Siren! Jubilant Pies Jordan De Goey and Nick Daicos, heartbroken Blues Zac Williams and Adam Saad. Photo: GETTY IMAGES
BRISBANE 8.9 (57) lost to MELBOURNE 18.7 (115)
The Demons made a huge statement, kicking 13 goals to two in the first half to set up a comprehensive victory. Bayley Fritsch and Kysaiah Pickett kicked four goals each, Ben Brown added three and Christian Petracca two as Melbourne ran riot at the Gabba. Clayton Oliver (30 disposals, 13 clearances) was impressive and Angus Brayshaw (27, six) got involved as the Demons dominated from the outset. It was their second thrashing of Brisbane in the space of two months in a performance that reasserted Melbourne as a premiership favourite. Brisbane captain Dayne Zorko came under fire for an “inappropriate” comment to Demons defender Harrison Petty and later apologised for his actions, while Lions teammate Cam Rayner copped a one-match ban for a dangerous tackle on Brown.
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 10.9 (69) lost to FREMANTLE 13.11 (89)
The Dockers overcame a horrible start to post an important win that gave them a chance of sneaking into the top four. Nat Fyfe returned for his sixth game of an injury-hit campaign and rising midfield star Caleb Serong (32 disposals, 11 clearances) sparked Fremantle as it recovered from a 31-point deficit during the second quarter with eight goals to three after the main break. David Mundy, Will Brodie and Andrew Brayshaw lifted in the second half and Michael Walters celebrated his 200th game in fine style with three goals. Sam Taylor was superb again in defence for the Giants and shapes as a likely All-Australian at the end of the season.
NORTH MELBOURNE 6.11 (47) lost to GOLD COAST 16.18 (114)
North Melbourne had a big win during the week when four-time AFL premiership mastermind and former Kangaroos player Alastair Clarkson agreed to return to Arden Street as coach, but the positive outlook didn’t rub off on this performance. David Swallow, Noah Anderson and Touk Miller were important for the Suns, who fell short of a maiden finals appearance but shouldn’t be counted out next season. Alex Sexton was picked for his first game since round three and finished the season on a high with a career-best six goals for Gold Coast.
GEELONG 19.17 (131) defeated WEST COAST 7.4 (46)
Injured spearhead Jeremy Cameron might have had a crack at the Coleman Medal if he was playing in this rout as Geelong made light work of the lowly Eagles. Tom Hawkins and Tyson Stengle dined out with four goals each and captain Joel Selwood starred alongside Brandan Parfitt in the Cats’ midfield. The home side was never challenged but did lose Jake Koldjashnij (concussion) and Cam Guthrie (shoulder) to injuries. West Coast avoided the wooden spoon but coach Adam Simpson later warned it could be a long road back for his club after a disastrous season that started with virus-related dramas, included a long list of injuries to key players and ended with a whimper at a ground where it has won just once since 1999.
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ESSENDON 11.9 (75) lost to RICHMOND 21.15 (141)
Essendon’s self-inflicted week-from-hell got even worse with a heavy defeat in what proved to be Ben Rutten’s last game in charge, with the tearful coach emotional in the Bombers’ change room after the final siren. Rutten was officially sacked on Sunday. Richmond kicked the first six goals of the third quarter to open up a massive lead and cruised to victory from there. The ruthless Tigers booted 11 goals to four in the second half to post their second-highest score of the season, making it four straight weeks with triple-figure totals to enter the finals full of running. Key forward Tom Lynch kicked five goals in the second half but was substituted out of the match in the final quarter with a groin injury. Michael Hurley’s return – and his set-shot goal in the closing stages – after more than 700 days out with a life-threatening hip infection was a positive note for the Bombers.
PORT ADELAIDE 16.15 (111) defeated ADELAIDE 7.13 (55)
Port Adelaide sent off one of the greatest players in the club’s history with a big win over its great rival as Robbie Gray rode off into the sunset in fine style. Power captain Tom Jonas set the stage for a blockbuster Showdown when he branded the Crows “arrogant and entitled”, and his team didn’t let him down. Port booted 11 goals to three after half-time as Adelaide wilted. Gray kicked two goals and had three goal assists from his 13 disposals in one last influential performance, while Todd Marshall kicked four goals and Connor Rozee won the Showdown Medal with 34 disposals, 11 inside-50s and a goal in a superb display. The win was Port’s fifth in its last six meetings with Adelaide, reversing the result from earlier this year when the Crows won on the back of Jordan Dawson’s after-the-siren goal.
HAWTHORN 10.4 (64) lost to WESTERN BULLDOGS 12.15 (87)
The Bulldogs fulfilled their end of the finals bargain with a hard-fought 23-point win over the Hawks, who were determined to give their retiring skipper Ben McEvoy an appropriate send-off. Inefficiency in difficult gusty conditions in Launceston threatened to derail the Dogs despite their dominance in key statistics, having all but doubled Hawthorn for inside 50s by half-time but leading by only three points. Finally, though field territory and possession dominance was converted to the scoreboard, three goals to one in the final term putting the Dogs (at least temporarily) in the final eight. Aaron Naughton and Roarke Smith each kicked three goals for the victors, Jack Gunston four for the Hawks, with “Big Boy” McEvoy two goals in his final game. Josh Dunkley and Caleb Daniel were great for the winners, who had nine players with 20 or more disposals. James Sicily had 33 disposals for the Hawks.
CARLTON 10.14 (74) lost to COLLINGWOOD 11.9 (75)
The biggest home and away game for years had one of the biggest finishes for years, Collingwood yet again prevailing in a nailbiter, their 11th win in 12 games this season decided by 11 points or less. Carlton looked set for a first finals appearance since 2013 when it led by 24 points at the last change after a stunning eight-goal third term, having kicked just two goals to half-time. The Blues still led by 17 points with under six minutes to play, but Jamie Elliott again played the matchwinner with two late goals as Carlton torched chance after chance with 0.6 coming in the last quarter. Skipper Patrick Cripps was superb with 35 disposals for the Blues, Adam Cerra prolific. But for the Pies, Elliott, Jack Ginnivan and Ash Johnson’s seven goals between them from just 23 touches collectively were the matchwinners.
ST KILDA 11.8 (74) lost to SYDNEY 13.10 (88)
The Swans needed to defeat the Saints by a healthy margin in the order of eight goals to regain second spot on the ladder from Melbourne, and two accompanying home finals, and appeared on track to do so midway through the third term when they led by five goals. In the end, though, they had enough trouble simply winning and hanging on to their top four spot at all as the Saints made one last charge at an unlikely win, closing the gap to eight then seven points with more than five minutes left after a run of four unanswered goals. It took two late goals from Will Hayward, who finished with three, to seal the deal for Sydney. James Rowbottom was good again for the victors. Dan Hannebery had 30 disposals for St Kilda in his final game, and Max King finally found his kicking boots with 5.0 in a great performance.
