THE BRISBANE Lions will prepare to play an in-form North Melbourne this Saturday night at the Gabba after the Kangaroos snatched a thrilling three-point over the Western Bulldogs.
The Roos sit sixth with a draw and five wins – none more dramatic than Sunday’s triumph against the Bulldogs.
Dean Laidley’s side looked only an outside chance of marking Brent Harvey’s 250th game with a win when it trailed the previously-undefeated Dogs by 24 points at half time.
However, North showed all its fighting spirit to peg back the deficit and lead by four points going into the final five seconds of the game.
Bulldogs skipper Brad Johnson looked like spoiling Harvey’s party, but an uncharacteristic miss from 40m with a shot after the siren secured the Kangaroos’ fairytale win.
In other weekend results, Collingwood produced the upset of the season by ruining Geelong’s perfect record with an 86-point thrashing at the MCG on Friday night, while West Coast staged a form turnaround to defeat Adelaide by 50 points.
Carlton handed Fremantle yet another narrow loss, this time by nine points, Sydney defeated Port Adelaide by 11 points, Richmond comfortably accounted for Essendon by 38 points, and Hawthorn took top spot with a 19-point win over a plucky Melbourne.
Collingwood 20.14 (134) d Geelong 7.6 (48)
The Magpies did what many in the league previously thought was impossible - belting the reigning premiers by 86 points in a dominant performance. Apart from a few minutes in the first quarter and a brief flurry to start the second half, the Cats were never in the contest, with Irishman Marty Clarke best afield for Collingwood.
Carlton 14.13 (97) d Fremantle 14.4 (88)
Another shocker for the Dockers, with Fremantle losing after leading at three-quarter-time for the fourth week in succession. That said, Freo was probably lucky to be ahead, with Carlton having nine more scoring shots over the course of the game and being in front for the majority of the day.
Sydney 16.9 (105) d Port Adelaide 14.10 (94)
A typically hard-fought win by the Swans, who led throughout but were challenged by a Port side that hit the front for the first time mid-way through the final term. In a bizarre statistical anomaly, a free-flowing start saw the two sides combine for 14 goals in the first quarter before managing only another 16 for the rest of the match.
West Coast 14.13 (97) d Adelaide 5.17 (47)
Adelaide failed to convert its opportunities, but West Coast was by far the better side on the night, ending a seven-match losing sequence with a dominant 50-point win. In the finish it was the Eagles’ much-questioned older brigade who stood up to be counted – Andrew Embley, Michael Braun and Chad Fletcher being key contributors.
Richmond 16.14 (110) d Essendon 10.12 (72)
Dreamtime at the G turned into a nightmare for the Bombers, who could manage only two goals in the first half and trailed by 50 points at half time. Things improved from there but not nearly enough, as the Nathan Foley-inspired Tigers ran their way to a third win for the season.
Hawthorn 14.13 (97) d Melbourne 12.6 (78)
Bottom-of-the-table Melbourne gave the Hawks an almighty fright when it led by the best part of two goals mid-way through the third term. However, Hawthorn steadied to take sole ownership of top spot on the ladder, getting home with a solid second half in which it outscored the Demons 10 goals to six.
North Melbourne 16.17 (113) d Western Bulldogs 16.14 (110)
The Roos’ day mirrored that of 250-gamer Brent Harvey, who was knocked out early but returned to kick one of the goals of the season and boot a vital last-quarter major. North Melbourne trailed by four goals at half time before rallying in customary fashion to hand the Dogs a first loss for 2008.
