Jubilant Demons surround their skipper Max Gawn after his match-winner against Geelong. Photo: GETTY IMAGES
WESTERN BULLDOGS 10.4 (64) lost to PORT ADELAIDE 9.12 (66)
Port conceded the first four goals of the match and trailed by 15 points midway through the final term before kicking the last three majors to snatch a crucial win that secured a second straight top-two finish for Ken Hinkley’s men. Experienced match-winner Robbie Gray delivered the goods again, putting the Power in front, while Bailey Smith had the chance to win it but saw his shot in the dying seconds punched through for a behind. It was the Bulldogs’ third straight defeat, seeing them drop out of the top four as a result. Travis Boak (31 disposals and two goals) and Ollie Wines were brilliant for Port, which had won just one of its previous five games against the current top six sides. One sour note for the Power was a hamstring injury to promising young forward Mitch Georgiades.
RICHMOND 12.11 (83) drew with HAWTHORN 12.11 (83)
A genuine “Super Saturday” footy bonanza kicked off with the first draw in almost 100 years of AFL/VFL history between these two clubs, as both waved goodbye to champions of the game. Shaun Burgoyne and Alastair Clarkson looked like ending their time at Hawthorn with a well-deserved win before a flurry of five late goals saw Richmond snatch a share of the points in a thrilling finish. The Tigers sent off David Astbury and injured flag teammate Bachar Houli as Burgoyne tried desperately to get a hand to Jack Riewoldt’s scrubbed kick towards goal in the final few seconds, but couldn’t get there before the line. A fitting end for the four champions? Not exactly, but they were all smiles post-match at an empty MCG.
SYDNEY 21.10 (136) defeated GOLD COAST 6.13 (49)
Lance Franklin entered what some wags quickly dubbed the “nervous 990s” with a six-goal haul that took his career tally to 992 and helped the Swans launch into the finals on the back of a strong win. Sydney led by 40 points before the Suns managed their first goal in a one-sided contest as Jake Lloyd, Luke Parker and Tom Hickey starred for the red-and-whites. Isaac Heeney and Tom Papley kicked three goals each in a good tune-up for September. Tall forward Ben King kicked four for the Suns and Touk Miller became the first man to have 30-plus disposals in 16 consecutive games. But another heavy loss meant the AFL’s problem child Gold Coast finished in the bottom five for the 10th time in its 11 seasons.
BRISBANE 19.11 (125) defeated WEST COAST 13.9 (87)
The broadcaster’s live ladder got a serious workout as the Lions jumped in and out of top-four nine times during a contest where the undermanned Eagles – seeking an unlikely win to gate crash the finals – put up more of a fight than many expected. Ultimately, Brisbane got in, displacing the Western Bulldogs by 0.5 per cent on the back of four goals from Joe Daniher and starring performances from Dayne Zorko, Lachie Neale and Daniel Rich. There was controversy, with debate over whether Lincoln McCarthy’s late snap (which put the Lions into the four for the final time) scraped in for a behind or went out on-the-full. Charlie Cameron rendered it irrelevant with a goal after the final siren, but there was more controversy amid reports a time-keeping error midway through the final quarter gifted the Lions an extra 24 seconds of action – which ultimately gave them enough time to win by the required margin to tip out the Bulldogs.
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GEELONG 12.5 (77) lost to MELBOURNE 12.9 (81)
“Oh my Gawn” screamed the headlines after Big Max stood tall at the death to kick the match-winning goal after the siren, completing Melbourne’s comeback from 44 points down and sealing the minor premiership in scenes reminiscent of Stephen Kernahan’s 1987 heroics for Carlton in its final game against North Melbourne (the Blues went on to win the flag). The Cats were cruising after kicking nine consecutive goals, but got hauled in as gun midfielder Clayton Oliver and captain Gawn lifted the Dees to a remarkable win. It came after a dramatic final passage of play where Angus Brayshaw was pinged for insufficient intent, Cam Guthrie kicked out on-the-full on the wing, Brad Close was penalised 50 metres for punching the ball away after it had crossed the boundary and Jake Lever found Gawn virtually unattended at the top of a crowded goal square. The Melbourne skipper – prone to a howler in front of goal – put his close-range shot straight through. Oliver had 27 contested disposals, nine clearances and two goals in a brilliant display.
CARLTON 11.9 (75) lost to GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 12.17 (89)
The finals equation was simple for GWS: win and you’re in. Unfortunately, it wasn’t going to plan for the Giants when they trailed throughout the first half. Carlton sensed an upset in a farewell match for retiring champion Eddie Betts and Levi Casboult, who kicked two goals apiece. But Tim Taranto, Callan Ward, Jacob Hopper and Josh Kelly helped tip the contest the visitors’ way at Marvel Stadium as Jesse Hogan provided the focal point in attack with three goals. Carlton veteran Ed Curnow kicked four from 25 disposals as the Blues had Tom De Koning taken off the ground on a stretcher after the young ruckman hit his head upon landing from a marking contest. Post-match, under-fire Carlton coach David Teague all but conceded his time at the club is up as a result of the club’s football department review, with Alastair Clarkson and Ross Lyon looming as candidates to take over.
ST KILDA 17.5 (107) defeated FREMANTLE 6.13 (49)
After the highs of Saturday’s epic contests, perhaps Sunday was destined to be a downer. That’s certainly how it played out as Fremantle’s meek surrender to St Kilda in Hobart cemented the top-eight in anticlimactic fashion. The Dockers needed a win to have any chance of securing a finals spot at Essendon’s expense but didn’t give a yelp against the Saints, who had nothing left to play for. Mid-season recruit Cooper Sharman impressed with four goals and co-captain Jack Steele had 35 disposals despite close attention from Bailey Banfield, while Zak Jones, Dan Hannebery and Brad Crouch racked up plenty of touches. Rowan Marshall was strong in the ruck and Jack Sinclair impressed again at half-back. Caleb Serong and Andrew Brayshaw finished their seasons well for the Dockers, who lacked polish across the board and didn’t have anywhere near enough contributors.
ESSENDON 16.6 (102) defeated COLLINGWOOD 9.10 (64)
Peter Wright and Alec Waterman kicked four goals each as the Bombers tuned up for the finals with a comfortable win over an old foe. The sting had been taken out of the match by the earlier result, but nobody told Wright, who booted his four majors in the first half. Zach Merrett starred and Jake Stringer put in another impressive display with 24 disposals and two goals. Jamie Elliott kicked four goals for Collingwood as heart-on-sleeve teammate Chris Mayne waved a teary goodbye after 248 games with the Magpies and Fremantle.
ADELAIDE 13.20 (98) defeated NORTH MELBOURNE 8.6 (54)
Shane McAdam provided the highlights in a low-profile finish to the season as Rory Laird and Ben Keays helped power the Crows to a much-needed win to finish the season on the back of a few tumultuous weeks. McAdam kicked three goals and took a huge pack mark in the goal square to excite loyal fans who turned up to witness a contest between the competition’s bottom two sides. Nick Larkey kicked three goals for North as Aaron Hall and Tarryn Thomas finished the year well. But for all the Kangaroos’ improvement in the back half of the season, this wasn’t one of their better performances. Retiring Adelaide veteran David Mackay went out on a high, though, with a goal in the final minutes of his final game, as did Tom Lynch, also saying farewell to the Crows.
