The Saints get around Anthony Caminiti after a crucial goal in the narrow win over North Melbourne. Photo: AFL MEDIA
ESSENDON 7.7 (49) lost to WESTERN BULLDOGS 13.12 (90)
Tom Liberatore and Marcus Bontempelli were superb for the Bulldogs in a powerful midfield showing as Luke Beveridge’s side continued its recent dominance of Essendon – which now stands at nine wins in 10 meetings – under the roof. Liberatore had 36 disposals, 22 contested possessions and 12 clearances, while Bontempelli kicked two goals from 29 touches – and the Bombers had no answers. Cody Weightman and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan kicked three goals each for the Bulldogs and Peter Wright booted three for Essendon, which lost Jordan Ridley to a nasty quadriceps injury. Bailey Smith (25 disposals) was prominent on return from illness for the Bulldogs, while Caleb Daniel (28 touches) and Adam Treloar (25, one goal) were also busy.
RICHMOND 14.12 (96) defeated HAWTHORN 15.5 (95)
Liam Baker’s snap with one minute left put Richmond in front and continued its charge towards a possible finals berth under caretaker coach Andrew McQualter. The Tigers trailed by 30 points at the final change but kicked five unanswered goals in the fourth term to complete their third-biggest comeback from a three-quarter time deficit in history. Dustin Martin (24 disposals, two goals), Tim Taranto (23, three) and Dion Prestia (28 touches) were among Richmond’s best. Hawthorn skipper James Sicily (10 intercept marks) got the better of Jack Riewoldt and Hawks midfielders Jai Newcombe (30 touches, six clearances) and James Worpel (27, nine) impressed in a bitter defeat to take.
CARLTON 21.14 (140) defeated WEST COAST 10.9 (69)
Charlie Curnow surged clear in the Coleman Medal race, booting a career-high 10 goals as the Blues posted a fifth-straight win that put them firmly in the hunt for a finals spot. It came at a cost, with injuries to Sam Walsh (hamstring), Jack Silvagni (knee) and Jesse Motlop (calf) souring the result. Curnow made it 19 goals in two outings against West Coast this season as relentless Carlton pummelled the competition’s bottom side with 15 goals to two in the first half. George Hewett (31 touches, 10 clearances) and Sam Docherty (29, nine) were at the forefront of the home side’s midfield dominance. The Eagles fought on and won the second half (53-42) but the damage had been done, leading to their 16th consecutive defeat. West Coast lost captain Luke Shuey to another hamstring injury.
BRISBANE 9.10 (64) defeated GEELONG 7.11 (53)
Will Ashcroft’s serious knee injury – later confirmed as a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament – took the gloss off an otherwise impressive win as Brisbane held off fast-finishing Geelong to keep its hopes of a top-two finish alive. The Cats kicked four final-quarter goals but a steadier from Callum Ah Chee made sure there was no repeat of the Lions’ fadeout against Melbourne a week earlier. Brisbane dominated clearances (49-22) and led by as much as 37 points during the third quarter, having held the Cats to just one goal at that point. Lachie Neale (25 touches, 10 clearances) and Josh Dunkley (27, seven) were brilliant for the Lions and Tom Stewart (25 disposals) shone for Geelong, with Cats spearhead Jeremy Cameron (three) the game’s leading goalkicker.
FREMANTLE 12.4 (76) lost to SYDNEY 16.9 (105)
Lance Franklin kicked three goals and had a hand in two others to lift Sydney to a vital win in what will likely be the superstar’s final appearance in his home state of Western Australia. The Swans kicked six first-quarter goals to build a commanding early buffer and were always in control from there. Luke Parker (31 disposals, nine tackles, eight clearances) led from the front as Will Hayward (three goals) and Tom Papley (two) had an impact in attack. Lachie Schultz kicked four goals for the Dockers and Caleb Serong (32 disposals, 10 clearances) fought hard in a losing cause. The result kept Sydney in the finals hunt, while Fremantle can start preparing for September holidays.
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PORT ADELAIDE 12.11 (83) lost to COLLINGWOOD 13.7 (85)
The ‘comeback kings’ were at it again, stealing victory from the jaws of defeat with a six-goals-to-three final term in a top-of-the-table epic. Collingwood trailed by 17 points at the final change but hauled itself over the line via another brilliant Jamie Elliott set shot from the boundary line in the last few minutes. Elliott kicked two majors in the last quarter and finished with three as Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom played key roles for the Magpies, who celebrated Taylor Adams’ 200th game in style. Connor Rozee (28 touches, two goals) and Zak Butters (31 touches, six clearances) were busy for Port Adelaide and Sam Powell-Pepper threw his weight around. The result put Collingwood two wins clear on top of the ladder.
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 15.13 (103) defeated GOLD COAST 9.9 (63)
GWS skipper Toby Greene continued his strong season with three goals before being substituted out during the fourth quarter in Canberra. The game was well and truly in the Giants’ keeping by that stage as Stephen Coniglio (29 disposals, five clearances) and Josh Kelly (28, six) racked up plenty of touches and Harry Himmelberg and Sam Taylor kept Ben King and Levi Casboult quiet. It was a sixth straight victory for the Giants – for the first time since 2016 – who have now forced their way into the top eight. The result also ended a nine-game losing run for GWS at its second home at Manuka Oval. Sam Flanders (31 disposals, nine clearances), Noah Anderson (26, six) and Rory Atkins (29 touches) were busy again for the Suns and Jack Lukosius kicked three goals.
MELBOURNE 14.13 (97) defeated ADELAIDE 13.15 (93)
Adelaide twice launched stunning final-quarter fightbacks but fell just short as inaccuracy came back to bite them in the end. The Crows drew level after trailing by 32 points in the third quarter and kicked the last three goals of the game after Melbourne looked to have steadied. Taylor Walker kicked four goals – three in the final term – and Izak Rankine kicked three, but Rankine (hamstring) and Nick Murray (knee) failed to complete the match. Adelaide kicked 5.10 from set shots – to Melbourne’s 12.5 – and were left to rue their wastefulness. Kysaiah Pickett (20 disposals, two goals), Kade Chandler (three goals), Angus Brayshaw (25 touches, eight clearances), Jack Viney (27, five) and Max Gawn (38 hit-outs, eight marks, two goals) all had an influence.
ST KILDA 9.15 (69) defeated NORTH MELBOURNE 9.7 (61)
The inaccurate Saints had just four goals on the board to three-quarter time but kicked five majors to one in the final term to avoid what would have been an embarrassing defeat to the struggling Kangaroos – and prevent former coach Brett Ratten getting one over his old side. Nick Larkey and Tarryn Thomas kicked three goals each as North threatened a boilover, leading by 16 points at the final change. But Jack Steele (33 touches, one goal) and Jack Sinclair (29, one) stood out for St Kilda and Jack Higgins’ second goal in the dying stages sealed a result that lifted the Saints back into the top eight.
