Not bad, hey? Anzac medallist Jack Ginnivan bags one of his five goals for Collingwood against Essendon. Photo: AFL MEDIA

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 8.12 (60) lost to ST KILDA 10.17 (77)
The Giants led at half-time but a third-quarter surge from St Kilda – four goals to none – swung the contest the visitors’ way in Canberra. It gave the Saints a fifth-straight win that left them entrenched in the top four. But it came at a cost as they lost mature-age rookie Jack Hayes to a suspected torn anterior cruciate ligament, while fellow tall Rowan Marshall copped a cork. Those injuries plus Paddy Ryder’s unavailability through suspension meant Josh Battle was thrown into a ruck role and fought well. St Kilda small forward Jack Higgins overcame early yips in front of goal to continue his strong form with 4.3 in a low-scoring contest. Saints teammate Max King was the most wayward of all with 1.7, while GWS co-captain Toby Green ekicked 1.2 from 14 disposals on return from his six-match suspension for intentional umpire contact during last year’s finals series.

WESTERN BULLDOGS 9.8 (62) lost to ADELAIDE 8.15 (63)
As both sides wasted several chances to settle the contest, it needed a match-winner. Step forward Taylor Walker. The veteran Adelaide spearhead steadied under pressure and kicked truly from the pocket to give the Crows a seven-point buffer in the dying stages. His strong contested mark on the wing in the final minute was almost as important. Marcus Bontempelli kicked the final goal to drag the Bulldogs within one point but there wasn’t enough time left. Walker’s sealer was the 500th goal of his career and 12th in three matches since his return from suspension over a racist slur. Ben Keays (33 disposals) and Rory Laird (30) were the Crows’ prime movers and Jordan Dawson gave the locals something to savour with his huge leap on Lachlan McNeil. A bottom-four side last year, Adelaide is now 3-3 for the season, including a 2-2 record from four matches decided by margins of less than a kick.

PORT ADELAIDE 18.9 (117) defeated WEST COAST 4.9 (33)
Is this the game that gets Port Adelaide rolling? Only time will tell. But it was certainly a much-needed circuit-breaker for Ken Hinkley’s previously winless side. Jeremy Finlayson and Todd Marshall stood up in Charlie Dixon’s ongoing absence with five goals apiece, while Brownlow medallist Ollie Wines starred with 33 disposals and a goal on return from the heart scare he had during a game two rounds earlier. Connor Rozee, Travis Boak and Dan Houston were all prominent and the Power’s first win of the season eased pressure on Hinkley, but it came at a cost as superstar Robbie Gray limped off with a jarred knee. West Coast kicked just one goal in the first half and lost Elliot Yeo to concussion protocols before the main break.Eagles coach Adam Simpson later conceded the season is already slipping away from his side, which has been hit by a raft of COVID-19 and injury hurdles.

FREMANTLE 14.13 (97) defeated CARLTON 9.8 (62)
Blues skipper Patrick Cripps racked up 32 disposals and eight clearances in a monster performance that included three second-half goals, but it was the Dockers’ wave of contributors that won out. Rory Lobb and Lachie Schulz kicked three goals each and Andrew Brayshaw (27 disposals, seven clearances) starred in the midfield as Griffin Logue, Alex Pearce and Luke Ryan stood firm in defence. Sam Switkowski and Michael Walters kicked two goals each in a fleet-footed Fremantle forward line. A six-goal second-quarter blitz swung the match the Dockers’ way and the win saw them improve to 5-1 in an impressive start to Justin Longmuir’s third year at the helm. Carlton suffered a huge blow when it lost ruckman Marc Pittonet to a game-ending knee injury in the early stages and Fremantle lost Sean Darcy to concussion in the third quarter. Former Dockers midfielder Adam Cerra, who requested a trade to Carlton at the end of last year, was booed all night as he gathered 32 disposals and seven clearances for the Blues.

NORTH MELBOURNE 9.7 (61) lost to GEELONG 17.19 (121)
Jeremy Cameron set a new mark for most goals in a match at Hobart with his bag of 7.3 leading the way for the Cats. Tom Hawkins kicked four and Tyson Stengle added two as the Geelong forwards claimed 17 marks inside-50 (to North’s three) from a 62-45 landslide in forward entries. Zach Tuohy, Cam Guthrie, Isaac Smith, Joel Selwood and Tom Atkins racked up plenty of possessions in a team that had 76 more disposals than the Kangaroos. The Cats’ quintet were the top five disposal-winners on the ground. Feather-weight Geelong debutant Ollie Dempsey impressed with some neat touches in a side that lost Patrick Dangerfield (calf) and Jack Henry (foot) to injuries during the week. North coach David Noble lamented the “terrible” turnovers that cost his side on the scoreboard but found one shining light in Cam Zurhaar, who kicked three goals on return from concussion.

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GOLD COAST 11.14 (80) lost to BRISBANE 21.6 (132)
The Lions’ dominance of the Q-Clash continued with a thumping victory. Zac Bailey won the Marcus Ashcroft Medal after a career-best six-goal haul as Brisbane moved to 5-1 for the season, with Charlie Cameron (four) and Joe Daniher (three) also booting multiple majors. Jarryd Lyons (30 disposals) Lachie Neale (25) and Hugh McCluggage (22) were prime movers for the Lions against a Suns midfield led by Noah Anderson (33), David Swallow (27) and Touk Miller (26). Levi Casboult and Nick Holman kicked three goals each for Gold Coast. Brisbane increased its lead by every change and kept its foot on the throat late with a seven-goal final quarter. It was the Lions’ seventh-straight Queensland derby victory in a run that extends back to 2018. The overall record stands at 16-6 in Brisbane’s favour.

RICHMOND 8.6 (54) lost to MELBOURNE 9.22 (76)
A result that highlighted the shift in power from the Tigers to Demons over the last 12 months as Melbourne clicked into gear when required to maintain its unbeaten start to its premiership defence. A five-goal third quarter turned the match the Demons’ way and only wayward goal-kicking prevented the margin from blowing out. Melbourne’s tight defence, again led by Steven May on the last line, strangled Richmond. Clayton Oliver had 41 disposals, including 22 contested possessions, and Melbourne dominated the inside-50 count (64-42) as Sam Weideman (three goals) and Bayley Fritsch (two) hit the scoreboard. Defensive pair Nick Vlastuin and Jayden Short worked tirelessly for the Tigers and Jack Riewoldt and Tom Lynch combined for four goals. But Melbourne had too many winners through the midfield with Ed Langdon and Angus Brayshaw playing support roles for Oliver. Christian Petracca had a quieter game than usual but still managed 25 disposals and a goal.

HAWTHORN 10.8 (68) lost to SYDNEY 16.13 (109)
Sydney produced a stirring comeback to win in Launceston but the big story revolved around Paddy McCartin, with the unlucky Swans defender was substituted out of the game after failing a concussion test. Former No.1 draft pick McCartin’s St Kilda career was cut short because of concussion issues in 2018 but he had not had any trouble since his AFL return with Sydney. Swans coach John Longmire later said club doctors had taken an “ultra-conservative” approach with McCartin, who appeared fine post-match. Hawthorn kicked the opening five goals of the match and led by 32 points before Sydney managed a score. But Callum Mills, Luke Parker and Chad Warner gradually helped the Swans turn things around as a nine-goal final term completed a 73-point turnaround. LanceFranklin and Ben Ronke kicked three goals each for the Swans and Jacob Koschitzke matched them with three for the Hawks.

ESSENDON 12.10 (82) lost to COLLINGWOOD 15.3 (93)
Teenager Jack Ginnivan was best afield in the traditional Anzac Day blockbuster as his five-goal haul lifted Collingwood over the line in an epic arm wrestle. Brody Mihocek kicked four majors and Jordan De Goey stood up in the middle, while Jeremy Howe was superb in defence and Scott Pendlebury marshalled his side from half-back. Alec Waterman kicked four goals for Essendon and Jake Stringer booted three on return from injury. Zach Merrett was also good in his comeback and Darcy Parish had a career-best 44 disposals – 30 of them in the first half – to go with 12 clearances. But the Pies’ superior ability to convert front-half opportunities into goals was telling. The lead changed hands six times in the second half until Brodie Grundy benefitted from a 50m penalty – paid against Nick Hind for moving on the mark – to kick the sealer. The result left Essendon reeling at 1-5 with plenty of work to do if they are to keep their finals hopes alive.