Carlton finds some fight after Jacob Weitering is hit late by the Crows’ Darcy Fogarty in the Blues’ win. Photo: GETTY IMAGES
BRISBANE 13.16 (94) defeated GEELONG 7.8 (50)
Talk about a statement – this was as big as they come at this stage of the season. Stung by a controversial defeat to the Cats after an umpiring blunder in round two, Brisbane took control of its own destiny from the opening bounce on Thursday night and had 11 scoring shots to one in the first quarter alone. The Lions’ pressure and ball use was at a level that justified their move up to third on the ladder as they leapfrogged Geelong in the process. Joe Daniher kicked four goals but was also fined $1000 for “staging” after a couple of dives that would have earned high marks from the Russian judge in Tokyo this year. Geelong forwards Tom Hawkins, Gary Rohan and Jeremy Cameron managed just two goals between them.
RICHMOND 2.10 (22) lost to ST KILDA 9.8 (62)
Even the most steadfast believers in Richmond as a 2021 premiership threat must now concede the Tigers are – at the very least – in trouble after they produced their lowest score since 1961. Luke Dunstan was outstanding for the Saints as ruck pair Rowan Marshall and Paddy Ryder reconnected and delivered the goods. Max King and Daniel McKenzie kicked two goals each in a low-scoring affair, with King and Jack Higgins both kicking tough set shots after coming under fire for some high-profile misses earlier in the season. Richmond’s call to bring in another tall – debutant Samson Ryan – backfired in wintery conditions. Noah Balta and Nathan Broad both suffered syndesmosis injuries in further blows to the Tigers’ flag hopes.
COLLINGWOOD 12.7 (79) lost to FREMANTLE 14.7 (91)
Plenty of followers would have changed their tips when Dockers skipper Nat Fyfe pulled out late, but few would have expected his replacement to be the match-winner. Brett Bewley had ice in his veins when he plunged a pair of daggers into Collingwood either side of a Lachie Schultz snap, with the low-profile pair finishing off a tight tussle. Liam Henry earned praise for his composure and Sean Darcy took another step forward in a ruck battle with Brodie Grundy, who pushed forward to kick two goals. Rory Lobb and Schultz kicked three each for Freo, which lost Matt Taberner (calf) to injury but had Andrew Brayshaw and David Mundy working overtime in the midfield. Pies’ youngster Beau McCreery left the field early with a hamstring injury in Robert Harvey’s first game as caretaker coach. Collingwood had just seven goals to three-quarter time but slammed on five in a final-quarter flurry that ultimately proved too little, too late.
NORTH MELBOURNE 9.18 (72) defeated GOLD COAST 9.9 (63)
It felt as though it had been coming since the bye and the Kangaroos put two near misses against GWS and Brisbane behind them to post their second win of the season in Hobart. Luke Davies-Uniacke, Cam Zurhaar and Ben Cunnington were brilliant for North and stand-in skipper Touk Miller had a game-high 32 disposals for the Suns. In desperate need of a win to turn its season around, Gold Coast had the last six scoring shots with the breeze at its back, but couldn’t muster a much-needed goal in the dying stages. Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein had urged local fans to jeer Suns chairman Tony Cochrane, who was in the crowd at Blundstone Arena, and Gutwein made his way to North’s changeroom post-match with a big smile on his face.
PORT ADELAIDE 12.9 (81) defeated SYDNEY 10.11 (71)
Lance Franklin sprung to life in the final quarter with three straight goals to drag the Swans back into the contest, but Port steadied and big ruckman Scott Lycett kicked the sealer in open play with two minutes left on the clock. Travis Boak and Ollie Wines starred again in one of the games of the season and Power key forward Charlie Dixon played out the game despite a foot injury. Franklin was reported for making high contact with Port’s Jarrod Lienert but should be free to play next week. It was a big win for the Power – just their second against one of the current top-eight this season.
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ESSENDON 8.9 (57) lost to MELBOURNE 9.14 (68)
Christian Petracca had a huge say again for the Dees with nine disposals and two goals in the third quarter, and let the Bomber fans know about it with a bit of by-play after nailing a set shot from the boundary. The red-and-black faithful were left seething about a string of umpiring decisions – none more so than a play-on call after Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti drilled James Harmes in a tackle that went unrewarded when the game was on the line. But Essendon’s ball use let it down as Dees defenders Steven May and Jake Lever had a field day repelling opposition raids. Zach Merrett (41) and Darcy Parish (37) had a mountain of touches, but Melbourne’s greater depth of contributors helped see it over the line.
GWS 11.6 (72) lost to HAWTHORN 13.12 (90)
A massive opportunity to break into the top eight missed by the Giants, who kicked the first four goals in a hot start but were behind by half-time and never regained the lead. Hawthorn forward Tim O’Brien took a huge pack mark in the goal square to set up one of his two goals and Dylan Moore kicked four, while Tom Mitchell had 40 disposals. Toby Greene was one of four Giants with two goals to their name. Shaun Burgoyne came on as a medical substitute in his 399th AFL game.
WEST COAST 6.7 (43) lost to WESTERN BULLDOGS 13.20 (98)
Aaron Naughton dominated in the air and finished with four goals as the Dogs inflicted West Coast’s heaviest defeat in 43 outings at their new home venue. Marcus Bontempelli kicked three goals from 29 disposals and Bailey Smith two from 31 in the demolition. The Dogs had 2.12 on the board at one point but cashed in on their dominance around the ground with six goals to one in the final term. The Eagles welcomed back a string of stars but it didn’t help as they were outclassed. West Coast also took a huge financial hit when the WA state government announced just hours before the match that crowds could not attend because of a positive COVID-19 case from a returned traveller in Perth.
CARLTON 12.11 (83) defeated ADELAIDE 10.13 (73)
An eight-goal second quarter gave Carlton the upper hand at Marvel Stadium in an entertaining contest. Eddie Betts kicked three goals against his old side and almost pulled down a huge mark on Patrick Cripps’ shoulders. Sam Walsh continued his great season with 38 disposals for the Blues and Harry McKay (two goals) was influential in attack. Taylor Walker kicked 3.4 for the Crows, who trailed by 34 points before mounting a late fightback. The match was in some doubt earlier when the Crows’ flight out of Adelaide was delayed by more than an hour.
