Adelaide are in and Collingwood are out.
The Tigers’ roar is getting louder and don’t discount the Eagles.
AFL’s mad scramble for places in the top eight shows no sign of easing with three rounds remaining, after a weekend which included Collingwood’s damaging 10-goal loss in Perth on Sunday.
West Coast crushed Collingwood 19.12 (126) to 10.6 (66).
Collingwood haven’t missed the top eight since 2005.
The Eagles have joined Richmond on nine wins to keep their faint hopes of playing finals footy alive.
Collingwood (10-9 win-loss) have dropped one spot to ninth and trail Adelaide and Essendon on percentage.
Tenth-placed Gold Coast are also stuck on 10 wins, having put up another poor showing against Carlton.
A knee injury to defender Andy Otten marred Adelaide’s 25.18 (168) to 9.9 (63) thumping of Brisbane at the Gabba on Sunday.
The Crows have moved back into the top eight but they’ll wait on medical reports amid fears Otten may require a second knee reconstruction.
Adelaide (10-9) host Richmond (9-10) at Adelaide Oval next Saturday night in a virtual elimination final.
Hawthorn, Sydney and Geelong scored their 15th wins to skip two games clear of fourth-placed Fremantle.
Hawthorn however face various hurdles as they strive for a third consecutive minor premiership, including the report of Coleman Medal leader Jarryd Roughead on a tripping charge.
The defending premiers defeated Melbourne by 50 points at the MCG on Saturday, 17.13 (115) to 9.11 (65).
Fremantle’s David Mundy missed a 50-metre shot at goal after the siren as Geelong claimed a two-point win, 12.9 (81) to 11.13 (79) at Simonds Stadium on Saturday night.
The Dockers will sweat on the fitness of Nat Fyfe (shoulder) ahead of their home game against Hawthorn next Sunday, while Fremantle key defender Luke McPharlin is set to miss several weeks with a calf complaint.
Small forward Ben McGlynn was dominant in Sydney’s 12.12 (84) to 7.16 (58) win over Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night as the Swans notched their 14th win from 15 matches.
Second-placed Sydney trail Hawthorn by 3.5 per cent but their last three games are potential percentage-boosters against sides outside the top eight, while Hawthorn face Fremantle and Geelong in the next two rounds.
Sixth-placed North Melbourne blitzed Greater Western Sydney with 12 goals to the home side in the second half to win 19.12 (126) to 7.9 (51) in Canberra on Saturday.
Out-of-contract forward Jarrad Waite booted five goals for Carlton in their 14.13 (97) to 8.10 (58) win over Gold Coast at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
St Kilda remain last on the ladder after the Western Bulldogs beat the Saints 18.14 (122) to 15.9 (99) on Sunday at Etihad Stadium.
And on Friday night, the Tiger Army roared for the sixth time in a row as Richmond beat Essendon 14.11 (95) to 11.11 (77).
Adelaide in record Gabba win
Tom Lynch was cleared of a spinal injury but Adelaide have lost rebounding defender Andy Otten for their reinvigorated finals charge in a dramatic cakewalk at the Gabba.
The Crows surged into the AFL’s top eight with their impressive 105-point humiliation of the Brisbane Lions on Sunday which also revived hopes of a home elimination final.
Coach Brenton Sanderson beamed with pride as his team overcame the second-quarter losses of Lynch and Otten on a warm day to deliver the Lions’ worst-ever loss at the Gabba.
Although they led by 44 points at halftime, Sanderson was worried his side would be reeled in but it was Brisbane who wilted in front of a disappointed crowd of 19,657.
While more concern was shown for Lynch when play stopped for six minutes after he ducked his head into Justin Clarke’s hip, the key forward only has a jarred neck and is a chance of playing Richmond on Saturday.
In contrast, the versatile Otten may require a second knee reconstruction after appearing to rupture his anterior cruciate ligament in landing awkwardly from a marking contest.
Even with Patrick Dangerfield troubled by his knee problem, the Crows completely dominated the second half with Taylor Walker bagging six goals.
“I know we often play a straight bat with good wins, but I’m so proud of our players today,” said Sanderson. “That’s one of the youngest Crows teams that’s ever played.”
The 25.18 (168) to 9.9 (63) victory means they leapfrog both Essendon and Gold Coast on the AFL ladder, thanks to their healthy percentage of 112 per cent.
Adelaide’s midfield, outplayed by West Coast in last week’s upset loss and without Scott Thompson (hamstring), were dominant after the home side made a sparkling start to kick three of the first four goals.
It was ruckman Sam Jacobs who quickly got them on top by dominating the stoppages against Stef Martin while Rory Sloane (28 disposals and two goals) was integral to their charge.
Walker and Eddie Betts (three goals and four assists) were constant thorns in the side of the Lions, delivering a sobering reality check to their rising defensive brigade.
RESULTS:
RICHMOND 1.2 7.4 9.8 14.11 (95)
ESSENDON 3.2 6.4 8.7 11.11 (77)
Goals: Richmond: B Deledio 2 J Riewoldt 2 N Gordon 2 S Edwards 2 B Ellis B Griffiths B Houli D Martin I Maric T Cotchin. Essendon: J Carlisle 2 J Melksham 2 P Chapman 2 B Goddard C Dell’Olio D Heppell J Winderlich Z Merrett.
Best: Richmond: A Miles T Cotchin B Ellis S Edwards B Deledio I Maric. Essendon: D Heppell D Zaharakis P Chapman B Stanton P Ryder B Goddard.
Injuries: Nil.
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Mathew Nicholls, Shane McInerney, Andrew Mitchell.
Official Crowd: 58,024 at MCG.
NORTH MELBOURNE 4.1 7.3 15.6 19.12 (126)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 1.4 6.5 6.6 7.9 (51)
Goals: North Melbourne: D Petrie 5 B Cunnington 3 B Brown 2 B Harvey 2 J Ziebell 2 A Black K Turner L Adams M Firrito R Bastinac. Greater Western Sydney: D Smith 2 J Patton 2 A Treloar J Kelly W Hoskin-Elliott.
Best: North Melbourne: B Cunnington D Petrie R Bastinac B Harvey J Ziebell. Greater Western Sydney: T Greene H Shaw D Smith J Patton.
Injuries: North Melbourne: L Hansen (hip) replaced in selected side by A Mullett, L Greenwood (leg) replaced in selected side by N Grima. Greater Western Sydney: J Lamb (ankle).
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Chris Donlon, Brendan Hosking, Robert O’Gorman.
Official Crowd: 10,211 at Manuka Oval.
CARLTON 4.2 11.6 12.10 14.13 (97)
GOLD COAST 1.1 4.2 5.6 8.10 (58)
Goals: Carlton: J Waite 5 T Bell 4 C Judd 2 B Gibbs B McLean D Thomas. Gold Coast: J Harbrow 2 A Hall D Stanley D Swallow J Martin J O’Meara T Lynch.
Best: Carlton: J Waite C Judd K Simpson D Thomas A Carrazzo B Gibbs E Curnow T Bell. Gold Coast: H Bennell J O’Meara K Kolodjashnij T Lynch D Swallow.
Injuries: Carlton: C Yarran (calf). Gold Coast: M Rischitelli (hip) T McKenzie (concussion).
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Stuart Wenn, Robert Findlay, Tristan Burgess.
Official Crowd: 28,840 at Etihad Stadium.
HAWTHORN 4.4 10.8 15.8 17.13 (115)
MELBOURNE 2.1 4.5 7.8 9.11 (65)
Goals: Hawthorn: J Roughead 5 L Breust 3 B Hill 2 I Smith 2 D Hale J Lewis L Shiels P Puopolo R Schoenmakers. Melbourne: M Gawn 2 A Riley C Dawes D Kent D Tyson J Frawley J Kennedy-Harris J Viney.
Best: Hawthorn: J Lewis L Shiels J Roughead S Mitchell G Birchall. Melbourne: N Jones D Tyson B Vince M Gawn N Jetta.
Injuries: Nil.
Reports: Hawthorn: J Roughead (Hawthorn) for tripping D Tyson (Melbourne) in the second quarter. Melbourne: Nil.
Umpires: Ben Ryan, Jeff Dalgleish, Nicholas Foot.
Official Crowd: 37,082 at MCG.
SYDNEY 2.2 5.6 8.9 12.12 (84)
PORT ADELAIDE 2.3 3.7 5.12 7.16 (58)
Goals: Sydney: B McGlynn 3 H Cunningham 3 K Tippett 2 L Franklin 2 G Rohan J Lloyd. Port Adelaide: J Neade 2 T Boak 2 C Wingard J Westhoff M Lobbe.
Best: Sydney: B McGlynn C Bird J Kennedy L Parker N Malceski H Cunningham K Jack J McVeigh. Port Adelaide: T Boak J Hombsch A Carlile R Gray C O’Shea K Cornes T Jonas Brad Ebert.
Injuries: Nil.
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Ray Chamberlain, Brett Rosebury, Leigh Fisher.
Official Crowd: 50,087 at Adelaide Oval.
GEELONG 4.2 7.4 11.6 12.9 (81)
FREMANTLE 1.4 5.5 7.6 11.13 (79)
Goals: Geelong: J Bartel 3 A Mackie 2 M Duncan 2 A Christensen J Caddy J Selwood S Motlop T Hawkins. Fremantle: H Crozier 3 M Duffy 2 N Fyfe 2 C Sutcliffe H Ballantyne M Barlow S Hill.
Best: Geelong: H Taylor J Selwood C Enright J Bartel A Mackie M Duncan J Kelly. Fremantle: M Barlow D Mundy N Fyfe H Crozier L Neale M De Boer.
Injuries: Geelong: Nil. Fremantle: H Ballantyne (leg) L McPharlin (calf) N Fyfe (shoulder).
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Matt Stevic, Troy Pannell, Jason Armstrong.
Official Crowd: 26,855 at Simonds Stadium.
ADELAIDE 6.3 12.11 16.14 25.18 (168)
BRISBANE LIONS 4.0 6.3 7.7 9.9 (63)
Goals: Adelaide: T Walker 6 B Martin 3 E Betts 3 R Sloane 2 S Jacobs 2 T Lynch 2 C Cameron J Jenkins J Lyons M Grigg M Jaensch M Wright P Dangerfield. Brisbane Lions: J Crisp 3 J Green 2 D McStay D Zorko S Mayes T Rockliff.
Best: Adelaide: S Jacobs R Sloane T Walker E Betts B Crouch P Dangerfield. Brisbane Lions: T Rockliff D Zorko R Bewick S Martin J Crisp.
Injuries: Adelaide: A Otten (knee) P Dangerfield (knee) T Lynch (neck). Brisbane Lions: J Clarke (groin).
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Jacob Mollison, Jordan Bannister, Andrew Stephens.
Official Crowd: 19,657 at Gabba.
WESTERN BULLDOGS 7.4 10.6 13.10 18.14 (122)
ST KILDA 3.1 7.4 10.6 15.9 (99)
Goals: Western Bulldogs: J Stringer 4 A Cooney 3 S Crameri 3 J Macrae K Stevens L Picken M Bontempelli N Hrovat S Darley S Higgins T Campbell. St Kilda: J Gwilt 3 T Curren 2 A Schneider B Murdoch J Billings J Bruce J Newnes J Steven L Hayes M Weller N Riewoldt S Ross.
Best: Western Bulldogs: A Cooney S Higgins J Stringer J Macrae S Crameri M Bontempelli T Liberatore. St Kilda: D Armitage J Gwilt J Steven L Montagna S Ross N Riewoldt.
Injuries: Western Bulldogs: Nil. St Kilda: J Billings (hamstring) J Bruce (shin).
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Matthew Leppard, David Harris, Craig Fleer.
Official Crowd: 30,095 at Etihad Stadium.
WEST COAST 6.5 9.7 15.10 19.12 (126)
COLLINGWOOD 2.1 7.2 8.4 10.6 (66)
Goals: West Coast: J Darling 4 S Lycett 4 J Kennedy 3 N Naitanui 2 D Cox J Cripps J Hill L Shuey M Brown M Priddis. Collingwood: B Kennedy 2 B Reid D Beams J Elliott J White S Dwyer S Sidebottom T Broomhead T Cloke.
Best: West Coast: M Priddis L Shuey E MacKenzie S Hurn S Lycett S Butler. Collingwood: S Pendlebury S Sidebottom D Beams B Kennedy.
Umpires: Justin Schmitt, Sam Hay, Luke Farmer.
Official Crowd: 36,458 at Patersons Stadium.
Pos | Club | P | W | L | D | F | A | % | Pts | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Hawthorn | 19 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 2152 | 1509 | 142.6 | 60 | |||
2 | Sydney Swans | 19 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 1804 | 1297 | 139.1 | 60 | |||
3 | Geelong Cats | 19 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 1737 | 1536 | 113.1 | 60 | |||
4 | Fremantle | 19 | 13 | 6 | 0 | 1708 | 1320 | 129.4 | 52 | |||
5 | Port Adelaide | 19 | 12 | 7 | 0 | 1887 | 1489 | 126.7 | 48 | |||
6 | North Melbourne | 19 | 11 | 8 | 0 | 1691 | 1483 | 114 | 44 | |||
7 | Adelaide Crows | 19 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1871 | 1665 | 112.4 | 40 | |||
8 | Essendon | 19 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1553 | 1466 | 105.9 | 40 | |||
9 | Collingwood | 19 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1579 | 1565 | 100.9 | 40 | |||
10 | Gold Coast Suns | 19 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1682 | 1730 | 97.2 | 40 | |||
11 | West Coast Eagles | 19 | 9 | 10 | 0 | 1701 | 1521 | 111.8 | 36 | |||
12 | Richmond | 19 | 9 | 10 | 0 | 1642 | 1578 | 104.1 | 36 | |||
13 | Carlton | 19 | 7 | 12 | 0 | 1688 | 1795 | 94 | 28 | |||
14 | Western Bulldogs | 19 | 7 | 12 | 0 | 1547 | 1821 | 85 | 28 | |||
15 | Brisbane Lions | 19 | 6 | 13 | 0 | 1280 | 1907 | 67.1 | 24 | |||
16 | Melbourne | 19 | 4 | 15 | 0 | 1156 | 1614 | 71.6 | 16 | |||
17 | GWS Giants | 19 | 4 | 15 | 0 | 1500 | 2102 | 71.4 | 16 | |||
18 | St Kilda | 19 | 4 | 15 | 0 | 1290 | 2070 | 62.3 | 16 |