Fremantle’s Caleb Serong wraps up Eagle Alex Witherden in Sunday’s western derby in Perth. Photo: AFL MEDIA
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 16.10 (106) defeated RICHMOND 10.7 (67)
Brave one week, brilliant the next – GWS might just charge into September with a head full of steam after putting Richmond to the sword with a scintillating first-half display. The Tigers’ disdain for Docklands continued as they trailed by 50 points at the main break and trimmed the margin a little late in the final term. Josh Kelly was brilliant just days after signing his new contract, Jacob Hopper starred in the middle and Tim Taranto stepped up with four first-half goals in the role temporarily vacated by suspended star Toby Greene. Jayden Short and Trent Cotchin battled for Richmond but the four-year golden run of success is now over.
HAWTHORN 9.10 (64) defeated WESTERN BULLDOGS 5.7 (37)
The plaudits came thick and fast for Alastair Clarkson in what could prove to be the final win of his celebrated 17-year tenure at Hawthorn. But credit must go to his players, who overcame the late withdrawal of gun midfielder Jaeger O’Meara to knock off another top side in one of the biggest upsets of the year. The Hawks’ side featured nine players with fewer than 50 games to their names and some lesser lights stepped up, with Daniel Howe tallying a career-high 34 disposals and 769 metres gained. Jacob Koschitzke gave Hawthorn a target in attack and while the Bulldogs had four of the top five disposal winners, they were soundly beaten. The Dogs now need to overcome Port Adelaide in round 23 to guarantee themselves a top-four spot on the finals starting grid.
GEELONG 13.7 (85) defeated ST KILDA 11.5 (71)
Patrick Dangerfield was cleared to play after an errant elbow to the throat from Toby Greene and turned in a superb performance, capped off by his big mark and goal to seal the result with three minutes left. St Kilda kicked the first five goals and worked its way to a 31-point lead before the Cats gradually clawed their way back to post a result that confirmed their top-four spot and effectively ended the Saints’ season. Geelong forward Jeremy Cameron got through his first game back from a third right hamstring injury of the year and combined with attacking partner Tom Hawkins for seven goals. Hawkins had some anxious moments post-game after a heavy tackle on Darragh Joyce. The Saints defender had to be substituted out of the match after his head slammed into the turf in the fourth-quarter incident.
PORT ADELAIDE 21.14 (140) defeated CARLTON 5.15 (45)
David Teague admitted post-match a result like this “doesn’t help” his cause as the axe seemingly gets closer to falling on his time as coach. The Blues kicked five of the first seven goals and led by 23 points in a hot start, but went missing at Adelaide Oval as the Power booted the next 19 majors in succession. It was one-way traffic as Karl Amon, Ollie Wines and Travis Boak ran riot through the middle and big names Charlie Dixon (four goals) and Orazio Fantasia (three) reaped the benefits in attack. Zak Butters’ late hit on Adam Saad in the final few minutes was a rare poor moment for Port Adelaide in front of its home fans. The heavy defeat was a disappointing way for former Carlton skipper Marc Murphy to mark his 300-game milestone.
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BRISBANE 22.10 (142) defeated COLLINGWOOD 8.9 (57)
Brisbane is a live chance to replace the Bulldogs in the top four after making up almost five percentage points as it piled on 11 of the final 14 goals in a rout of hapless Collingwood. The Lions’ centre square work was outstanding as they dominated the inside-50 count 70-42 and made it count on the scoreboard. Midfielders Hugh McCluggage, Jarryd Lyons and Lachie Neale starred, and Charlie Cameron cashed in by kicking an equal career-high six goals. He celebrated them, too. Tall forwards Joe Daniher and Daniel McStay kicked three goals each in a comfortable victory for the home side.
NORTH MELBOURNE 12.5 (77) lost to SYDNEY 13.13 (91)
The trend of see-sawing matches on Saturday continued into the night as plucky North Melbourne cut a 38-point first-half deficit back to just four points midway through the final term before Sydney steadied. Will Hayward delivered a heavy blow in the final term and kicked three goals for the Swans as Josh Kennedy and Luke Parker went about their usual business at the contest. But Nick Blakey’s ankle injury and a hamstring issue for Kennedy put a dampener on the win just a fortnight out from the finals. Cam Zuurhar kicked three goals as Luke Davies-Uniacke and Jy Simpkin impressed for the Kangaroos. Despite a vastly improved second half of the season, Saturday’s results confirmed North will finish with the wooden spoon in David Noble’s first season at the helm.
MELBOURNE 16.8 (104) defeated ADELAIDE 9.9 (63)
Bayley Fritsch has had a sneaky-good season in 2021 but won’t be flying under anyone’s radar after kicking a career-high seven goals to play a key role in shaking off a dogged Adelaide. The Demons were upset by their lowly opponent earlier in the season and were challenged until late in the third quarter at the MCG. Enter Fritsch, who kicked his third goal minutes before the last change to give Melbourne a 22-point buffer, and booted all four of his side’s majors in the final term to make sure of the win. Ben Brown and impressive youngster Luke Jackson kicked two goals each as midfielders Clayton Oliver, Christian Salem and Christian Petracca got to work. Paul Seedsman (36 disposals) and Darcy Fogarty (three goals) were strong contributors for the Crows.
GOLD COAST 4.6 (30) lost to ESSENDON 14.14 (98)
It was the Jake Stringer Show down in Geelong as the Bombers’ enigmatic star kicked five goals and had 11 score involvements as best afield in a big win. Darcy Parish, Nick Hind and Zach Merrett were all busy for the Bombers as Dyson Heppell and Andy McGrath both got through unscathed on return from injury. Gold Coast defender Sam Collins kept former Suns forward Peter Wright quiet, while Touk Miller and Noah Anderson were busy. But the Suns managed just two goals after quarter-time in a dismal performance. Importantly, the result kept Essendon’s finals dream alive ahead of a final-round meeting with lowly Collingwood.
FREMANTLE 12.7 (79) defeated WEST COAST 9.10 (64)
Matt Taberner kicked three of the Dockers’ eight goals in a first-quarter barrage that led to a massive 40-point advantage during the second term. Then Fremantle just stopped, going more than 45 minutes without a goal until Travis Colyer broke the drought with a much-needed major just before three-quarter time. West Coast kept coming and closed the gap to one straight goal when Josh Kennedy kicked his third early in the final term. But young midfielder Caleb Serong – who stood tall in the absence of Nat Fyfe and Andrew Brayshaw – kicked a brilliant goal from a tight angle in the final term to give Fremantle breathing space. In the end, the Dockers held on and snapped an 11-match losing run in derbies to draw level on 40 points with West Coast, with both sides sitting behind eighth-placed Essendon on percentage heading into the final round.
