Brisbane moved up to second and is now considered, by many, as the new flag favourites after taking the honours in the 27th Q-Clash against rivals Gold Coast.
No team had been able to beat the Suns at their fortress, so far, but the Lions had no problem completing the feat and making it eight straight since the mid-season bye.
The result was even more impressive given they came into this fixture with virtually no defence – Darragh Joyce (fractured jaw), Harris Andrews and Carter Michael (both in concussion protocols), Tom Doedee, Keidean Coleman, Darcy Gardiner (knee) and Jack Payne (broken foot) all currently out injured on the sidelines.
Dayne Zorko (pictured below), nicknamed ‘The Magician’, picked up the third Marcus Ashcroft Medal of his career with a standout display that included 32 disposals and 12 marks.
Speaking in the rooms to the club’s website, he said “It was an awesome effort by the boys. We know what sort of pressure comes with winning at home; we have had a good run ourselves in the last couple of years.”
“We knew that we had to match it with them, we know they’re a different beast at home and it was great to see our contest work, especially from the mids, and we were able to build our game off that and great to get one over them.”
He continued “We had a massive belief inside this club that we could turn this around. We looked at our numbers at halfway and they were really good, we just weren’t converting on the scoreboard. Our forwards have done a fantastic job to get themselves better looks inside 50, started to convert and our results have changed.”
Western Derby 59
In the other match pitting two state rivals against each other, Fremantle got the chocolates and bragging rights by getting up over West Coast in a fiery derby.
The attendance of 56,536, inside Optus Stadium, was the Dockers’ largest-ever crowd for a home-and-away match and the result sees them jump up to third.
Match Review Officer Michael Christian certainly had his work cut out, handing out three suspensions with another 14 players also fined following a full-on melee.
Midfielder Caleb Serong (pictured below) picked up his third Glendinning-Allan Medal for a best-on-ground effort that included 32 disposals, 10 clearances and eight inside 50s.
Giants stand tall against the demons
Greater Western Sydney pulled off a gutsy interstate triumph by managing to hang on and get over the line against a fast-finishing Melbourne in an absolute thriller.
Under the pump, with the hosts coming hard, the Giants had a real hero in James Peatling as he stood up, in the final minutes, with three impressive run-down tackles.
Unfortunately, all this was witnessed by a disappointing crowd of just 16,246 fans – the lowest at the MCG this season – with Dees supporters opting to stay away.
bulldogs climb into the eight
The Western Bulldogs, winners in 2016, are now back in that all-important eight and made quite the statement after knocking over leaders Sydney in clinical fashion.
It is the first time this campaign that they have been able to put three wins together and quite the scalps as well – Cats (on their home deck), Blues and now the Swans.
They got off to a flyer, capitalising on the hosts’ Achilles heel of poor starts, and never looked back as they got into the ascendency and led for the whole afternoon.
Speaking in the presser, coach Luke Beveridge (pictured below) said “It’s really pleasing, we’ve had a really good period, had some important wins, it’s the first time we’ve won three in a row this year. So, in the scheme of things we’re pretty content with the afternoon.”
He went on “It’s still really tight, and our experience over the last couple of years, we’ve probably been a bit fragile at this time of year where we’ve dropped a game or two and we just haven’t been on our mettle.”
“So, we’re a different version of ourself this year, we’ve evolved throughout the course of the year into a team that’s playing their roles extremely well.”
Sicily 150th for Hawks
James Sicily lined up for his 150th appearance for the club and led his troops in going on to secure their joint-biggest success of the season in the City of Churches.
They trailed against Adelaide, at quarter-time, before then going on to completely dominate and hand the hosts their heaviest loss on their home deck.
The result leaves the Hawks just outside the eight, on percentage, and dreaming of a possible finals chance; something that seemed highly unlikely given their zip-five start.
Two teams vying for a top four, double chance, place clashed under the lights at Marvel Stadium where Port Adelaide came from behind to defeat Carlton.
It has proved to be a happy hunting ground for the Power, putting up their eleventh triumph in the last twelve visits to the venue, as they chased down a sizeable deficit, in the second half, and will head back to South Australia full of confidence.
Willem Drew (pictured below), in his 100th appearance for the club, played a key role with a fine display having been given the unenviable task of tagging Blues star Patrick Cripps.
Speaking on the ground to Channel 7, the midfielder said “Really pleasing to get the win and it sets up our next month, which is really exciting.”
“Had a few family and friends down and will probably go and celebrate with them tonight. Really special for my family and partner, as well, so I am pumped.”
He went on “Always a tough task to come up against the best, Cripps is one of the best players in the comp. I just take it as a challenge, try and compete, do my best and bit for the team; so really pleasing.”
daicos puts on another masterclass
Reigning Premiers Collingwood snapped a run of four consecutive losses, the worst ever run under coach Craig McRae’s reign, as they saw off bottom-side Richmond.
It keeps alive the Magpies’ very slim chances of qualifying for the point end and an opportunity to go back-to-back, although they would need everything to go right.
Nick Daicos, one of the favourites for the 2024 Brownlow, continues to amaze with his consistent high-level displays and racked up an equal career-high 42 disposals.
Geelong carried on their imposing winning streak over North Melbourne, now making it 13 straight, by putting the Kangas away with relative ease by a 40-point margin.
Tyson Stengle, who recently signed a new five-year contract with the club through to 2029, and Rising Star nominee Ollie Dempsey are amongst the scorers for the Cats.
bombers in free-fall
Essendon’s dreadful run prolongs – they have now dropped their last six out of eight and put their September chances in real jeopardy – after being belted by St.Kilda.
The Saints, donning their revived “candy stripes” jumpers for the club’s retro round theme, really broke the game open in a decisive period, en route to getting the job done, with captain Jack Steele chalking up an equal career-high three goals.
Round 20 Results
Carlton 9.11 (65)
Port Adelaide 11.13 (79)
North Melbourne 10.6 (106)
Geelong 16.10 (66)
Gold Coast 9.11 (65)
Brisbane 13.15 (93)
St.Kilda 17.6 (108)
Essendon 8.7 (55)
Melbourne 12.11 (83)
GWS 13.7 (85)
Fremantle 17.8 (110)
West Coast 11.9 (75)
Collingwood 14.9 (93)
Richmond 9.13 (67)
Sydney 7.6 (48)
Western Bulldogs 12.15 (87)
Adelaide 8.10 (58)
Hawthorn 19.10 (124)
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- AFL 2024 Round 19: Lions defeat Swans in a classic, Bruest makes history, Bulldogs make a statement, Brad Hill 250th
- AFL 2024 Round 18: Ugle-Hagan stars for Doggies, Scott’s coaching masterclass, Sicily heroics, Simpson’s emotional farewell
- AFL 2024 Round 17: Saints stun ladder leaders, Longmuir 100th game in charge, Bombers pass litmus test, Kangas off the bottom
- AFL 2024 Round 16: Dockers defeat runaway leaders, Hinkley’s emotional interview, Humphries dream debut, Dyson Heppell 250th
- AFL 2024 Round 15: Sydney Derby XXVIII, Lions roar in SA, Carlton thrash the Cats, Demons edge Kangas in tense finish
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