Demons beat Dockers in the Top End, Hawks sweep past Western Bulldogs
The Demons thrash the Dockers in Darwin, while the Hawks, Power and Lions are also celebrating comprehensive victories.
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Demons crush Dockers in Darwin
Melbourne overcame a major case of the goalkicking yips to post a nine-goal win over Fremantle in humid conditions in Darwin on Saturday night.
The Demons dominated Fremantle from the outset, but their poor goalkicking was costly early.
Melbourne's score read 2.11 (23) during the second quarter, with the Dockers trailing by just three points at that point.
But the Demons eventually found their range to post the 13.24 (102) to 7.6 (48) win, snapping their three-game losing run.
Melbourne won the inside 50s 78-28, the clearances 42-28, and contested possessions 177-129, but its inaccuracy cost them the chance to post a triple-figure win.
External Link: Melbourne v Fremantle summary
The win moved Melbourne (9-6) up to sixth spot on the ladder, while the Dockers (6-9) are in 13th.
The Dockers, minus Nat Fyfe and Aaron Sandilands, were hopelessly outclassed for a second week in the row, following on from their 55-point loss to Brisbane.
The temperature was still above 25 degrees when the game kicked off at 7:10pm local time, and the players clearly tired towards the end of each quarter.
Melbourne's goalkicking woes bordered on comical during the first half.
When Dockers goalsneak Michael Walters snapped truly in the second quarter, Fremantle trailed by just four points despite having only 11 inside 50s compared to Melbourne's 31.
External Link: Melbourne v Fremantle stats
But as soon as the Demons found their range, they converted it into scoreboard dominance.
Goals to Nathan Jones, Jeff Garlett, and Tom McDonald gave the Demons a 19-point lead at half-time.
Fremantle had just 13 inside 50s in the first half, and the Dockers continued to struggle in the third quarter as the lead ballooned to 37 points.
A goal to Max Gawn after the three-quarter time siren killed off a mini Fremantle fight-back, and the floodgates opened in the final quarter.
Gawn finished with 41 hit-outs, 20 disposals, and a goal, while Clayton Oliver (35 disposals, two goals) was also influential.
Dockers wingman Stephen Hill finished with 25 disposals and 10 tackles in his 200th game.
Hawks encounter little trouble to beat Bulldogs
Captain Jarryd Roughead led brilliantly as Hawthorn started the post-Cyril Rioli era with a thumping 63-point win over the Western Bulldogs.
The 19.8 (122) to 9.5 (59) win on Saturday night at Docklands keeps the Hawks on the cusp of the top eight.
But the win came at a cost – ruckman Ben McEvoy, one of their best players, hurt his cheek and had to leave the field after an accidental clash of heads with Bulldogs onballer Josh Dunkley during the last quarter.
McEvoy was later taken to hospital in an ambulance.
Earlier this week, Rioli announced his immediate retirement and returned to Darwin for family reasons.
The Hawks' pre-game banner paid tribute to the four-time premiership star, who had not played since round four because of a knee injury.
Fellow small forward Luke Breust was best afield with six goals, equalling his personal best haul, as the Hawks kicked their highest score this season.
External Link: Bulldogs v Hawthorn summary
But it was Roughead, another four-time premiership Hawk, who sparked them with a mighty third term.
He kicked two goals, set up Breust for another and dominated as the Hawks ran amok, kicking 7.4 to a behind to kill off the match.
Roughead finished with four goals and six marks and Jack Gunston also kicked four.
The Bulldogs struck early for a 13-point lead, with fiery Hawks defender James Sicily giving away a silly 50-metre penalty and a goal, getting an extended spray from the coach's box.
He settled from there and finished with a game-high 12 marks.
External Link: Bulldogs v Hawthorn stats
The Hawks opened up an 11-point lead in the first quarter, with Breust kicking four goals.
He kicked his fifth in the second term, but it was Hawthorn's only goal for the quarter as the Bulldogs steadied.
Jason Johannisen was on fire across half-back, racking up 25 disposals for the first half and the Bulldogs kicked three goals to lead by two points at the main break.
After that, it was all Hawthorn as the Bulldogs only managed two goals in the second half.
Daniel Howe was instrumental for the Hawks with his shutdown role on Bulldogs star Marcus Bontempelli.
Howe hurt his knee in a marking contest with Bontempelli just before halftime, but played out the match.
Power down Saints to move to second on ladder
Premiership contender Port Adelaide has climbed to second position on the AFL ladder with a comfortable but scrappy 36-point victory over St Kilda.
The Power's 12.14 (86) to 7.8 (50) win at Adelaide Oval was their fifth on the trot.
But was soured by defender Tom Jonas sustaining a left knee injury after he went to ground awkwardly while being tackled in the third quarter.
Charlie Dixon booted a season-best four goals, while Chad Wingard (32 possessions) and Tom Rockliff (30) were influential for the hosts, who were barely threatened from the moment Paddy Ryder dribbled through a slick snap in the opening minutes.
Ryder's goal was a rare highlight in an ugly, error-filled opening term.
Saints were woeful in front of goals (0.5), while at the other end their turnovers accounted for the Power's 3.1 tally.
External Link: Port Adelaide v St Kilda summary
The aesthetics barely improve in the second stanza with the home side having all the play and opening up a 31-point buffer.
It could have been more but for some ordinary goal-kicking.
David Armitage, who was easily St Kilda's best with three goals and 30 touches, belatedly got the visitors going to help reduce the deficit to 18 points at half-time.
External Link: Port Adelaide v St Kilda stats
Travis Boak and Justin Westhoff kicked back-to-back majors in the opening couple of minutes of the third term, which was again dominated by the hosts.
With Wingard off the chain, the Power fashioned a commanding 22-8 advantage in inside 50s but their shaky 3.6 to 2.0 return, Jonas's injury, and a late goal to Luke Dunstan gave St Kilda a faint sniff despite being 30 points behind at three-quarter-time.
Jade Gresham goaled twice for the Saints in the fourth but the Power prevailed easily as Dixon filled his boots with three goals.
Rampant Lions hammer dire Blues at the Gabba
Brisbane has notched back-to-back AFL wins for the first time in more than three years with a 65-point demolition of Carlton.
The Lions did it easily, following up their surprise thumping of Fremantle last week with a commanding 18.12 (120) to 7.13 (55) result at the Gabba.
It cements the bottom-placed Blues as this season's clear favourite for the wooden spoon.
A dire Carlton had no answers once Brisbane broke the game open in the second quarter and the Blues were beaten in every department.
By the final term, the Blues were flat-out uncompetitive.
External Link: Lions v Blues summary
Blues coach Brendan Bolton's side are now two wins off their nearest rival on the ladder.
That used to be the Lions but their third victory of the season lifts them into 16th position, while also giving their percentage a healthy boost.
Dayne Beams led the way with a whopping 40 touches and eight clearances, while forward Eric Hipwood bagged six goals – the biggest haul of his young career to date.
Hipwood was one of six Lions players who were still in high school the last time Brisbane strung together consecutive wins, back in rounds six and seven of 2015.
External Link: Lions v Blues stats
The end of that long drought was lapped up by a 21,074-strong crowd, most of them long-suffering Lions fans who can now say they follow a team that is genuinely on the rise.
The Blues, on the other hand, were coming off a stirring display last week against Port Adelaide, pushing the top-four fancies all the way.
But with Kade Simpson a late withdrawal on Saturday with a calf injury, normal service resumed.
After a scratchy start from both sides, the Lions straightened up and kicked nine unanswered goals across the second and third quarters to establish a commanding 51-point lead.
They did not look back from there, as they handed the Blues their 14th defeat of the season.
AFL ladder
External Link: AFL 2018 ladder
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