AFL Thriller: Adelaide Ends Nine-Year Magpies Losing Streak

Adelaide is on the verge of winning their first minor premiership since 2017 after coming from behind to get over the line and defeat Collingwood in a thriller.

Played before the biggest crowd ever to attend an AFL game at the Oval – 54,283 – they managed to hang on and finally end a nine-year losing streak to the Magpies.

The triumph was even more remarkable given that they lost the ‘Inside 50’ count by -33; the biggest differential that the visitors have recorded in a losing effort on record.

It makes it 17 wins for the red-hot Crows this season, an equal best return alongside 2005 and 2012, which they can surpass next Saturday. The supporters are up and about in the City of Churches, daring to dream that it is going to be their time.

Geelong look set to lock in ‘home’ final

The only team that can catch them are Geelong, which produced a powerful showing to overcome what looked like a potentially tricky game, up at Sydney, in fine style.

Despite a sluggish opening and playing on a difficult SCG surface, they were able to wrestle back the momentum and went on to kick away in the latter stages.

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Defender Mark O’Connor was given the enormous task of tagging Isaac Heeney and passed the assignment with flying colours by nullifying the Swans superstar.

Current Coleman Medal leader Jeremy Cameron was kept goalless. Still, there were plenty of others around him getting on the scoresheet, including the returning Patrick Dangerfield, who will be a key component as the Cats have another tilt at a flag.

Gunston has a day out kicking seven

Jack Gunston rolled back the years with a vintage outing, scoring an equal career-high seven majors as Hawthorn enjoyed a comfortable victory over Melbourne.

The 33-year-old (pictured below, left) is in arguably the best form of his 16 years in the game – this latest haul taking his season tally to 60 and a call for an All-Australian selection.

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Forward Luke ‘Punky’ Bruest (pictured above, right), who announced earlier in the week that he will be hanging them up at the end of this campaign, also got on the scoresheet to the delight of the Hawks’ fans, who showed their appreciation with a standing ovation.

This latest triumph means that barring an incredible set of results, next week, Sam Mitchell’s exciting outfit has all but qualified to be part of the September action.

Giants stand tall at People First Stadium

Greater Western Sydney looked to have secured their place in the all-important top eight, as they completed an impressive double over fellow contenders Gold Coast.

Faced with a daunting trip up to the People First Stadium, which has been a real fortress for the Suns, the Orange Tsunami showed up with an outstanding work rate.

The decision to move Harry Rowston further up the pitch paid dividends, as the 21-year-old returned a career-high four snags, whilst Finn Callaghan and Tom Green were excellent in dominating the midfield area, which proved to be a key battle.

A rare loss for Damien Hardwick’s side that slips out of the eight, but knowing that it is still in their own hands as they have that game in hand over the rest of their rivals.

Dominant Lions back in top four contention

Brisbane gave everyone a timely reminder of their flag credentials by travelling interstate and handing Fremantle their heaviest defeat in 2025 at Optus Stadium.

Ahead of this match, some in the media had even speculated that the current reigning premiers could miss out altogether if everything conspired against them.

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However, the Lions soon put that idea to bed by flexing their muscles with a dominant effort, which saw them lead for the whole evening and finish strongly.

Not the outcome that the Dockers would have wanted to send off two-time Brownlow Medallist Nat Fyfe, in his last appearance in front of the home faithful, with arguably the club’s best and most successful player set to retire at the end of the season.

Bulldogs move into the all-important eight

The Western Bulldogs moved into one of the finals spots, at just the right time, as they hammered bottom side West Coast in a percentage-boosting 94-point mauling.

Premiers in 2016, they now go into the last round of the home-and-away season with the knowledge that success will guarantee them a place at the pointy end.

In a one-sided affair, which was effectively over as a contest by half-time, it was just a question of how much they would win by, such was their dominance.

Doggies coach Luke Beveridge handed a long-awaited debut to midfielder Jordan Croft (pictured below), drafted under the father-son rule in 2023 (his dad Matthew played 186 games for the club between 1991 and 2004), with all his family and friends in attendance.

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Saints get up in another close one

St.Kilda certainly know how to test their supporters’ nerves before managing to come out on top and defeat an undermanned but plucky Essendon in an exciting finale.

It is their fourth consecutive victory, and in all of them, the margin has been by single digits, which does bode well for the future that they can get up in these close ones.

Their hearts were firmly in mouths as it could have turned out differently, though, in a fast and frenetic finish – Bombers defender Mason Redman having the last scoring shot, with just four seconds remaining, but his effort only went through for a behind.

Such is the injury crisis that the Dons have endured during 2025, they were forced to name a 15th debutant, a club record, with Rhys Unwin, given the nickname ‘Onion’, being handed a chance and called up to the side after catching the eye in the VFL.

Harry in seventh heaven

Carlton forward Harry McKay enjoyed an afternoon out, by helping himself to a career-high seven snags, as his side demolished an out-of-form Port Adelaide.

The 27-year-old (pictured below), who recently hit out at speculation that he could be seeking a trade in the summer, was unstoppable and too hot to handle for the Power defence.

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It gave incoming Blues’ new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Graham Wright, who finalised his handover from the outgoing Brian Cook on Friday, something to cheer.

The 57-year-old, regarded as one of the best administrators in the sport, is expected to make quite an impact in the off-season on the back of what has been a challenging and disappointing campaign for everyone concerned at Ikon Park.

Sheezel equals AFL records with stunning display

Harry Sheezel equalled the most disposals for a game in AFL history, racking up an amazing 54, as North Melbourne defeated fellow cellar dwellers Richmond in Tassie.

In a day that he will long remember, the midfielder also amassed 44 possessions to equal the club record jointly held by Brent Harvey, Phil Kelly and Ryan Bastinac.

Speaking post-match to Fox Footy on his exploits, the 2023 Rising Star winner was very humble in his assessment of the achievement, saying, “That’s crazy. I’m not (just) saying it, but it just came to me because of the work of my teammates.”

“The ball just fell in my lap. It was just one of those days where it clicked.”