The moment: Nine minutes into the second term, Collingwood clung onto a lead after bossing the early exchanges. Heath Shaw gave away a free kick, then, while protesting the decision, touched umpire Michael Vozzo’s arm. The infringement may yet see Shaw suspended, and it cost the Pies a 50m penalty, putting Paul Chapman on the goal line. While skipper Nick Maxwell restrained a furious Shaw, Chapman kicked a goal that brought the Cats within two points. By half time Geelong had five more goals and the game almost in the bag.
2 – St Kilda 25.11 (161) d West Coast 9.10 (64) at Docklands
The moment: Trailing by 16 points early in the second term, the Eagles were hanging in the contest by the skin of their beaks. They attempted to move the ball out of defence under intense St Kilda pressure, when Leigh Montana swooped to intercept a loose handball. The pacy midfielder ran in and goaled, providing an impetus that saw the Saints kick eight of the next nine goals and blow the game wide open.
3 – Essendon 17.14 (116) d Carlton 16.16 (112) at the MCG
The moment: After Essendon recovered a 27-point lead in the second quarter, the margin had barely exceeded a goal. Goals to Marc Murphy and Brendan Fevola twice brought the Blues within a point in a thrilling final term, and they were just four points behind in the last few seconds as Murphy ran towards the Carlton 50. But Paddy Ryder’s desperate tackle felled the young Blue, enabling the Dons to rush the ball to the wing. Fittingly, given his five goals, it finished in Matthew Lloyd’s hands as the siren went.
4 – Brisbane Lions 15.10 (100) d Sydney Swans 9.13 (67) at the Gabba
The moment: Two early goals in the second quarter had the Swans within a goal on Saturday. Then tagger Jared Crouch’s hamstring went ‘twang’ and things quickly unravelled. Crouch’s absence released Lion playmaker Travis Johnstone, who found Jonathan Brown with a pinpoint pass. Brown’s third goal was the first of five in a row for the Lions. The home side were 37 points clear by the time the Swans rejoined Crouch in the rooms.
5 – Port Adelaide 22.15 (147) d Melbourne 14.6 (90) at AAMI Stadium
The moment: There were plenty of highlights in Port Adelaide's high-scoring rout, but Danyle Pearce's gem in the third quarter will head up the highlights reel. The nippy midfielder got on the end of a handball, burst through the middle of the ground and launched a shot on goal from 60m. The ball sailed through at a height that made the distance look negligible. That marked six straight goals for the Power and stretched the lead to an insurmountable 55 points.
6 – Hawthorn 19.9 (123) d North Melbourne 10.9 (69) at Docklands
The moment: When David Hale went crashing to the ground 22 minutes into Sunday’s match, many a North fan would have suspected this wasn’t going to be their day. Hale collided with teammate Lachie Hansen and Hawk Jarryd Roughead during a marking contest. He was KO'd, taken from the ground on a motorised stretcher and rushed to the Epworth Hospital. The Roos already trailed by 16 points, and with a Hale-sized hole in their forward line, they never looked like recovering.
7 – Adelaide 15.14 (104) d Fremantle 11.14 (80) at Subiaco
The moment: Andrew McLeod was by no means a constant presence as the Crows did their best to shake Freo, but when needed he found a way to influence the game. At the nine-minute mark of the final quarter, after Fremantle had stolen all the momentum with five unanswered goals, he received a handball from Nick Gill 55m from goal. A host of Freo players desperately converged on McLeod. There was no time or space to break away - or even run into his shot on goal – so off a couple of steps he sent a 55m shot along the ground and dribbling through the goal-square. The flash of brilliance levelled scores, and Fremantle didn't kick another goal.
8 – Western Bulldogs 16.14 (110) d Richmond 8.15 (63) at Docklands
The moment: Two late Richmond goals in the third quarter gave Terry Wallace's side – and the Tiger faithful – a glimmer of hope, but Jason Akermanis was more than happy to play party pooper. Isolated in the forward 50 against Jake King, the 2001 Brownlow Medallist booted three goals in the first five minutes of the final term, turning Richmond's task from improbable to impossible. The second, a clinical set shot from one of the best finishers in the business, meant the Dogs remained one of just three unbeaten teams after three rounds – and ensured Richmond would be propping up the ladder at day's end.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
