The Bombers surround Harry Jones after one of his two early goals in Essendon’s win over Fremantle. Photo: GETTY IMAGES
ST KILDA 5.17 (47) lost to GEELONG 10.8 (68)
It was nowhere near as impressive as the previous week’s demolition of Richmond, but the Cats did enough to outlast an inaccurate St Kilda in a low-scoring scrap under the roof. Young gun Max King got his hands on the ball but was one of the worst offenders for the Saints in front of goal, finishing with 1.5 for the night, and at one stage tripped over himself as he tried to gather a loose ball running into an open forward 50. Rowan Marshall’s foot injury was a further blow for St Kilda. Isaac Smith, Cam Guthrie and Joel Selwood were all influential for the Cats as Brad Close, Tom Hawkins and Gary Rohan kicked two goals each. Zach Tuohy brought back the booming torpedo out of full-back in a highlight for fans.
SYDNEY 10.12 (72) defeated COLLINGWOOD 5.12 (42)
Jordan de Goey picked up where he left off last week and kicked two first-quarter goals to help fire the Magpies to an 18-point lead at the first change, but it was all downhill from there as Collingwood managed just one more goal for the rest of the game. Isaac Heeney kicked three goals from 22 disposals on return as Tom Papley and Lance Franklin each booted two goals, while emerging forward Hayden McLean showed his aerial prowess with five contested marks. Swans ruckman Tom Hickey continued his stellar season in opposition to Brodie Grundy as Jake Lloyd and Callum Mills had an influence for the home side.
HAWTHORN 12.8 (80) lost to NORTH MELBOURNE 13.9 (87)
Proud Tasmanian David Noble took his previously winless side to Launceston and was rewarded for his persistence this season with a maiden victory as coach – on his 54th birthday, no less. But the Kangaroos did it the hard way, trailing by as much as 32 points during the second quarter before mounting a comeback. Cam Zurhaar (four goals) and Taylor Garner (three) were pivotal as Jy Simpkin (38 disposals) and Ben Cunnington (37) helped engineer the stunning turnaround. The Hawks kicked six of the first seven goals with Chad Wingard and Jacob Koschitzke hitting the scoreboard. North hit the front early in the final term and held their nerve in a tight finish after Luke Breust trimmed the margin to one goal with two minutes left.
GOLD COAST 7.9 (51) lost to BRISBANE 19.10 (124)
The Lions extended their winning streak to five matches with a dominant display in the 20th Q-Clash and registered a fifth straight victory over the Suns in the process. Brisbane broke the game open after a tight first quarter, booting eight unanswered goals during the third quarter in a run of 14 consecutive majors. Daniel McStay equalled his career-high tally of four goals and Charlie Cameron kicked three. Lions midfielder Jarryd Lyons’ best afield display saw him become the first to player to win a Marcus Ashcroft Medal as a member of both clubs. The Lions’ win came at a cost, with Ryan Lester (hamstring) and Darcy Gardiner (shoulder) both hurt.
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RICHMOND 13.9 (87) defeated GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 12.11 (83)
Redemption of sorts for Daniel Rioli as he put what Damien Hardwick called a “tough week” behind him, bobbing up to kick what proved to be the match-winning goal. Rioli had a quiet night, a week after he and teammate Shai Bolton were involved in a nightclub scuffle that brought heat on their club. But the small forward benefitted from a kind bounce to put the Tigers in front with a few minutes to play at Marvel Stadium after they had trailed by 28 points midway through the third quarter. Dustin Martin was back to his brilliant best with 28 disposals and four goals in a crucial display. The Giants had looked like winners for most of the night as Jacob Hopper, Tim Taranto and Tom Green put them on top in the middle, while Jesse Hogan played a cameo with four goals in the second quarter alone. The unheralded Tigers midfielders, led by Liam Baker in the absence of several injured stars, eventually turned the tide their way in front of just 18,798 fans – Richmond’s smallest home crowd since 2004.
PORT ADELAIDE 12.5 (77) lost to WESTERN BULLDOGS 15.6 (96)
It loomed as a massive test for both sides’ premiership credentials and the Bulldogs passed it with flying colours. Their hard-working midfield led from the front in typical fashion, with Tom Liberatore, Marcus Bontempelli, Adam Treloar, Bailey Smith and Jack Macrae in the thick of the action. Veteran duo Ollie Wines and Travis Boak had a crack, but the Power midfield was overwhelmed. Aaron Naughton kicked four goals for the Bulldogs and emerging talent Cody Weightman added three in an impressive flex of the depth on his club’s playing list. The sour note for Luke Beveridge’s side was another hamstring injury to premiership skipper Easton Wood.
ESSENDON 10.8 (68) defeated FREMANTLE 8.13 (61)
A red-hot start saw the Bombers kick the opening three goals inside eight minutes – including two for emerging talent Harrison Jones – before Fremantle took control of the contest. The Dockers dominated field position but couldn’t capitalise as poor decisions, skills and accuracy in front of goal proved costly. Matt Taberner kicked four goals and Andrew Brayshaw and Nat Fyfe were busy in the middle, while Caleb Serong did a good job quelling Zach Merrett’s influence. But Darcy Parish starred in the Bombers’ engine room again and Brayden Ham bobbed up with the crucial goal late in the final term as the home side prevailed in an error-riddled contest.
MELBOURNE 13.16 (94) defeated CARLTON 10.8 (68)
The Demons advanced to 9-0 for the first time since 1956 with a win over a Blues outfit that lost David Cunningham to a suspected season-ending knee injury during the first quarter. Kysaiah Pickett put in a goal-of-the-year nomination during the third quarter as Melbourne broke the game open after a tight first half. Bayley Fritsch and Tom McDonald kicked three goals apiece for the Dees as Clayton Oliver, Christian Salem and Christian Petracca went about their usual business in the midfield. Sam Walsh continued his strong form for the Blues and Patrick Cripps had 27 disposals amid speculation over his back injury, while Coleman Medal leader Harry McKay kicked three goals after an early shoulder injury scare.
WEST COAST 16.10 (106) defeated ADELAIDE 11.10 (76)
Jack Darling kicked five goals, which was the difference in the end, as the Eagles ticked another box with a fairly comfortable victory at home. One of Darling’s goals was a bizarre nutmeg through Brodie Smith’s legs when he could have kicked a straightforward set shot, and his handful of goals all came in a stunning second-quarter burst. Oscar Allen and Josh Kennedy booted three each as Tim Kelly and Andrew Gaff led the way through the midfield in the absence of some big-name teammates. The Crows led by seven points early in the second term but were outclassed from then on. Shane McAdam kicked three goals for the visitors as Rory Laird and Ben Keays tried to take it up to the Eagles.
