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The moment: Brad Johnson will remember this after-the-siren miss until the day he dies. The smiling assassin marked between the right goalpost and the point post with four seconds to go with his side trailing by three points. The bell went and he opted for the banana, but didn't get enough bend. It sailed across goals for a point – and a Bulldogs loss.
2. North Melbourne 14.14 (98) d Fremantle 12.13 (85) at Docklands
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The moment: The game was most notable for just the second free kick ever paid for a deliberately rushed behind. Steven Dodd was nearly 10 metres clear when he punched the ball over the line, leaving the umpire with a simple decision. Aaron Edwards completed the conversion to enable the Roos to level late in the third.
3. Adelaide 15.14 (104) d Carlton 8.12 (60) at AAMI Stadium
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The moment: Adelaide came out blazing, but inaccurate youngster Patrick Dangerfield failed to convert that dominance into goals. Step forward Bryce Gibbs, whose misguided kick-in cannoned straight into the outstretched hands of Kurt Tippett, who gratefully kicked the game’s opener. The kick, from one of the Blues’ more-polished performers, summed up the visitors’ day.
4. Collingwood 12.16 (88) d West Coast 9.12 (66) at the MCG
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The moment: Leon Davis ran unchecked for most of the night, and right after taking the mark of the match he was offered a red carpet path to goal by an undisciplined West Coast. With nobody manning the mark, Davis ran around and fired home from 50m. It left the Pies 34 points clear early in the fourth term and was a rare highlight in a scrappy, defensive match.
5. Essendon 19.11 (125) d Richmond 12.13 (85) at the MCG
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The moment(s): In the showpiece game of Indigenous Round, it was only fitting that two of Essendon's Aboriginal stars took to the skies on Saturday night. Nathan Lovett-Murray soared with his knees on Richmond ruckman Adam Pattison's shoulders. Then Paddy Ryder challenged with a fourth-quarter screamer over three players. Both are surely mark of the year contenders.
6. Sydney Swans 18.15 (123) d Port Adelaide 10.8 (68) at the SCG
The moment: Football often combines the sublime and the ridiculous, and Heath Grundy’s massive mark in the second quarter was one such moment. The tall Swan leapt over a pack to take an old-fashioned screamer, delighting the SCG crowd. But his trip to high altitude appeared to take a toll. His subsequent kick to an unmarked Rhyce Shaw missed the mark and bounced out of bounds.
7. St Kilda 14.13 (97) d Brisbane Lions 13.3 (81) at Docklands
The moment: Stephen Milne was having a quiet day until the thrilling last quarter at Docklands. The livewire forward burst into action with the game on the line, booting three goals including a spectacular volley. With Ash McGrath hot on his tail the ball bobbled enticingly. Milne threw his right boot out and struck it flush, sending it sailing through the middle.
8. Hawthorn 17.12 (114) d Melbourne 13.14 (92) at the MCG
The moment: Russell Robertson can do many things: take big marks, sing, boot goals – but he’s not immune to brain-fade at the least opportune time. A trademark high mark over Campbell Brown on Sunday preceded an all-time howler. Robbo tried – and failed – to kick a goal from a centimetre out while laying on his back. Hawthorn’s Garry Moss gleefully smothered the attempt, and the high-flyer was soon brought back to earth with a lengthy stint on the bench.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
