Updated: May 9, 2021 6:07 pm
Jeremy Cameron kicked a bag as Geelong put on a masterclass, avenging last season’s Grand Final loss in the process, as they mauled the Tigers at the MCG.
Cats’ coach Chris Scott lauding his players in the presser; he said “I was really pleased with the way we stood up to them. The highlight of the game was that third quarter with our contest work and some 50/50 balls where our guys were just super.”
“I thought we have played well the last three weeks. We have some players in our team, without individualising, who we rate really highly and nowhere near their potential. Games like this help them believe in themselves and boost confidence.”
In the big Showdown 49 clash, Port Adelaide supporters left with the bragging rights over their arch-rivals Adelaide following a convincing 49-point success at the Oval.
The returning Travis Boak (28 disposals, six clearances and three tackles) picked up his third derby medal (eight votes from four judges) for his best on ground display.
In a scene likely to be talked about in the news this week, the Power switched into its prison bars jumpers, with the blessing of President David Koch, to sing the song. The club launched a #BringBackTheBars campaign, to allow them to wear the guernsey for matches, but it has so far been met with resistance from the AFL.
Melbourne remains the outright leaders on the ladder, making it eight-zip, but only after overcoming a stern test from a Sydney outfit that pushed them all the way.
The new forward pairing of Tom McDonald and Ben Brown shone as they scored seven goals between them, whilst there were also key contributions from Clayton Oliver (35 disposals, 10 clearances) and James Jordon (a career-high 23 disposals).
It completes another good week for the Demons who have signed their superstar midfielder Christian Petracca to a seven-year contract extension, believed to be in the region of $6.5million, which will see him remain at the club until the end of 2029.
Marcus Bontempelli played a real captain’s performance as he led the Western Bulldogs to victory and overcome the resistance of Carlton in an enthralling contest.
Making his debut for the Doggies and a real feel-good story was Buku Khamis. Born in South Sudan, he came to Australia in 2006 via a refugee camp in Kenya and has overcome many hurdles and challenges on his journey to play senior AFL football.
Speaking post-match to Bulldogs TV, the 21-year-old said “It was unreal, an amazing feeling and something that I will never forget to run out there in the red, white and blue for the first time. It was great and I tried to soak it up as much as I could.”
He continued “I felt pretty comfortable out there; the first contest and disposal really helped me settle and from there I just played my game. We were behind for most of it, but to come back the way we did, in the last quarter, and get the win was great.”
At Marvel Stadium, for only the third time in AFL history, a coach went up against his son as David Noble’s North Melbourne took on 24-year-old John’s Collingwood.
Not since 1989 had it happened when, on that occasion, Bob Rose (Collingwood) took on his lad Robert (Footscray). A midweek chat was the extent of pre-game contact between the two of them heading into this bottom of the ladder clash.
It was the Magpies that come out on top with forward Jordan de Goey responding to recent criticism, in the perfect way, by grabbing a six-goal haul in an 18-point win.
GWS coach Liam Cameron admitted that he was “pleased to get over the line in a really close one” after watching his players hang on for a nervy two-point victory.
They looked well set at three-quarter time but Essendon came back really strong, in the fourth, and with momentum fully behind them looked like they might pinch it.
It made for a thrilling finale and it was only when midfielder Jacob Hopper scored, with 25 seconds remaining, that they could finally breathe a huge sigh of relief.
Forward Brendon Ah Chee made the most of his re-call to an injury-hit West Coast by kicking a career-high four majors and helping the club break their travel hoodoo.
Formidable at home, it has been a much different story for the Eagles on the road but they had far too much for Hawthorn and put them away in convincing fashion.
Up in Queensland, St.Kilda produced a storming final term, kicking the final four goals, as they came from behind to defeat Gold Coast in a fiery and niggly affair.
Tempers boiled over, on the half-time siren, with a full-on 44 player melee that took a few minutes to be broken up and something that will attract the attention of the MRP.
Brandon Ellis (200th game) and Sean Lemmens (100th) both made milestone appearances for the Suns who will be frustrated at the way the game slipped away.
Closing out the round and a fixture that had to be switched venues due to the current lockdown restrictions in WA saw Brisbane secure a 24-point triumph over Fremantle.
Lions coach Chris Fagan said “It was an important game for both sides coming in at four-and-three. They turned up to play but I thought we managed to control the game from the start. Perhaps the only thing is that we could have seen it out better.”
On their current form, he continued “We’ve recovered well from our start and the fact that we have won our last four is a real credit to the group and their professionalism.”
Round 8 Results
Richmond 9.9 (63)
Geelong 19.12 (126)
Gold Coast 7.12 (54)
St.Kilda 8.15 (63)
GWS 16.11 (107)
Essendon 16.9 (105)
North Melbourne 11.10 (76)
Collingwood 14.10 (94)
Melbourne 10.7 (67)
Sydney 8.10 (58)
Port Adelaide 12.15 (87)
Adelaide 5.8 (38)
Hawthorn 8.12 (60)
West Coast 14.14 (98)
Western Bulldogs 16.11 (107)
Carlton 13.13 (91)
Brisbane 14.11 (95)
Fremantle 10.11 (71)
Related links
- Stay up to date with all the latest news via the afl.com.au website.
- AFL Exchange Podcast
- AFL Daily Podcast
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- AFL 2021 Round 3: Ten-goal Bruce, Bailey brilliance, Cats edge Hawks
- AFL 2021 Round 2: ‘Buddy’ returns, Cats win thriller, Spud’s game
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