Brisbane Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale bursts clear during the Lions’ win over Sydney at the SCG. Photo: AFL MEDIA
WEST COAST 8.8 (56) lost to RICHMOND 25.15 (165)
Records tumbled as the Eagles’ season from hell reached a new low in their heaviest defeat of the Adam Simpson era. Decorated forward Josh Kennedy kicked four goals to reach 700 for his career but there was little else for home fans to cheer about. Richmond spearhead Tom Lynch celebrated his 200th game with seven goals and should really have finished in double figures for the first time but wasted more chances than he usually would. Jack Riewoldt (four goals), Shai Bolton and Kamdyn McIntosh (three each) hit the scoreboard and Maurice Rioli Jnr got in on the act after half-time, booting three of his own. Bolton was brilliant with 30 disposals, seven clearances and 15 score involvements. The only sour note for the Tigers was star midfielder Dion Prestia being substituted out as a precaution with achilles tightness. West Coast’s leaders have refused to use the word “rebuild” but are giving “transition” a good run as the competition heavyweight faces a rare season near the foot of the ladder.
GEELONG 10.6 (66) lost to FREMANTLE 10.9 (69)
The Dockers made a massive statement of intent with an upset victory over a genuine heavyweight in hostile territory. Wingman Blake Acres (27 disposals, one goal) had his best game for Fremantle, Andrew Brayshaw (28 touches) was superb and evergreen veteran David Mundy (22) used all his experience to chew up precious seconds in the crucial final few minutes. Rory Lobb (two goals) provided the main attacking target as the Dockers took control through the second and third quarters before resisting a late challenge when Geelong got within a kick. Cats spearhead Jeremy Cameron was held scoreless by Griffin Logue just one week after kicking seven goals against North Melbourne and Alex Pearce fought back to prevent Tom Hawkins (two goals) from having a major impact. Star defender Tom Stewart was the Cats’ best and young defender Sam De Koning read the play superbly, while Tyson Stengle continued his strong form with three goals. The loss was Geelong’s third in its last five games at its Kardinia Park fortress.
ADELAIDE 8.6 (54) lost to GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 17.11 (113)
The Giants banked a much-needed win to ease pressure on out-of-contract coach Leon Cameron and breathe new life into their season. Toby Greene found form in his second game back from suspension, booting four first-half goals as GWS raced to a 59-point lead by the main break. The margin blew out to 79 points before the Crows trimmed it back a little in the final term. But the damage had been done as Josh Kelly (41 disposals), Isaac Cumming (33) and Tom Green (24) helped put GWS firmly in control. Jesse Hogan, Lachie Whitfield and Stephen Coniglio kicked three goals each. Jordan Dawson, Ben Keays and Rory Laird were among the Crows’ best and Taylor Walker kicked two goals for the home side, which had its early-season bubble well and truly burst in a surprise defeat at the hands of an opponent that had struggled to date.
MELBOURNE 13.13 (91) defeated HAWTHORN 11.15 (81)
Adem Yze added his name to the growing list of winning stand-in coaches this season as he guided the unbeaten Demons to a hard-fought win as flag-winning coach Simon Goodwin and five players sat out through virus protocols. Melbourne led by 33 points during the third term and held onto its lead despite going goalless in the final term as the unfancied Hawks challenged. Usual suspects Clayton Oliver, Christian Petracca and Max Gawn led the way for the reigning premier, with captain Gawn outstanding in delivering 29 disposals, nine clearances and two goals. Ben Brown kicked four goals for the winners in a tally matched by developing Hawks tall Jacob Koschitzke. Dylan Moore (33 disposals) was outstanding for Hawthorn and Finn Maginness held elite Demons wingman Ed Langdon to just nine disposals. Melbourne’s winning streak now stands at 14 matches, dating back to round 20 last season.
ST KILDA 4.18 (42) lost to PORT ADELAIDE 5 .13 (43)
Power coach Ken Hinkley described it as “pretty strong, ugly footy” and it was fitting that the match-winning score was a behind in a contest plagued by wayward goal-kicking from both sides. Robbie Gray’s rushed shot with 30 seconds left missed the major opening but was enough to secure a tense victory. Gray kicked two goals in the third quarter and set up another in a low-scoring encounter, with Max King booting two for St Kilda. King’s second, which came early in the final term, ended a run of 10 consecutive behinds for the woefully inaccurate Saints that began before half-time. Port veteran Travis Boak wore a glove to protect the hand he cut in a kitchen accident mid-week, gathering 22 disposals, as Ollie Wines (27) and Zak Butters (23) exerted their influence. Already without injured spearhead Charlie Dixon, Port lost fellow key forward Mitch Georgiades to a calf injury.
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CARLTON 17.12 (114) defeated NORTH MELBOURNE 10.4 (64)
Competitive for three quarters, but not the third, North’s chances of scoring an upset went up in smoke during a 20-minute patch after the main break. The Blues piled on seven goals to two in the third term to break the game open. Patrick Cripps (35 disposals and 10 clearances) and Matthew Kennedy (24 and 11) muscled in on the midfield, Adam Saad (25 disposals) continued his fine form at half-back and power forwards Harry McKay (four) and Charlie Curnow (three) combined for seven goals. No.1 draft pick Jason Horne-Francis (20 disposals) continued his development and Jy Simpkin (22) fought hard for North, while Nick Larkey booted three goals. But Kangas forward Larkey was also booked for tunnelling Lewis Young in one of several third-quarter incidents that sparked spot fires as the Blues kept their cool to kick clear for a convincing victory.
COLLINGWOOD 17.13 (115) defeated GOLD COAST 14.6 (90)
Brody Mihocek kicked four majors and Jack Ginnivan offered up contender for goal of the year as the Pies kicked their highest score of the season to date. It came on the back of a seven-goal first quarter that set the tone for the match. Ginnivan evaded three Suns opponents for his brilliant second-quarter goal, one of his three for the day. Suns ball-winner Touk Miller (36 disposals and two goals) was best afield, Noah Anderson (32 touches) shone and Jarrod Witts took advantage of Brodie Grundy’s absence in the ruck. Levi Casboult kicked 4.4 in a lively performance as Gold Coast’s focal point in attack. But the Magpies had too many winners as Patrick Lipinski (30 disposals), Jack Crisp (28) and Scott Pendlebury (25) racked up a heap of touches. The win put Collingwood (4-3) back into the top eight.
WESTERN BULLDOGS 16.7 (103) defeated ESSENDON 10.11 (71)
Josh Dunkley (29 disposals and two goals) was the brightest star for the Bulldogs in a comfortable win over an Essendon side that is digging a deeper hole for itself week by week. But it was the lesser lights that most pleased coach Luke Beveridge as Lachie McNeil (three goals) and Robbie McComb (two) gave significant contributions. There were 10 different goalkickers – including Mitch Wallis and Cody Weightman (two each) – as Aaron Naughton was kept goalless for just the third time in two seasons. Mason Redman (29 disposals), Zach Merrett (36) and Darcy Parish(32) all racked up plenty of touches for Essendon and Peter Wright kicked four goals. But a raft of turnovers proved costly as the Bulldogs punished their sloppy opponents, leaving Bombers coach Ben Rutten frustrated as he faces a dismal 1-6 record.
SYDNEY 13.11 (89) lost to BRISBANE 17.11 (113)
Lance Franklin kicked four goals in the third quarter to kick-start a Sydney fightback after the Swans had trailed by 33 points at half-time. The margin was cut to just three points during the third quarter and with Joe Daniher going down with a shoulder injury, the Lions were under the pump. But crucial goals to the outstanding Lachie Neale and Daniel McStay (two) helped steady the ship in a gritty Brisbane win that underlined its premiership credentials. Neale (37 disposals) starred for the Lions as McStay (three goals), Cam Rayner (three), Charlie Cameron (three) and Dayne Zorko (two) all chipped in on the scoreboard. Luke Parker and Callum Mills were typically industrious for Sydney. The Lions’ win snapped a six-match losing streak at the SCG that dated back to 2010.
