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The moment: The Cats had conceded two consecutive goals when Geelong ruckman Mark Blake won a free kick at half-forward. After a few moments' hesitation, Blake went for a loopy handball into the corridor. The Dogs made the turnover and got it forward to an unmarked Josh Hill, whose goal ended the contest.
2. Carlton 24.9 (153) d Melbourne 15.6 (96) at Docklands
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The moment: On another ordinary day for Melbourne, Neville Jetta – pick 51 in last year’s NAB AFL Draft – showed great composure, skills, smarts and work-ethic. Jetta cleaned up a poorly-delivered kick into the forward line with a superb little soccer kick to his team’s advantage at the top of the 50, then got to the square in time to mark and goal.
3. Adelaide 18.14 (122) d West Coast 7.6 (48) at AAMI Stadium
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The moment: Every week West Coast teenager Nic Naitanui gives footy fans something to be excited about and Saturday’s game was no exception. The freakishly athletic Fijian used all his 201cm to pluck a Crows’ kick-in midway through the third quarter. Unfortunately, Naitanui found the distance between his hand and foot too great and was unable to conjure an equally magical goal.
4. Brisbane Lions 16.11 (107) d Port Adelaide 14.8 (92) at the Gabba
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The moment: Midway through the third term, Daniel Rich took the ball from the centre circle, ran a few paces and dropped the sherrin onto his booming left foot. From 70m the ball sailed over two forwards and two defenders, bouncing at the top of the square and rolling through to bring the Lions within 11 points.
5. Hawthorn 20.15 (135) d Richmond 14.9 (93) at the MCG
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The moment: He didn't have a busy comeback match, but Graham Polak showed great courage to put his head over the ball and banish any psychological demons lingering from the tram accident that nearly ended his career. In the second quarter he burrowed into a pack and emerged to shoot out a handball that ended in a Mitch Morton goal.
6. North Melbourne 10.4 (64) d St Kilda 8.11 (59) at Docklands
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The moment: The Saints had the run at half-back and looked set for another forward thrust when the ball hit St Kilda runner Tony Walsh. The umpire paid the free to North Melbourne, resulting in a goal to Andrew Swallow and a 13-point Roo lead. Walsh, who normally relays the coach’s sprays, got on the phone to receive a bake of his own.
7. Collingwood 13.19 (97) d Sydney Swans 8.8 (56) at the MCG
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The moment: Jarred Moore is one tough Swan. With the loose ball bouncing high above him and Heath Shaw advancing at pace, Moore put his body on the line. His deft knock-on gifted Paul Bevan a running shot on goal. But Shaw’s knee in his ribs left him grimacing in pain, before being shipped off to hospital for scans.
8. Fremantle 21.15 (141) d Essendon 13.9 (87) at Subiaco
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The moment: Aaron Sandilands is a hard man to miss – which made this goal all the more amusing. With the ball coming in long to Fremantle's forward 50, the big man peeled off to the goal square, completely unnoticed by two Essendon defenders, who elected to take on small forward Hayden Ballantyne in the air. Ballantyne handballed over the top, and the lumbering Sandilands strolled into an open goal.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
