The moment: Some of the Power’s more embarrassing blunders on Friday night had little to do with the visitors’ relentless pressure. Defender Troy Chaplin left Saints’ skipper Nick Riewoldt alone in the goal square to try and clear a high ball. Instead, Chaplin collided with teammate Josh Carr and the ball trickled over the back, gifting the waiting Riewoldt the opening goal of the second term. It summed up Port Adelaide’s night.
2 – Essendon 13.15 (93) d Collingwood 12.16 (88) at the MCG
The moment: Cometh the hour, cometh the … boy. Nineteen-year-old Bomber David Zaharakis lived out every Auskicker’s dream with his last-gasp winner in the Anzac Day clash. He couldn’t have scripted it better if he was commentating on his own play in the backyard: “Zaharakis marks, plays on quickly, throws it on the right boot and splits the middle from 40 out as the crowd goes wild!”
3 – Hawthorn 11.8 (74) d West Coast 7.14 (56) at Aurora Stadium
The moment: It was something you'd be more likely to see at Wembley than Aurora Stadium. In the second term, Eagle Mark LeCras did his best Ryan Giggs impersonation, skidding a magnificent curling cross into the teeth of goal for teammate Ben McKinley to nonchalantly tap in. Shame the Eagles could not find more orthodox avenues to goal -- McKinley's soccer was their only major for the quarter.
4 – Fremantle 18.13 (121) d Sydney Swans 16.4 (100) at Subiaco
The moment: No play better illustrated Fremantle's exciting, direct approach than David Mundy's third goal. Unable to control a long clearance, Roger Hayden managed to knock the ball over his head for Mundy, who goaled spectacularly on the run from outside 50m. It put Freo six goals clear, deep into the third term.
5 - Richmond 13.16 (94) d North Melbourne 7.16 (58) at Docklands
The moment: Having trailed by 27 points at the last change, North had spent most of the final term in attack, but couldn’t buy a goal. Then the perfect opportunity arrived – plenty of Roos, no Tigers in sight. But such was North’s night, four players was too many, and in an effort to unselfishly share it around, they somehow managed only a behind.
6 – Geelong 18.18 (126) d Brisbane Lions 5.3 (33) at Skilled Stadium
The moment: Gary Ablett's 39th possession against the Lions brought the loudest cheer of the day. The game was dead and buried midway through the final term, but Ablett gave the shivering home fans something to roar about as he defied angle, breeze and elements to slot a majestic goal. For the little genius, the impossible is fast becoming a weekly occurrence.
7 – Carlton 21.7 (133) d Western Bulldogs 13.12 (90) at Docklands
The moment: Setanta O’hAilpin’s excellent double effort to soccer through a goal from close range came at an important time – just before the long break. But the goal will be remembered more for the big Irishman’s celebration. O’hAilpin went straight to Cameron Cloke – his opposite in that well-publicised pre-season stoush – and shared a big hug. An upset win and a heartwarming reunion: two treats in one day for Blues fans.
8 – Adelaide 7.9 (51) d Melbourne 4.10 (34) at the MCG
The moment: Goalless for an entire half, the Dees finally looked like ending their drought early in the third quarter. But Matthew Bate chose to let James Frawley’s snap bounce in the square, then watched in horror as the ball broke at right angles for a behind. Adelaide’s response was predictable and swift, with Andrew McLeod defying the wintry conditions to take three bounces and sink a long goal just 40 seconds later.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
