The Lions will make a rare Sunday afternoon excursion onto the Gabba this week against the Blues and the dominant weekend display put in by Swans ruckman Peter Everitt is unlikely to have gone unnoticed.
Opposed chiefly to inexperienced Irishman Setanta O’hAilpin, Everitt compiled 14 possessions, 30 hitouts and 4.1 in his best all-round outing since joining Sydney from Hawthorn.
The Swans were far too strong in the end and had eight multiple goal-kickers in their score of 25.12, but Carlton was competitive for most of the match, registering the first four majors and giving its hosts a run for their money until mid-way through the third quarter.
In other results, St Kilda kept its slim finals hopes alive and put Adelaide back on the precipice, with a thrilling two-point win over the Crows at Docklands.
Geelong made it 10 wins in a row for the first time since 1966 with a 16-point win over Collingwood in a high-quality encounter at the MCG and Essendon dropped out of the top eight courtesy of a 33-point defeat at the hands of the Western Bulldogs.
The story of the round, meanwhile, probably belongs to a Port Adelaide outfit which thumped West Coast by 91 points, racking up 43 scoring shots to the reigning premier’s 17.
The Kangaroos virtually assured themselves of a finals spot and all but ended Fremantle’s chance of playing on into September with a four-point win at Subiaco, while Hawthorn had far too much firepower for Richmond, running out 53-point winners.
Port Adelaide’s Chad Cornes put his hand up for performance of the week with a 31-possession, four-goal effort against West Coast, with Nick Riewoldt also in contention after 18 marks and a pair of goals against Adelaide.
St Kilda 11.16 (82) d Adelaide 12.8 (80)
Aided by a brilliant display by Nick Riewoldt at centre half-forward, the Saints overcame a slow start to breathe life back into their September dreams. The Crows led by the best part of three goals at the first change but were outplayed and outworked thereafter.
Geelong 11.14 (80) d Collingwood 9.10 (64)
It’s no longer looking like a matter of whether Geelong will finish atop the table; rather, it now appears to be a case of by how far. The Cats have won 10 in a row and are still two games clear of their nearest challengers. The Magpies were brave but Geelong’s ability to tough it out in front of more than 85,000 fans is the strongest sign yet that Mark Thompson’s side is the real deal.
Port Adelaide 22.21 (153) d West Coast 9.8 (62)
West Coast’s freefall continued when it was thumped by Port Adelaide by 91 points. Chad Cornes was in vintage form for the Power and was one of three Port Adelaide players to kick four goals. The Eagles, meanwhile, have now lost four of their last five games and of even more concern is Chris Judd’s groin injury, which saw the skipper sit out most of the last term.
Western Bulldogs 20.11 (131) d Essendon 14.14 (98)
Ex-Lion Jason Akermanis is growing into life as a Bulldog, named among his new club’s best players in a 33-point victory over Essendon. The Bombers were looking to celebrate Kevin Sheedy’s record-breaking 879th involvement in a senior match, but ran into an Akermanis and Adam Cooney-inspired Bulldogs side that was clearly superior after quarter-time.
Sydney 25.12 (162) d Carlton 15.10 (100)
Peter Everitt played his best game as a Sydney-sider and Barry Hall kicked four goals in a welcome return to form as the Swans snuck back inside the top-eight. Sydney had eight multiple goalkickers and too many scoring options for the Blues, who were largely competitive but exposed for lack of quality big men.
Hawthorn 19.15 (129) d Richmond 11.10 (76)
Jarryd Roughead kicked five goals and Lance Franklin four in Hawthorn’s 10th win of the year – a match that followed an all too predictable pattern for Richmond fans. The Tigers were competitive up to half-time but fell away thereafter in the face of the type of industrious and hard-running play that is rapidly becoming a Hawks trademark.
Kangaroos 12.10 (82) d Fremantle 11.12 (78)
Scott Thornton’s missed 40m set shot with only a minute remaining allowed the Roos to hang on for a victory that all but ends Fremantle’s hopes of participating in the finals. With Brent Harvey and Adam Simpson prominent, the Roos led for most of the afternoon, before the Dockers hit the front in the last quarter. A Glenn Archer goal following a free kick and Thornton’s miss gave Dean Laidley’s side the points in a thrilling finish.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
