Hawthorn staged a remarkable second-half comeback to record only their second win in 13 attempts against their great modern-day AFL rivals Geelong at the MCG on Saturday night.
After trailing by 31 points at halftime, the Hawks booted 11 goals to three in the final two quarters to win by 23 points and grab a significant psychological edge ahead of a probable qualifying final clash between two in two weeks’ time.
Jarryd Roughead and David Hale kicked three goals apiece and Will Langford (23 possessions and two goals) played easily the best game of his fledgling career as the Hawks won 14.10 (94) to 11.5 (71) to move above the Cats into second spot on the ladder.
PORT ADELAIDE 5.6 9.12 16.15 20.20 (140)
CARLTON 1.2 2.4 3.7 5.7 (37)
Goals: Port Adelaide: R Gray 4 C Wingard 3 J Neade 3 J Westhoff 3 J Schulz 2 A Monfries Brad Ebert H Hartlett M White T Boak. Carlton: B Gibbs C Yarran J Waite L Casboult S White.
Best: Port Adelaide: R Gray T Boak C Wingard H Hartlett J Pittard J Polec J Westhoff J Neade. Carlton: B Gibbs S Rowe E Curnow.
Injuries: Port Adelaide: Nil. Carlton: M Murphy (concussion).
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Justin Schmitt, Mathew Nicholls, Dean Margetts.
Official Crowd: 52,505 at Adelaide Oval.
NORTH MELBOURNE 4.3 5.6 9.12 14.17 (101)
ADELAIDE 2.3 5.7 10.11 13.16 (94)
Goals: North Melbourne: J Ziebell 4 D Petrie 3 K Turner 2 R Bastinac 2 B Brown L Thomas T Goldstein. Adelaide: J Lyons 3 C Cameron 2 E Betts 2 M Wright 2 T Walker 2 B Crouch J Jenkins.
Best: North Melbourne: J Ziebell M Firrito N Dal Santo A Swallow R Bastinac T Goldstein K Turner. Adelaide: R Douglas B Crouch S Thompson P Dangerfield R Sloane.
Injuries: North Melbourne: L Hansen (soreness) replaced in selected side by A Mullett. Adelaide: R Laird (concussion).
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Troy Pannell, Robert Findlay, Andrew Mitchell.
Official Crowd: 10,702 at Blundstone Arena.
ESSENDON 3.2 7.6 11.9 16.12 (108)
GOLD COAST 2.3 4.6 10.8 13.11 (89)
Goals: Essendon: B Goddard 3 D Zaharakis 2 J Carlisle 2 M Hurley 2 P Ryder 2 D Myers H Hocking J Daniher T Colyer Z Merrett. Gold Coast: T Lynch 4 B Matera 2 D Prestia 2 S Lemmens 2 C Cameron D Swallow M Shaw.
Best: Essendon: B Goddard M Hurley P Ryder D Zaharakis P Chapman M Hibberd J Watson. Gold Coast: D Swallow D Prestia T Lynch H Bennell B Matera J O’Meara.
Injuries: Essendon: C Hooker (concussion). Gold Coast: T McKenzie (hamstring tightness) D Gorringe (knee) replaced in selected side by J Leslie.
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Simon Meredith, Chris Kamolins, Ray Chamberlain.
Official Crowd: 33,281 at Etihad Stadium.
COLLINGWOOD 2.3 5.5 7.7 11.9 (75)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 3.4 6.6 8.11 9.13 (67)
Goals: Collingwood: J Thomas 3 J White 2 T Broomhead 2 B Sinclair J Blair M Williams S Sidebottom. Greater Western Sydney: D Smith 2 J Hunt M Whiley R Palmer T Boyd T Bugg T Greene W Hoskin-Elliott.
Best: Collingwood: J Thomas M Williams S Pendlebury J Blair T Broomhead S Sidebottom. Greater Western Sydney: T Greene R Palmer J Kelly W Hoskin-Elliott S Mumford D Smith.
Injuries: Collingwood: B Macaffer (knee) C Young (hamstring) D Swan (hamstring). Greater Western Sydney: J O’Rourke (hamstring) P Davis (calf) replaced in the selected side by S Frost.
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Chris Donlon, Brendan Hosking, Leigh Fisher.
Official Crowd: 10,851 at Spotless Stadium.
WEST COAST 6.1 9.5 16.9 18.11 (119)
MELBOURNE 1.1 3.3 5.4 8.5 (53)
Goals: West Coast: J Kennedy 4 M LeCras 4 J Darling 3 J Hill 2 A Gaff J Cripps L Shuey P McGinnity S Lycett. Melbourne: J Fitzpatrick 2 B Vince C Dawes C Pedersen D Tyson J Howe R Bail.
Best: West Coast: M LeCras C Masten J McGovern S Hurn J Darling A Gaff. Melbourne: B Vince N Jones D Cross D Tyson.
Umpires: Luke Farmer, Matthew Leppard, Craig Fleer.
Official Crowd: 35,083 at Patersons Stadium.
HAWTHORN 2.2 3.2 9.7 14.10 (94)
GEELONG 3.2 8.3 9.3 11.5 (71)
Goals: Hawthorn: D Hale 3 J Roughead 3 W Langford 2 B Sewell J Ceglar J Gunston J Lewis L Breust L Shiels. Geelong: T Hawkins 3 J Murdoch 2 H Taylor J Bartel J Selwood J Thurlow M Duncan S Motlop.
Best: Hawthorn: S Mitchell W Langford J Lewis J Gibson S Burgoyne G Birchall. Geelong: J Caddy M Stokes C Guthrie M Duncan M Blicavs.
Umpires: Matt Stevic, Brett Rosebury, Shane McInerney.
Official Crowd: 72,212 at MCG.
SUNDAY
Brisbane Lions v Fremantle at Gabba 12.40pm
Head to Head: Lions 13 Dockers 12
Last clash: Round 14 2014 – Dockers 15.15 (105) bt Lions 3.4 (22) at Patersons Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Lions $4.00 Dockers $1.25
Sportingbet: Lions $4.00 Dockers $1.25
Brisbane’s 67-point thumping of Collingwood last week was just their seventh win of the season but it could be the springboard for a big year in 2015. That’s certainly the view of 2003 premiership player Ash McGrath who retired this week, confident the Lions are heading in the right direction. That optimism may take a hit on Sunday however against the close-checking Fremantle outfit who are looking every inch a top-four side with September just around the corner.
Key: The return of Hayden Ballantyne to play alongside fellow goalsneak Michael Walters gives Fremantle’s forward line a devastating look. Fremantle coach Ross Lyon says going to the Gabba is a frightening prospect, but this looks like being a one-sided affair.
Tip: Dockers by 39 points
Western Bulldogs v Sydney at Etihad Stadium 2.50pm
Head to Head: Bulldogs 77 Swans 75 drawn 1
Last clash: Round 19 2013 – Swans 21.8 (134) bt Bulldogs 15.9 (99) at Etihad Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Bulldogs $5.50 Swans $1.15
Sportingbet: Bulldogs $5.50 Swans $1.15
Sydney’s twin towers Lance Franklin and Kurt Tippett kicked nine goals between them last week against St Kilda, but will they find the going just as easy against the Western Bulldogs? Probably. The Bulldogs fought hard but were overpowered by North Melbourne last week and the Swans are at least one class above North, so this could get ugly for the home side against the ladder leaders.
Key: Sydney’s 2013 All-Australian Dan Hannebery midfielder says he’s feeling fresh after an injury-interrupted season which has included missing six games with an ankle complaint. Look out Bulldogs. The axing of 2013 All-Australian ruckman Will Minson could give the Swans an advantage in their ruck division led by 2012 premiership player Mike Pyke.
Tip: Swans by 70 points
Richmond v St Kilda at MCG 4.10pm
Head to Head: Tigers 106 Saints 69 drawn 3
Last clash: Round 15 2014 – Tigers 18.9 (117) bt Saints 11.7 (73) at Etihad Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Tigers $1.08 Saints $8.00
Sportingbet: Tigers $1.10 Saints $7.00
It’s hard to believe ninth-placed Richmond have recovered from a 3-10 start to be 10-10 with two rounds left and a fairytale rise to the top eight is still a possibility. Of course if eighth-placed Adelaide beat North on Saturday, the task becomes a lot tougher for the Tigers. Last-placed St Kilda caused a huge upset with a win over Fremantle in round 15 and another boilover in this match would allow the Saints to play the classic role of spoilers.
Key: Clearance king and Greater Western Sydney discard Anthony Miles has beefed up Richmond’s midfield considerably and will be a tough match-up for the struggling Saints.
Tip: Tigers by 26 points
