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As predicted, the Thursday night clash between the two heavyweights, Melbourne and Geelong was a thriller.
The Cats held a slight ascendancy which increased quarter by quarter and when the expected charge came from Melbourne in the final quarter, Geelong were able to answer the challenge and record a 28 point win at Fortress Kardinia Park.
In a game where the two big forwards on both teams kicked only 3 goals in total, Christian Petracca was the leading goal scorer with 3 goals, enough to draw him level with former goal sneak Jeff Garlett. Mitch Duncan continued to increase his stature at the Cats with his two goals that took him past Steven Motlop and Mark Bairstow and equal with David Mensch.
On Friday, the Bulldogs and their final’s hopes were blown away early by a much more committed Sydney side. If they do miss out on the finals, it will be the fourth time (out of 4) that the Bulldogs have missed the finals after playing in a grand final.
Isaac Heeney helped himself to 4 goals for Sydney and in doing so moved past William Williams on the Swans goal kicking list. Williams played from 1945 to 1951 and was a brilliant rover who won the Best & Fairest three times. At the Bulldogs, Jason Johannisen’ s one goal took him higher up the goal-kicking list and further away from the hot seat.
Saturday’s games helped to fashion the final eight. A fast finishing Collingwood managed to just gain the points against a spirited North Melbourne who – on that performance – do have a future. Todd Goldstein – who should be part of it for at least one more season kicked two goals to bring up the 150 goals milestone and in doing so, passed Ian Fairley and drew level with Daniel Wells, Mark Roberts and Kerry Good. Collingwood’s spread of goal kickers saw Steele Sidebottom equal current team mate Scott Pendlebury, Jamie Elliott equal former team mate Dane Swan and Brodie Mihocek equal former champion and captain Bill Twomey.
Gold Coast Sun’s win over Richmond was also a late-charging thriller with a two point margin after the siren win. The result makes the Tiger’s task of making the finals a little harder, and Gold Coast’s chances still not impossible.
Richmond’s medi-sub Noah Cumberland applied for a full time position in the team with his first two goals in AFL.
Port Adelaide showed they are still in the hunt with a percentage-boosting win over the Giants. Rozee’s four goals took him past Josh Francou and for the Giant’s Jesse Hogan’s two took him past now Collingwood player Will Hoskin-Elliott.
Freo looked a top side against St Kilda, and they are, now equal with Melbourne and Geelong on points and certain to play in September. Only minor consolations for the Saints: Membrey passed Koschitzke on the goal kicking list, King became a centurion and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera scored his first.
Another upset by the Bombers has made it likely that Brisbane will have to battle Carlton for a top 4 finish. For Brisbane, Carter Michael, 1st game, first goal and Mitch Robinson passed Martin Pike.
The Mitch Lewis first half show (5 goals) ended the Hawks/Adelaide game as a contest and saw Luke Breust score 2 goals, one more than Jack Darling in the later game so both are now level in the Top 70 with Terry Daniher.
Carlton’s twin towers (McKay and Curnow) both scored 5 goals to move up the Blues goal scoring ranks in a regulation win, and Josh Kennedy scored his 700th goal for the Eagles.
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