Harry McKay (left) and Charlie Curnow combined for nine goals in Carlton’s 48-point win over Adelaide. Photo: GETTY IMAGES
PORT ADELAIDE 12.14 (86) defeated WESTERN BULLDOGS 10.9 (69)
“It was a night of carnage,” Luke Beveridge lamented after losing Cody Weightman, Tim O’Brien and Laitham Vandermeer to injuries during a costly defeat that left the Bulldogs a win and percentage outside the top eight. Travis Boak, Connor Rozee and Ollie Wines starred in Port’s engine room and off-season recruit Jeremy Finlayson kicked three goals to help the home side prevail. Todd Marshall, Robbie Gray and 100-gamer Sam Powell-Pepper each booted two. The Power overcame the loss of Riley Bonner to an ankle injury and the Dogs’ casualties were more significant. Aaron Naughton kicked four goals, Bailey Smith added two from 24 disposals and Jack Macrae (32 disposals) was busy as always. The Bulldogs kicked two early goals but it was a five-goal burst from Port during the third term that broke the game open. The home side hung on despite failing to kick a major in the last quarter.
FREMANTLE 15.12 (102) defeated NORTH MELBOURNE 3.6 (24)
A wave of COVID-19 cases during the week couldn’t halt the Dockers’ momentum as they put North Melbourne to the sword in a sixth-straight win. Fremantle had more than double the visitors’ number of inside-50s (67-32) as Will Brodie, Andrew Brayshaw and returning ruckman Sean Darcy dominated in the middle. Former Gold Coast midfielder Brodie had a career-high 37 disposals in another impressive display for his new club. First-year forward Jye Amiss – last year’s No.8 draft pick – raised hopes for a promising future with two goals and five marks on debut. Devoid of confidence, according to coach David Noble, the Kangaroos conceded five unanswered goals in the first quarter and were never in the contest. They lost Ben McKay to a knee injury, while Fremantle’s Sam Switkowski was substituted out with concussion after a knee to the head from Jason Horne-Francis in a marking contest.
RICHMOND 17.11 (113) defeated COLLINGWOOD 12.14 (86)
Dustin Martin made a successful comeback after time away on personal leave but it was Tom Lynch who did most of the damage for Richmond. The Tigers’ spearhead kicked five goals in the first half and finished with six from 25 disposals, a week after booting seven majors in the rout of West Coast. Martin played mostly in attack and kicked two goals from 23 touches, giving Richmond fans plenty to cheer about. Teammates mobbed Martin after he slotted his first goal during the third quarter. Shai Bolton and Jack Riewoldt also kicked two each, Noah Balta stood firm in defence and Maurice Rioli Jnr showed some nice flashes. Collingwood livewire Jack Ginnivan responded to another week in the spotlight with three goals and was struck in the back of the head by Tigers defender Rhyan Mansell during a fiery contest.
SYDNEY 8.13 (61) lost to GOLD COAST 10.15 (75)
The upset of the season? It’s got to be a contender, though diehard Suns fans will point out their side has now won three of its last four games away to Sydney, and four of its last five matches at the SCG. Gold Coast defender Rory Thompson made his long-awaited comeback after two knee reconstructions and almost four years on the sidelines and kept Logan McDonald under wraps. Izak Rankine kicked two important goals in a tally matched by Levi Casboult, who booted the sealer late in the final term. The Suns had coughed up a four-goal lead and looked like being overrun when Sydney drew level by three-quarter time. But Matt Rowell, Touk Miller and David Swallow were all influential around the contest and helped Gold Coast score a surprise win that eased some pressure on coach Stuart Dew. Paddy McCartin and Nick Blakey were among the Swans’ best in the back half but their usual leaders failed to stand up.
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 4.11 (35) lost to GEELONG 12.16 (88)
Jeremy Cameron kicked three goals in a dominant opening quarter to lay the platform for the Cats’ comfortable win in the nation’s capital. The Geelong spearhead finished with five majors against his former side, playing a key role alongside goal-sneak Tyson Stengle (three). Patrick Dangerfield (28 disposals) was superb on return from a two-week spell with calf injury and Mitch Duncan (33) was busy. Giants co-captain Toby Greene kicked two goals as fellow skipper Josh Kelly (27 disposals) and Tom Green (26) found plenty of the ball. GWS coach Leon Cameron didn’t mince words in his post-match assessment. “We were boring at times,” he said. “It was a really flat, really flat performance.” Key forward Jesse Hogan will find himself in trouble with the match review officer for a high elbow on Jed Bews.
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ESSENDON 16.12 (108) defeated HAWTHORN 11.15 (81)
The Bombers’ team was ravaged when they lost five players to illness before the bounce and any hopes of an unlikely win looked shot when they trailed by 25 points midway through the third quarter. But Nic Martin, Mason Redman, Darcy Parish, Zach Merrett and co had other ideas as they helped lift Essendon off the canvas. In-form forward Peter Wright kicked six goals in a telling display, which included booting three of the Bombers’ eight majors in a dominant final term. Sam Mitchell was adamant Hawthorn didn’t get complacent. Instead, he said his developing side was simply outplayed when it mattered most. Jaeger O’Meara was consistent throughout but Jai Newcombe, who was outstanding in the first half, went missing after the main break. Ruckman Max Lynch was influential against Sam Draper, who had hardly trained all week, but spent a significant amount of time off the ground undergoing medical assessment during the third and fourth quarters as the Bombers turned the game on its head.
BRISBANE 16.9 (105) defeated WEST COAST 4.6 (30)
Already missing injured key forwards Eric Hipwood and Joe Daniher, Brisbane lost Daniel McStay to an ankle injury in a comfortable win. The Lions never really hit top gear – not that they needed to against a woefully undermanned West Coast – but a seven-goal final term blew the margin out to something more like what many onlookers had expected pre-match. Hugh McCluggage was outstanding with four goals from 26 disposals, Charlie Cameron (four goals) was dangerous and Lachie Neale (30 disposals, 10 clearances) did plenty of work in traffic. Cam Rayner (two goals) continued to build into the season as experienced duo Daniel Rich and Dayne Zorko racked up plenty of touches. The Eagles entered the contest with just 20 AFL-listed players available and it showed. Liam Ryan kicked their first three goals as Jack Redden and veteran Shannon Hurn fought against the tide.
MELBOURNE 14.9 (93) defeated ST KILDA 8.7 (55)
Nothing went right early for the Saints, and when Tim Membrey’s set shot from the top of the goal square after the quarter-time siren was ruled touched, you could sense it wasn’t going to be their day. The Demons led by as much as 47 points before half-time and while they lost a third quarter for the first time this season, they were able to steady for a comfortable win. Ed Langdon was given freedom on a wing and gathered a career-high 39 disposals as Clayton Oliver (38), Christian Petracca (36) and Angus Brayshaw (31) racked up possessions. Ben Brown and Kysaiah Pickett kicked three goals each and Tom McDonald added two in his 200th game. Captain Jack Steele was one of St Kilda’s best, while Max King and Rowan Marshall kicked two goals each, but neither had a huge impact as the Saints were beaten around the contest.
CARLTON 17.14 (116) defeated ADELAIDE 10.8 (68)
Charlie Curnow (six goals) and Harry McKay (three) fired in attack as the Blues kicked their highest score under Michael Voss. It came on the back of a dominant performance in the second half, led by Patrick Cripps and a hard-working midfield featuring Adam Cerra, Sam Walsh and Matthew Kennedy. Carlton captain Cripps finished with 35 disposals and two goals despite Jackson Hately shadowing him under the Marvel Stadium lights. Taylor Walker kicked two goals for Adelaide in an entertaining contest with Jacob Weitering and Jordan Dawson (30 disposals) tried hard for the Crows. But the visitors were overpowered and outclassed by a Carlton outfit that moved back into the top-four with a powerful display. Jack Martin’s calf injury was the only sour note for the Blues.
