Carlton’s late run to September has continued, with victory of the Dockers in Perth moving them into 11th and just one win outside the eight.
Earlier in the day, Essendon secured a crucial win over Adelaide that saw the Bombers move into fifth and the Crows drop to ninth, while Geelong’s victory over the Kangaroos saw the reigning premiers move into the top eight for the first time since round 12.
Check out the scores, stats and match reports below.
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Bombers move to fifth as Crows drop out of eight in crucial result
Essendon took their high-octane game up a gear, notching a sixth triple-figure score of the AFL season in an 18-point win over Adelaide.
Peter Wright kicked three goals and Zach Merrett continued his outstanding campaign as the Bombers leapt to fifth on the ladder with a 17.13 (115) to 15.7 (97) victory at Docklands.
The result has set up a huge clash with reigning premiers Geelong next round but has come at a cost, with defender Jordan Ridley set to have scans after hyperextending his left knee in the third quarter.
The fall-out could yet grow worse as Andrew Phillips faces scrutiny from the league’s match review officer over a high bump on ruck opponent Reilly O’Brien in the dying stages.
Just about everything else clicked for Essendon, who controlled the speed of the contest from the outset and cashed in on their midfield dominance with a spread of 10 goalkickers.
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The Bombers kicked a dozen first-half goals and led by 44 points early in the final quarter before Adelaide added a touch of respectability to the scoreboard in a loss that cost them their spot in the top eight.
“The scoreboard is one thing but it was the way the game was being played that was really pleasing,” Essendon coach Brad Scott said.
“We had some things that we really focused on during the week around the contest and the players executed that really well early.
“When the whips were cracking and the game was there to be won, I thought the boys were fantastic.”
Merrett racked up 39 disposals and four clearances as fellow ball-winners Darcy Parish (39, eight) and Andrew McGrath (31 touches) also got their hands dirty.
Teen midfielder Ben Hobbs (20 disposals, six clearances) impressed and Wright, the focal point in attack, hit the scoreboard for the first time in a month.
The Bombers’ leading goalkicker Kyle Langford matched Wright’s tally of three majors, taking his season total to 32, while Jye Menzie and Matt Guelfi added two apiece.
Rory Laird (31 disposals, 10 clearances) and Jordan Dawson (28, six) never gave up for Adelaide, while Coleman Medal leader Taylor Walker, Izak Rankine and Luke Pedlar kicked two goals each.
Crows coach Matthew Nicks took positives out of his side’s willingness to continue fighting to the end but conceded the scoreboard flattered his side.
“We didn’t execute at all today, in fact, we almost played the opposite way,” Nicks said.
“That’s the most disappointing part.”
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Emotional Tuohy celebrates Irish record as Cats jump back in the eight
Geelong belted North Melbourne by 62 points early on Sunday to break back into the AFL top eight ahead of next week’s crucial game against Essendon.
The regulation 19.11 (125) to 9.9 (63) win on Sunday at Kardinia Park was marked by milestones, with Cats star Zach Tuohy breaking Jim Stynes’ record for the most games by an Irishman.
In the post-match presentation after his 265th game, the Stynes family gave Tuohy a Melbourne guernsey featuring number 11 — the number made famous by the Demons Brownlow Medallist.
“I was one or two more sentences away from blubbering down the mic,” Tuohy said of his post-game speech to the crowd.
“I do feel like the bad guy in the movie because Jim’s everyone’s hero, but I wasn’t really expecting the jumper they gifted me at the end.
“I’m not super sentimental with footy memorabilia, but that is taking pride of place in the Tuohy house, well and truly above any of my own jumpers or anything I’ve done.”
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Tuohy delighted the Cats fans by trying one of his trademark torpedoes from fullback in the last quarter, although he didn’t quite nail the kick.
The quick-witted Irishman also tried to mark the occasion with a goal, later explaining ambition had outstripped ability.
“To be fair they (teammates) tried to feed me in the second quarter and then North were well and truly on to it in that last 10 minutes,” he said.
“I got very delusional at the end. I was calling for it in on the top of three ruckmen’s heads and thinking I was going to do something I haven’t done in 14 years.
“But it doesn’t (worry) me, it’s extra special and if anything it makes it a bit more humorous, which is how I’d prefer to have it.”
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Cats coach Chris Scott said Geelong were blessed that Tuohy came to them from Carlton at the end of 2016.
“He’s just been amazing for our footy club,” Scott said.
“I sincerely believe Geelong will look back and say, ‘We were lucky to have had him’.
“He’ll be in the history books forever.”
As Tuohy was honoured for his longevity, North’s Cooper Harvey was mobbed by teammates when he kicked a goal on debut in the final quarter.
Harvey is the son of North legend Brent Harvey, the AFL games record holder with 432.
Geelong started the round in 10th spot, half a game outside the top eight, and the reigning premiers face the Bombers next Saturday night in a vital encounter.
North made a bright start with two of the opening three goals, but the Cats then killed off the contest with an 11-goal run.
The Kangaroos’ third goal came nine minutes into the third term and the margin blew out to 68 points before North rallied to stop a rout, as Geelong took the foot off the pedal with Mark Blicavs being subbed off.
North defender Griffin Logue was subbed out of the game in the first term with a knee injury and co-captain Jy Simpkin also went off in the first half, due to concussion.
Tyson Stengle kicked five goals and Ollie Henry kicked four for the Cats, while Luke Davies-Uniacke was best for North with 28 touches and two goals.
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