWTHORN 15.8 (98) defeated BRISBANE 11.7 (73)
Chris Fagan bristled at questions over his side’s poor MCG record but it’s clearly an issue that needs addressing after the Lions conceded eight of the last nine goals in this boilover. Hawks captain James Sicily (32 disposals) played a key role in his first game back from a one-match suspension but is set for another stint on the sidelines after being sent directly to the tribunal for the dangerous tackle that knocked out Hugh McCluggage. Mitch Lewis and Eric Hipwood kicked four goals for their respective sides and Jacob Koschitzke added three for the Hawks, with James Worpel (32 disposals), Jarman Impey (28), Jai Newcombe (28) and Connor Macdonald (28, two goals) all impressing.

ADELAIDE 27.12 (174) defeated WEST COAST 8.4 (52)
Taylor Walker celebrated his 250-game milestone in a fashion that screamed “extend my contract” as he banged through 10 goals in an Adelaide Oval trouncing of the injury-ravaged Eagles. Records tumbled as the Crows booted the highest score of any side this season and posted their biggest win over West Coast, which copped the heaviest defeat of premiership coach Adam Simpson’s decade-long reign. Izak Rankine kicked three goals for Adelaide as Rory Laird (34), Jordan Dawson (32) and Ben Keays (29) racked up possessions at will. West Coast’s mid-season draftee Ryan Maric booted a goal with his first kick and finished with two.

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FREMANTLE 10.10 (70) lost to RICHMOND 12.13 (85)
The Tiger Army need not have worried about a lop-sided free-kick count (18-7) against their side as Shai Bolton inspired Richmond to a gutsy win. Bolton stood up in the final term as Fremantle surged, cutting the margin to seven points after it had blown out to 36 during the third quarter. The Tigers – led by Bolton (33 disposals, six clearances, one goal, 920m gained), Tim Taranto (35 touches, tow goals) and Jayden Short (20, three) – hung tough and were good value for their win. AFL officials ticked off the controversial review that denied Ethan Hughes a goal that would have brought the Dockers back within four points late in the final term. Richmond’s Rhyan Mansell was sent directly to the tribunal for a high bump on Dockers wingman James Aish. Young forward Jye Amiss kicked a career-best four goals for the home side.

NORTH MELBOURNE 11.9 (75) lost to GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 15.13 (103)
The Toby Greene Show hit Hobart as the Giants’ superstar skipper steered his side to victory with three goals from 24 disposals – and threw in a few party tricks to boot. Callum Brown also kicked three goals as Tom Green (26 touches, four clearances), Stephen Coniglio (25, seven) and Callan Ward (26, three) got to work in the middle. Nick Larkey booted four goals for North and rising star George Wardlaw earnt more praise from caretaker coach Brett Ratten after tallying a game-high nine tackles, 22 disposals and a goal. Tarryn Thomas (19 touches, three goals) also showed glimpses of his class in his second game back after a club-imposed ban.

CARLTON 6.16 (52) lost to ESSENDON 13.8 (86)
The Blues’ failure to put their opponents away in the second term came back to bite them as a Bomber blitz killed the contest in a 10-minute period after half-time. Peter Wright kicked five goals in his first game of the season after shoulder surgery, including three of Essendon’s seven majors in a dominant third term. Young midfielders Nic Martin (30 disposals, seven clearances), Ben Hobbs (24, two) and Jye Caldwell (25, four) starred for the Bombers and Archie Perkins put the clamps on Carlton skipper Patrick Cripps. The Blues’ scoring woes continued – they failed to reach 60 points for the fifth consecutive week as they suffered a sixth straight defeat.

MELBOURNE 8.18 (66) defeated COLLINGWOOD 9.8 (62)
Jack Viney (32 disposals, 11 tackles, nine clearances, one goal) was outstanding as Melbourne overcame horror set-shot goal-kicking to end ladder leader Collingwood’s winning streak at eight matches. Bayley Fritsch kicked three goals opposed to Magpies captain Darcy Moore, who hurt an ankle during the final term, and Dees recruit Brodie Grundy got one over his old side, kicking a third-quarter goal to silence the jeering Collingwood fans. Patrick Lipinski kicked two goals for the Magpies on return from a long-term shoulder injury and late majors to Brody Mihocek and Nick Daicos dragged Collingwood back within four points with 26 seconds left on the clock. But Melbourne ground out the dying stages, clinging to a tough win that further strengthens its spot in the top four.