1. Collingwood 17.9 (111) d Western Bulldogs 16.14 (110) at Docklands
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The moment: Alan Didak and Leon Davis are Collingwood’s most exciting players, and combined to breathtaking effect midway through the third term. Didak received the ball in wide open space and, after taking six bounces on his way towards attacking 50, drilled the ball to the Pies’ forward pocket. Neon Leon took a spectacular mark before playing on and finishing in trademark fashion.
2. Essendon 15.17 (107) d Sydney Swans 10.12 (72) at the SCG
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The moment: In a hard-fought dour game of football, you can always rely on a bit of class to set the champions apart. What you can’t always predict is an ex-Canadian rugby player at the heart of things. In the first term, ruckman Mike Pyke tapped beautifully down Adam Goodes’ throat, unleashing the Swans champ for a spectacular running goal from 50m.
3. Carlton 16.13 (109) d Richmond 12.17 (89) at the MCG
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The moment: Nine-goal hero Brendan Fevola delved deep into his bag of tricks on Saturday. Fans thought they had seen his best when he brushed off Will Thursfield and bounced through a superb snap that had him high-fiving the crowd. Then, with a defender hanging off him, Fev threw his boot at the ball in mid-air and watched it sail neatly over his head for yet another stunner.
4. Brisbane Lions 16.12 (108) d Geelong 9.11 (65) at the Gabba
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The moment: With the game in the bag, Lion Cheynee Stiller typified his team’s desperation with a rarely-seen act of courage. Racing Brownlow Medallist Jimmy Bartel to a loose ball rolling towards the Lions’ goal, Stiller ran smack bang into the goalpost at top speed. While Bartel’s right leg also hit the post hard, Stiller learned first-hand just how tough Leigh Matthews was all those years ago.
5. Adelaide 19.16 (130) d Fremantle 1.7 (13) at AAMI Stadium
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The moment: Under siege in the first term, the last thing Freo needed was to start taking pot-shots at their own goal. It’s hard to know if midfielder Byron Schammer was trying to find a loophole in the deliberate rushed behind rule or if he just (badly) miscued a pass to Paul Duffield, but his backwards kick from 40m sailed clean through Adelaide’s goalposts.
6. Hawthorn 10.13 (73) d North Melbourne 9.10 (64) at Aurora Stadium
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The moment: Unconcerned by being reported in the third quarter, Lance Franklin made the fourth his own. A telling mark and goal in the opening minute brought the Tassie crowd to its feet. Then, with the deficit nine points, he single headedly cleared a ruck contest and snapped his third goal, setting the Hawks on course for an important comeback win.
7. Melbourne 15.11 (101) d Port Adelaide 13.12 (90) at the MCG
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The moment: Excitement machine Liam Jurrah had Demon fans on their feet every time he went near the ball, and there was no better demonstration of his talents than his fourth goal. Cale Morton's shot appeared headed wide until Jurrah extended his arms and plucked the ball from the sky. Set on a diabolical angle, the livewire coolly threaded the eye of the needle.
8. St Kilda 13.12 (90) d West Coast 11.4 (70) at Subiaco
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The moment: Brad Ebert has shown promise in his 18 months at West Coast, but he’d want to erase tapes of this second-term gaffe. Collecting the ball on centre wing, the young on-baller managed to fall over his own feet before a comical attempt at a handball failed completely. Not one for most highlight reels ... except for this one.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
