Lance Franklin celebrates one of his four second-half goals in Sydney’s comeback win against the Giants. Photo: AFL MEDIA
FREMANTLE 3.13 (31) lost to GEELONG 14.16 (100)
A reality check for Justin Longmuir’s emerging Dockers as they put their finals credentials to the test and were annihilated by a genuine flag contender. Geelong dominated from the outset at a sodden Optus Stadium as spearhead Tom Hawkins booted four goals – the fourth time he has kicked more than the opposition in the last 12 months. Four other players have done it once each in that period. In the absence of Jeremy Cameron and Gary Rohan, Patrick Dangerfield spent long periods in attack and kicked three goals. The Cats’ control of the contest was arguably best illustrated by them taking 28 marks inside-50 to Fremantle’s two. Ruckman Sean Darcy was the Dockers’ best but limped off the ground late with a knee complaint, while key forward Rory Lobb was substituted out with an ankle injury.
RICHMOND 16.10 (106) defeated BRISBANE 13.8 (86)
Jack Riewoldt joined Eddie Betts and Jack Dyer as the only players in AFL/VFL history to kick six goals in their 300th game, inspiring the Tigers to a much-needed win. Riewoldt booted three majors as Richmond piled on five in a row during the third term to take control of the arm wrestle. Mabior Chol produced the best of his 28 games so far with four goals in a crucial contribution for the Tigers, who lost Dustin Martin midway through the third quarter, just after he had begun to assert some authority on the contest. Martin has since been ruled out for the rest of the season with a serious kidney injury in a cruel blow to the Tigers’ slim hopes of snaring another flag this year. Bizarrely, the game had to be delayed 15 minutes because the Tigers were stuck in traffic on their way to Metricon Stadium for a match that had already been hurriedly relocated from Melbourne midweek.
ST KILDA 8.13 (61) lost to PORT ADELAIDE 10.14 (74)
The Power jumped into the top four at Brisbane’s expense as the wasteful Saints kicked 0.6 from set shots. They fought back from a 20-point deficit during the third quarter to hit the front late, but missed opportunities with the game on the line. Young Port forward Mitch Georgiades kicked a career-best four goals and Ollie Wines (36 disposals) was a massive reason for the Power’s win. Co-captain Jack Steele (37) and fellow midfielder Brad Crouch (36) did plenty for the Saints but couldn’t drag them over the line. St Kilda lost Daniel McKenzie (concussion) before half-time and fellow defender Tom Highmore suffered a suspected broken hand. Port became the first side to fly in and out of a city in lockdown for a match and St Kilda left Melbourne straight afterwards to enter a week of hotel quarantine in Perth ahead of a clash with West Coast.
GOLD COAST 11.13 (79) lost to WESTERN BULLDOGS 14.6 (90)
If there were question marks over Jamarra Ugle-Hagan’s selection – and there were, as put there by coach Luke Beveridge after the No.1 draft pick’s quiet debut – then he answered them in emphatic fashion with three goals to outshine returning star Aaron Naughton in attack. But both players left the field with broad smiles as the Bulldogs held off a hard-working Suns outfit. Jason Johannisen, Jack Macrae and Cody Weightman chipped in with two goals each for the Dogs, and Josh Dunkley got through his return from a long lay-off with a shoulder injury with 21 disposals. Touk Miller (38 disposals) starred again for the Suns, who lost Brandon Ellis to an early hamstring injury, while Alex Sexton, Ben Ainsworth and Nick Holman kicked three goals apiece.
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MELBOURNE 11.13 (79) drew with HAWTHORN 12.7 (79)
Players often describe an “eerie” feeling after draws, and so it must have felt in front of empty stands at the cavernous MCG. There were vastly contrasting emotions for the two sides post-match. The ladder-leading Demons kicked five of the first six goals and had led by 27 points during the second quarter, but threw away what had looked like a certain win. The Hawks, ranked 17th and fielding 10 players with 35 games or less under their belts, executed a game plan to limit the influence of Melbourne’s intercept defenders and fought back to snatch a share of the points. Hawthorn’s pressure was high as they won the tackle count comprehensively (81-58) and squeezed some of the life out of Melbourne, helping protect a severely undermanned backline against their opponents’ forward thrusts. Prolific midfielder Tom Mitchell (39 disposals) had an effect both ways as Luke Breust kicked three goals, including the crucial major with 41 seconds left on the clock. Predictable debate has since raged about the place of draws in the AFL, with Simon Goodwin throwing his weight behind calls to get rid of them.
NORTH MELBOURNE 11.8 (74) lost to ESSENDON 13.14 (92)
Zach Merrett and Darcy Parish kept the statisticians busy again as they tallied 73 disposals and 17 clearances between them on the Gold Coast. But it was Jake Stringer who proved the Bombers’ match-winner with four second-half goals in a continuation of his strong run of form. Former Suns tall Peter Wright kicked three goals on his old home ground to help thrust Essendon right into the finals picture. Young guns Tarryn Thomas and Luke Davies-Uniacke were excellent for North Melbourne in the absence of tough midfielder Ben Cunnington, who missed the trip north for family reasons, and Nick Larkey booted three majors. The Kangaroos lost Jack Mahony to a shoulder injury.
COLLINGWOOD 9.8 (62) lost to CARLTON 13.13 (91)
The Blues looked shot when they trailed by four goals during the second term but willed themselves back into the contest. Sam Walsh had 38 disposals and took control of the midfield in the absence of injured skipper Patrick Cripps, with Paddy Dow and Matthew Kennedy playing strong support roles. Coleman Medal leader Harry McKay had been kept scoreless by Jordan Roughead in the first three quarters but broke the game open with four majors for the Blues in the final term. Jordan De Goey continued a good run of form for the Magpies, who lost Josh Thomas to concussion before half-time. Jack Silvagni paid tribute to his late grandfather and Blues legend Sergio Silvagni with a big mark and goal during the second term, pointing to the heavens afterwards.
ADELAIDE 8.8 (56) lost to WEST COAST 14.14 (98)
Jamie Cripps kicked five goals and Liam Ryan three as the Eagles snapped a three-match losing streak to finish the round a game clear inside the top eight. Andrew Gaff, Elliot Yeo and Tim Kelly got West Coast on top in the engine room as Jeremy McGovern and former skipper Shannon Hurn anchored the backline. In his 200th game, Nic Naitanui was involved in a tough ruck battle with Crows tall Reilly O’Brien, while Brodie Smith had 27 disposals for Adelaide as he reached the same milestone as Naitanui. Darcy Fogarty and Ben Keays kicked two goals each for the Crows, who have now lost four straight games since heading to their bye after an epic comeback win over St Kilda.
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 11.6 (72) lost to SYDNEY 15.8 (98)
There was chaos before the first bounce with players from both sides forced into isolation and ruled out of action after attending a COVID-19 exposure site that had been upgraded. Giants star Toby Greene and influential Swan Callum Mills were among the late outs, which were confirmed just minutes before the match started. When it finally did, it was GWS that settled and jumped out to a 35-point lead after kicking six of the first seven goals. But the Swans piled on six unanswered goals in the third term (nine in a row in total) to flip the match on its head. Lance Franklin and Tom Papley (four goals each) played crucial roles in attack for the Swans as experienced campaigners Josh Kennedy and Luke Parker did a lot of the grunt work.
