AFL season wide open
The premiership table after round 15 looks very different – there’s a tightening battle for spots in the eight and the top four is also wide open.
Hawthorn sits on top – one of three sides with 11 wins.
The Gold Coast Suns suddenly look vulnerable and this Saturday’s Port v Essendon match now has a lot at stake.
Here’s the wrap for round 15:
THEY SAID IT: “The top four is just fantasyland stuff.” North Melbourne coach Brad Scott after their shock four-point loss to Brisbane.
STATS THAT MATTER: In his last 10 games, Hawthorn sharpshooter Luke Breust has kicked 26 goals without a miss and has 38.4 for the season. Tony Lockett had a four-game spell for Sydney in 1995 where he kicked 29 straight – including 16 against Fitzroy.
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KEY MOMENT: Adelaide small forward Eddie Betts snaps an outstanding goal with three minutes left to give the Crows a 17-point break over Port Adelaide in another epic Showdown. Betts kicks another in the last minute to add emphasis to the upset win.
TALKING POINT: Cyril Rioli’s seventh hamstring injury could be his worst, potentially sidelining him for the rest of the season. And given his shocking history of these problems, it won’t be the last.
TRIBUNAL WATCH: Gold Coast’s Jarrod Harbrow was booked for striking Breust, Collingwood’s Dane Beames and Carlton’s Mitch Robinson were reported for striking.
KEY INJURIES: H Taylor (Geel, head) J Selwood (Geel, thigh) A Christensen (Geel, shin) D Fletcher (Ess, ankle) M Hibberd (Ess, hamstring) C Rioli (Haw, hamstring) G Broughton (GC, back) J Webster (StK, back) M Brown (WC, knee) H Shaw (GWS, concussion) R Lester (Bris, leg) D Terlich (Melb, shoulder) J Trengove (PA, leg)
UNDER PRESSURE: Port Adelaide’s third loss of the season costs them top spot and North Melbourne blow a golden chance to contend for the top four by losing to lowly Brisbane.
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GEELONG 5.1 8.4 8.6 13.11 (89)
ESSENDON 1.3 3.5 8.10 11.14 (80)
Goals: Geelong: T Hawkins 3 J Selwood 2 M Duncan 2 S Kersten 2 S Motlop 2 C Enright G Horlin-Smith. Essendon: J Carlisle 2 J Daniher 2 T Colyer 2 B Howlett B Stanton C Dempsey J Merrett M Hibberd.
Best: Geelong: S Motlop J Bartel M Duncan J Selwood A Mackie S Johnson A Christensen J Bews J Kelly. Essendon: D Heppell T Colyer D Zaharakis P Ryder B Goddard C Hooker.
Injuries: Geelong: H Taylor (head knock) S Motlop (knee) A Christensen (shin). Essendon: D Fletcher (ankle) M Hibberd (hamstring).
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Robert Findlay, Chris Kamolins, Brett Rosebury.
Official Crowd: 43,732 at Etihad Stadium.
HAWTHORN 2.5 9.6 14.11 17.14 (116)
GOLD COAST 3.0 5.0 6.0 10.3 (63)
Goals: Hawthorn: L Breust 3 L Hodge 3 G Birchall 2 I Smith 2 J Lewis 2 J Roughead 2 C Rioli J Ceglar S Burgoyne. Gold Coast: C Dixon 2 G Ablett 2 T Lynch 2 D Prestia H Bennell J Martin Z Smith.
Best: Hawthorn: J Lewis S Burgoyne L Hodge I Smith J Ceglar. Gold Coast: G Ablett M Rischitelli J O’Meara D Swallow.
Injuries: Hawthorn: C Rioli (hamstring). Gold Coast: G Broughton (back).
Reports: Hawthorn: Nil. Gold Coast: J Harbrow (Gold Coast) reported for striking L Breust (Hawthorn) in the fourth quarter.
Umpires: Justin Schmitt, Matt Stevic, Robert O’Gorman.
Official Crowd: 13,178 at Aurora Stadium.
RICHMOND 6.2 10.4 13.7 18.9 (117)
ST KILDA 1.2 5.4 9.7 11.7 (73)
Goals: Richmond: T Cotchin 5 C Newman 2 J Riewoldt 2 T Vickery 2 B Deledio B Ellis D Grimes M Thomas N Vlastuin R Conca S Edwards. St Kilda: D Minchington 2 R Stanley 2 B Longer C Shenton J Steven L Hayes N Riewoldt T Milera T Simpkin.
Best: Richmond: T Cotchin B Ellis B Deledio A Rance R Conca D Martin N Foley. St Kilda: J Steven L Montagna B Longer S Savage J Gwilt.
Injuries: Richmond: Nil. St Kilda: J Webster (ankle) M Weller (ankle).
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Shane McInerney, Jordan Bannister, Nicholas Foot.
Official Crowd: 28,487 at Etihad Stadium.
FREMANTLE 3.3 5.4 10.6 13.10 (88)
WEST COAST 4.2 5.9 5.12 11.15 (81)
Goals: Fremantle: H Ballantyne 3 S Hill 3 C Mayne C Sylvia D Pearce L Neale M Pavlich N Fyfe N Suban. West Coast: J Kennedy 2 J McGovern 2 M LeCras 2 J Darling L Shuey M Hutchings P McGinnity X Ellis.
Best: Fremantle: S Hill N Fyfe P Duffield A Sandilands D Pearce C Mayne. West Coast: M LeCras M Priddis E MacKenzie S Hurn X Ellis L Shuey.
Injuries: Fremantle: Nil. West Coast: M Brown (knee).
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Jeff Dalgleish, Dean Margetts, Andrew Mitchell.
Official Crowd: 40,490 at Patersons Stadium.
BRISBANE LIONS 1.1 8.4 10.5 10.10 (70)
NORTH MELBOURNE 3.5 4.7 6.9 9.12 (66)
Goals: Brisbane Lions: J Green 3 C Beams 2 J Aish 2 D Merrett D Zorko M Close. North Melbourne: D Petrie 4 A Swallow 2 B Harvey L Thomas S Gibson.
Best: Brisbane Lions: P Hanley J Aish R Bewick J Green D Zorko J Redden. North Melbourne: N Dal Santo D Petrie S Gibson A Swallow B Cunnington.
Injuries: Brisbane Lions: R Lester (calf). North Melbourne: L Hansen (general soreness) replaced in selected side by B Jacobs.
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Chris Donlon, Craig Fleer, Andrew Stephens.
Official Crowd: 15,862 at Gabba.
SYDNEY 4.4 8.9 12.11 15.16 (106)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 1.4 1.7 4.10 8.12 (60)
Goals: Sydney: L Franklin 5 J Kennedy 2 K Tippett 2 B McGlynn C Bird K Jack L Jetta S Reid Z Jones. Greater Western Sydney: J Cameron 2 T Bugg 2 C Ward D Smith L Whitfield W Hoskin-Elliott.
Best: Sydney: K Jack L Franklin N Malceski J Kennedy H Grundy L Parker T Richards. Greater Western Sydney: D Shiel J Kelly S Coniglio T Bugg L Whitfield.
Injuries: Sydney: Nil. Greater Western Sydney: H Shaw (concussion).
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Troy Pannell, Tristan Burgess, Leigh Fisher.
Official Crowd: 27,778 at SCG.
WESTERN BULLDOGS 4.1 7.4 10.4 14.7 (91)
MELBOURNE 1.3 3.4 10.5 13.7 (85)
Goals: Western Bulldogs: J Stringer 4 M Bontempelli 2 S Crameri 2 L Dahlhaus L Hunter M Boyd M Honeychurch S Higgins W Minson. Melbourne: M Jamar 3 C Dawes 2 J Grimes 2 B Vince C Pedersen J Viney J Watts M Gawn N Jetta.
Best: Western Bulldogs: M Boyd R Murphy S Higgins M Bontempelli M Wallis J Stringer. Melbourne: B Vince J Howe C Garland J Grimes M Jamar.
Injuries: Western Bulldogs: J Tutt (concussion) replaced in selected side by F Roberts. Melbourne: D Terlich (shoulder).
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Jacob Mollison, Ray Chamberlain, David Harris.
Official Crowd: 24,953 at Etihad Stadium.
ADELAIDE 3.5 6.6 9.12 14.15 (99)
PORT ADELAIDE 5.3 7.10 7.14 10.16 (76)
Goals: Adelaide: E Betts 4 S Jacobs 3 T Walker 2 B Crouch J Jenkins J Porplyzia P Dangerfield S Thompson. Port Adelaide: J Polec 3 J Schulz 2 Brad Ebert H Hartlett J Westhoff M White T Boak.
Best: Adelaide: S Jacobs S Thompson P Dangerfield R Sloane M Wright B Crouch E Betts T Lynch. Port Adelaide: T Boak O Wines R Gray Brad Ebert J Hombsch M White J Pittard.
Injuries: Adelaide: Nil. Port Adelaide: A Carlile (hamstring) J Trengove (ankle).
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Sam Hay, Jason Armstrong, Luke Farmer.
Official Crowd: 50,552 at Adelaide Oval.
COLLINGWOOD 6.3 8.8 10.12 13.13 (91)
CARLTON 2.2 6.3 7.7 11.10 (76)
Goals: Collingwood: C Young 2 L Ball 2 S Pendlebury 2 S Sidebottom 2 D Beams J Witts L Keefe T Cloke T Goldsack. Carlton: A Everitt 2 L Henderson 2 B Gibbs B McLean C Judd D Thomas L Casboult M Murphy T Menzel.
Best: Collingwood: S Sidebottom D Swan S Pendlebury B Macaffer T Adams J Witts D Beams S Dwyer. Carlton: C Judd K Simpson B Gibbs M Robinson E Curnow M Jamison.
Injuries: Collingwood: J Elliott (hamstring) T Langdon (concussion) replaced in selected side by B Kennedy. Carlton: S White (knee) replaced in selected side by D Armfield.
Reports: Collingwood: D Beams (Collingwood) for striking Ed Curnor (Carlton) during the third quarter. Carlton: M Robinson (Carlton) for striking T Adams (Collingwood) during the first quarter.
Umpires: Ben Ryan, Scott Jeffery, Mathew Nicholls.
Official Crowd: 40,936 at MCG.
LEADING GOALKICKERS
45: J Schulz (Pt Adel) 2
41: T Hawkins (Geelong) 3
40: L Franklin (Sydney) 5
39: J Riewoldt (Richmond) 2
38: J Roughead (Hawthorn) 2, L Breust (Hawthorn) 3
35: J Kennedy (West Coast) 2
34: N Riewoldt (St Kilda) 1
30: M Pavlich (Fremantle) 1, H Ballantyne (Fremantle) 3, J Gunston (Hawthorn) 0, J Elliott (Coll) 0
