Collingwood’s Jamie Elliott is tackled by St Kilda defender Dougal Howard at Adelaide Oval on Sunday. Photo: GETTY IMAGES
ADELAIDE 18.10 (118) defeated CARLTON 9.8 (62)
Adelaide kicked eight of the first nine goals in a withering start that ensured “Gather Round” kicked off with a bang and ultimately proved the difference in this Thursday night contest. Izak Rankine ignited a sold-out Adelaide Oval crowd with a brilliant snap from the “Eddie Betts pocket” in the opening few seconds and the Crows fed off the energy. Darcy Fogarty kicked five goals, Ben Keays and Taylor Walker added three each and captain Jordan Dawson (32 disposals, nine tackles) continued his hot form. Blues midfielder Sam Walsh (25 disposals, one goal) performed well in his first game for the season after a back injury, but didn’t have enough teammates sharing the load.
FREMANTLE 15.10 (100) defeated GOLD COAST 13.12 (90)
The Dockers were staring down the barrel when they trailed by 23 points during the third quarter at Norwood Oval. But Caleb Serong (37 disposals, eight clearances) and ruckman Sean Darcy lifted their side as Michael Walters (four goals), Lachie Schultz and Jye Amiss (three each) all had an impact in attack. Serong had 14 final-quarter disposals with the game on the line. Jack Lukosius was busy early for the Suns and kicked 1.4 from 19 disposals, while David Swallow (three goals) and Noah Anderson (two) also hit the scoreboard. But the fall-out appears significant for Gold Coast, which had designs on a maiden finals appearance this season but now sits in a 1-4 hole after another final-quarter fade-out.
RICHMOND 11.12 (78) lost to SYDNEY 18.14 (122)
Swans livewire Tom Papley kicked a career-best six goals and celebrated each of them in style, providing a spark for his side after the loss of key players to injury during the week. Tall forward Joel Amartey kicked two first-quarter goals before joining the wounded, sidelined by a hamstring injury, while Chad Warner (26 disposals, one goal) and Errol Gulden (25 touches) starred. Jack Riewoldt kicked four goals on return for the Tigers, who frustrated coach Damien Hardwick with their “incredibly poor” discipline in giving up four 50m penalties. Liam Baker (35 disposals), Tim Taranto (34) and Jacob Hopper (32) were all busy for Richmond, which got within six points just before three-quarter time before coughing up seven goals in the final term.
BRISBANE 22.20 (152) defeated NORTH MELBOURNE 12.5 (77)
The Lions shredded North Melbourne’s defence to set a new club-record with 33 marks inside 50m, reaching the highest tally of any club in a single match since 2007. Joe Daniher kicked five goals, exciting the sold-out crowd at Mount Barker as Eric Hipwood and Charlie Cameron added four majors apiece. Lachie Neale (37 disposals, 13 clearances) starred for Brisbane and had plenty of help from Josh Dunkley, Will Ashcroft and Dayne Zorko. Jaidyn Stephenson (four goals) was a shining light in attack for the Kangaroos and Harry Sheezel, who bombed a first-quarter goal as North jumped out to an early 18-point lead, racked up another 31 touches.
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ESSENDON 15.14 (104) defeated MELBOURNE 11.11 (77)
Brad Scott can keep the proverbial lid screwed on as tight as he wants but Essendon fans can afford to get at least a little excited after the Bombers upset the premiership favourites. A run of seven straight goals through the second and third quarters split this game wide open as the Bombers posted their most impressive win under Scott to date, improving to 4-1 for the season. Kyle Langford (two goals) was dangerous in attack again and the impressive Sam Draper-Andrew Phillips ruck pairing also produced five goals as Zach Merrett (36 disposals), Darcy Parish (34) and Dylan Shiel (28) won plenty of the ball. Clayton Oliver (41) did the same for Melbourne but the Bombers were tougher around the contest in the surprise result.
PORT ADELAIDE 10.10 (70) defeated WESTERN BULLDOGS 8.8 (56)
Jason Horne-Francis and Zak Butters came up huge for the Power in the last quarter and Todd Marshall kicked two crucial goals. Butters (32 disposals, seven clearances) was outstanding and kicked the sealer, while Horne-Francis (19, five) delivered when it mattered most. Coach Ken Hinkley leapt to his young midfield recruit’s defence post-match, taking aim at “embarrassing” and “unfair” criticism of the 19-year-old. Aliir Aliir stood tall for Port in defence as terrible conditions made life difficult for both sides, but allowed Butters’ clean ball work to shine. Cody Weightman kicked four goals on return for the Bulldogs after missing the opening four rounds with an adductor issue.
GEELONG 21.10 (136) defeated WEST COAST 13.11 (89)
It was mostly one-way traffic as Tom Hawkins, Jeremy Cameron and Brad Close kicked four goals apiece in the Cats’ big win. Patrick Dangerfield (23 disposals), Tom Stewart (24), Cam Guthrie (22) and Isaac Smith (23, one goal) all won plenty of the ball, as did Esava Ratugolea, who shone in his new defensive post. But Geelong’s triumph came at a cost as it lost Tyson Stengle to a suspected broken arm. A run of five straight Eagles goals in the third term limited the scoreboard damage, and tall forwards Jake Waterman and Oscar Allen finished with four majors each. The Cats (2-3) are on the verge of squaring their season record after a winless opening three rounds.
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 10.17 (77) defeated HAWTHORN 11.9 (75)
Harry Himmelberg’s heroics at both ends of the ground ensured the Giants snared their second win of the season in a Norwood Oval thriller. Himmelberg’s big mark and goal put GWS in front in the dying stages before the versatile tall touched Hawks gun Jarman Impey’s shot on the goal line in a match-saving play. A score review confirmed Himmelberg got there just in time. Tom Green (31 disposals, nine clearances) starred for the Giants but is in trouble for a dump tackle on Hawks midfielder Josh Ward. James Worpel (35 disposals, eight clearances) and Jai Newcombe (32, 10) were the Hawks best and Fergus Greene kicked three goals, while namesake and Giants captain Toby Greene also booted three to go with two each from Himmelberg and Jesse Hogan.
COLLINGWOOD 10.10 (70) defeated ST KILDA 9.10 (64)
Jordan de Goey was a late withdrawal through illness but Nick Daicos (42 disposals) and older brother Josh (30) starred for the Magpies, who skipped clear with three goals early in the final term before resisting a late surge. St Kilda kicked three very late goals and had chances to pinch a draw but couldn’t get it done in the desperate final few minutes. Bobby Hill kicked three goals for Collingwood, Brody Mihocek booted two and Jack Ginnivan kicked one from 13 disposals on return after serving his suspension over a drugs scandal earlier in the season. St Kilda big man Rowan Marshall (25 disposals, 32 hit-outs, seven clearances) got the better of makeshift Pies ruckman Billy Frampton, while Brad Crouch (33 disposals, nine clearances, two goals) won plenty of the ball for the Saints. Already missing a host of talls, Collingwood lost Dan McStay to a potentially serious finger tendon injury.
