Adelaide came out with the bragging rights, after Showdown Derby 55, as they defeated their arch cross-town rivals Port Adelaide before a packed Oval (52,106).
They got off to a fast start and then went on to lead for the whole evening against a Power outfit that paid a heavy price for their inaccuracy in front of the big sticks.
Midfielder Jake Soligo (pictured above) (28 disposals, ten tackles, six clearances and 340 metres gained) won the first Showdown Medal of his career for a best on ground effort.
Post-siren, Crows supporters got the chance to say farewell to a club legend Rory Sloane when he was chaired off the ground, having announced his retirement from the sport earlier this week, following an 18-year spell at the club (255 appearances).
Speaking to Channel 7, current skipper Jordan Dawson paid tribute to the All Australian as he said “He is probably the most authentic leader I have ever met and the most kind and generous human you could ever come across.”
He continued “When he steps out on this field, he is just an absolute warrior. I had admired him for years growing up and then to play alongside him, under his leadership, then captained and learnt of him. He has been massive for me.”
Bayley Fritsch scored a GOTY contender, a stunning dribbler from the boundary, to seal the game for Melbourne and also hand Geelong their first loss of the year.
As expected between these two teams, both with genuine flag aspirations, it proved to be a very tight and absorbing affair that ended up going right down to the wire.
Battle of the Bridge
That slip-up, by the Cats, allowed Sydney to take over at the top of the ladder after besting Greater Western Sydney in the “Battle of the Bridge” derby at the SCG.
Played in driving rain, which hit the New South Wales region, the Swans had to recover from a sluggish opening before going on to get up pretty convincingly.
Errol Gulden claimed his second Brett Kirk Medal (pictured above), dominating the midfield battle, while Will Hayward enjoyed a big afternoon out by booting a career-high four majors.
Talking post-game to Swans TV, the 25-year-old said “It’s always a good game against them and nice beating them as well. To win, in such a special game, Ollie’s 150th and to have 40,000 out there in the wet, it was just a great day.”
Asked about his own performance, he responded “It was good to hit the scoreboard but it all comes off how the team move the ball. Our midfielders were awesome, Errol’s a very deserving winner and been super all year, so really just happy with the team win. A six-day break now, so we’ll recover well and get ready for next week.”
Daicos magic
Nick Daicos was the hero, kicking the winner, as Collingwood got one over on their bitter enemies Carlton to win an absolute thriller, under the lights, at the ‘G’.
Contested before a new home and away record crowd between the two clubs (88,362), this pulsating contest saw the scores level with just over a minute to go.
Step forward the 21-year-old, All-Australian and Premiership midfielder, who picked up a flick on from Harvey Harrison, on the run, navigated his way through traffic before applying a superb right-foot finish to the delight of the vocal Magpies fans.
Absolutely no surprise that he secured the Richard Pratt Medal (pictured below) for his man-of-the match display (32 disposals, seven clearances, seven tackles and two goals).
Speaking in the rooms to the club’s website, he said “It was a really special moment but I would prefer to talk about our four quarter effort to be honest, which I think was such a strong team performance.”
He added “We were down a couple of our star players and we had some players step up and play really important roles for us. I think that is the sign of a really strong team – it takes 44 players at the end of the year to get that job done; so tonight, proved that we have got great depth.”
Hawks upset the Bulldogs
Hawthorn captain James Sicily scored his first goal of the season, which proved to be crucial, in helping his team pull off an upset by defeating the Western Bulldogs.
It was also a big afternoon for debutant Calsher Dear (five marks and two snags) – the 18-year-old came up through the ranks with the Sandringham Dragons and is the son of Norm Smith Medallist and 1991 premiership player Paul Dear as well as nephew of Greg, a triple premiership winner with the club (1986, 1988 & 1989).
A dirty day for the Bulldogs with coach Luke Beveridge (pictured below) likely to be under the spotlight yet again – only this past week he had to respond to a remark made by Dons ruckman Sam Draper, on the Clubby Sports’ 200+ podcast, that senior players would request trades and want to leave the club if Bevo remained beyond 2024.
Fremantle gaffer Justin Longmuir hailed the “maturity” of his players after watching them put in a strong second half showing to see off the challenge of Richmond.
Young forward Josh Treacy (pictured below) booted a career-high four majors for the Dockers whilst there were a couple of huge showings from Hayden Young and Caleb Serong.
Goldstein makes VFL/AFL history
Over in WA, Essendon picked up an important interstate victory as they managed to hold on and get over the line against a fast finishing, much improved West Coast.
Although they lead for most of the contest, Jack Williams booted a goal, with just over a minute remaining, to get the hosts within a kick and set up a grandstand finale – however, the Bombers were able to keep their nerve, dig-in and see it out.
Ruckman Todd Goldstein, in his 323rd appearance, made VFL/AFL history by becoming the first ever player to record 10,000 career hit-outs.
Q-Clash
A real gutsy effort by Brisbane led to them picking up their first home success of the campaign by getting up over Queensland rivals Gold Coast in the Q-Clash.
Even more impressive given that they lost the trio of Lincoln McCarthy (knee), Noah Answerth (concussion) and Darcy Gardiner (knee), all early in the encounter to injury, which severely hampered their rotations on the bench throughout the evening.
Veteran Lions midfielder Dayne ‘Tinka’ Zorko (pictured below) picked up his first career Marcus Ashcroft Medal (40 disposals, 16 marks, five tackles and three clearances).
Darcy Wilson, 18, put in another Rising Star nomination type display (career-high 21 disposals, eleven handballs, eight marks and three goals) and played a pivotal role by helping St.Kilda take care of business against bottom side North Melbourne.
The Saints put a ton up on the scoreboard for the first time this season (103 points) – completing a good afternoon was the successful return of both Jimmy Webster (seven-game suspension) and Mason Wood (broken collarbone) back to the line-up.
Round 8 Results
Adelaide 12.6 (78)
Port Adelaide 5.18 (48)
Carlton 12.7 (79)
Collingwood 12.13 (85)
Syndey 14.14 (98)
GWS 10.9 (69)
St.Kilda 15.13 (103)
North Melbourne 10.5 (65)
Melbourne 10.14 (74)
Geelong 9.12 (66)
West Coast 11.5 (71)
Essendon 11.11 (77)
Richmond 6.13 (49)
Fremantle 15.13 (103)
Western Bulldogs 14.7 (91)
Hawthorn 14.14 (98)
Brisbane 10.19 (79)
Gold Coast 6.9 (45)
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