“I’ve got you guys licked!” Jake Stringer celebrates ones his four goals for Essendon against Hawthorn. Photo: GETTY IMAGES
GEELONG 12.11 (83) defeated WESTERN BULLDOGS 11.12 (78)
The fairytale looked just about complete when Toby McLean rolled through a goal to put the Bulldogs in front in his comeback match, just nine months after tearing an ACL. The problem was there were still nearly four minutes left to play. In a frantic finish befitting a tough contest between two flag contenders, it was Gary Rohan who stood tall and grabbed his moment. His set shot from 48m on a tough angle started as if it would drift to the right but corrected itself mid-flight with a neat little draw to give the Cats a memorable win after the siren. Joel Selwood was a star for the Cats but was booked by the MRO for rough conduct and misconduct over separate incidents in the heat of battle, fined $3000 for both charges. Both sides lost key players, with Aaron Naughton (ribs) subbed out at half-time and Mitch Duncan (knee) unlikely to play again until September after landing awkwardly during the first quarter.
GOLD COAST 4.7 (31) defeated by PORT ADELAIDE 12.9 (81)
The Suns’ dire season got worse in a hammering from an Ollie Wines-inspired Power outfit that had far too many winners across the ground. Wines had 44 disposals as Connor Rozee (three goals) shone in attack, but a knee injury to milestone man Robbie Gray in his 250th game put a dampener on proceedings. Teammate Lachie Jones (hamstring) and Suns duo David Swallow (head knock) and Lachie Weller (hamstring) also failed to finish the match. Touk Miller continued his consistent season for the Suns and Matt Rowell impressed in his second game back from injury. But Port kicked seven of the first eight goals to put the game to bed early and kept touch with the top-four after the previous week’s home loss to Geelong.
NORTH MELBOURNE 6.9 (45) defeated by BRISBANE 9.14 (68)
The Lions simply banked the four points and moved on after a scrappy affair in difficult conditions at a wet Blundstone Arena. They trailed North late in the third quarter before Eric Hipwood took a big contested mark and bombed a goal from 50 metres. Brisbane’s experienced midfielders then asserted their authority at the coalface to provide the platform for a three-goals-to-one final term, with Jarryd Lyons, Lachie Neale and Hugh McCluggage influential. Lincoln McCarthy (two goals) was another important contributor for Brisbane as Nick Larkey kicked three goals for North, whose vice-captain Luke McDonald successfully completed a match for the first time this season after overcoming his injury woes. The win in Hobart against fellow Tasmanian David Noble was a fitting way for Brisbane coach Chris Fagan to celebrate his 100th match at the helm.
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GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 16.6 (102) defeated CARLTON 9.12 (66)
It was one of those classic Toby Greene nights when the Giants’ stand-in skipper played a huge role in his side’s win and got himself in trouble at the same time. Greene kicked four goals from 20 disposals, including a mammoth torpedo after the quarter-time siren, but attracted attention of the wrong kind for an off-the-ball hit on Nic Newman. Greene and Jeremy Finalyson (five goals) matched the Blues’ tally of nine goals as GWS kicked 39 points clear midway through the match, rode a challenge late in the third quarter and managed their way to an important win. Harry McKay kicked three goals for Carlton to maintain his lead in the Coleman Medal race, but it was another disappointing night for the Blues, who suffered their heaviest defeat of the year in their first outing since the club announced a sweeping review of the football department.
HAWTHORN 10.13 (73) lost to ESSENDON 13.8 (86)
Jake Stringer had a day out as the Bombers proved too good for their old rivals in front of an energetic crowd in Launceston. Stringer’s four goals – he also had 29 disposals, six clearances and 10 inside 50s – were crucial in a tight game as Harrison Jones and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti kicked two goals each, and Bombers ruckman Sam Draper had a game-high nine clearances on return from an ankle injury. Luke Breust and Jacob Koschitzke kicked three goals apiece for Hawthorn and Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O’Meara racked up touches at will, but it wasn’t enough for the gallant Hawks, who lost exciting defender Changkuoth Jiath to a mystery injury in the dying stages. The game wasn’t over until star midfielder Darcy Parish bobbed up at a forward-50 stoppage to kick the sealer with less than a minute left on the clock.
