Port Adelaide furthers premiership push as Fremantle moves into the eight

The Covid-19 lockdown in Brisbane sparked a crisis on Saturday but resulted in a super Sunday for the AFL with all five matches having finals ramifications.

Port Adelaide’s Zac Butters celebrates a goal at Marvel Stadium. Picture: Getty Images.

Port Adelaide has strengthened its top four hopes by beating the Giants at Marvel Stadium by 27 points to cap another extraordinary day in a Covid-19 challenged season.

In a match relocated from the Gold Coast to Melbourne after the lockdown in southeast Queensland, the Power were tested throughout by the Giants on Sunday night.

But they were able to maintain an edge throughout much of the clash to win 15.10 (100) to 11.7 (73) in a result that prevented the Giants from moving into the eight.

Ultimately Port Adelaide, which sits one win behind the ladder-leading Western Bulldogs and Geelong in fourth spot, wase able to pull away in the last quarter for a sound win.

In an encouraging sign for Port Adelaide, talented youngsters Zac Butters, Xavier Duursma and Connor Rozee produced strong performances as they continue to build match fitness.

Butters and Duursma missed several weeks through injury in the middle of the year, while Rozee has struggled for his best form in 2021, but the trio are crucial to the Power’s premiership push.

The Giants battled hard and, despite the loss, remain in the fight for a spot in the eight.

There was a sickening incident late in the match when Jacob Hopper was accidentally kicked in the head while attempting a smother. The Giants midfielder was taken from the field on a mobile stretcher.

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From fears on Saturday that the postponement of the three Queensland matches would unbalance the fixture, instead a dramatic Sunday unfolded with all five matches having ramifications for the finals.

There are now three rounds remaining and the AFL remains on track to complete the season on time despite the numerous challenges posed by the pandemic this year.

The race for the top four is now a race in five.

Brisbane has dropped off the pace but appears secure in sixth, while West Coast is in a strong position to retain a place in the eight despite itsr inconsistency.

Melbourne effectively clinched a double-chance when trouncing the Suns by 98 points to start the super Sunday before Hawthorn dealt Brisbane’s top four hopes a serious blow with a 12-point upset in Launceston.

The Swans and Essendon played one of the matches of the year at the MCG, with Sydney continuing its surge up the table to fifth position with a superb seven point win in a high-scoring encounter.

Fremantle was headed by reigning premiers Richmond in a dour clash in Perth, only to rally to clinch a low-scoring thriller by four points in a victory that saw them return to the eight.

Both sides are ravaged by injuries to key players, with the Tigers now in clear danger of missing the eight after their 11th loss from 19 matches.

Dockers midfielder Andrew Brayshaw, who was superb when gathering 39 touches, paid tribute to a Fremantle team missing captain Nat Fyfe, forward Michael Walters and key defender Alex Pearce.

“It gives us great confidence. We had a few superstars out and that gave some younger players a chance to come in and stand up,” he said.