Hawthorn has surged into the all-important eight, for the first time this season, after thrashing Carlton in a ‘mini elimination final’ before 84,773 at the ‘G’. The 74-point margin, their biggest of the year, sees them leapfrog their advisories and firmly put the prospect of a finals appearance in their own hands.
It was a dirty afternoon for the Blues, who lost five players during the encounter, which made it extremely difficult: Charlie Curnow (ankle), Lachie Fogarty (collarbone), Jack Martin (hamstring), Adam Saad (hamstring), and Jordan Boyd (corked leg).
Several standout performances from the Hawks were all over the ground, including defender Josh Weddle (pictured below), who got forward to boot a career-high three goals.
Talking post-match to the club’s website, the 20-year-old said “To bounce back after last week’s tough game, it feels good and gets us back on track.”
“We knew that the Carlton forwards were going to get up the ground and I was lucky enough to get on the end of a few and kick three, which is a career-high. We pressed up the ground to create a front half game for us backs and lock it in to score goals.”
When asked what his message to the fans was, he replied, “Just keep coming down. Two games to go, and we will get them done and hopefully see you guys in the finals.”
The season that keeps on giving…
Such is the strength and evenness of the competition that there were no fewer than four matches settled by less than a kick in a season that keeps giving to us.
Port Adelaide strengthened its push for a top-four standing by coming out on top against Melbourne in a rather forgettable, low-scoring affair.
They say that a sign of a good team can win ugly or by not even playing their best footy and the Power showed just that in managing to get the job done.
Sydney toppled Magpies in a classic
Errol Gulden (pictured below) scored the winner as ladder leaders Sydney produced a strong final-term to get over the line against Collingwood in an absolute thriller at the SCG.
On the back of a horrible run of form, including their worst defeat since 1993 the week before, it wasn’t looking good for the hosts at the end of the third quarter.
However, in a dramatic turnaround, All-Australian midfielder Issac Heeney really stepped up for the Swans when it mattered most, inspiring the momentum shift and leading to some wild scenes from the home supporters on the fine siren.
Even Magpies coach Craig McRae conceded, “He was pretty special, wasn’t he? He was amazing; I don’t think I’ve seen a player impact a game like that in a quarter.”
Speaking in the rooms to Swans TV, ‘Heenz’ (pictured below) said, “We were under the pump. We have had a big month or so but it just shows you that the belief is always there. I know last week was a bit of an outlier, making history for the wrong reasons, but it was a really special night and one of the better wins I have been a part of.”
“You just have to grind throughout the season, you have your ups and downs, and there were some big moments late in the game that got us over the line. The contest, we got on top in that and it was pleasing how connected the boys were.”
When asked about the SCG crowd, he responded, “They were going berserk. It was extremely pleasing, and we can’t thank them enough. Even in the tough times, they stick by us and always be there, so it was awesome.”
Jeremy Cameron 250th
Forward Jeremy Cameron, considered one of the best finishers in the game, made his 250th AFL appearance and helped Geelong pick up a vital win over Fremantle.
Nicknamed ‘Dart’ for his accuracy in front of the big sticks, he has amassed a number of accolades on his journey, including 630 career goals to date.
He arrived at the Cattery at the end of the 2020 season, with the paperwork only being officially lodged in the dying seconds of that trading period, as the highest-paid player from GWS, where he had been a 2 x Australian and Coleman Medallist.
The deal is still widely regarded as one of the biggest trade deals in AFL history. For what the Cats had to give up to secure his services, he has more than repaid them and will be a key player in their push for another Premiership.
Suns finally win on the road
Gold Coast have finally done it…picking up their first interstate triumph of the campaign and 456 days by defeating Essendon in the most dramatic of fashion.
Mac Andrew, the first Egyptian-born player to debut in the sport, was the hero by taking a contested mark and then holding his nerve to score after the siren.
Given the nature of the celebration, you could see what it meant to everyone at the Suns, while, on the other hand, this put an end to the Bombers’ finals hopes.
Orange Tsunami into the top four
Greater Western Sydney showed their flag credentials, making it six in a row, by heading up to the Gabba and knocking over a red-hot Brisbane on their home deck.
The hosts were on a run of nine straight but were completely overrun by the Orange Tsunami, which kicked the last six majors of the game in the latter stages.
Jesse Hogan kept up his recent goalscoring form and is now the outright leader on the Coleman Medal table. It was a big night for fellow key forward Aaron Cadman (pictured above), pick one in the 2022 national draft, who kicked a career-high three majors.
In the presser, Giants coach Adam Kingsley (pictured above) said, “We’re really confident in our game, but then again, we’re not perfect. Like I said last week, we’ve got to play more than 40 minutes of footy against the Hawks, and I felt like we played more than 40 minutes, but we still had lapses that could have proved really costly.”
He went on “So, we continue to work on it. We’ve always got something to work on. We’re far from the finished product. That’s exciting, but now we’re coming towards the pointy end of the season.”
Crows dent Bulldogs finals push
The Western Bulldogs missed an opportunity to cement themselves into the September picture as they crashed into a 39-point defeat in the City of Churches.
Adelaide is a different prospect on their home deck, the Oval, and overwhelmed the Doggies with intense pressure as Darcy Fogarty (pictured below) kicked a bag (five majors).
The icing on the cake for the Crows was the sight of key defender Daniel Curtin, a draft pick from WA outfit Claremont last summer, nailing his first AFL career goal.
Eagles amazing comeback
West Coast notched their first victory on the road in 2024 after stunning North Melbourne with the most amazing comeback that had to be seen to be believed.
The match looked pretty much iced for the Kangas, but the Eagles had other ideas. They came from the clouds to score three times in the final two minutes—Oscar Allen booted the sealer, the last of his five, with just 18 seconds left on the clock.
It makes it a back-to-back success for interim coach Jarrad Schofield (pictured above), and this result will undoubtedly enhance the idea of him being offered the role permanently.
Tim Membury and Rowan Marshall each kicked three snags apiece as St.Kilda did enough to get the job done and condemn bottom side Richmond to their 19th defeat.
Although he finished on the losing side, Tigers midfielder Daniel Rioli won the first Ian Stewart Medal of his career for best on-ground effort, picking up eight votes.
Round 22 Results
Sydney 13.11 (89)
Collingwood 12.14 (86)
Brisbane 8.16 (64)
GWS 13.4 (82)
North Melbourne 14.13 (97)
West Coast 15.12 (102)
Fremantle 9.8 (62)
Geelong 10.13 (73)
Melbourne 7.9 (51)
Port Adelaide 7.11 (53)
Essendon 12.14 (86)
Gold Coast 13.9 (87)
Carlton 5.8 (38)
Hawthorn 16.16 (112)
Richmond 7.9 (51)
St.Kilda 15.9 (99)
Adelaide 17.9 (111)
Western Bulldogs 9.18 (72)
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- AFL 2024 Round 21: Pendlebury 400th game, Swans humbled by Port, Green heroics, Ward makes history, Jezza kicks a bag
- AFL 2024 Round 20: Lions take honours in Q-Clash, Doggies back in the eight, Western Derby 59, Sicily 150th
- 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
Image Credit: Depositphotos
