That’ll do! Mason Redman and Jake Stringer get happy after another Essendon goal against Gold Coast. Photo: AFL MEDIA
WESTERN BULLDOGS 13.6 (84) defeated ST KILDA 7.14 (56)
Luke Beveridge’s famous themed pep talks are still getting through to his playing group if their goal celebrations are anything to go by. There were plenty of them in the first half as Bulldogs players made horn gestures in reference to Beveridge’s pre-match chat about the Cape buffalo, which are supposedly well-known for protecting each other. Jamarra Ugle-Hagan booted three goals and Marcus Bontempelli added some of the “sheen” to his game that Beveridge had craved as the Dogs pulled 50 points clear by three-quarter time. Four Saints goals narrowed the gap until Bontempelli (34 disposals, two goals) emphatically shut the gate in an important victory. Max King booted two for the Saints, who have slipped out of the top eight with losses in five of their last six games.
ADELAIDE 13.8 (86) lost to COLLINGWOOD 14.7 (91)
If Nick Daicos didn’t already have the Rising Star award wrapped up, he does now. The 19-year-old was best afield with three goals from 40 disposals, playing the lead role in another tight – and crucial – Collingwood victory. The Magpies had trailed by three kicks during the third term but finished full of running in the wet. Daicos kicked the first two goals of the final term to put them in front and they held on, celebrating Scott Pendlebury’s 350-game milestone in style. It’s hard to believe Daicos, who also had 10 intercept possessions and laid five tackles, has played just 17 games. Crows veteran Taylor Walker booted five goals and almost dragged his side over the line. His fifth gave them hope with more than six minutes left on the clock, but it wasn’t to be. Collingwood’s eighth consecutive win has put them in the top-four hunt, with those victories coming by an average margin of just 12 points.
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 9.5 (59) lost to BRISBANE 15.9 (99)
Hugh McCluggage continued his stellar season with four goals from 30 disposals to help the Lions tick a box in their pursuit of a top-four berth. Toby Greene booted four first-half goals to keep GWS in the contest in the nation’s capital, but Brisbane booted nine of the next 10 after the main break to pull clear. Brisbane “barometer” Rhys Mathieson had 23 disposals and 10 clearances in an influential performance in his first senior appearance of the year, and Dan McStay was important in a ruck-forward role. The Lions dominated clearances (49-24) and inside-50s (58-35) in a one-sided contest as Harry Himmelberg, Tim Taranto and Sam Taylor did their best to stop the margin blowing out further. Charlie Cameron and Cam Rayner booted three goals each for the Lions, with Eric Hipwood and McStay (two each) also getting in on the scoring action.
NORTH MELBOURNE 15.8 (92) defeated RICHMOND 11.22 (88)
The Kangaroos put in their entry for the upset of the season in a boilover against Damien Hardwick’s flag hopefuls. Hardwick summed up what he termed a “diabolical” and “abysmal” performance as “Richmond killing Richmond at the moment”. It was hard to argue with the triple-premiership coach after witnessing the Tigers blow a string of easy chances in front of goal. They trailed by 32 points at half-time and while there was a sense of inevitability about them hitting the front in the final term, few saw last-placed North fighting back again. Cam Zurhaar (six goals) kicked what proved to be the match-winner with three minutes left before Jake Aarts’ brain explosion cost Richmond dearly. Aarts marked 30m from goal in the final minute and inexplicably played on, with his follow-up snapshot rushed through for a behind. The Kangaroos’ win snapped a 14-match losing streak in Leigh Adams’ first match as caretaker coach after he took over from the departed David Noble.
CARLTON 8.7 (55) lost to GEELONG 12.13 (85)
The ladder-leading Cats flexed their collective muscle with an eighth straight victory, proving far too classy for an opponent that many consider a possible premiership contender. Jeremy Cameron booted three majors, including a goal of the year fancy from deep in the pocket during the third term, and Tom Hawkins kicked two. Geelong’s midfield got on top in what Blues coach Michael Voss conceded was a “ruthlessly efficient” display from the victors. Charlie Curnow kicked three goals for Carlton but Harry McKay was shut down by young Cats star Sam De Koning. The Blues led by three points at the first break but managed just four goals from then on despite the best efforts of Sam Walsh (33 disposals). The only negative for Geelong was the loss of Sam Menegola to concussion.
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FREMANTLE 9.11 (65) lost to SYDNEY 11.16 (82)
Chad Warner (35 disposals, seven clearances and a goal) was the star for Sydney as the visitors ran over the top of their hosts with eight goals to three in the second half. Fremantle defender Griffin Logue kept Lance Franklin (one goal, seven disposals) quiet but Dockers teammates Andrew Brayshaw (20 disposals) and Nat Fyfe (15) were well below their best. Errol Gulden (two goals, 21 disposals) was influential for the Swans, who frustrated Fremantle with their chip-and-mark tactics that expertly sliced through the Dockers’ defensive set-up. Fremantle led by 21 points in the shadows of half-time but gifted Franklin an important goal on the siren. The result was a big sliding doors moment, with Fremantle now clinging to fourth spot on percentage, just one win clear of sixth-placed Sydney.
HAWTHORN 15.12 (102) defeated WEST COAST 12.5 (77)
Luke Breust made a mockery of Melbourne’s wintry conditions with an equal career-high six goals as the Hawks bagged the sixth win of Sam Mitchell’s debut season in charge. Hawthorn kicked away with seven goals in the second quarter but was made to work for the result. The Eagles, led by Andrew Gaff (30 disposals) and Tim Kelly (21, one goal), were within two kicks as the final quarter ticked into time-on before Connor Macdonald and Breust put a full-stop on proceedings with late goals. Josh Ward (34 disposals), Tom Mitchell (32), Jai Newcombe (28) and Dylan Moore (25) were all influential for Hawthorn, while Jake Waterman booted three goals for West Coast. The result left the Eagles (2-15) level on points with North Melbourne in a dogfight to avoid the wooden spoon.
MELBOURNE 12.11 (83) defeated PORT ADELAIDE 10.9 (69)
Much like Breust – only this time in the bright Alice Springs sunshine – Kysaiah Pickett reached a career-high with six goals to spark the Demons. Christian Petracca (30 disposals), Jack Viney (28) and Ed Langdon (24) all played their parts for Melbourne as the reigning premier booted the first four goals of the final term – two of them to Pickett – to pull clear in an otherwise tight contest. Petracca had 10 clearances alone, but Port dominated the overall tally (40-26), with Connor Rozee (33 disposals, four clearances) continuing his hot run of form. Power coach Ken Hinkley missed the trip after contracting COVID-19. Veteran Travis Boak did his best with 29 disposals, five clearances and two goals. But the Demons’ spread of contributors was too great as they overcame a goalless opening term to keep pace with Geelong at the top of the ladder.
ESSENDON 14.19 (103) defeated GOLD COAST 8.7 (55)
The Bombers’ mini-revival continued with a fourth win in five games, continuing their historical dominance of the Suns in head-to-head battles. The record now stands at 10-1-2. But the bigger story was Gold Coast’s missed opportunity in the finals race as it blew the chance to draw level on wins with eighth-placed Richmond. The Suns had few winners in a poor display as the Bombers went into party mode. Cult hero Sam Draper brought fans to their feet with a brilliant running goal out of the centre, finishing with two for the day, and Jake Stringer kicked four. Zach Merrett, Dylan Shiel and Mason Redman were also significant contributors and Peter Wright kicked two goals against his old side.
