In a round filled with early almost comebacks, some big beltings, and yet another draw, it’s chaos each week!
When we think we know it all, we don’t!
While we’d all love a hindsight bet, we can always take in a few learnings heading into Round 10 of the AFL.
1. Best of the Blues
You can never write off a close finish between these two sides, who seem relentless in letting one or the other do it comfortably.
It was a Carlton performance full of similarities to their GWS victory a few weeks back, packed with pressure and commitment around the contest, along with some elite defence work.
The 36-0 start was ultimately the game, and even with a valiant Melbourne comeback at the end, the damage was done early.
It was the defensive application from the likes of Jacob Weitering and Alex Cincotta that forced Christian Petracca to try his luck up forward, and what an unbelievable performance he put up.
Five goals from the start midfielder, rallying his team back from the dead, but on the other end, it was captain Patty Cripps who had a huge game-saving tackle late on Petracca himself.
There was late controversy, as Jacob Van Rooyen was pinged for a dangerous tackle on Brodie Kemp, which stopped a certain Melbourne goal.
Whilst the tackle probably wasn’t dangerous, the Dees got away with one late in the third, as McGovern wasn’t paid a mark he probably should have been paid, which led to a late Melbourne goal to get the margin back to 22 points.
A game of swings and roundabouts, but another classic installment of Carlton v Melbourne is in the books.
2. 6102 Days
2007 off a Dom Cassisi late winner, the Power got up at the Cattery by five points and 17 years later, the Power once again got up at the Cattery by six points in a massive win for the club.
The Power raised the bat at quarter time, blowing out the Cats and kicking 50 points from seamlessly transitioned inside 50 entries.
After their showdown woes of bombing long and inaccurate kicking, the Power were a lot more poised, lowering the eyes and making a conservative effort to open the forward line up.
A missed set shot by Charlie Dixon got the margin out to 49 points midway through the second quarter, but it almost felt like the Power went too early.
The Cats stormed back off the help of some impactful performances from their youth in Zach Guthrie and Max Holmes.
Poor discipline from Willie Rioli opened the door for the Cats late in the third, conceding a 100m penalty, putting the Cats within three goals at the last change.
Port Adelaide’s inability to win big games was on the edge yet again, but it was a gutsy win in extremely tough terrain, a big four points.
3. See the Bombers fly up!
Everyone had their doubts about Essendon, whether they had top-eight credentials and a lot of us have woken up to it now.
That was a massive win for the Bombers in the context of their season.
It started slow, lacking any real rhythm with forward transition, and the Giants were outmuscling inside 50, but it only got better after the first quarter.
The energy from Matt Guelfi and Kyle Langford was constant from the second quarter onwards, and wherever the open space was, those two were there.
Essendon’s pressure inside 50 was above average for the season, and their general setup in transition was causing the Giants issues on the outside.
They made the Giants work harder, and it showed with 23 fewer uncontested possessions and seven more turnovers.
The Giants should be on high alert right now, they’re not typically a poor travelling team, but against the big Melbourne clubs, they do struggle away from home.
It’s a pretty cruisy draw for the Bombers with the Roos and Tigers to come, and whilst they’re probably still not in the top four category, they’ve set themselves up early to feature in September.
4. The Saints went south to play in Tassie, and so did their season.
The Saints went down to the Hawks by five points in sunny Launceston on Saturday afternoon, almost putting the nail in the coffin of their season.
I’m not sure what’s more concerning. The Saints only managing to score 53 points, or the Hawks winning with 58 points.
Either way, it’s an issue the Saints have faced all year, and ultimately it’s a lack of class.
They were outdone in disposal efficiency by the Hawks who have a lot more margin for error with younger and inexperienced talent.
Their inability to generate drive through the corridor was an issue, forcing it out wide into contested scraps.
Some of the forward defensive efforts were extremely poor and execution let them down in front of goal, especially in the third quarter.
You’d argue that most of their output is coming from the younger players like Darcy Wilson, Mitch Owens, and Marcus Windhager, which is good for the long run but not right now.
Fremantle at Marvel and Melbourne at the MCG to come, there really is no margin for error or it’s season over.
5. The Early Elimination Final Draw!
Four quarters of enthralling footy and it ended just as it started, another draw in 2024.
The only losers out of this game were Collingwood and Essendon, who now need to make a conscious effort to watch their percentage.
The Lions were damaging at ground level early inside 50, capitalising off the likes of Charlie Cameron, and Callum Ah-Chee.
The Crows started to impact with their fast transition game later in the second quarter and lowered their eyes well inside 50.
This contest just continued to lift in intensity in the second half, with Taylor Walker and Ben Keays standing up with huge moments for the Crows, as well as Joe Daniher for the Lions.
Callum Ah-Chee turned it on in the fourth with two huge goals, and the Lions were one Sharp point away from winning before the Crows levelled through Jordan Dawson.
A draw doesn’t suit either team.
Both are still a game and a half out of the eight and with the Lions injury woes and the Crows struggles away from Adelaide, a lot still needs to go right for both teams.
The Crows head to the MCG to face the Pies next week, which isn’t promising, whilst the Lions have an easier task at hand with the Tigers at the Gabba.