AFL faces possibility of no finals in Melbourne on first weekend of September; Blues in damage control; Hawks surge; Bulldogs tumble

The AFL is facing the distinct possibility of not having a final in Melbourne on the first weekend of September after a shock round of results.

And the AFL’s coffers could take a major hit if Carlton slips from finals contention, joining Essendon, Collingwood and Richmond on the outer come the league’s biggest month of the season.

Empty: This is how the MCG would look on the first weekend of finals if the ladder remained as is.Credit: Getty Images

A quick look at the ladder, with the Crows leading the Western Bulldogs by 41 points at the final change in Adelaide on Sunday, has interstate teams hosting both qualifying finals and both elimination finals - should the ladder remain as is after round 24.

Admittedly, there are two home-and-away rounds to still be played, but with five of the current top eight teams from outside Victoria, it could be an eerily quiet start to September in Melbourne.

Well, what a weekend of AFL drama. From the Swans regaining touch and ending Collingwood’s finals aspirations, to the Giants taming the Lions in their own den, to the Bombers, Dockers, Bulldogs and Blues collapsing, there’s been plenty of action over three days. The Hawks are surging, and will be a major premiership threat should they be alive come September.

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Our man at the Adelaide Oval, Steve Barrett, has delivered this insightful analysis of events there where the Crows enjoyed a 39-point win over the Western Bulldogs.

DEFECTIVE DOGS

There are still two rounds remaining but the Western Bulldogs may have kicked themselves out of the finals. They remain in seventh spot with a good percentage and can reasonably expect to at least split their last two games against North Melbourne and GWS.

But if they do miss out, they will have only themselves to blame. Goalkicking returns of 1.4, 3.6 and 2.4 in each of the opening three terms, married with a generally underwhelming midfield display, sabotaged the Dogs’ bid for a fifth successive victory after they conjured 16 more inside-50s. Headlining their ills in front of goal was Sam Darcy, who registered 0.5 and one out-of-bounds from his first six shot attempts. Darcy’s nightmare finally ended when he split the middle in the dying stages from the goal-square.

That’s mine: Daniel Curtin celebrates a goal.Credit: Getty Images

The Dogs are 0-3 at Adelaide Oval this season - after heavy losses to Adelaide and Port Adelaide, plus their Gather Round defeat to Geelong - and suddenly vulnerable.

TEX OUT

Taylor Walker substituted out of the match at three-quarter time after copping an accidental poke to his right eye from Bulldogs ruckman Tim English. With a Port Adelaide home Showdown and away fixture with Sydney to come, the Crows have played their last home game - and it is possible Walker has too, in Adelaide colours.

Speculation around the future of Walker, who has yet to be offered a new deal by the club, has been rife, with mounting suggestions he could make a shock switch to a rival club in 2025.With Walker left to treat his sore eye on the bench, Darcy Fogarty continued his individual breakout campaign, booting an equal career-best five goals in his 100th game.RIding shotgun was Riley Thilthorpe, whose brute strength and classy finishing suggests, whether it be next year or the one after, there will be life after Tex.

Bulldogs brothers: Ed Richards and Cody Weightman on a day when there wasn’t much to celebrate for the Bulldogs.Credit: Getty Images

DUSTY’S LEGACY

The AFL waved farewell to Richmond legend Dustin Martin last Monday when the Brownlow Medallist and three-time Norm Smith Medallist announced his sudden retirement. The “Dusty don’t argue”, however, remains alive and well, as evidenced by Ben Keays’ powerful fend-off of Bulldogs superstar Marcus Bontempelli just before three-quarter-time.

Following Josh Rachele’s goal with 39 seconds left in the term, Reilly O’Brien tapped the ensuing centre bounce to Keays, who brushed aside the great Bontempelli in Martin-like fashion.Keays then spotted up Thilthorpe, who monstered Liam Jones to snare a tumbling mark, before goaling after the siren to stretch Adelaide’s swelling advantage.

The Western Bulldogs now remain tied with Hawthorn and Carlton on 48 points, but ahead on percentage, after a 39-point loss to the Crows in Adelaide. The Bulldogs have North Melbourne and GWS to come.

It was a rugged day for key forward Aaron Naughton, who was subbed off with just four disposals.

High hit: Taylor Walker after an incident with Tim English.Credit: Getty Images

Riley Thilthorpe’s goal after the three-quarter-time siren stretched Adelaide’s lead to a commanding 41 points over the out-of-sorts Western Bulldogs.

After entering the Adelaide Oval clash riding a four-game winning streak, the Bulldogs’ day has been hampered by a vapid midfield and an off-target attack. Their finals hopes are now in peril.

The Crows can’t make the eight but they can spoil some parties in the process - and have a few themselves, evidenced by Josh Rachele’s “Superman” celebration after booting a goal, followed moments later by Thilthorpe’s double fist-pump to the faithful in the north-western pocket.

The Crows have slipped out to a 51-point lead at the Adelaide Oval late in the final term, all but consigning the Bulldogs to their third defeat at the venue this season. The Bulldogs are now back fighting for their finals future.

The AFL is facing the distinct possibility of not having a final in Melbourne on the first weekend of September after a shock round of results.

And the AFL’s coffers could take a major hit if Carlton slips from finals contention, joining Essendon, Collingwood and Richmond on the outer come the league’s biggest month of the season.

Empty: This is how the MCG would look on the first weekend of finals if the ladder remained as is.Credit: Getty Images

A quick look at the ladder, with the Crows leading the Western Bulldogs by 41 points at the final change in Adelaide on Sunday, has interstate teams hosting both qualifying finals and both elimination finals - should the ladder remain as is after round 24.

Admittedly, there are two home-and-away rounds to still be played, but with five of the current top eight teams from outside Victoria, it could be an eerily quiet start to September in Melbourne.

Our man at Marvel Stadium, Daniel Brettig, gives his analysis of what transpired in the Saints’ 48-point win over Richmond at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.

Saints outclass battling Tigers in wake of Dusty’s retirement

How Richmond’s supporters at Docklands must have yearned for some prime Dustin Martin this Sunday afternoon.

High flyer: Cooper Sharman attempts to take a speccy on Sunday.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images

In reality, the Tigers must move on from Martin’s triple premiership era and find a new core to run the game across midfield and half forward. The 150 gamer Tim Taranto said nothing less when interviewed before running through a banner for him - Martin’s will wait until the final game of the year.

But in the first game after the retirement announcement, St Kilda were much the more efficient side in careering away to a 48-point victory in a rare game for 2024 that won’t impact the shape of the final eight.

After stretching out a 25-point margin in the second term, the Saints lost focus for long enough to let Richmond get back within a couple of straight kicks - cue the vision of a flustered Ross Lyon in the coaches’ box. But as has often been the case this year, the Tigers could not maintain their rage, letting St Kilda coast home in the last.

Saints respond well to a hiding

Last week, in another late Sunday afternoon game near Southern Cross station, Lyon lamented how the Saints were unable to get near the quality and power of the Brisbane Lions.

“We expected better, we wanted better, but we didn’t deliver better,” Lyon had said.

“You see some of the results around the league, and you think that’s interesting, then it happens to you. They just sat us on our arse.“We’ve got Richmond next week, but our biggest opponent is ourselves because we’ve undone all our good work.”

This time around, St Kilda’s players did not beat themselves, matching Richmond for contested ball and clearances and then cutting the Tigers up with far greater efficiency when entering attack.

Tim Membrey, Rowan Marshall and Cooper Sharman shared eight goals between them, while Jack Steel, Josh Battle, Callum Wilkie and Brad Hill had productive afternoons even as Jack Higgins waited until the last term for his first goal.

Too much required of too few Tigers

In a milestone game, Taranto did his level best to keep Richmond competitive, winning as many clearances as anyone on the ground and also near the top of the tally of contested possessions.

That’s mine: Tim Membrey prepares to mark on the lead.Credit: Getty Images

Jacob Hopper and Daniel Rioli also worked hard for the Tigers, but the difference in terms of even contributions was patently clear towards the bottom of the stats sheet: only Higgins had fewer than 10 disposals for the Saints; seven Tigers were stuck in single figures.

Carlton coach Michael Voss says there will be “something in the Blues’ response” when their finals hopes go on the line against lowly West Coast next weekend.

The Blues have slipped out of the top eight after a 74-point hammering from Hawthorn on Sunday, and now face the distinct possibility of missing September. They have the Eagles and St Kilda to come over the final fortnight, and must win both games to be alive come September. It was only a month ago they were second on the ladder.

The Hawks, meanwhile, have Richmond and North Melbourne to come. The Hawks can expect to pencil in two wins there - the Sam Mitchell versus Alastair Clarkson battle one to watch on the final weekend of action.

Izak Rankine has made his presence felt upon his return to the Crows, and has helped his team to a 26-point buffer at the main break. Bulldogs skipper Marcus Bontempelli, under an injury cloud, has had only 10 touches.