Carlton’s Charlie Curnow and Matthew Owies celebrate a goal against Hawthorn on Sunday. Photo: AFL MEDIA
WESTERN BULLDOGS 9.17 (71) defeated SYDNEY 9.6 (60)
Tim English was the dominant force he has threatened for years to become as the Bulldogs’ midfield flipped the script on its early-season form. Josh Dunkley, Tom Liberatore, Jack Macrae and Lachie Hunter got on top at the contest to give the Dogs the upper hand and Cody Weightman was a spark in attack with four goals, including two at a crucial stage late in the third term. But it was English’s 24 disposals, eight clearances, eight marks and 28 hit-outs that had the most impact as the athletic ruckman caught the eye with a big ride on the shoulders of Lance Franklin at half-back. The milestone man a week earlier, Franklin kicked goals 1001 and 1002 of his career opposed to Ryan Gardner but couldn’t lift the Swans to a third straight win. Sydney lost ruckman Tom Hickey to a knee injury during the third term.
MELBOURNE 14.15 (99) defeated ESSENDON 10.10 (70)
The lead changed hands five times in a contest that was closer than the final score suggested, but the reigning premier seemed to have it under control for the most part. The Demons kicked the final three goals to skip away late as Ed Langdon’s ridiculous snap floated through from the boundary line and sealed the result. Peter Wright’s four goals gave the Bombers a sniff of an upset, but wasn’t enough to prevent a 0-3 start to the season – Essendon’s worst since 1967. Andrew McGrath limited Melbourne star Christian Petracca to 21 disposals, but Clayton Oliver (38) was let off the leash. Tall forward Sam Weideman was a late inclusion for teammate Ben Brown (virus protocols) and booted 4.3 in his first senior appearance of the season. Son-of-a-gun Tex Wanganeen excited Bombers fans and his father – club legend Gavin Wanganeen, who watched from the grandstand – with a left-foot snap that sailed through for the first goal of his career.
ADELAIDE 15.6 (96) defeated PORT ADELAIDE 13.14 (92)
Jordan Dawson was wanted by both South Australian clubs over the off-season and it was the Crows who forked out to win the free agent’s signature. The former Sydney wingman paid his new club back in spades with his match-winning goal after the siren in Showdown 51. Dawson’s yellow Sherrin acted like a pink Kookaburra as it swung under lights at Adelaide Oval, bending from right to left to send Crows fans delirious. Adelaide kicked three goals in the last five minutes to seal its first win of the season and extend its bitter rival’s losing streak. Elliott Himmelberg and Lachlan Gollant kicked four goals each for the Crows and Todd Marshall booted five for Port, which counted Travis Boak and Ollie Wines among its best players, as always. Their efforts weren’t enough for Power coach Ken Hinkley, who will need to engineer a dramatic turnaround to lift Port to the finals from here and save his job.
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 12.11 (83) defeated GOLD COAST 8.9 (57)
Leon Cameron’s post-match admission that GWS had put his contract talks on hold until the end of the season – a decision he said was arrived at before round one – made the Giants’ first win over the year even more important. It was Cameron’s 100th victory at the helm, and he’ll need quite a few more to extend his tenure into a 10th season. The Suns were burnt before half-time as GWS piled on seven of the first eight goals, thanks in no small part to the work of Tom Green and co-captain Stephen Coniglio around the ball. Lachie Ash was given the tagging role on Touk Miller and restricted the prolific Suns ball-winner to just 17 disposals. Harry Himmelberg (three goals) and Jesse Hogan (two) impressed in attack as Braydon Preuss won his ruck duel with Jarrod Witts in his first outing for the Giants.
COLLINGWOOD 13.13 (91) lost to GEELONG 16.8 (104)
Add this to the growing number of games this season that have been defined by wild momentum swings as Geelong’s seven-goals-to-none final term saw it overrun the youthful Pies. Earlier, Craig McRae’s men had revelled in their new attacking style, slamming on nine third-quarter goals to turn for home 30 points clear. Experienced campaigners Taylor Adams, Steele Sidebottom, Scott Pendlebury and Jordan de Goey had helped steer their younger teammates into a position of dominance before Jeremy Cameron turned the match back Geelong’s way. Cameron booted six goals, including three in the final term, as Patrick Dangerfield, Joel Selwood and Cam Guthrie played important roles through the middle. Selwood broke Stephen Kernahan’s record as the longest-serving captain in league history and celebrated with a win, but was jeered all night by Pies fans following a first-quarter incident with Jack Ginnivan.
PLEASE HELP US CONTINUE TO THRIVE BY BECOMING AN OFFICIAL FOOTYOLOGY PATRON. JUST CLICK THIS LINK.
BRISBANE 23.18 (156) defeated NORTH MELBOURNE 7.6 (48)
Evidence of the “important nourishment” David Noble felt the Kangaroos took from their scrappy win over virus-hit West Coast in round two was nowhere to be seen in what the coach described as an “embarrassing” rout at the Gabba. Lincoln McCarthy kicked a career-high five goals, Zac Bailey four and Joe Daniher three as Brisbane banked its highest score and biggest win since belting Carlton by 117 points in 2007. The Lions laid the platform for the record-breaking victory with seven goals in the first quarter and drove home their advantage with nine in the last. Hugh McCluggage was prolific in the middle for the home side, Dayne Zorko starred at half-back and Jarryd Lyons was everywhere in the front half. In defence, Harris Andrews and Marcus Adams repelled North’s raids expertly. Jy Simpkin was busy for the Kangaroos, who lost Ben McKay to a corked thigh late in the match.
CARLTON 11.8 (74) defeated HAWTHORN 11.7 (73)
Jacob Weitering’s match-saving mark at centre-half back prevented one final Hawthorn thrust that could have completed an early contender for comeback of the season. The Hawks had been dominated in the centre square and trailed by 40 points early in the second quarter but gradually clawed their way back and hit the front through Jack Gunston nine minutes into the final term. Jack Silvagni’s third goal in an impressive performance gave the Blues the lead again before Gunston kicked his second, trimming the margin to one point with time enough remaining. Enter Weitering, who had been brilliant alongside Sam Docherty in defence all day and cut off the last foray forward with a courageous grab. Charlie Curnow kicked three goals for Carlton in another strong showing.
ST KILDA 18.9 (117) defeated RICHMOND 13.6 (84)
Damien Hardwick has made it abundantly clear he doesn’t like Marvel Stadium and now has another reason to add to the list. His Tigers led by 25 points midway through the third quarter but ran out of gas in dramatic fashion. St Kilda spearhead Max King kicked four final-quarter goals as the Saints kicked 10 in succession from late in the third term to overrun their opponents. Tim Membrey finished with three goals and Dan Butler two against his old side, with Jade Gresham (32 disposals), Brad Crouch (29) and Jack Steele (32) all prolific ball-winners. Former Saint Matt Parker and fellow livewire Shai Bolton kicked three goals each for Richmond. The Saints substituted out former Tigers goal-sneak Jack Higgins under concussion protocols during the first term and Richmond lost co-captain Dylan Grimes to a hamstring injury after half-time.
WEST COAST 7.5 (47) lost to FREMANTLE 15.12 (102)
The virus-hit Eagles made a dozen changes to their team as both sides went in without some of their biggest names. It was Fremantle which coped better, opening the game up in the second term as Michael Frederick and Lachie Schultz caused headaches for West Coast’s defence. The Dockers led by 34 points at half-time but conceded goals to Jack Petrucelle and Nic Naitanui in the opening 30 seconds of the third term. The momentum was halted when Darcy Tucker was taken off on a stretcher with concussion after he was slung in a Connor West tackle. Docker fears over another leg injury to Alex Pearce were eased when he returned after being checked out by medical staff. Andrew Brayshaw was tagged early but was busy for the Dockers, as was Heath Chapman, while Andrew Gaff racked up touches for West Coast as always. It wasn’t the prettiest of derbies but that won’t bother Fremantle, which won with assistant Jaymie Graham at the helm because Justin Longmuir was in COVID-19 protocols.
