What a cracker … Carlton v Sydney Swans
This one looked set to be a major arm wrestle, so the highly entertaining affair that took place at Telstra Dome was a nice surprise. With Barry Hall and Amon Buchanan out you would have forgiven Paul Roos for closing it down, but the two sides went toe to toe with the Swans winning a thriller by two points. In addition to the overall spectacle, there were absorbing duels going on right across the ground; Chris Judd v Brett Kirk, Jarrad Waite v Ryan O’Keefe, Adam Goodes v Bryce Gibbs and Leo Barry v Brendan Fevola to name a few.

Player of the round … Nick Riewoldt
There were plenty of players with more possessions, but you just have to admire the way the big Saint skipper took it upon himself to drive his side to an unlikely victory. Another win beckoned for the Hawks who were 28 points up at half-time, but Riewoldt was instrumental in engineering a stunning turnaround with six goals and 22 possessions in a dominant performance to re-ignite his side’s top-four challenge.

Coach of the round … Dean Laidley
Laidley’s Kangaroos made it two wins from two matches against Collingwood this season on the big stage of Friday night football. Drew Petrie played one of the best games of his career as the Roos overcame a half-time deficit and a determined Magpies outfit to leap back into the eight with several deft moves from Laidley’s box proving pivotal.

Be afraid, be very afraid … all of you
That was the message for the rest of the competition coming out of Geelong’s belting of the Western Bulldogs. And thanks a lot too Catters; a few other teams were just starting to think they might have a shot at this year’s flag, but now you’ve gone and scared them all back into hiding. Perhaps stung by speculation they were ripe for the picking with Gary Ablett and Cameron Ling out, the Cats were just awesome in disposing of the second-best team in the competition.

You have to be a little disappointed in Darren Milburn though. After 19 possessions in the first quarter, the wily old Cat should have finished with about 80 touches. The 32 he eventually ended up with seems quite pedestrian in comparison. 

Tag of the week … Bryce Gibbs
We’re often reluctant to praise those whose task it is to stop a star from showcasing his talents, but Bryce Gibbs’ job on Adam Goodes was a beauty. The young Blue kept the dual-Brownlow medalist to just two possessions in the first half at Telstra Dome and seven for the entire match although he was moved off him late when the Swan went to the goal square and booted two goals. Nullifying a superstar to that extent would be worthy of praise even if Gibbs managed no possessions himself, but he finished the match with 26 in a superb display.

Old-fashioned footy … in Adelaide
The Showdowns always seem to produce hard, tough contests more common in times long past, but the wet conditions in Adelaide really made Sunday’s meeting between the Crows and Port one for the traditionalists. Maybe it was the sight of players covered in mud – uncommon these days – but more likely it was the fact that the teams just went hard at each other again and again in an absorbing, physical encounter.

The Power have not been able to put together that sort of effort often enough this season, but they showed what they’re capable of in consigning Adelaide to a fifth successive defeat – the first time that’s happened since the 2000 season.

Goal of the week … Scott Lucas
Adam McPhee’s wonder goal against St Kilda in round five was going to take some beating for goal of the year, but Scott Lucas might just have gone one better. Tracking back towards a ball that flew over the back of a pack deep into the pocket Lucas, under close attention from Kel Moore, threw his left boot at it as it bounced up nicely for him. The resultant goal drew gasps of appreciation from everyone at the ground and might be enough to win him a nice little prize.

He’s a keeper … Bradd Dalziell
Where has Leigh Matthews been hiding this guy? On the evidence of Saturday night’s performance he looks set to become a first-team regular. The 21-year-old, recruited from East Fremantle 52nd overall last year, made the most of his first AFL appearance with his 32 possessions and five tackles a key factor in the Lions’ win over West Coast.

Got any more stashed up there Lethal?

The game started when?
The Fremantle Dockers certainly didn’t mentally check into their match against Melbourne until quarter-time. An amazing five goals to nil first-term effort from the Demons had the crowd hushed at Subiaco, but captain Pav and his purple crew did well to rein in the deficit and go on to record a comfortable victory.

Head scratcher of the round … Richmond v Essendon
This was a weird kind of contest with the Tigers poised to record a comfortable win at half-time with the Bombers down to two fit men on the bench which quickly became one when Jay Neagle hobbled off minutes into the second half. But that’s when they started playing their best football of the day. The Dons were irresistible in the third quarter when they put on six goals to one, but couldn’t maintain the rage for what would have been a famous win.

Joel Bowden got a few fans hot under the collar with his rushed behinds in the dying moments, but there’s nothing untoward about icing the clock to get a win.

Look for Matthew Knights to start next week’s match against Collingwood with 16 men on the park in an effort to recapture that third-quarter fire.