The moment: The Crows clawed back to within a point early in the last quarter and had the momentum of three unanswered goals and a vocal home crowd behind them. A clever, opportunistic goal to Adam Schneider gave the Saints some breathing space, but it was imposing big man Justin Koschitzke who finally put Adelaide away. Koschitzke, who kick-started the visitors with two goals in the opening term, put the other bookend in place at the 14-minute-mark of the last. His overhead mark and goal finally broke Adelaide's spirit, while his fourth goal just minutes later sealed a rare interstate Saints win.
2 – Collingwood 17.15 (117) d Melbourne 10.4 (64), at the MCG
The moment: There‘s no doubting the value of Alan Didak to Collingwood. Again on Saturday at the MCG he provided the spark that turned the game in favour of the Magpies. Melbourne was leading by 13 points midway through the second quarter before Didak cut loose, booting two goals in a hurry to change the complexion of the contest. The second was a typical Didak special – from long range, pressed against the Great Southern Stand boundary line. The Pies were never headed from there.
3 – Geelong 15.15 (105) d Richmond 13.7 (85), at Skilled Stadium
The moment: Sometimes a brain-fade is something you get away with – at other times it hurts not only yourself but those around you. The latter was the case at Skilled Stadium on Saturday afternoon, with the Tigers surging hard against the Cats early in the third term. Cam Mooney booted a goal that just cleared the goalline, but with no-one anywhere near him, Tigers defender Luke McGuane punched the ball high and hard into the far reaches of the crowd. As a result, Tom Hawkins was given a free kick from the goal square. He converted, and the margin that the Tigers had worked so hard to reduce from 31 points to just 14 was way back up to 26. The Tigers fought on and even led at the last change, but you can’t give a champion team that sort of advantage, and the Cats went on to win by 20 points.
4 – Sydney Swans 22.11 (143) d Hawthorn 15.15 (105), at ANZ Stadium
The moment: While Adam Goodes, Barry Hall and Brett Kirk all contributed at crucial times during the Swans’ upset win at ANZ Stadium, it was a new face that really turned the game. After the Swans had rallied to within eight points in the second term, tall utility Jesse White marked 55m from goal, seconds before half time. He coolly split the middle with his set shot, sending Swans fans into raptures. White went on to dominate the ruck with partner Darren Jolly, producing the standout performance of his fledgling career as the Swans kick-started their season.
5 – Carlton 18.11 (119) d Brisbane Lions (15.10 (100), at Docklands Stadium
The moment: The Blues will be hoping this play happens over and over in the coming years. Matthew Kreuzer, showing no signs of the second-year blues, deftly tapped a boundary throw-in down to a 100 per cent fit Chris Judd. Judd streaked past and sent a scything hand pass to Eddie Betts. Betts, who has always had the ability to make the ridiculously hard look easy, slotted a magnificent goal from tight on the boundary and celebrated with high fives for the crowd.
6 – Essendon 16.13 (109) d Fremantle 10.11 (71), at Docklands Stadium
The moment: It's a sign of the times when a quick break out of defence results in the ball carrier having to stop and wait for his forwards to get in front of him. That's what happened to the Bombers in the second quarter at Docklands on Sunday, but Jason Winderlich capped off the play superbly. Showing his back problems are a thing of the past, Winderlich kicked the ball inside 50 from the wing and ran hard to receive and then give off a hand ball. The ball came back to him as he continued inside 50 and he slotted a great goal off his right boot to ignite the home crowd.
7 – Western Bulldogs 11.14 (80) d North Melbourne 9.11 (65), at the MCG
The moment: Youth, meet experience. Late in the second quarter, second-year midfielder Callan Ward pounced on a ball so close to crossing the boundary line that many players would have abandoned the chase. The young gun put on a burst of pace to escape two Kangaroos and neatly punted the ball to Brad Johnson, jostling with Josh Gibson on the 50m arc. The ball spilled off hands as the players fell, but 32-year-old Johnson was nimblest to react, burning off Gibson and Lachie Hansen to gather at top speed and slot a goal.
8 – West Coast 19.11 (125) v Port Adelaide 10.15 (75), at Subiaco Oval
The moment: Does anyone make footy look easier than Daniel Motlop? The nonchalant Power goalsneak produced two moments of genius at Subiaco Oval on Sunday that were impressive even by his mercurial standards. Forced to choose, we’d take this one: at the end of the first half, the Power forward found himself alone with three Eagles defenders inside attacking 50. His response was to bring the ball to the ground and coolly slot a major that gave his side hope entering the second stanza. Later, in the third term, Motlop turned young Eagles defender Eric Mackenzie around in circles deep in the forward pocket, handballing ahead of himself, re-gathering and kicking a clever check-side goal. The downside? These were just his second and third kicks for the match – but we loved them nonetheless.
The views in this article are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL
