AFL Sunday: Fremantle make history with damning loss to Richmond

FREMANTLE fans, look away now. Your team has suffered an absolute beating, securing a damning place in the AFL’s history books.

This was a gut-wrenching moment.

• AFL carnage makes history
• Roos: I will not coach Collingwood
• Eagles now relying on rival
• Numbers on Bombers side

Live: AFL Sunday

Welcome to AFL Sunday, our coverage of today’s footy:

Melbourne 16.8 (104) Brisbane Lions 14.7 (91)

St Kilda 18.19 (127) North Melbourne 12.6 (78)

Richmond 25.5 (155) Fremantle 7.9 (51)

FREMANTLE has sufferend a gigantic home loss to Richmond as the Tigers continue their top-four charge. Nothing seemed to work for the Dockers late on Sunday as Dustin Martin and Jacob Townsend shredded their defence to take a 104-point victory. Earlier in the day, Melbourne took a win over Brisbane, keeping their September dream alive, while St Kilda farewelled legend Nick Riewoldt’s career at Etihad Stadium with a big win over North Melbourne.

7:30pm

Fremantle makes history with huge loss

The Dockers were a bunch of pushovers today.

Richmond are just one win away from securing a top-four berth after thrashing Fremantle by 104 points in Sunday’s record-breaking AFL clash at Domain Stadium. The Tigers looked shaky early on, with Fremantle dominating the inside-50m count 18-6 in the opening term as the home side opened up a four-point lead.

But Richmond blew the game wide open with an eight-goals-to-nil second term to set up the 25.5 (155) to 7.9 (51) victory in front of a crowd of 34,204. Former GWS midfielder Jacob Townsend finished with a career-high six goals, while Jack Riewoldt (four goals), Kane Lambert (three), Dustin Martin (36 disposals, two goals) and Shaun Grigg (36 possessions) also had big games. Richmond (14-7) are in fourth spot, and they will guarantee themselves a double chance in the finals if they account for St Kilda at the MCG next Sunday. If they lose, they could drop to as low as sixth.

Sunday’s win was Richmond’s biggest ever over Fremantle, eclipsing their 90-point victory over the Dockers at the MCG in 1998.

The result was also the equal biggest defeat in Ross Lyon’s coaching career, following on from last week’s 104-point loss to Sydney.

It was also an AFL first, making it the biggest losing margin a team has lost by in consecutive weeks.

Biggest losses by same margin in consecutive games
-104 FREM 2017
-101 BRIS 1991
-92 SYD 1993
-86 HAW 2017 #AFLFreoTigers @freodockers

— Swamp (@sirswampthing) August 20, 2017

The capitulation was extra disappointing for Fremantle given it was their final ever match at Subiaco Oval ahead of next year’s move to the new Perth Stadium. The one bright spot to come out of the game for Fremantle was the successful AFL return of Harley Bennell, who booted two-first quarter goals before being starved of opportunities.

Fremantle could be without Sean Darcy for their final-round clash with Essendon at Etihad Stadium after the ruckman was reported for striking Nick Vlastuin. Darcy had just jumped in the air and was on his way down when he struck Vlastuin with a forearm as the pair collided.

— with AAP

6:07pm

Saints demolish Roos

St Kilda honoured retiring legend Nick Riewoldt and kept their slim AFL finals hopes alive with a thumping 49-point win over North Melbourne. The theme was “Thanks Rooey” on Sunday for Riewoldt’s last home game at Etihad Stadium and he kicked two goals in the 18.19 (127) to 12.6 (78) win. The Saints and Kangaroos formed a guard of honour for Riewoldt as he was chaired from the ground.

Riewoldt then did a lap of honour to acknowledge the fans.

But there is a slim chance that the Saints’ MCG match against Richmond will not be the end of his 335-game career.

If the Saints upset Richmond and other results go their way, they will make the finals.

While all the attention was on Riewoldt for much of the game and at the final siren, earlier it was Jake Carlisle - for the wrong reasons. Carlisle had to pass a last-minute fitness test and then was reported twice at quarter time.

In an eventful start to the Etihad Stadium clash, play was also held up for several minutes in the first quarter when North’s Daniel Nielson was stretchered from the ground.

Carlisle’s back flared up in the warm-up and there were briefly fears he might not be able to start the game.

He limped down to the rooms, but lined up in defence at the opening bounce. Late in the opening quarter, Nielson suffered a hit to the head in a marking contest.

He gave a thumbs up as he was taken off the ground.

On quarter time, Carlisle was at the centre of a scuffle that quickly involved most of the players on the ground.

He was booked separately for striking Luke McDonald and Declan Mountford. Despite their inaccuracy, the Saints pulled away in the second term to lead by 23 points at halftime and they dominated the second half.

Saints midfielder Jack Steven was best afield with 40 disposals, while Seb Ross and Luke Dunstan also starred, while Shaun Higgins and Ben Cunnington were best for the Kangaroos.

North’s match in Brisbane next Saturday against the Lions will decide the wooden spoon.

— AAP

5:15pm

Bennell’s fairytale return, Tigers’ ‘unbelievable’ charge

Harley Bennell has turned heads after making his anticipated return for the dockers. Veteran journalist Mike Sheahan wrote the 24-year-old off earlier in the year, claiming his off-field behaviour was “abysmal” before declaring he would “never play another game” in the league.

Bennell kicked a killer goal in his first quarter of AFL after his lengthy hiatus, helping Fremantle inch ahead of sixth-placed Richmond in the final game of AFL Saturday.

Harley Bennell was up and about in the first quarter! #AFLFreoTigers pic.twitter.com/WBuSqARd57

— AFL (@AFL) August 20, 2017

The second term was played almost exclusively in the Tigers’ forward half as they piled on eight goals to zero in that quarter. They can simply do no wrong and have had 13 scoring shots from 22 inside 50s.

Fremantle great Matthew Pavlich, who is commentating for Fox Footy today, has been stunned by Richmond’s form and their ability to put Fremantle away in a quarter.

He says their efficiency has been “unbelievable”. And it’s hard to argue with him. They’re having a day out.

— with Herald Sun

3.45pm

‘Inexplicable’ snap costs Beams, Vince returns serve

Melbourne’s clash with Brisbane was all level late in the opening term when a Dayne Beams brain snap cost the Lions the lead.

Beams appeared to take issue with something Demons opponent Jeff Garlett said to him and responded by tossing the small forward over his hip and slamming him on the ground.

It was a move more likely to be seen in the UFC than an AFL field and was described as “inexplicable” by commentator Anthony Hudson.

Garlett was awarded a free kick and slotted a goal to give the home side a 3.3 (21) to 2.3 (15) lead.

“Not great discipline from the captain Dayne Beams,” former Lions skipper Jonathan Brown said. “Not sure what was going on there ... That’s a let down ... (coach) Chris Fagan wouldn’t be happy about that.”

But Beams’ coach didn’t seem overly fussed about the incident when he was interviewed by Fox Footy boundary rider Cam Mooney at the first break. “Those things happen in a game of footy, unfortunately,” Fagan said.

The Melbourne players probably felt differently — and Bernie Vince didn’t miss when presented with an opportunity to square the ledger early in the second quarter.

The Match Review Panel favourite collected Beams head on as he attempted a mark — forcing the Lions skipper to the bench.

After reportedly passing the concussion test Beams re-entered the game. Vince can expect to have the incident — which you can watch in the video player above — scrutinised closely in the next 24 hours.

Beams showed no signs of injury as he produced a best-on-ground performance for the Lions with 33 disposals and three goals but the Demons — on the back of six goals from returning key forward Jesse Hogan and 24-disposal three-goal haul from Cam Pedersen — held on for 13-point win.

2pm

Roos: I will not coach Collingwood

Paul Roos in his last season as Melbourne coach. Picture: Colleen Petch.

Paul Roos has ruled himself out of the race for the Collingwood coaching job.

The former Sydney and Melbourne coach ended persistent rumours when he said today: “If I was asked to coach Collingwood, I would not coach Collingwood.”

But Roos said he would be happy to sit down with Magpies president and Fox Footy colleague Eddie McGuire to discuss the Collingwood situation.

Collingwood is waiting on the completion of a strategic review of its football operations before making a call on Buckley after six years in the job.

“I haven’t spoken to anyone at Collingwood,” Roos said on Triple M.

“As an industry that we are a bit sceptical but I think it’s a unique situation with Bucks and Eddie.

“Generally if someone’s in the position that Nathan’s is in you would think the club is speaking to other people, but I think this situation is unique.

“When you talk to Eddie he often says, ‘I think Nathan will do the right thing by the football club’.

“I genuinely believe in this situation they will not speak to anyone until Round 23 is over and then maybe they’ll go and speak to other people depending on what the review says.”

Roos said he had fielded calls from a number of clubs seeking advice on coaching appointments and he would be happy to help the Pies in a similar informal way.

But he won’t be committing to anything beyond that.

“I get on well with Eddie, I’d be happy to have a coffee with Eddie, there’s no problems with that,” he said.

“I’m away pretty much from September 30 to January 15 ... I’ve moved on.

“I don’t like to mislead people ... as it sits now the furthest thing in my mind is getting involved in a football club in any capacity.”

Roos said Collingwood didn’t have to rush a decision on Buckley’s future.

“Given they’ve waited so long, I’d be surprised if they make a decision in the first two or three days or a week (after Round 23).

“They may as well take a month to make a decision.

“I’m not suggesting they wait for the sake of it, but given they’ve waited so long you’ve got to be really good on the process.

“Clearly the first part of it is what does that report state in relation to the senior coach of the Collingwood Football Club.”

— Herald Sun’s Al Paton

12pm

Eagles now relying on bitter rival

Matt Priddis and the Eagles failed to find a way past the Giants. (AAP Image/Craig Golding)

West Coast will know its exact AFL finals equation come the opening bounce in Perth next week.

But coach Adam Simpson is unsure if that is likely to be much of a boost against Adelaide, pointing to the fact the scenario was pretty simple in the penultimate round of the season.

West Coast fought hard throughout a 21-point loss to Greater Western Sydney on Saturday but were blown away in the final five minutes at Spotless Stadium.

An upset victory would have kept the Eagles in the top eight but they now face an anxious wait until the final game of a topsy-turvy season. If the Eagles are to soar back into the top eight, it’s likely they will require rivals Fremantle to defeat Essendon next weekend.

Simpson hasn’t studied the permutations and possibilities involving the handful of teams scrapping to qualify for finals.

“We’ll see what happens,” a bitterly-disappointed Simpson said on Saturday. “We’ll need to win, that’s our start point.

“The one thing you don’t want to do, and unfortunately we’re in that space now, is we’ve got to rely on other teams.

“I haven’t even thought about it (whether playing the final game of the season is an advantage). Maybe. I don’t know. I knew what we needed to do tonight.” Simpson planned on throwing “the kitchen sink” at the ladder ladders but conceded his side had serious issues they must address.

“We still haven’t been able to win two games in a row in a long time. Regardless of effort, that’s not good enough,” he said.

AFL Round 23: Hawthorn vs Western Bulldogs, Collingwood vs Melbourne, Brisbane vs North Melbourne, Sydney vs Carlton, Geelong vs GWS, Port Adelaide vs Gold Coast, Essendon vs Fremantle, Richmond vs St Kilda, West Coast vs Adelaide.

— AAP

11.30am

Numbers on Bombers side

Bombers player Josh Begley (right) was impressive on debut. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

A dominant final-round win against Fremantle in Melbourne should see Essendon finish the AFL season inside the top eight, but coach John Worsfold says percentages won’t be spoken about this week.

The Bombers took care of Gold Coast on Saturday night at Metricon Stadium, a 33-point win moving them to seventh on the ladder and ahead of Melbourne on percentage.

But Worsfold’s side missed a chance to push their for-and-against even higher, wasteful in front of goal with 18 behinds.

A big win against the Dockers should see the Bombers play finals, given they have the best percentage of all four — and potentially five teams if St Kilda wins on Sunday — with 44 points.

But Worsfold says he won’t be crunching the numbers this week ahead of the crucial Etihad Stadium clash.

“We don’t say to ourselves that we need to take our chances, because we need to take our chances regardless of the ladder,” the coach said.

Worsfold said he would have liked “a couple more goals” against the Suns, but was satisfied with the outcome given the Suns’ new penchant for stacking the defence and clogging the avenue to goal.

— AAP

11am

Young Hawk taught a lesson

Jed Lamb (right) got under James Sicily’s skin. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

Provided James Sicily learns his hard AFL lessons, Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson will forgive the fiery defender’s tough night out.

Sicily gave away seven free kicks as Carlton forward Jed Lamb got the better of him in Saturday night’s seven-point win over the Hawks at Etihad Stadium. The 12.5 (77) to 10.10 (70) victory was the Blues’ first win over Hawthorn since 2005 and also broke an eight-game losing streak.

Carlton now cannot finish bottom and Hawthorn will miss the finals for the first time since 2009.

Sicily also was told one of the oldest lessons in the book — it’s always the retaliator who is caught.

Lamb played his role as a defensive forward to perfection, kicking two goals and niggling Sicily into silly mistakes.

“He’s getting smacked a fair bit and he’s the retaliator — the umpires pay (the free against) the retaliator rather than apply the discipline to the Carlton player in the first instance, who’s doing the hitting,” Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson said.

“But that’s footy, you live and you learn and we’ve been in that situation where we’ve done that too.

“I’d much rather it happen now, early in his career, when it’s a dead-rubber game. Who cares, really?

“It’s good exposure for our players to go through that.” Carlton coach Brendon Bolton praised Lamb’s game and said the Blues showed with the win that they are making progress.

— AAP