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The moment: Brendan Fevola’s length-of-the-field dash to stop Andrew Mackie taking a running shot at goal typified the Blues’ intensity on Friday night. Mackie looked certain to score when Fev appeared from nowhere, dragged him down and won the free kick for Carlton. It proved to be a telling moment because the Cats had come out firing after half time and were threatening.
2. West Coast 16.6 (102) d Western Bulldogs 13.19 (97) at Docklands
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The moment: This wasn't a match Dogs fans will want to remember, and the same could be said for their cheer squad. The Bullies ran out to be greeted by a banner reading: "Dogs will take the flight/out of the Eagles tonight". Which would have been fine and inspirational ... if the game hadn't started at 2.10 in the afternoon.
3. St Kilda 10.14 (74) d Hawthorn 7.7 (49) at Aurora Stadium
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The moment: Early in the final quarter the Hawks were throwing everything forward. With the ball bouncing harmlessly through the centre square and no Saint forward of halfway, Thomas Murphy just had to collect and clear, but instead fell flat on his backside. Justin Koschitzke swooped and set up Stephen Milne for a genuine stroll into goal. Game over for the Hawks - and probably season, too.
4. Essendon 13.9 (87) drew with Brisbane Lions 12.15 (87) at the MCG
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The moment: Having battled with Essendon great Dustin Fletcher all night, Daniel Bradshaw only opened his account at the five-minute mark of the final term. But when Jonathan Brown got boot to ball in the dying stages, Bradshaw bobbed up to take a tumbling mark in the goals quare. The after-the-siren goal all but sealed his side's September prospects and virtually ended the Bombers'.
5. Collingwood 13.11 (89) d Adelaide 9.14 (68) at AAMI Stadium
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The moment: In a game thin on inspiring moments, Jason Porplyzia got the Crows crowd on their feet with a smother on Heath Shaw before winning the ball, running 20 metres and kicking a fantastic goal. It should have given Adelaide the spark it needed. Instead, it prompted a four-goal streak from Collingwood and set up another interstate win for the Pies.
6. North Melbourne 19.9 (123) d Melbourne 8.13 (61) at Docklands
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The moment: For a gaffe to sum up Melbourne’s day (and season for that matter), look no further than Jake Spencer’s attempt at his first AFL goal. The big ruckman was a study in concentration as he leaned over his set shot from 50, but dropped the ball halfway through his kicking motion, much to his embarrassment and the crowd’s delight.
7. Sydney Swans 18.15 (123) d Richmond 10.8 (68) at the MCG
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The moment: It took two and a half quarters, but Michael O'Loughlin finally got to celebrate his 300th game with a goal. Outmuscling Kelvin Moore, he marked within scoring range and retreated to line up the shot. But when he noticed Moore dozing, he danced around and drilled it from 40m out. Every Swan on the field joined in the celebrations.
8. Fremantle 17.14 (116) d Port Adelaide 11.8 (74) at Subiaco
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The moment: Antoni Grover doesn't get a chance to kick many goals for Fremantle; he's managed just 22 of them in a 163-game career since 1999. But the regular backman has been used up forward in recent weeks, and booted his fourth goal in the last month with a classy snap as part of an early six-goal purple patch for the Purple Haze.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
