AFL round 10: Giants beat Eagles for first time
Toby Greene of the Giants booted two important goals on Sunday. Photo: Getty
GWS forward Toby Greene has overcome a case of the wobbles to lift his side to an epic eight-point win over West Coast in Perth.
Greene booted two goals in the final term of the Domain Stadium clash as the Giants came from behind to post the 14.14 (98) to 14.6 (90) win.
The final quarter featured eight lead changes as the two heavyweights slugged it out.
Greene had endured a shocking day in front of goal over the first three quarters.
He had three behinds to his name until that point and two other shanks that didn’t even register a score.
But he produced the goods when it mattered.
He nailed a long-range set shot to put his team up by nine points at the 24-minute mark of the last quarter.
And he saved his best for last, nailing a 50m running shot from the boundary to ice the Giants’ first ever win over West Coast.
The result lifted GWS (8-2) to equal top of the ladder, while West Coast (6-4) are back in the pack following consecutive losses.
Wayward Pies down last-placed Lions
Magpies midfielder Steele Sidebottom was outstanding against the Lions at the ‘G. Photo: AAP
Collingwood recorded back-to-back wins for the first time this season by overcoming a determined Brisbane by 45 points at the MCG on Sunday.
It wasn’t quite the confidence-boosting mauling Pies fans were after against the last-placed Lions, but Nathan Buckley’s men improved to a 4-6 record with the 18.21 (129) to 13.6 (84) win nonetheless.
Collingwood led by 35 points early in the third quarter, but the maddening inconsistency that has dogged them all season reared its ugly head once again.
Brisbane mounted a stirring challenge to slash the margin to 10 points before the Magpies finally woke from their stupor to lead by 16 points at three-quarter time.
Collingwood’s inaccuracy in front of goal continued in the final term, but some costly errors took the air out of the Lions’ challenge.
Steele Sidebottom was outstanding with 34 possessions and a goal, with Adam Treloar, Taylor Adams and Scott Pendlebury also important.
Jamie Elliott led the way in attack with four goals, but cost himself a more-impressive haul with some poor conversion.
The Lions remain anchored to the bottom of the ladder as they head into their bye round with nine losses in a row.
Roos survive huge AFL scare from Carlton
Lachie Plowman of the Blues and Shaun Higgins of the Kangaroos clash during the round 10 match at Etihad Stadium. Photo: Getty
North Melbourne survived an almighty scare against a spirited Carlton, clinging on by the skin of their teeth for a 17-point win.
The Kangaroos led by 45 points midway through the second quarter but fell asleep at the wheel, conceding nine of the next 10 goals as the Blues snatched a slender lead early in the final term.
Carlton looked set to produce a comeback for the ages before Mason Wood – who was virtually unseen to three-quarter time – took a strong leading mark and slotted the set shot.
The young key forward soon had his second, taking a strong mark and kicking truly to extend the Roos’ lead after Shaun Atley’s crumbing goal.
Charlie Curnow claimed one back for the Blues before late goals to Luke McDonald and Lachlan Hansen put the 17.11 (113) to 15.6 (96) Etihad Stadium win beyond doubt.
The Roos have now won four of their past five games and can push for a spot in the top eight when they take on Richmond next week.
But it was far from a convincing victory for Brad Scott’s men, who squandered their early lead and looked flat for much of Sunday’s game.
Carlton looked set to produce an all-time heist but ran out of run in the final quarter, with Wood proving the X-factor for North Melbourne.
The Blues have now lost three in a row and will look to regroup after next week’s bye.
AFL players confused by deliberate rule
Richmond skipper Trent Cotchin believes the hotly-debated deliberate rushed behind free kick paid against the Tigers has created even more confusion amongst players.
The ambiguous rule was thrust back into the spotlight when Richmond defender Jayden Short was penalised during Saturday night’s clash against Essendon at the MCG.
With the Tigers two points ahead late in the first half, Short guided James Stewart’s bouncing long bomb over the Bombers’ goal line, only to be pinged for a deliberate rushed behind.
Replays showed Short was hard done by, with Essendon forward Josh Green – who slotted the resulting free kick – chasing him all the way into the goal square.
The decision handed the Bombers a narrow halftime lead before the Tigers regrouped to claim a 11.15 (81) to 10.6 (66) victory.
“I think what we’re getting out of this is that there is still confusion,” Cotchin said on 3AW on Sunday.
“If I was Shorty I probably would have done the same thing and would have felt pretty hard done by by the call.
“But they’re the adjudicators of the game … that’s the hardest thing when you leave it up to interpretation I suppose.”
Tigers coach Damien Hardwick said the umpires simply got it wrong.
“I think they made a mistake,” Hardwick said.
“They’ve got a tough gig. They’ve got 85,000 people yelling one way or the other. I guarantee you, I’d rather be playing than umpiring. They do a pretty good job.
“I’m probably not there to judge, I’ll let them clarify that. As long as we’ve got a fair understanding of what the rule is, that’ll be fine.”