THEY SAID IT: "It doesn't take much, if you drop off in that area, for you to look second-rate - and we looked third-rate today." - Essendon coach Brad Scott lamented a serious lack of effort and intent from his players after a horror 53-point loss to St Kilda dented their finals hopes.
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PLAYER OF THE ROUND: Dayne Zorko won his second Marcus Ashcroft Medal of the season as best-on-ground in Brisbane's win over Gold Coast, but it was Lions skipper Lachie Neale who ran the show. Neale racked up 35 disposals and 10 clearances and added a late goal in another dominant display by the dual Brownlow medallist.
THE MOMENT: In a clanger that will be replayed for years, GWS young gun Harvey Thomas blew a certain six-pointer when, from less than 10 metres out, he booted the ball straight into teammate Jesse Hogan standing on the goal-line. The teammates, and Giants coach Adam Kingsley, were able to laugh it off after completing a thrilling two-point win against Melbourne.
TALKING POINT: Carlton were reprimanded by the AFL for failing to immediately remove Harry McKay from play after he suffered a head knock against North Melbourne. McKay passed concussion tests and was named to face Port Adelaide - but was a late withdrawal from Friday's game through illness. After the game, coach Michael Voss insisted McKay was just "crook". But the AFL on Saturday confirmed they would make enquiries with Carlton to check how McKay was managed.
STAT THAT MATTERS I: North Melbourne's second-year star Harry Sheezel became the first teenager to record at least 25 contested possessions in an AFL game in the Kangaroos' 40-point defeat to finals-bound Geelong in Hobart.
STAT THAT MATTERS II: Not only did Caleb Serong win a third Glendinning-Allan medal for his 32-disposal, 10-clearance effort against West Coast, but it marked the 70th consecutive AFL game that Fremantle's midfield star has had at least 20 touches. The feat equals the record set by Western Bulldogs midfielder Jack Macrae, and Serong has the chance to beat it in next week's important clash with Essendon at the MCG.
TRIBUNAL WATCH: Fremantle veteran Nat Fyfe and West Coast pair Jack Petruccelle and Jack Hutchinson each received one-match bans. Fourteen players between West Coast and Fremantle were fined for their involvement in a melee. Talented Sun Bodhi Uwland received a one-match ban for a dangerous tackle on Brisbane's Lachie Neale. Rising Star favourite George Wardlaw was fined for tripping - but remains eligible for the award. Adelaide's Max Michalanney could attract scrutiny for a scuffle in which he appeared to shove Hawk Nick Watson's head into the ground several times.
KEY INJURIES: D Cunningham (Carl, shoulder), J Ridley (Ess, hip), S Darcy (Frem, shoulder), Z Trew (WC, neck), H Edwards (WC, ankle), T Taranto (Rich, back).
WHAT'S NEXT: Finals hopefuls the Bulldogs and Melbourne face off in the first of two Friday night games, the second pitting West Coast against the visiting Suns. Cellar dwellers North Melbourne and Richmond play on Saturday in a game that could decide the wooden spoon. Collingwood and Carlton could attract up to 90,000 fans for their MCG clash on Saturday night and Port Adelaide's home game against ladder leaders Sydney shapes as a beauty. The GWS-Hawthorn and Essendon-Fremantle clashes on Sunday could have huge finals ramifications before St Kilda host red-hot Brisbane.
Australian Associated Press
