Sydney’s James Rowbottom celebrates a critical last quarter goal against Collingwood on Sunday. Photo: AFL MEDIA

ST KILDA 9.12 (66) lost to BRISBANE 12.9 (81)
Cam Rayner starred with four goals – including three in the last quarter – to drag the Lions over the line after they had coughed up a commanding lead and trailed by five points at the final change. It was all Brisbane in the first half but the Lions left the door open for a third-quarter fightback as Mason Wood and Tim Membrey sparked the Saints. Max King had chances as well, but his wayward kicking (0.5) ultimately proved costly. The Lions kicked four goals from eight forward entries in the final term, while St Kilda could only muster 0.5 with their season on the line. Only a remarkable series of results could see the Saints sneak in from here.

WESTERN BULLDOGS 9.8 (62) defeated GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 8.9 (57)
Not even the most ardent of fans would bother with the replay of this scrappy affair, but all the Bulldogs needed was a result to keep their slim finals hopes alive. They did it the hard way, surviving a massive scare, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan kicking the only goal of the final quarter to put them in front. Ruckman Tim English and All-Australian defender Bailey Dale were outstanding for the Bulldogs, while Bailey Williams kicked two important goals. Jake Riccardi and Jesse Hogan kicked two each for the Giants as co-captains Josh Kelly (35 disposals) and Stephen Coniglio (31) racked up a heap of touches.

ADELAIDE 15.13 (103) defeated NORTH MELBOURNE 10.14 (74)
Ben Cunnington made an emotional return at AFL level after two bouts of testicular cancer and was a strong contributor for the Kangaroos with 17 disposals despite conceding he was physically underdone. Luke Davies-Uniacke (37 disposals, 11 clearances) and Jy Simpkin (30, 10) were influential as North edged eight points in front when the former kicked the opening goal of the second half. The Roos were indeed up by one point during the final term, but it was the Crows who finished stronger, with Darcy Fogarty (four goals) and Taylor Walker (three) standing up in attack. Jordan Dawson (33 disposals) and Rory Laird (25) also starred for Adelaide, which has now won three straight matches for the first time in two years. North trio Jack Ziebell (shoulder), Jaidyn Stephenson (back) and Jed Anderson (concussion) all went down injured in the second half, and Adelaide lost Shane McAdam (hamstring).

GOLD COAST 9.5 (59) lost to GEELONG 18.11 (119)
It was one-way traffic at Metricon Stadium as Geelong effectively sewed up the minor premiership with its 12th straight win. The Cats piled on seven first-quarter goals and extended their lead at every break as Cam Guthrie (30 disposals), Brandan Parfitt (28) and Mark Blicavs (27) ran riot. Coleman Medal contender Jeremy Cameron and sidekick Tyson Stengle booted three goals each in the comfortable win. Touk Miller and Brandon Ellis were busy as always for Gold Coast, which lost Sam Day to a knee injury. Geelong’s only minor concern was Rhys Stanley’s adductor issue, which saw the ruckman substituted out of the game as a precaution.

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MELBOURNE 11.13 (79) defeated CARLTON 10.14 (74)
Kysaiah Pickett was the hero for Melbourne in the dying seconds as his snap from the top of the goal square sailed through to seal a thrilling victory. Carlton had chances to kill off its opponent – and book its finals spot – when Charlie Curnow put it eight points up with just over three minutes remaining. But Jake Melksham’s fourth goal and Pickett’s second got the Dees over the line. Angus Brayshaw (38 disposals, 12 clearances) and Clayton Oliver (29, six) were outstanding as Patrick Cripps, Sam Walsh and Sam Docherty combined to take it up to the Demons in the midfield. Cripps was jeered all night after having his two-match suspension overturned on appeal during the week but that was just a sideshow to the main event in a finals-like contest.

FREMANTLE 9.17 (71) defeated WEST COAST 7.5 (47)
Tempers flared in a modern version – more shoving and ripped jumpers, but fewer punches – of the infamous “Demolition Derby” as the Eagles took the fight up to their finals-bound rival. But the weight of numbers eventually told for Fremantle as ruckman Sean Darcy claimed the Glendinning-Allan Medal as best afield. Michael Frederick and Michael Walters kicked two goals each for the Dockers and Jake Waterman two for West Coast in the low-scoring “slugfest”, which was played in terrible conditions at Optus Stadium. Tom Barrass and Shannon Hurn were rocks at the back for the Eagles, while Blake Acres (29 disposals), Will Brodie (28) and retiring veteran David Mundy (25) starred for Fremantle in its third straight derby win.

RICHMOND 20.8 (128) defeated HAWTHORN 9.13 (67)
Tom Lynch became the first player in the 18-team era to kick eight goals at the MCG as Richmond posted an emphatic victory that confirmed its finals spot. Lynch took seven contested marks, gathered 18 disposals and had 13 score involvements in a dominant display up front. He disposed of three opponents before the Hawks sent James Sicily back to mark the in-form forward. Maurice Rioli (12 disposals, two goals) showed flashes of brilliance as one of five multiple goal-kickers for the Tigers, who had winners all over the ground. Jack Graham was substituted out with a foot injury in a sour note for Richmond.

SYDNEY 11.11 (77) defeated COLLINGWOOD 7.8 (50)
If anyone still had queries about whether the Swans are the real deal, they were answered emphatically in front of a big SCG crowd. Sydney snapped the Magpies’ 11-game winning streak in stunning fashion and surged into second spot in the process. Callum Mills, Luke Parker, James Rowbottom and Chad Warner were all superb contributors for the home side as Lance Franklin bagged three goals and Isaac Heeney and Tom Papley added two each. Collingwood lost Jordan De Goey (hip flexor) before the bounce and Jack Ginnivan (hamstring) during the game, and was held to its lowest score of the season. The result saw the Magpies slip to fifth ahead of a final-round blockbuster against Carlton.

ESSENDON 9.8 (62) lost to PORT ADELAIDE 23.8 (146)
An embarrassing 84-point home loss for the Bombers in a dead rubber between two sides that are out of finals contention. Zak Butters, Ollie Wines, Connor Rozee and Dan Houston were all influential for the Power, which kicked nine consecutive goals to blow their opponents away. The run started late in the first quarter and didn’t finish until Archie Perkins eventually found Essendon’s response midway through the third. Port Adelaide’s energy was far superior against a lacklustre Bomber outfit, with Mitch Georgiades, Todd Marshall and Sam Powell-Pepper cashing in up forward.