Round 3 saw some thrilling action, a game decided after the final siren, a remarkable 30-point 3 quarter time comeback from Geelong and Carlton starting their 1st season under Michael Voss 3-0, with a thrilling 1-point win.
The Western Bulldogs got their 1st win of season 2022, defeating the Sydney Swans by 11-points in a Thursday night thriller at Marvel Stadium.
The Dogs kicked the opening 3 goals of the match, before Will Hayward pulled 1 back for Sydney 6 minutes before quarter time, bringing the quarter time margin back to 12-points. The Swans were kept scoreless in the 2nd quarter, the Dogs were in accurate but kicked 1.7 for the quarter, extending the half time margin to 25-points.
Sydney got themselves back in it in the 3rd quarter, kicking 4 goals straight to 2.5 as the Dogs inaccuracy continued. Sydney got themselves back within 18-points at 3 quarter time. The sides went goal for goal to the start the last quarter. Ben Ronke answered for Sydney and then with a minute Errol Gulden marked 50 out from goal and was payed a 50 bringing him to the goal square. The margin back to 5 points remarkably. The Dogs controlled the ball and got it forward, Marcus Bontempelli got the handball and slammed home the sealer for the Dogs.
The siren brought jubilation around Marvel Stadium from the Dogs fans, who lost their 1st 2 games. But scrapped their way home in a close thriller, it was just lucky for them their inaccuracy didn’t cost them the game. The Dogs will look to continue their march back in season 2022 when they face Richmond on Saturday night at the MCG. Sydney will look to bounce back when they host North Melbourne on Saturday afternoon.
Melbourne survived a challenge from Essendon to run out 29-point winners on Friday night at the MCG. This win is the premiers 3rd win in a row, as Essendon’s 3rd loss in a row sees them winless and at the bottom at the end of 3 rounds.
Melbourne had to do this without Ben Brown, a key forward ruled out due to Covid-19 AFL health and safety regulations. Sam Weiderman was a fine replacement with 4 goals. As Melbourne burst out the blocks with the opening 3 goals of the game in the 1st quarter. Essendon got their game back on track, kicking 3 goals to 1, and reducinmg the margin back to 9-points at the half.
Tex Wanganeen got his 1st goal in footy with a snap to start the 3rd quarter. Peter Wright gave Essendon the lead with his 2nd, and his 3rd moments later extended Essendon’s lead to 8-points. Melbourne got the next 3, 2 through James Harms and Weiderman’s tough kick from the pocket to regain ascendancy. Jake Stringer went back to back and gave Essendon the lead back. 2 late goals for Melbourne and a couple missed opportunities gave them a 13-point 3 quarter time advantage. Melbourne got the openning 2 goals of the last quarter. Essendon pulled back the next 2 to stay in the contest, as Wright added his 4th for the night. Ed Langdon iced the game with an insane GOTY contender from the boundary, as goals to Bayley Fritsch and Weiderman gave Melbourne a 29-point win.
The Demons were far from their best. But did what they had to do to get the job done comfortably in the end, despite a challenge from a young Bombers outfit who can take solace from this defeat. Essendon will look to get its 1st win of the year when they host Adelaide at Marvel Stadium on Sunday. Melbourne will look to continue its magnificent start to season 2022 and unbeaten run when they travel to face a struggling Port Adelaide on Thursday.
Jordan Dawson was the hero of Adelaide, slotting the match winning goal after the final siren as Adelaide pip cross town rivals Port Adelaide by 4-points on Friday night.
The Crows were 2-points behind in the dying moments, as Lachie Murphy copped a high tackle and knock to the head leaving him injured. As the final siren in Dawsons hand, his kick started out to the right and swung back at the last moment, as Crows fans and players broke out in jubilation. Adelaide kicked the games last 4 goals to steal the victory from the jaws of defeat.
The Crows trailed most of the night, Port were out of the blocks early, kicking 5 goals to 2 in the opening quarter, including the last 4 goals to get out to a 19-point lead. Adelaide worked their way back into the contest, kicking the opening 3 goals of the 2nd quarter. Port then regained control with the next 3. Adelaide pulled 2 in a row back through a double from Laclan Gollant. As Todd Marshall’s 3rd got Port out to a 16-point half time advantage.
Adelaide turned up the volume in the 3rd quarter, kicking 3 goals to 2 and reducing the 3 quarter time margin to 13-points. Marshall got the 1st of the last quarter, to extend Ports lead to 19. The sides then went goal for goal. Lachlan Sholl pulled another back for the Crows. Elliot Himmelberg went back to back majors to reduce the margin to a solitary point. Travis Boak had the chance to wrap up the game for Port, after he got a 50, but his shot missed. As Adelaide rolled the dice, forward they went in the dying moments, as Murphy was taken high. As mentioned, the game came down to Jordan Dawson, who’s kick curled in for the winning goal, as Adelaide stole a classic showdown after a stunning comeback.
This was the Crows 1st win of season 2022, it will be remembered forever as a classic. Port Adelaide find themselves in a hole, the preliminary finalists finding themselves 0-3, and it doesn’t get any easier when they host the red hot, undefeated premiers in Melbourne on Thursday night. Adelaide will look to back up this win when they face Essendon at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.
Greater Western Sydney (GWS) took care of the Gold Coast Suns by 26-points on Saturday afternoon.
GWS were out of the blocks early, kicking 5 goals to 1 in the opening quarter to get out to a 24-point quarter time lead. The Giants kept up the presure in the 2nd quarter, with both sides kicking 3 goals apiece, the Giants took a 32-point half time lead.
Both sides only kicked a goal each in the 3rd quarter, Levi Casboult making the most of his opportunity at the Suns, kicking his 3rd to start the second half. Tom Green responded for the Giants, as they took a 33-point lead into the final change. Took the foot a little off the pedal in the last quarter, as Gold Coast kicked 4 goals consecutively after the Giants got the 1st 3 of the last quarter. The final margin reduced to 26.
GWS record their 1st win of season 2022, and will face an interesting challenge when they travel to face Fremantle on Saturday night. It doesn’t get any easier for the Suns, when they host the red hot unbeaten, new improved Carlton on Sunday afternoon.
Geelong defeated Collingwood in yet another potential match of the year by 13-points, after conceding 9 goals in the 3rd quarter and trailing by 30-points at 3-quarter time.
The Cats overran the Pies in the last quarter, kicking 8 consecutive goals and keeping Collingwood goalless. Collingwood started brightly, as they kicked 3 goals to 2 in the 1st quarter, taking a 10-point quarter time lead. Geelong made all the running in the 2nd quarter, kicking 4 goals to 1. Taking a 5-point lead into half time.
Collingwood ran absolutely riot in the premership quarter, pilling on an incredible 9 goals to 3, leading by as much as 37-points and taking a 30-point 3 quarter time lead. Geelong got the opening 4 goals, including 2 from Jeremy Cameron who got them within a kick with his 5th for the night. Brad Close’s finish from a snap inside 50 remarkably brought the game level. With a minute and a half to play, Geelong lead by a point as Cameron marked inside 50, went back and kicked his 6th goal to wrap up the contest. Tom Hawkins got in the action with his 3rd goal and Geelong’s 8th consecutive, to get the final margin out to 13-points and seal an incredible come from behind victory for the Cats. It was a classic come from behind win for the Cats, who ended Collingwood’s unbeaten run and earned the Cats their 2nd win of the season.
Geelong will look to end Brisbane’s unbeaten run when they host them at GMHBA stadium on Friday night. Collingwood will look to rebound from this defeat when they host a struggling West Coast at Marvel Stadium on Saturday evening.
Brisbane demolished North Melbourne by 108-points on Saturday night. With Lincoln McCarthy, Zac Bailey and Joe Daniher leading the way with 12 goals between them.
The Lions set up their win in the 1st quarter. Kicking 7 goals to 2. Brisbane remained in control in the 2nd quarter, kicking 4 goals to 3 to lead by 39-points at the half.
The Lions completely controlled the 2nd half. Kicking 3 goals to 1 in the 3rd quarter. Before wipping the floor with North in the last quarter, piling on a remarkable 9 goals to 1 to run out winners by a whopping 108-points.
Brisbane will have a task to keep on top of the ladder undefeated, when they face Geelong in Geelong on Friday night. North Melbourne will look for a better performance, but face a tough challenge away against Sydney on Saturday afternoon.
Carlton and Hawthorn played out another match of the year contender, with Carlton surviving a 41-point comeback to hold on by a solitary point, to record their 3rd straight win of the year.
Hawthorn found themselves in a massive hole down by 37-point early in the 3rd quarter, before kicking a remarkable 6 consecutive goals, with Jack Gunston giving them the lead by a point. Jack Silvagni got the decisive winning goal with the scores level. Gunston pulled back another to reduce the margin to a point, as Jacob Weitering’s heroic mark saved the day for Carlton as they held on by 1-point.
Carlton were out of the block early, kicking 7 goals to 1 in the 1st quarter, leading by a whopping 34-points at quarter time. Hawthorn pegged their way back in the 2nd quarter, kicking 3 goals to 2 and cutting the margin back to 30-points at half time.
After Charlie Curnow kicked the 1st of the 3rd quarter, Hawthorn got Carlton nervous. Kicking the next 3 goals to get the 3-quarter time margin back to 17-points. Tom Mitchell and Harry Morrison got Hawthorn within a kick, as Jack Gunston marked outside 50, played on to a vacant inside 50, ran to 25 and remarkably put Hawthorn in front by a point. This was an incredible position they found themselves in considering in the 2nd quarter they trailed by 41-points. Corey Durdin almost gave Carlton back the lead, but the score review review revealed a touched ball and scores were level. Jack Silvagni picked up the ball in the forward pocket and his snap put Carlton back in front by a straight kick. There was a rushed behind, crucially getting Carlton 7-points up. Gunston marked and got the margin back to a point again as a tight finish loomed. Carlton had to survive an all out attack, as Weitering pulled off perhaps one of the most importaint intercept marks of his entire career with 35 seconds left on half back.
Carlton controlled the last 30 seconds and as the siren sounded, the G erupted in a sea of Navy blue. The Blues fans belting out the song along with jubilant scenes from players, as Carlton made their best start to a season in a decade, after holding out a 41-point comeback to hold out by a point.
Carlton have the opportunity to make their best start to a season since 1995, when they travel to face the Gold Coast Suns on Sunday afternoon. Hawthorn will look to rebound when they play st kilda on sunday at the MCG.
St Kilda stunned Richmond by 33-points, kicking 10 consecutive goals in the second half on Sunday afternoon.
It was a high scoring 1st quarter with both sides kicking 6 goals a piece, and Richmond taking a 2-point quarter time lead. Richmond took control in the 2nd quarter and kicked 4 goals to 2, taking a 13-point lead into half time.
The Tigers made the positive start in the 3rd quarter, kicking the opening 2 goals and opening up a 25-point lead. From this point it was all the Saints, as they kicked the last 3 goals of the 3rd quarter to climb within 5-points by the final change. Max King marked and gave the saints back the lead, before doubling up with a strong mark, play on and snap to give the Saints an 8 point lead. The Saints went on to kick the next 5, with King kicking 2 of those to make it 4 individual goals in the last quarter and Saints made it 10 in Row. As the Saints ran away to a 33-point victory, their 2nd of 2022 as they keep in touch with the top 8, only out by percentage.
St Kilda will look to continue winning form when they face Hawthorn at the MCG on Sunday afternoon. Richmond will look to rebound against the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night at the MCG.
The Dockers took care of cross town rivals the West Coast Eagles by 55-points on Sunday night.
The Dockers in control for the entire contest. Kicking 2 goals to 1 in the 1st quarter and taking an 8-point quarter time lead. Then the Dockers pilled on 5 goals to none in the 2nd quarter to take a 34-point half time advantage.
Fremantle kept up the pressure in the premiership quarter, kicking 5 goals to 3 and extending out their lead to 36 at the final change. The Dockers kicked 6 of the 1st 7 goals to blow the game away, whilst 2 late goals from West Coast in junk time reduced the final margin to 55-points.
Fremantle cementing their place in the top 8, with 2 wins from 3. They will look to continue winning form when they host GWS on Saturday night. West Coast have not got it any easier, when they travel to face Collingwood at Marvel Stadium on Saturday evening.