Jack Macrae gets a kick away with Nic Naitanui in hot pursuit during Sunday’s thriller. Photo: GETTY IMAGES
CARLTON 13.7 (85) lost to COLLINGWOOD 16.10 (106)
The one-on-one battle between Darcy Moore and Harry McKay was an instant classic that defined this contest between two old suburban rivals. McKay kicked four goals but Moore had the last laugh as he repelled many a Carlton attacking raid in Collingwood’s win. Blues tyro Michael Gibbons and Pies midfielder Taylor Adams both produced goal-of- the-year contenders, with one of Gibbons’ efforts drawing comparisons to Wayne Harmes’ famous tap-back to Ken Sheldon deep in the forward pocket. Adams was influential for Collingwood on return from a hamstring injury as Jordan De Goey (four goals) and Brody Mihocek (three) fired in attack. More heat went on Carlton co-captain Patrick Cripps after another performance below the lofty standard he has set for himself. Ruck star Brodie Grundy returned to form but the Pies lost star forward Jamie Elliott to a leg injury, later revealed as a fractured fibula that will keep him sidelined for up to three months.
GEELONG 12.9 (82) defeated BRISBANE 11.14 (81)
Utter chaos from start to finish. Queensland’s latest COVID-19 case saw punters and commentators forced to leave the venue at the last minute, but the Lions’ team and staff had been granted a special government exemption, so the match went on. Gary Rohan whacked Lachie Neale off the ball (earning an offer of a two-match ban) and Chris Scott was involved in a heated quarter-time exchange with Brisbane players. Scott later said Brownlow medallist Neale was the instigator of the Rohan stoush and quarter-time face-off. Joel Selwood was pinged 50m for a dangerous tackle on Tom Berry, Oscar McInerney hurt an ankle and battled on before being substituted in the final quarter, Eric Hipwood fired and Joe Daniher couldn’t buy a goal until late. The Cats led by 21 points at the last change and the Lions came hard, hitting the front before former Hawthorn star Isaac Smith endeared himself to the Geelong crowd with a late goal to put the home side back in front. The drama wasn’t over yet. Zac Bailey’s tackle on Mark Blicavs close to goal went unrewarded and the Cats held on for a controversial win. The following day, AFL umpires boss Dan Richardson admitted experienced umpire Robert O’Gorman should have pinged Blicavs for holding the ball (prior opportunity). The Lions, meanwhile, were being held in quarantine over the weekend as they awaited further direction from the AFL and state governments, with the possibility of fixture changes just five days out from the scheduled Easter Thursday clash with Collingwood at the Gabba. Phew, take a deep breath.
SYDNEY 18.13 (121) defeated ADELAIDE 11.22 (88)
Buddy. Is. Back. Lance Franklin went bang with a 52m bomb in the first term to get the SCG rocking and while he lacked a touch of sharpness in his comeback match – his first appearance since August 2019 – the 34-year-old showed glimpses of his old self in booting three goals. But this was as much about Sydney’s “kids” as it was the returning veteran. Suddenly, the Swans look like the next team on the rise, opening the season with two wins for the first time since 2016. Errol Gulden, Braeden Campbell and Buddy’s protege, Logan McDonald, all impressed again. Taylor Walker’s renaissance continued as the Adelaide veteran kicked half-a-dozen goals to take his season tally to 11 in two games. Is it a sign of the new rules working to the advantage of key forwards or is big ‘Tex’ just hitting a rich vein of form in the twilight of his career? It’s probably a combination of both.
PORT ADELAIDE 18.11 (119) defeated ESSENDON 9.11 (65)
If you thought a 54-point shellacking and 0-2 start to the season couldn’t get much worse for Essendon, think again. Leg injuries to Dylan Shiel (knee), Jye Caldwell (hamstring) and Sam Draper (ankle) made it a whole lot worse. The best news is that Shiel likely hasn’t done an ACL, but the Bombers are holding their collective breath. Skipper Dyson Heppell was also a late withdrawal with a back injury. This was another easy kill for Port (2-0), which sits comfortably on top of the ladder for a 20th consecutive round. Zak Butters, Ollie Wines and Travis Boak dominated as Charlie Dixon and Mitch Georgiades kicked four goals each in the Saturday twilight romp. Orazio Fantasia kicked 2.3 in his first match against the club he left during the trade period.
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ST KILDA 11.7 (73) lost to MELBOURNE 12.19 (91)
Brendon Goddard, in special comments on ABC Grandstand, said of the third term: “That was the worst quarter of skills I’ve ever witnessed in my life, ever. Not even exaggerating it. It was horrendous.” He wasn’t far off the mark, and the fact they were playing under the roof at Marvel Stadium made it even worse. But Melbourne fans won’t care after their side went 2-0 for the first time in four years. Kysaiah Pickett lit up the forward line with two goals – one of them an absolute gem as he weaved his way through a pack and snapped around his body. Adam Tomlinson, Max Gawn and Clayton Oliver were all influential for the Dees against a Saints side missing a host of players through injury. Emerging St Kilda star Max King showed glimpses early with two goals on return from a week out with concussion but defender Jimmy Webster was subbed out with a suspected fractured jaw. The Dees were once the butt of jokes on a 22-match losing streak at Docklands (2008-2015), but have now won seven of their last nine matches there.
GOLD COAST 14.14 (98) defeated NORTH MELBOURNE 5.9 (39)
The Suns, while impressive in the early stages of the season, are getting whacked by the injury stick – right in the collective knee. Last week it was Matt Rowell, this week it was Sam Day and Connor Budarick, and the latter has likely done an ACL. It’s rotten luck for a side that has now pushed West Coast interstate and thumped hapless North Melbourne at home to start 2021. Noah Anderson (35 disposals and seven clearances) dominated against the Kangaroos as Touk Miller and Jack Lukosius chimed in, and Ben King and Izak Rankine kicked three goals each. North had few players capable of taking the fight to the energetic Suns and it’s hard to see where their first win is coming from under first-year coach David Noble.
HAWTHORN 7.7 (49) lost to RICHMOND 11.12 (78)
Pretty much everyone expected the Tigers to win, and do so comfortably. But very few expected Hawthorn veteran Shaun Burgoyne to get the job on Dustin Martin. Even Damien Hardwick was surprised. In the end, Alastair Clarkson sung his veteran’s praises for playing a role in the Hawks “disrupting” Richmond’s ball movement and attacking flow. But Martin still had a big say as the Tigers ground out another victory. The superstar had 28 disposals, a goal and a hand in several others as he dished off a few around goal. Jack Riewoldt kicked four majors for the second week running and skipper Trent Cotchin eased back into the side after missing round one through illness. Noah Balta was strong at the back and kicked a goal from a 50m penalty. Second-gamer Tyler Brockman and Luke Breust kicked two goals each for Hawthorn, who lost Will Day to an ankle injury, and ball magnet Tom Mitchell gathered 37 disposals.
WESTERN BULLDOGS 14.16 (100) defeated WEST COAST 14.9 (93)
A Sunday afternoon classic at Docklands with more than a dozen lead changes spread across the match. Neither side led by more than 14 points at any stage. The Eagles were up by that margin early in the final term but the Dogs kicked four of the last six goals to snatch a memorable win. Tom Liberatore was huge for the home side in the dying stages of his 150th match, which wasn’t decided until a counter-attack down the city wing saw the ball land in the waiting arms of Marcus Bontempelli in the forward pocket. The skipper ran down the clock and kept his cool to seal the result with 30 seconds left on the clock. Nic Naitanui was dangerous in the ruck for West Coast as high-flying Liam Ryan starred in attack, and veteran Josh Kennedy kicked four goals. But it was Bontempelli, Liberatore, Jack Macrae and Adam Treloar who had the final say, with Josh Bruce kicking three goals. Bailey WIlliams and Aaron Naughton were important in key moments at opposite ends.
FREMANTLE 11.21 (87) defeated GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 7.14 (56)
It took 18 games under the new rule, but Nat Fyfe became the first player substituted out of a match through concussion (which is why the medical substitute rule was originally suggested). Fortunately for the Dockers, they’d all but won this match by the time their captain copped a heavy hit from Sam Reid late in the third quarter – despite their woeful kicking at goal. It should have been a hammering, and the margin flattered GWS. Freo’s young brigade, led by Andrew Brayshaw, Caleb Serong, Adam Cerra and Michael Frederick, showed exciting signs as old stager David Mundy kept doing what he’s done for two decades. Lachie Schultz finished with three goals and Sam Switkowski two. The Giants also fielded a young side, but senior players like Toby Greene, Callan Ward and Josh Kelly failed to have much of an impact in a disappointing performance out west.
