ADELAIDE d CARLTON
The light at the end of Adelaide’s tunnel of regeneration – a dim hue for quite some time – is suddenly blaring brightly. The Crows ended Carlton’s unbeaten start to 2023 with an eye-catching, crowd-pleasing display, which is fast becoming their trademark. Captain Jordan Dawson’s silky play-making skills and Rory Laird’s trademark relentlessness in the centre-square allowed Adelaide’s forward line – as potent as any in the competition on their day – to prosper.
Jordan Dawson, left, and Marc Pittonet in action. Credit: Sarah Reed, Getty
Darcy Fogarty booted five goals in his return from a knee injury, while evergreen ex-skipper Taylor Walker added three, as did Ben Keays who, not for the first time, had the better of Adam Saad. Undoubtedly, this is the best Crows team since 2017 – the last time they played finals.
The Blues’ bubble was always going to burst at some stage. But the crushing manner of their first defeat – combined with an inability to rise to the occasion the inaugural Gather Round fixture demanded – certainly placed a dent in their bona fides.
Brownlow medallist Patrick Cripps endured a rare downer, the likes of which he is unlikely to regularly replicate, but superstar Sam Walsh made a seamless return to action after missing the opening month of the season following back surgery. – Steve Barrett
FREMANTLE d GOLD COAST
This result is likely to have implications for both teams but most especially for the outfit behind at the final siren – Gold Coast. The Suns slump to 1-4 and a breakthrough finals appearance for the AFL’s south-eastern Queensland investment seems a million miles away. Freo steadied their ship after a shaky start to 2023. When the result was on the line, the Dockers rallied and turned a 23-point deficit late in the third quarter into a gutsy win.
Touk Miller of the Suns and Caleb Serong of the Dockers contest for the ball during round five.Credit: Paul Kane, Getty Images
The purple brigade had a number of stand-out contributors, namely Caleb Serong (37 disposals and best on ground honours) and Michael Walters (four goals). Ruckman Sean Darcy, Luke Jackson, Hayden Young and Andrew Brayshaw had eye-catching moments while there were smiles all round when Matthew Johnson put Freo back in front at the 17-minute mark of the last quarter, not long after followed by a terrific Jye Amiss mark and goal. The feel-good mood for Freo was summed up by midfielder James Aish, a Norwood SANFL premiership player returning home. A positive note for Gold Coast? Jack Lukosius played possibly his best game for them. – Scott Spits
SYDNEY d RICHMOND
Sydney did extremely well to bank this 44-point win in light of their staggering injury crisis, which has decimated their key position stocks: the brothers McCartin, Tom and Paddy, were concussed, co-captain Dane Rampe had a sore neck, Lance Franklin had a knee problem, first-choice ruckman Tom Hickey is still recovering from a pre-season calf problem, and former Essendon defender Aaron Francis was also ruled out.
Tom Papley celebrates a goal. Credit: Sarah Reed, Getty
And it got worse on the night – Joel Amartey did his hamstring early in the first quarter (and it looks like a pretty bad one) triggering the sub, debutant Will Gould, who earlier in the week was in a moon boot. After the match, it emerged that Isaac Heeney was sent for scans on his own neck injury, and is now in doubt for next weekend’s grand final rematch with Geelong. None of the aforementioned names are a certainty to return, coach John Longmire said, which means he may have to get creative for a match-up against an utterly rampant Jeremy Cameron. Richmond also have injury problems, but plenty of other ones, too – chiefly discipline, after coach Damien Hardwick savaged some of the free kicks and 50-metre penalties his side gave away as “incredibly poor” and “ridiculous”. Trent Cotchin was subbed out in the third quarter after touching the ball just seven times, but wasn’t hurt, so he should be right for next week, but of the many names on their injury list, only Jack Graham (hamstring) and Jayden Short (calf) seem a chance of returning against Melbourne on Anzac eve. – Vince Rugari
BRISBANE d NORTH MELBOURNE
After some encouraging early-season form, North Melbourne weren’t just brought back to earth – they were deep-sixed, not just by the Brisbane Lions, but by their own ineptitude. This was both when they had the ball in their hands (an incredible 116 points conceded from turnovers) and when they didn’t (33 uncontested marks conceded inside the Lions’ forward 50 betrayed a complete structural breakdown).
The Lions’ tall forwards Joe Daniher and Eric Hipwood were the chief beneficiaries, but so loose was the North defence that they hardly took a contested mark between them. Some Lions who have struggled so far this year – notably Lincoln McCarthy, Hugh McCluggage and Zac Bailey – were able to find some touch, and former automatic selection Jarryd Lyons had some valuable minutes coming on as a substitute. – Andrew Stafford
Joe Daniher took a terrific mark at Mount Barker.Credit: Twitter / afl.com.au / Fox Footy
ESSENDON d MELBOURNE
If Melbourne were flat, then Essendon took full advantage – executing a good plan with effort and skill. The fire starter was Sam Draper who, along with teammate, Andrew Phillips, overwhelmed Melbourne ruckman Brodie Grundy, who failed to have an influence.
Sam Draper, right, and Christian Petracca of the Demons during round five.Credit: Sarah Reed, Getty
Essendon’s rucking pair kicked five goals in the first half with Grundy only able to flash in and out of the game. The Bombers broke even in the midfield, with Clayton Oliver quiet in the first half. Although he had 31 touches in the second half he played a lone hand as Darcy Parish, Zach Merrett and Andrew McGrath created run through the middle. McGrath intercepted well as the Bombers scored off turnover against an opposition that is strong in defending turnovers. Essendon coach Brad Scott is right to keep expectations realistic, while Melbourne counterpart Simon Goodwin also had a point when he said the Demons’ performance was uncharacteristic. The Bombers will almost certainly be without Merrett on Anzac Day, while the Demons welcome back Max Gawn, Jake Lever and Ben Brown against Richmond on Anzac eve. – Peter Ryan
PORT ADELAIDE d WESTERN BULLDOGS
The Western Bulldogs did a lot of things right in Saturday night’s wet-weather slogfest against Port Adelaide – but they were unable to deliver the goods when it mattered most. With Tim English dominant in ruck, Marcus Bontempelli showcasing his heavy-track prowess with a masterful first half and Cody Weightman making a fine return from injury with a four-goal haul plus a mark-of-the-year contender, the Dogs had their sights set on a third straight win. But down the stretch, the Power flipped the script, pinching the momentum and refusing to relinquish it. Port subbed out ineffective ruckman Scott Lycett just after half-time, handed Willem Drew the job of nullifying Bontempelli after the main break and threw Jason Horne-Francis into the guts in the fourth stanza.
Jason Horne-Francis.Credit: Paul Kane, Getty
Horne-Francis, in particular, influenced the match heavily after a quiet first three quarters, before being vigorously – and rightly – defended by coach Ken Hinkley, who savaged critics of the 19-year-old during an impassioned post-match press conference. Horne-Francis and Zak Butters combined to execute Port’s sudden ascendancy at the contest, which the Dogs were powerless to stop. Both camps entered the Gather Round encounter with 2-2 records in the mid-table logjam. This result could prove pivotal to the top-eight’s composition eventually. – Steve Barrett
GEELONG d WEST COAST
Geelong stumbled sluggishly out of the blocks and were outplayed virtually for the entirety of the second half, but their hefty victory never looked remotely in doubt against a plucky but outclassed West Coast unit. The Cats blasted 12 unanswered first-half goals past the Eagles to put the contest to bed in a heartbeat, evoking recent memories of their season-sparking, third-quarter Easter Monday goalfest against Hawthorn. Jeremy Cameron, Tom Hawkins and Brad Close shared the spoils with four majors each, while Mark Blicavs showcased his rare gifts of versatility, booting two goals, pinch-hitting admirably in ruck and shutting down the dangerous Tim Kelly before half-time.
Brad Close, right, tackles Brady Hough. Credit: James Elsby, Getty
Souring the win somewhat, goalsneak Tyson Stengle faces a stint on the sidelines after suffering a suspected broken left arm after being pinned in a Josh Rotham tackle just before half-time.
West Coast, so severely depleted that their reserves side was belted by West Perth by 169 points in Saturday’s WAFL blowout, trailed Geelong by 77 points during the third stanza and a triple-figure defeat appeared inevitable. But to their credit, the Eagles, unlike the Hawks six days earlier, refused to accept a rout. Kelly found a fresh lease against his old team after the main interval, while Jamaine Jones impressed with his run and carry all afternoon. Oscar Allen and Jake Waterman slotted four goals apiece and placed the Cats’ defence under stress at various times. The pleasantly surprising grit shown by Adam Simpson’s undermanned underdogs in the face of utter humiliation augurs well for the long-term future. – Steve Barrett
GWS star Toby Greene during the Giants’ narrow Gather Round win over Hawthorn at Norwood Oval.Credit: AFL Photos
GWS d HAWTHORN
The 2023 season was never going to be about the win-loss column for the rebuilding Hawks, and even to a lesser extent the retooling Giants under new coach Adam Kingsley. But Sunday’s clash at Norwood Oval showed plenty about the two sides. The Giants still have enough firepower, enough weaponry in their armoury to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat even when they’re not quite firing, while the Hawks are still figuring out just what their own weaponry is capable of. Jai Newcombe has already shown enough to indicate he’ll be a bona-fide midfield jet of the competition for years to come – if he’s not already there – while Sam Mitchell is showing just how much of a virtue patience really is by giving as much game time as possible to his young charges. So, it’s little surprise Mitchell’s Hawks again showed against GWS why they’re up to their eyeballs in the Harley Reid sweepstakes later this year. Their defensive lapses continue to prove costly, as evidenced by yet another run of goals they conceded – this time against the inconsistent Giants. Toby Greene, former skipper Stephen Coniglio, Tom Green, Sam Taylor and Lachie Whitfield again showcased their quality, but it was Harry Himmelberg who stood tallest late – and not just metaphorically – at each end of the ground with a pair of match-winning moments. No.1 draft pick Aaron Cadman debuted after a promising few weeks at VFL level, adding another dimension to the Giants’ tall forward make-up. – Russell Bennett
Jack Ginnivan celebrates a a goal with teammate Taylor Adams.Credit: AFL Photos
COLLINGWOOD d ST KILDA
Collingwood coach Craig McRae praised the Saints for the difficulties they presented to his team, saying the headlock they applied to the Magpies strangled the game like a boa-constrictor wrapping itself around prey. In the end the Magpies found a way through the maze of players in front of them before nearly losing the contest when the Saints charged late in a match that could have gone either way. Both teams committed to their system – with Ross Lyon conceding they perhaps erred in allowing Nick Daicos so much of the ball. But it was the experience up forward that gave Collingwood a slight edge in the finish. The Saints expect Jack Steele to return against Carlton, while the Magpies lost two more talls in Nathan Murphy (concussion) and Dan McStay (finger tendon). Both teams have set a good platform for the season but with 18 home and away rounds remaining they know a long haul awaits.– Peter Ryan
