Gold Coast's Record-Breaking Victory Sparks Finals Hopes

Gold Coast put the rest of the competition on notice after securing their biggest ever victory over reigning Premiers and Queensland arch rivals Brisbane in QClash 29.

Following a fairly even first quarter, they seized control, went on to really dominate, increasing their advantage at every change and enroute to a 66-point margin.

It moves them on to twelve successes for the season, which is a Suns record, as they chase a first ever finals appearance and to be part of the September action.

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Midfielder Matt Rowell (pictured above), who signed a two-year contract extension with the club last month, picked up the Marcus Ashcroft Medal with a monster performance that included 23 contested possessions, 14 clearances and 10 score involvements.

A dirty afternoon for the Lions with coach Chris Fagan conceding in his presser that “We had a game to forget. We haven’t played as poorly as that in a long, long time.”

Daicos dazzles for Magpies

That result allowed Collingwood to extend their lead at the top, a step closer to the minor premiership, after they got the chocolates by beating a spirited Richmond.

Despite the cold and wet conditions, a crowd of nearly 60,000 were at the MCG which Brownlow Medal contender Nick Daicos lit up with a superb display.

The Magpies, who welcomed back the trio of Tim Membrey, Tom Mitchell and Dan Houston, might have led at every change but certainly did have it all their own way.

Although he finished on the losing side, Tigers defender Nick Vlastuin (pictured below) accrued a career-high 17 intercept possessions today – the most by any player this season.

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Showdown LVIII

Adelaide moved up to second on the ladder by handing adversaries Port their heaviest ever Showdown defeat, played in heavy rain, at the City of Churches.

They were simply unstoppable, superior in all facets of the contest, winning nearly every single statistic, as they secured their fifth straight triumph since the bye.

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Riley Thilthorpe (pictured above), one of twelve different goalkickers for the Crows, picked up the first Showdown medal of his career, having been voted best on ground by the panel.

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Certainly not the evening Power coach Ken Hinkley would have hoped or wanted, in his last South Australian clash, as he steps down from his role at the end of the year.

Battle of the Bridge XXXI

Greater Western Sydney pulled off an amazing second half fightback by running right over the top of Sydney in ‘Battle of the Bridge XXXI’ at a packed Engie Stadium.

Whatever coach Adam Kingsley said during the main interval will remain inside the four walls but it certainly did the trick as they looked a completely different team.

The Orange Tsunami simply overwhelming a startled Swans, with a run of nine goals in a row, to turn a 35-point deficit into a 44-point advantage come the final siren.

Finn Callaghan (pictured below) showcased why he is gaining so many admirers, with another best on ground display, as the 22-year-old earnt the first Brett Kirk Medal of his career.

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Western Derby 61

Michael Frederick racked up the best numbers of his career infront of the big sticks as Fremantle completed the doubled over West Coast in a fiery Western Derby 61.

They accumulated 36 scoring shots in the match, equal-most in the past ten years, whilst their ability to score from stoppage was their highest on record since 2020.

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Hayden Young (pictured above) picked up the Glendinning-Allan Medal for a strong display – 23 disposals, seven clearance, four marks, three goals and 559 metres gained.

Completing a dirty day for Eagles fans was the sight of their star man Harley Reid forced off with an ankle injury, towards the end, after receiving a crunching tackle.

Cameron kicks a career-high eleven

Jeremy Cameron enjoyed a big night out, registering a career-high eleven goal haul, as Geelong put a woeful North Melbourne outfit to the sword in a 101-point mauling.

He becomes just the third player in AFL history to complete the feat at Marvel Stadium, only one short of the all-time record of twelve which was set by Mark Lecras in 2010, and puts himself firmly in pole position for a second Coleman Medal.

In a truly one-sided encounter, this latest triumph by the Cats made it 13 straight over the Kangaroos to extend the longest active streak over an opposition team.

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There were no positives at all for Alistair Clarkson and his side that look set to be firmly in the media spotlight as to just where they are at after hitting this season low.

Sam Docherty retires

Hawthorn kept up their pursuit of finishing in that all-important eight as an electric start laid the foundation for them to go on and lead all evening against Carlton.

Midfielder Will Day returned to the line-up, after a four month absence with a stress fracture in the navicular bone of his right foot, and didn’t miss a beat with a big game whilst Mitch Lewis (pictured below) snagged his first majors since coming back from a long lay-off.

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The Hawks had to play pantomime villains in this fixture, doing a very professional job, which was all about the Blues’ Sam Docherty making his last AFL appearance.

Earlier in the week, the 31-year-old made the decision to hang them up and bring to an end a 13-year career in which he played 184 times and scored 31 goals.

He is seen as a real inspiration by his peers and the footy world having had to overcome two bouts of testicular cancer as well as undergo three knee reconstructions – the All-Australian was chaired off oval to a standing ovation.

Saints pull off historical comeback

St.Kilda pulled off the biggest ever fourth quarter comeback in AFL history by coming from the clouds to stun Melbourne in a finish that had to be seen to be believed.

Trailing by 46 points at the final change, they somehow managed to get some momentum and find a way with Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera providing the heroics.

Firstly, with just under a minute remaining, he took a flying pack mark before going back to slot through a goal, levelling the scores and setting up a remarkable finale.

A rattled Demons then shot themselves in the foot, by conceding an unnecessary 6-6-6 rule free-kick, which the hosts took full advantage of as Rowan Marshall picked out an unmarked NWM who, cool as you like, nailed the winner after the siren.

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The 22-year-old almost never played, due to a stye that was causing him a lot of pain, but declared himself fit, on the morning, and has now become a Saints legend.

Bulldogs thrash injury-hit Bombers

Aaron Naughton (pictured below) booted a career-high seven majors as the Western Bulldogs kicked their biggest score of the year and showed an injury-hit Essendon no mercy at all.

Whilst they sit outside the eight, this was a huge boost to their percentage which is what it may well come down to in the end given the ladder is looking so tight.

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They are the highest scorers in the league to date and it was the eleventh time this campaign that they have put up over a ton on the scoreboard such is their prowess.

It completes a good week for the Doggies with them managing to tie down skipper Marcus Bontempelli, recently named the second greatest of all time in the club’s centenary celebrations, to a new four-year contract and commit through to 2029.