The Crows got the better of the Western Bulldogs in a virtual elimination final at AAMI Stadium on Sunday, outscoring their visitors eight goals to four in the second half to emerge 24-point winners.
Scott Welsh kicked four goals as the Crows moved to 10 wins – the same, effectively, as the Lions and Essendon – and 10th spot. The Lions retain ninth because of superior percentage.
In other weekend results, St Kilda jumped to eighth and ended Fremantle’s slight finals hopes with a 30-point win at Docklands, and Collingwood looks to have sealed a September spot thanks to a grinding 11-point Friday-night win over
West Coast shook off a pesky Richmond to claim a 31-point win at Subiaco, Port Adelaide kicked two goals in the final minute to beat Hawthorn and steal second position on the ladder, and Geelong held the Kangaroos at bay by 27 points en route to a 15th consecutive win.
Two full-forwards deserve player-of-the-round consideration, with Fraser Gehrig unstoppable in booting eight goals against the Dockers and West Coast’s Quinten Lynch kicking seven versus the Tigers.
With two rounds left to play, St Kilda, the Lions,
It could be a busy week for the match review panel and, possibly, the tribunal. Aside from the reports of Lions pair Luke Power and Jason Roe, Collingwood’s Ben Johnson was cited for front-on high contact on Daniel Bell.
St Kilda’s Steven Baker may also be queried over an incident that left Fremantle’s Jeff Farmer bloody and concussed. No video evidence was immediately available, but Baker was Farmer’s direct opponent and the only player in the goalsneak’s vicinity.
Collingwood 11.15 (81) d
Collingwood effectively sealed its finals participation but did little to suggest it is a genuine premiership threat. The Pies almost squandered a 41-point lead, as the Demons – looking to celebrate David Neitz’s 300th game – stormed back into the contest.
Essendon 18.10 (108) d Carlton 16.12 (108)
The Blues had the better of the first half but the Bombers revived their hopes of giving James Hird a fairytale finals send-off by kicking seven goals in the third term and toughing out a 10th win for the season. Skipper Matthew Lloyd kicked six goals, including an audacious back-heel drop-kick.
St Kilda 19.12 (126) d Fremantle 14.12 (96)
Fremantle was solid early but was made to pay the price for inaccurate finishing, before being thoroughly outplayed after half time. Chief destroyer for the Saints was Fraser Gehrig, who brought his A-game and virtually did what he pleased en route to eight goals.
West Coast 18.9 (117) d
The Eagles firmed their grip on a top-four spot, but not without a few scares from a plucky
Geelong 17.16 (118) d Kangaroos 13.13 (91)
The Kangaroos managed to cut a 41-point final-quarter deficit back to 15 points, but Geelong – as has been the case in its 15-game winning streak – found plenty when needed. Cam Mooney booted five goals to help the Cats stay four games ahead atop the table.
Port
Two goals in the final minute – including the winning kick from Brett Ebert – lifted the Power to a dramatic win over the Hawks and into second spot on the ladder. Hawthorn had looked set for its 13th win for the year until Port Adelaide’s late, late heroics.
The views in this story are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
