In the words of Damien Hardwick during his post-match press conference:<\/a> \u201cThe reality is we\u2019re a middling side, aren\u2019t we?\u201d. With disappointing losses now on either side of their mid-season bye, there\u2019s a very real world where the Suns don\u2019t even make the wildcard cut-off, such is the difficulty of their fixture in the back half of this year.<\/p>\nIn the votes<\/p>\n
It\u2019s more unlikely than likely that a Suns player will poll come Brownlow night from this clash, but in terms of ball-winners, John Noble (36 disposals, 15 marks, 651 metres gained) was everywhere in the back half. Up forward, Ben King (eight disposals, six marks inside 50, four goals) again played his role well and made the most of more limited opportunities. Mac Andrew (15 disposals \u2014 seven intercepts, seven marks, one goal) was the Suns\u2019 highest-rated player on the evening.<\/p>\n
Room for improvement<\/p>\n
Arguably the biggest concern to come out of the \u2018Pineapple Grapple\u2019 for Hardwick\u2019s side was their centre clearance game, which saw them thumped 7-15 by the Lions. Not to discount Brisbane\u2019s elite engine room of their own, but between Noah Anderson, Christian Petracca and Matt Rowell as their midfield mainstays, a smashing that hard isn\u2019t acceptable. With the exception of the hitout count and uncontested possessions, the Suns were beaten across all the important, mainstream metrics.<\/p>\n
Grade<\/p>\n
D<\/p>\n
Howie gun show at the Big Freeze! | 02:40<\/p>\n
\ufeffGWS GIANTS<\/p>\n
Had the bye<\/p>\n
HAWTHORN<\/p>\n
It was a night of two halves for Hawthorn \u2013 and by the final siren it was on the wrong end of the result. After leading by 29 points, the Dogs came storming home to claim a six-point win in a fiery clash. The Hawks gave themselves ample good entries and opportunities to score, but didn\u2019t make the most of their chances. Coach Sam Mitchell said post-game: \u201cSome of our best footy was played tonight and some of our worst. \u201c<\/p>\n
In the votes<\/p>\n
Jai Newcombe\u2019s love affair with the Bulldogs continued. The co-captain finished with 36 disposals, 18 contested possessions, nine clearances and eight inside 50s. If you were giving the 3-2-1 at half-time, Nick Watson would\u2019ve been the clear best on ground with three goals. But he only had two touches after half-time. Will Day, Josh Ward and Cam Mackenzie were also important in the midfield, while Jarman Impey provided crucial drive off half-back<\/p>\n
Room for improvement<\/p>\n
This was a game the Hawks should\u2019ve won, considering they had more disposals (+77), inside 50s (+17), marks (+41) and contested possessions (+14). Mitchell post-game said his side\u2019s inaccurate goalkicking would keep him \u201cup for a couple of nights.\u201d The Hawks gave up a 29-point lead to the Dogs \u2013 a slump that wasn\u2019t helped by a 1.11 second half. Mitchell said many of the shots were \u201cgettable\u201d, too. Blake Hardwick, Mitch Lewis and Jack Ginnivan combined for 0.7. Meanwhile, James Sicily\u2019s leadership has been questioned in the wake of his game. While he finished with 20 touches and team-high intercepts (11), spoils (8) and rebound 50s (7) – and didn\u2019t lose any of his five one-on-one contests \u2013 his antics towards opponent Will Lewis suggested he was distracted at times. Watson two second-half disposals were also glaring, especially after he urged opponent Michael Sellwood to \u201cwalk the walk\u201d at half-time.<\/p>\n
Grade<\/p>\n
C-<\/p>\n
MELBOURNE<\/p>\n
They were made to earn it \u2013 and made hard work of it when given chances \u2013 but the Demons ultimately pulled away late to claim an eight-point win over Collingwood in a King\u2019s Birthday classic. The Demons trailed at three-quarter time and at stages during the last quarter, before overrunning the Pies with four of the last five goals of the match. The result snapped Melbourne\u2019s two-game losing streak and was a great response to the previous round\u2019s horror show loss to the Giants.<\/p>\n
In the votes<\/p>\n
Kysaiah Pickett, as Fox Footy\u2019s Leigh Montagna aptly put it, \u201cstarted it and finished it\u201d for the Demons, bookending a wonderful performance. After two shanked shots at goal that might\u2019ve iced the game, Pickett delivered his third goal to ice the match. It came after he begun the game in blistering fashion, kicking Melbourne\u2019s first two majors. He won the Neale Daniher Trophy after collecting 27 disposals, seven score involvements and over 600m gained. Bayley Fritsch also had significant moments with 3.1 from 15 disposals, Jack Steele and Harvey Langford were strong at the coalface and Jake Lever had one of his best games of the season, finishing with five intercept marks.<\/p>\n
Room for improvement<\/p>\n
It looked like, at times, the Demons couldn\u2019t win it \u2013 or didn\u2019t know how to win it. Pickett\u2019s two shanked shots, as well as the four fourth-quarter behinds, almost came back to bite the Demons. Individually, Latrelle Pickett didn\u2019t have a great day, making several costly errors as he finished with 0.1 from seven disposals.<\/p>\n
Grade<\/p>\n
B+<\/p>\n
Fraser not happy despite win over Dons | 09:20<\/p>\n
NORTH MELBOURNE<\/p>\n
Coach Alastair Clarkson summed it up best post game \u2013 declaring the 124-point defeat as a match for the \u201cscrap heap\u201d. The Roos failed to kick a goal after the seven-minute mark of the second term in a devastating display at a game the club sold to the WA government. Admitting there was \u201ca bit of shame\u201d over how the match played out, Clarkson was critical of his side\u2019s inability to win the ball at contest. He spoke pre-match of wanting to slow the Dockers down \u2013 instead they did the opposite as Fremantle players were unchallenged particularly in the second half. Just three marks inside 50 \u2013 compared to Fremantle\u2019s 22 for the match \u2013 summed up the horror day for the Roos. Oh, and arguably the most puzzling part is that arguably the Roos\u2019 worst performance under Clarkson came a game after arguably their best showing under the veteran coach in that epic comeback over Gold Coast.<\/p>\n
In the votes<\/p>\n
Aside from Harry Sheezel\u2019s bravery in the opening term to put his body in front of a charging Pat Voss \u2013 earning himself a 50m penalty as a result \u2013 there wasn\u2019t anything for North fans to cheer about.<\/p>\n
Room for improvement<\/p>\n
Contest, contest and more contest. The Roos were dismantled and looked in chase mode for the majority of the contest. Fremantle\u2019s only four goals in the opening term all came from Roo turnovers. And their skills never improved from there. Coach Alastair Clarkson put it down to perceived pressure and their blowout loss to a loss of their routine. It\u2019ll be a long week of soul-searching in WA for North Melbourne.<\/p>\n
Grade<\/p>\n
F<\/p>\n
PORT ADELAIDE<\/p>\n
Josh Carr\u2019s side were due for a close encounter to go their way this season, with his side getting one back over West Coast after their shock two-point loss back in Round 3. The Power were largely in control of the match after quarter time, but a late charge from the Eagles made them nervous in the drying stages. Nonetheless, they\u2019ve now escaped the league\u2019s bottom three and are just a win off 12th spot on the ladder \u2014 with a game in hand over most of the competition still.<\/p>\n
In the votes<\/p>\n
Usual suspect Jason Horne-Francis (18 disposals, three goals) popped up at crucial times for the visitors on Saturday night, and looks the likeliest to poll full votes from the contest. Key defender Esava Ratugolea (16 disposals \u2014 12 intercepts, seven intercept marks, four contested marks) was outstanding once more, and made the most of West Coast\u2019s wayward kicking inside forward 50. And while a little quieter statistically than normal, Zak Butters (27 disposals \u2014 17 contested, seven clearances) still finished as the Power\u2019s highest-rated player on ground as he fought through close attention.<\/p>\n
Room for improvement<\/p>\n
The Power still came out on top despite finishing with eight less inside 50s and a poor overall disposal efficiency. Additionally, they were smacked 7-14 at centre clearance \u2014 though managed to make up for it with a dozen more clearances around the ground. Carr won\u2019t be thrilled with the number of uncontested possessions they gave up too, but ultimately, the four points is what matters most!<\/p>\n
Grade<\/p>\n
B<\/p>\n
Blues edge Bombers for 4th straight win | 03:10<\/p>\n
RICHMOND<\/p>\n
Had the bye\ufeff<\/p>\n
ST KILDA<\/p>\n
So extremely close. The Saints very nearly pulled off their biggest win of the season over Sydney at the SCG. And quite possible their biggest win during Ross Lyon\u2019s second run as coach. On a week the blowtorch has been firmly on Lyon and the Saints after little signs of improvement following a lucrative off-season recruiting spree, as they missed a big chance to stick it up the naysayers. But Jai Serong\u2019s match-winning goal broke the hearts of Saints fans with 15 seconds left after St Kilda led for over 90 per cent of the game \u2014 and by as much as 32 points.<\/p>\n
In the votes<\/p>\n
Liam Ryan went off with a game-high five goals and Mark of the Year contender as the second highest-rated player in the game and his best in a Saints guernsey. Max Hall (27 disposals, one goal, nine score involvements) kept up his breakout season and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (32 touches, one goal, 669 metres gained) didn\u2019t miss a beat in his return.<\/p>\n
Room for improvement<\/p>\n
As Lyon bemoaned after the loss, it was \u201ca game of centimetres, as opposed to inches,\u201d and one that got away. We could throw up some of the minor statistical deficiencies, but this was largely St Kilda\u2019s inability to remain composed when Sydney came with a rush and manage key moments late in the game. <\/p>\n
Grade<\/p>\n
A-<\/p>\n
SYDNEY SWANS<\/p>\n
Dwayne Russell put it best; Sydney\u2019s win over St Kilda was \u201cthe great escape.\u201d But also mightily impressive that the AFL\u2019s No. 2 seed found a way to win against all odds as Jai Serong was the hero with the match-winning goal in the final 15 seconds. It had all the makings of a day the Swans were simply off, and Dean Cox\u2019s side was bound to drop one it was expected to win at some stage. But not on Sunday. Sydney stuck to the task and was able to get things back on its terms to claim an epic comeback victory… just in the nick of time. <\/p>\n
In the votes<\/p>\n
Isaac Heeney (30 disposals, 11 contested, two goals, 11 score involvements), the highest-rated player on the ground, could well have a Brownlow hanging around his neck later this year. Heeney was well supported by Warner (29 touches, two goals, 522 metres gained). Meanwhile Serong heroics can\u2019t be undersold as one of the most valuable recruits of 2026.<\/p>\n
Room for improvement<\/p>\n
Dean Cox\u2019s side just had one of those days where it was a little bit off early in the game and came up against a highly-motivated opponent. Souring the win were injury setbacks to Tom McCartin (head knock) and Justin McInerney (hamstring), as Sydney faces the prospect of being without the star duo. Though it helps that the Swans have their bye after next week\u2019s Adelaide Oval clash with the Power.<\/p>\n
Grade<\/p>\n
A-<\/p>\n
Cox: “Extremely proud of young players” | 12:10<\/p>\n
WEST COAST EAGLES<\/p>\n
It was arguably the one that got away from the Eagles last Saturday night, after getting within a kick of Port Adelaide in the dying stages and opportunities to make the game theirs. They probably didn\u2019t quite deserve the four points looking back on it, but in another positive step forward, they were at least in the contest all night.<\/p>\n
In the votes<\/p>\n
It was the engine room who performed best for the royal blue and gold over the weekend, with Harley Reid (25 disposals, seven clearances \u2014 five centre, six inside 50s) the best-rated player for the hosts despite having just eight kicks. His partner-in-crime Tom McCarthy (31 disposals, 11 marks, 590 metres gained) was notable through the middle of the ground, while Jake Waterman (19 disposals, 11 marks \u2014 five inside 50s, three goals, three tackles inside 50) was huge in the attacking half; though inaccuracy in front of goal hurt him at times.<\/p>\n
Room for improvement<\/p>\n
\ufeffAndrew McQualter\u2019s side outdid the Power for inside 50s (+8) and at centre clearance (+7), but were smashed at stoppage around the ground which hurt. The experiment with Tom Cole up forward looked to give West Coast\u2019s forward line a bit of life in the last 35 minutes of the match, and will be a magnet move to watch in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n
Grade<\/p>\n
B-<\/p>\n
WESTERN BULLDOGS<\/p>\n
That was one of the bravest wins of the AFL season yet. The Hawks owned the first half, but the Dogs flipped the script in the second half, fighting back from 29 points down then hanging on against a wayward Hawthorn to claim a six-point win. Nick Coffield was the unlikely late-game hero, nailing a spoil in the middle of the MCG in the dying seconds to stop a Hawks forward foray and seal a memorable victory. The Bulldogs made it six wins from six games decided by one goal or less this season.<\/p>\n
In the votes<\/p>\n
The stars shone. Ed Richards is back to his best, finishing with 28 disposals, 11 contested possessions, nine inside 50s, seven clearances and 677m gained. Marcus Bontempelli booted two goals from 24 touches and eight score involvements, Bailey Dale (36 disposals, 11 intercepts, 11 rebound 50s) was awesome off half-back and Tim English\u2019s influence in the ruck was significant. Helps when your best players play well. Michael Sellwood, too, bounced back from a rough start to curtail Nick Watson\u2019s influence in the second half, while Jordan Croft arrived with a career-high three goals.<\/p>\n
Room for improvement<\/p>\n
While their comeback was brave, the numbers indicated this was a game the Dogs should\u2019ve lost, considering they had less disposals (-77), inside 50s (-17), marks (-41) and contested possessions (-14). The Bulldogs were also -10 for clearances in the first half, before they corrected in the second half. You won\u2019t win too many games with those kinds of numbers, but the Dogs somehow pulled it off.<\/p>\n
Grade<\/p>\n
B<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Alastair Clarkson best summed up North Melbourne\u2019s horror show in a performance the footy world thought the 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