By Andrew Wu, Peter Ryan and Steve Barrett
In today’s AFL Briefing, your daily wrap of footy news:
- Darcy’s five not quite enough for Dogs against Dockers.
- St Kilda defies history with gritty Adelaide win.
- AFL concession of umpiring error cold comfort for Adelaide Crows.
- Blues pair step out in VFL.
- Giant Hogan boots nine, outscores Eagles on his own.
Darcy snags five, but Dogs fall short
AAP
Another inspiring performance by rising forward Sam Darcy almost helped the Western Bulldogs overrun an injury-hit Fremantle in Perth on Sunday night.
Sam Darcy’s five goals wasn’t enough for the Bulldogs to win in Perth.Credit: Getty Images
Despite a late fightback, the Dogs went down by 16 points, even though 21-year-old Darcy booted five goals from 21 disposals in a near-best-on-ground performance.
A hamstring injury to ruckman Luke Jackson was the biggest of the concerns to emerge for Fremantle in the third quarter, when Nathan O’Driscoll (ankle) and Corey Wagner (calf) were also forced out of the game.
Murphy Reid ices the game for the Dockers with a late goal.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
It left the Dockers vulnerable to a late surge from the Bulldogs, who cut a 32-point margin to just 10 with enough time left on the clock, before Murphy Reid kicked the sealer with less than a minute remaining, as the Dockers clinched their second win of the season, 15.7 (97) to 12.9 (81).
Darcy was huge for the Bulldogs with 5.0 and 11 marks, while Jackson’s opponent, Tim English (40 hit-outs) dominated when the Fremantle ruckman was absent.
Ex-Docker Rory Lobb, who dyed a red lobster on his head for his return to his former stomping ground, was booed every time he touched the ball, but held up well in defence.
Caleb Serong (38 disposals, 15 clearances) dominated in the midfield for Fremantle, while Josh Treacy and Michael Frederick kicked three goals apiece.
The result improved Fremantle’s record to 2-2 ahead of next Sunday’s Gather Round clash with struggling Richmond.
The Bulldogs (2-2) face defending premiers Brisbane at Norwood Oval on Saturday.
Saints defy history
Steve Barrett
Determined to overturn a bleak record in South Australia, St Kilda bounced Port Adelaide early, then steadied with two late goals under pressure to record a landmark win on Sunday that will make their prolonged stay in the city of the churches all the more enjoyable.
Jack Sinclair celebrates kicking a steadying goal for St Kilda late in their win over Port Adelaide.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
Before Sunday’s 17-point win, the Saints had lost all but one of their past 15 games against the Power, while their recent record at the Adelaide Oval stood at three wins and 16 losses.
“We were aware of it (the poor record) and we used it as fuel,” St Kilda’s Liam Stocker said after the13.11 (89) to 10.12 (72) win.
“If we’re really going to go ahead and start to do things as a side, we thought this was the next progression in getting stuff done that other St Kilda sides haven’t done for a while.
Port Adelaide’s Darcy Byrne-Jones will come under scrutiny for this bump on St Kilda’s Ryan Byrnes.Credit: Fox Footy
“That’s been the theory of our season – let’s start to get stuff done that teams prior to us haven’t.”
A bad result for the Power was enhanced by the fact Darcy Byrne-Jones will come under scrutiny of the match review officer for his high bump on St Kilda’s Ryan Byrnes.
Port Adelaide’s Mitch Geogiades flies high for a screamer against St Kilda.Credit: Getty Images
Byrne-Jones elected to bump a crouching Byrnes who was endeavouring to gather a ground ball, collecting the Saints backman high in the opening quarter.
Byrnes didn’t experience concussion symptoms and was able to continue, but Byrne-Jones still faces the prospect of a fortnight on the sidelines following the precedent set with Collingwood’s Dan Houston’s shirtfront on Carlton’s Lachlan Fogarty on Thursday night.
Despite Fogarty also being cleared of concussion, Houston was rubbed out for a fortnight, with the MRO grading the collision as careless conduct, high impact and high contact.
Port coach Ken Hinkley said he did not see the incident.
“I clearly don’t know what you’re talking about with the Darcy Byrne-Jones stuff,” he said.
“I’m not a coach that pretends I did or didn’t see it – I just did not see it. I’ll leave that up to the AFL as I do every week and they decide on what the outcomes are.”
The potential absence of Byrne-Jones adds injury to insult for the Power, who dug themselves a big hole early against the Saints which they were unable to completely carve their way out of.
St Kilda fired on all cylinders early, marching to a 31-point second-quarter lead, before defending grimly for their life late as their advantage was whittled back to five points. Their squad will now stay in South Australia ahead of a clash with GWS on the Sunday of Gather Round ion Norwood next weekend.
The visitors’ chains of movement were slick early, and their ferocious pressure, as Port were made to look second-rate and disconnected.
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon also praised the way his side charged out of the blocks with a 6.4 to 2.4 opening term.
Liam Stocker flies against Port’s Willie Rioli for the ball.Credit: Getty Images
“We were brave enough to have a go,” he said.
“Any game interstate, any opportunity to lean into the challenge, and I thought we did that from the start which was really important.”
Jason Horne-Francis did his best to pilot the Power’s fightback and was joined by Mitch Georgiades, who loomed ominously in attack.
The tall spearhead kicked three goals, two behinds, two more out on the full and narrowly missed pouching a mark of the year contender. But his third goal from the scoreboard pocket at the 16-minute mark of the fourth quarter had the margin within a straight kick and the momentum was all with surging Port.
But the Saints, under siege and against the grain, responded with the next two goals in two minutes through Jack Sinclair and Lance Collard to ward off the fast-finishing Power. In doing so, the Saints, now firmly encamped in the top eight, decoded a pair of long-standing riddles – their dire 3-16 record at Adelaide Oval and their run of 14 losses from their previous 15 meetings with Port.
Stocker, who went to Jason Horne-Francis in the last quarter and quelled some of the Power superstar’s influence, said the Saints’ third successive victory boiled down to their ferocious start.
“We really brought the non-negotiable stuff,” Stocker said. “We kept the pressure and kept hunting them. That’s three weeks in a row where we’ve brought that gamestyle. We’re starting to build an identity, which really fuels the fire for the rest of the season.“
AFL gives verdict on controversial Rankine mark call
Andrew Wu
The AFL has admitted umpires made a mistake in not awarding Adelaide forward Izak Rankine a mark or free kick in the dying stages of the Crows’ loss to Gold Coast on Saturday.
The error denied Rankine a shot at goal from about 35 to 40 metres out to put the Crows in front in a game that was decided by one point.
The AFL has admitted umpires made a mistake in not awarding a mark or free kick to Adelaide forward Izak Rankine.Credit: Fox Footy
As part of its practice of clarifying umpiring decisions that could have impacted the outcome of a game, the AFL contacted the Crows on Sunday to inform them of the error, though it will be of little consolation to the club, which would have finished the round on top of the ladder if it had won.
“With 1:44 remaining in the Gold Coast v Adelaide match, Rankine should have been awarded a mark,” an AFL spokesperson said. “Subsequently, he was also held in the marking contest, which should have also warranted a free kick. Upon review, the umpires missed it in real time.
“The AFL football department has contacted Adelaide this morning.”
It’s the fourth time since the start of the 2023 season the AFL has admitted to umpiring errors made against the Crows in games decided by a goal or less.
In 2023, Jordan Dawson was denied a free kick for high contact and a shot at goal. Later that year, a goal umpiring blue denied the Crows a major late in a game against the Swans, which cost Adelaide a finals berth. Last year, the AFL admitted error in not awarding a holding the ball free kick against Essendon’s Sam Draper.
“We once again find ourselves faced with an AFL acknowledgment of an umpiring error, but unfortunately and in reality, it is of no use or benefit to our club, or our players, coaches, staff, members and supporters,” Crows chief Tim Silver said.
“It’s increasingly frustrating. With a five-day break between games, we must switch our focus to putting in a strong performance against Geelong in Thursday’s opening of Gather Round.”
Crows coach Matthew Nicks voiced his frustration at the non-free kick but said it was not the reason his team lost to the Suns.
“My version is I think if he didn’t mark it, he was tackled in the marking contest, but we made so many mistakes throughout the game. Things happen,” Nicks said.
“You get to the end of the game, and we’ve given ourselves a chance and you need every bit of luck in that moment. That last minute-and-a-half, we clearly didn’t get things going our way.
“So, I sit here as a coach and say: ‘what do I preach to the players?’
“I preach about being in the moment, don’t blame others, get on with life, you’ve got to butter up and go again next week, so I’m doing my best to stay in that space. I’d say we’ve got some frustrated fans out there and I feel for them and I’m a little bit with them.”
The Suns were not awarded a free kick earlier in the game for an apparent throw from Adelaide defender Mark Keane, which would have given the home team a shot at goal from point-blank range.
McKay, Hollands make it through VFL clash
Peter Ryan
Carlton pair Harry McKay and Elijah Hollands made it through Saturday night’s VFL game against Southport unscathed but there remains no guarantee they will be available for selection in the AFL team for Gather Round.
Harry McKay last played in the senior side in round one.Credit: Getty Images
The pair has been missing due to personal issues, with McKay stepping away after playing in round one and Hollands taking time out before the season started.
Carlton have remained adamant they will not comment on the likelihood of McKay and Hollands playing while they deal with their issues. Coach Michael Voss has previously said it will become clear they are playing when they are named on the team sheet.
There is hope they may be available but no certainty as the Blue attempt to find form. McKay was mobbed by teammates after he kicked the first of his two goals in the Blues’ 56-point loss to the Sharks under lights at Ikon Park, while Hollands had 18 touches and laid four tackles.
The Blues will be forced to make one change – Lachie Cowan is sidelined with a hamstring injury for four to six weeks– but could also swing the axe after starting the season with four losses.
But their depth is being tested with McKay and Hollands the only obvious inclusions. Jordan Boyd and Corey Durdin (who laid 12 tackles) could replace Cowan and the struggling Lachie Fogarty. Lucas Camporeale appeared unlucky to be dropped after round two and could return to contention.
The club lost key player Nic Newman and high draft pick Jagga Smith before the season started, having already moved on midfielder Matthew Kennedy – who was top 10 in the club’s best and fairest – and Matt Owies, who kicked 33 goals as a small forward in 2024. They don’t have a first-round draft pick in 2025.
The Blues are desperate to break their duck with a win against West Coast next Saturday in Adelaide.
Hogan the hero with nine goals
AAP
Jesse Hogan kicked nine goals as Greater Western Sydney demolished an undermanned West Coast by 81 points.
Jesse Hogan had a day out for the GWS Giants.Credit: via Getty Images
Bouncing back from a 12-point defeat to early premiership favourites Hawthorn, the Giants had little trouble swatting away the winless Eagles, winning 20.12 (132) to 7.9 (51) at Engie Stadium on Sunday.
Giants veteran Stephen Coniglio was a late out with a glute complaint, but his absence mattered little for the flag contenders.
Hogan gave Eagles debutant Sandy Brock – nephew of nine-time Bathurst 1000 winner Peter – a baptism of fire as he remarkably converted his first eight majors from eight touches, before equalling his career-best goal haul of nine.
Despite missing the Giants’ first two games, the 30-year-old has kicked 13 goals this season, behind only North Melbourne’s Nick Larkey and Adelaide’s Riley Thilthorpe (14).
Hogan sprayed his shot as he attempted to register his 10th goal.
Darcy Jones (two goals) and Toby Greene (three) pulled their weight in attack alongside Hogan, while defender Sam Taylor kept a short leash on Eagles co-captain Oscar Allen.
Tom Green, as usual, led the way in the Giants’ engine room with two goals, 37 disposals and seven clearances.
After a difficult week following the fallout from his meeting with Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell, Allen finished with one behind from eight disposals.
A “remorseful” and “embarrassed” Allen, off-contract at season’s end, last week admitted meeting with Mitchell to discuss his playing future, a day after a heavy loss to Fremantle, was a “distraction” amid preparations for Sunday’s game.
Allen was kept goalless and had just four disposals against the Dockers.
Eagles premiership player Jamie Cripps and Jack Williams tried to lift in attack with two goals each on Sunday.
Eagles sensation Harley Reid (25 disposals, one clearance) was stationed at half-back for large periods, but the young star struggled to inspire in defence.
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