Greater Western Sydney captain Toby Greene scored a stunning winner to get his side over the line and gatecrash the celebrations for Geelong’s Tom Hawkins. The evening was supposed to be all about the 35-year-old, who was making history by becoming the all-time games record holder at the club (356 appearances).
However, the Giants had other ideas as they spoilt the party by picking up their fourth straight success at the Cattery, a very happy hunting ground for them, whilst also making four consecutive defeats for the Cats – the first time since 2006.
Talking post-match to the media, the skipper (pictured above) said “It was a good win, but geez we let them back into it and cost ourselves a lot in that last quarter with some of the fundamental stuff. But then, in the last three or four minutes we won a lot of crucial contests, showed real heart, the boys just giving everything that they have got.”
Asked about his goal, he joked “It was the first time that the ball came inside 50 in the last quarter, so I was fresh!” Then adding “We had let them back into it, so it was great to take that moment and end up with a great win here in Geelong.”
Dockers and Magpies draw in thriller
Walyalup’s (Fremantle) biggest ever crowd for a home-and-away fixture (54,035), outside of a Western Derby, witnessed a thriller as they drew with Collingwood.
They finished really strong, kicking the last four goals, and could have won it at the end, with just 45 seconds remaining, but Jeremy Sharp just missed to the left; coach Justin Longmuir conceded that “had that of gone through, we would have stolen it”.
Frustration for the Magpies, the reigning Premiers, not to have been able to see it out – first time that they have drawn two matches in the same season since 1995.
Sydney might not have been at their best but were still able to get the job done, picking up another interstate success, by knocking over the Western Bulldogs.
Chad Warner (pictured below) returned career-best figures with four goals, in a standout display, for the Swans that are travelling along nicely, sit top of the ladder as outright leaders at ten-one which makes it their equal-best opening to a campaign since 1936.
‘Dreamtime at the ‘G’’
Forward Jake Stringer booted four majors, in his 200th AFL appearance, to help Essendon take the honours over Richmond in the 20th ‘Dreamtime at the ‘G’’.
As part of this traditional annual fixture, which celebrates the contributions of First Nations players to the sport, there was the pre-walk to the stadium before the 79,359 in attendance were treated to a superb ceremony that included a speech from Wurundjeri Elder Uncle Colin Hunter Jnr as well as some musical performances.
Jordan Ridley, back in the line-up following a ten-month lay-off with a quad injury, picked up the first Yiooken Trophy of his career for a dominant best on ground display that included 31 disposals, 12 marks, one goal and 759 metres gained.
Speaking in the rooms to the club’s website, the 25-year-old (pictured below) said “It feels good and great to get the four points as well. Obviously it’s been a very long time since I played, I was just glad to be out there and doing what I love again.”
“There were some really low points earlier in the year, especially after I re-did it (his quad) on the cusp of returning but I was really adamant that when I came back this time I was absolutely ready and at my best; so glad I could get near it straight away.”
He went on “Tonight was a really tough contest, it was slippery conditions, Richmond are a very proud club and put up a good fight every time. So to wrestle the momentum towards our way in the end and get the chocolates was great.”
Williams career-high goals haul
Charlie Curnow moved to the top of the Coleman Medal table after he and Zac Williams (career-high) scored four times each in Carlton’s triumph over Gold Coast.
It snaps a run of three straight defeats for the Blues that were always ahead on the scoreboard although never able to really pull away until the final quarter.
Captain Gawn
Narrm (Melbourne) were rarely troubled, as they moved into the top four, with Max Gawn leading his troops to a 38-point success over Euro-Yroke (St.Kilda).
The 32-year-old ruckman was only declared fit an hour before the contest, following a fitness test on his calf, but went on to produce one of his best outings of the year.
The icing on the cake for the Demons came, in the final term, when key defender Steven May (pictured below) slotted through the big sticks from 50m – only his third major for the club.
Hawks stun the Lions
Hawthorn put the agony of last week firmly behind them by finishing strongly to secure their most impressive result of campaign, so far, in defeating Brisbane.
Having thrown away a sizeable lead in that game, it looked like it might happen again as the Lions came strong in the third quarter. However, credit to the Hawks who were able to hold their nerve, steady the ship and go on to be worthy winners.
Speaking in the presser, a delighted coach Sam Mitchell (pictured above) said “Normally with a learning you don’t get to implement it straight away, but the players were amazing in their commitment to really learn the lessons. It was pretty painful, to be honest; we had to watch that a lot and do the learning and it was not an easy thing to do.”
He continued “Today we felt like we won together, we handled the situation better. We are still a work in progress, still let them get well and truly on top and some of their kicking probably kept us in it at different periods. But I thought collectively we handled the emotion of the game in a pretty positive way for the majority of it.”
Marshall kicks a bag
Yartapuulti (Port Adelaide) enjoyed an afternoon out, down in Tasmania, as they swept aside bottom team North Melbourne; handing them an eleventh straight loss.
Todd Marshall, with an equal career-best five, Jason Horn Francis, in his 50th AFL game, Zac Butters and Ollie Wines amongst the scorers for a free-scoring Port outfit.
Closing out the round, a rampant Kuwarna (Adelaide) gave Waalitj Marawar (West Coast) a reality check by hammering them in a percentage boosting 99-point victory.
The Eagles arrived in South Australia on the back of a great result and showing some better form, but they were never in this encounter and completely overrun.
The Crows led for the whole of it, after getting off to an absolute flyer, and really spread the goals around, with 13 different goalkickers, to the delight of their fans.
Round 11 Results
Western Bulldogs 12.16 (88)
Sydney 16.6 (102)
Walyalup (Fremantle) 11.9 (75)
Collingwood 10.15 (75)
North Melbourne 7.6 (48)
Yartapuulti (Port Adelaide) 16.11 (107)
Carlton 15.12 (102)
Gold Coast 11.7 (73)
Geelong 11.8 (74)
GWS 11.12 (78)
Richmond 10.14 (74)
Essendon 12.14 (86)
Hawthorn 15.10 (100)
Brisbane 10.15 (75)
Narrm (Melbourne) 14.16 (100)
Euro-Yroke (St.Kilda) 9.8 (62)
Kuwarna (Adelaide) 21.11 (137)
Waalitj Marawar (West Coast) 5.8 (38)
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