Lachie Schultz would’ve taken a mark of the year contender had the umpire not adjudged the ball to have been faintly touched beforehand. Photo: GETTY IMAGES
WESTERN BULLDOGS 10.7 (67) defeated BRISBANE 7.11 (53)
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan led the Bulldogs to a much-needed win with five goals, equalling his career-best tally, but the match will be best remembered for the third-year forward’s powerful stance against racism. Ugle-Hagan slotted the opening goal from the pocket and turned to the crowd, lifted his jumper and pointed to his skin in a repeat of Nicky Winmar’s iconic 1993 gesture at Victoria Park, where the ex-Saints champion declared “I’m black and I’m proud”. Ugle-Hagan’s message came in response to racial abuse received during and after his side’s round two fixture. Marcus Bontempelli was best afield in a return to form for the Bulldogs, who outgunned Brisbane’s inconsistent midfield unit.
COLLINGWOOD 8.15 (63) defeated RICHMOND 7.7 (49)
It wasn’t pretty by any measure but the in-form Magpies (3-0) resisted a third-quarter fightback to maintain their unbeaten start to the season. Steele Sidebottom (24 disposals) and Jordan De Goey (35 disposals, 10 clearances) shone for Collingwood and Nick Daicos (33 disposals) shook off close attention from Jack Graham. Richmond substitute Noah Cumberland sparked his side’s resurgence after half-time as the Tigers clawed back within three points, but the Magpies held firm. Their win came at a cost, with Darcy Cameron (knee) joining fellow ruckmen Mason Cox (haematoma) and Aiden Begg (back) on the sidelines after Brodie Grundy was offloaded in the off-season.
HAWTHORN 11.14 (80) defeated NORTH MELBOURNE 9.7 (61)
It was billed as a grudge match, pitting Alastair Clarkson against former club Hawthorn and coaching successor Sam Mitchell. And while neither coach bought into the narrative – at least not publicly – you get the sense the current Hawks boss would have had a smile when he realised the scoreboard now reads: Mitchell 1 Clarkson 0. North Melbourne was the favourite after a 2-0 start to life under Clarkson but lost gun onballer Luke Davies-Uniacke (calf) before the bounce and were outclassed in Launceston. Dylan Moore (26 disposals, two goals) excited Hawks fans, Tyler Brockman kicked three goals in his first match since 2021, and Will Day (29 disposals, five clearances) and Josh Ward (27, five) racked up touches through the middle. Harry Sheezel (26) was the Kangaroos’ top disposal winner but was the only North Melbourne player in the top 11 on the ground.
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 9.10 (64) lost to CARLTON 9.20 (74)
There was controversy galore as a free kick against GWS midfielder Stephen Coniglio for dissent gifted Jesse Motlop a goal at a crucial stage of the final term. It gave the Blues a lead they never relinquished. Carlton skipper Patrick Cripps had a career-high 42 disposals and 13 clearances, while Nic Newman locked down on Toby Greene, limiting the previously in-form Giants captain to one goal from just five disposals. Harry McKay went goalless for the wayward Blues as Charlie Curnow, Matthew Owies and the energetic Motlop booted two each. The Giants had some big ball-winners in Tom Green (34 disposals, seven clearances), Josh Kelly (30, six) and Coniglio (29, four) and hit the front in the final term through goals to Greene and Brent Daniels. Curnow’s second major deep into time-on settled the contest.
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ST KILDA 14.8 (92) defeated ESSENDON 11.8 (74)
The Saints started like a house on fire and finished full of running to mark their 150-year anniversary celebrations in fine style, keeping their winning start to the season alive in the process. Ross Lyon’s men led by 34 points before Essendon mustered a score and while the Bombers clawed their way back to draw level in the final term, St Kilda slammed on five goals in 11 minutes to emphatically shut the gate. Dan Butler and Jack Higgins kicked four goals each and Callum Wilkie stood tall in defence for the undermanned Saints, who lost Jimmy Webster (cheekbone) after a clash of heads with teammate Dougal Howard. Mason Wood shone with a career-high 27 disposals and a goal but is nursing a shoulder injury.
PORT ADELAIDE 13.8 (86) lost to ADELAIDE 18.9 (117)
Port won the ‘prison bars’ battle but lost the Showdown war as the Crows produced a stunning final quarter to overwhelm their arch rival and pour more heat on under-fire Power coach Ken Hinkley. Adelaide led by just three points at the final change before kicking 7.1 to 2.3 in the decisive fourth term, including the last six goals of the game. Riley Thilthorpe (five goals) and Izak Rankine (four) starred in attack for the Crows, Luke Pedlar chipped in with three and new captain Jordan Dawson (18 disposals, one goal) was a somewhat surprising winner of the Showdown Medal. Sam Powell-Pepper and Charlie Dixon kicked three goals each for the Power. Adelaide’s first win of the season reduced Port to 1-2 after its blistering opening-round win over Brisbane.
GOLD COAST 10.13 (73) defeated GEELONG 7.12 (54)
Geelong’s plumbed new depths in a horror start to 2023 as Jack Lukosius kicked a career-best five goals to lead the Suns to their first win of the season. Lachie Weller (29 disposals) and Matt Rowell (24, nine clearances) shone for Gold Coast to help David Swallow celebrate becoming the first player in club history to reach 200 games. For Geelong, Tom Stewart (29 disposals) had a game-high 11 intercepts on return from injury and Jeremy Cameron kicked 3.3 but was wayward at times. The undermanned Cats are the first VFL/AFL team since North Melbourne in 1976 to start their premiership defence 0-3.
MELBOURNE 21.8 (134) defeated SYDNEY 12.12 (84)
No surprises here – Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver were outstanding. But the most pleasing part of Melbourne’s win was its ability to withstand a challenge when the Swans got within six points during the third term, having conceded six of the first seven goals. Brodie Grundy starred in the ruck, stepping up in Max Gawn’s absence, as Bayley Fritsch, Kade Chandler and impressive debutant Jacob van Rooyen kicked three goals each. Tom Papley kicked three for Sydney, Lance Franklin added two but was otherwise quiet on return from suspension. The Dees dominated contested ball when the game was on the line and finished full of running.
FREMANTLE 16.12 (108) defeated WEST COAST 9.13 (67)
Fremantle breathed a heavy sigh of relief at the final siren with its first win of a stuttering start to the season in the bag. But there were more than a few nervous moments as the injury-hit Eagles threatened to pull off what could have been one of the gutsiest derby wins of all time. West Coast lost Jeremy McGovern, Luke Shuey and Alex Witherden before half-time and had Jamie Cripps and Liam Ryan hurt during the third term. Yet they still fought back to get within two points in the last quarter before the Dockers steadied, booting the final six goals in a slugfest. Michael Walters kicked four goals and Luke Jackson was one of four Dockers with two majors each as Caleb Serong (35 disposals) won the Glendinning-Allan Medal as best afield.
