The moment: His team did little to excite fans, but Hawthorn’s boy wonder provided one of the highlights of the season on Friday night. Cyril Rioli tackled, dispossessed, took possession, did the old one-two and then drilled a beauty to again show why he’s going to be a star of the AFL for a long time.
2. Geelong 17.14 (116) d Sydney Swans 10.5 (65) at Skilled Stadium
The moment: From an otherwise grim day at Corio, travelling Swans fans will take one fine memory. Michael O'Loughlin’s opener from the goal square capped a terrific move, featuring Barry Hall, Jarred Moore, Brett Meredith and gutsy rebounding from Marty Mattner. It was his 500th AFL goal, but a false dawn for the visitors.
3. Brisbane Lions 15.7 (97) d Richmond 10.11 (71) at the MCG
The moment: Cometh the hour, the skipper delivers. Four minutes into the last term, Richmond was within two points when Jonathan Brown gathered the ball near the wing. He set off like a hare around the southern boundary, took a bounce, ran inside 50 and nailed a shot five metres from the front row of seats. Four more goals in eight minutes effectively buried the Tigers.
4. North Melbourne 20.5 (125) d Port Adelaide 18.12 (120) at Docklands
The moment: With 23 seconds remaining in a heart-stopping finale, Andrew Swallow ushered the ball towards the boundary line on Port Adelaide's half-forward line. With the Power behind by five points, players bellowed for a deliberate out of bounds, but their pleas fell on deaf ears. The siren sounded with the ball locked in a pack, handing North Melbourne a classic win.
5. Fremantle 13.10 (88) d Carlton 11.15 (81) at Gold Coast Stadium
The moment: Goals to Brendan Fevola and Aaron Joseph whittled Fremantle’s lead back to nine points in the final quarter. Three minutes from time, Jordan Russell lined up from just inside the 50 to bring the margin back to three points. The kick was high, long and straight ... and touched off the boot. With the umpire’s decision went Carlton’s last real chance.
6. Western Bulldogs 17.16 (118) d Adelaide 12.14 (86) at AAMI Stadium
The moment: Sunday’s scoreboard credited Simon Goodwin with the opening goal, but sadly unheralded was the goal umpire’s courage under fire. The man in green was bowled over as Bulldog Brian Lake attempted to get a fingertip on the ball. You wouldn’t blame anyone for staying down after a collision with a 104kg full-back, but the umpy bounced straight back up and went on with the job of signalling the goal.
7. West Coast 12.18 (90) d Melbourne 13.14 (82) at Subiaco
The moment: Finishing short despite admirable effort has been a recurring theme for Melbourne this past month, so spare a thought for Matthew Bate, who summed up the Demons' season so far on Sunday. His snap around the body found its way to an empty goal square, only to stand end-on-end on the line and bounce back into play for the Eagle defence to clean up.
8. St Kilda 20.8 (128) d Collingwood 5.10 (40) at Docklands
The moment: Andrew McQualter celebrated a superb goal in the third quarter by crossing his forearms to form an X. It was a puzzling gesture to be sure. What message was he trying to convey? I’m X-cited? I’ve got X-factor? That goal was X-tremely good? Regardless of the true meaning of his celebration there’s no doubt Saints fans were X-static with their team after the 88-point drubbing.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
