3 minute read
A look at round four of the AFL season.
A SNAPSHOT OF ROUND FOUR OF THE AFL SEASON:
THEY SAID IT: "Did that guy from the first row give it to that guy so he could kick that goal? It couldn't be any further out, could it?" - Richmond coach Damien Hardwick wasn't impressed when Port star Robbie Gray set up a second-quarter goal for Orazio Fantasia despite seemingly being out of bounds.
STATS THAT MATTER: Eighteen disposals and a goal. That is what star Hawthorn midfielder Tom Mitchell accumulated in a monster second quarter of his side's clash with Fremantle.
PLAYER OF THE ROUND: GWS stand-in skipper Toby Greene thrived on the responsibility of captaincy and starred with five goals against Collingwood. Greene booted three goals in the second quarter then two more after half-time to set up the Giants' breakthrough victory.
KEY MOMENT: West Coast forward Jack Darling re-lived his horror moment from the 2015 grand final loss to Hawthorn when he dropped an absolute sitter against St Kilda. Halfway through the final quarter and with West Coast just nine points down, Darling wrestled his St Kilda opponent to the side but inexplicably dropped the simple mark at the top of the goal square. A goal then would have halted St Kilda's momentum and given the Eagles a big sniff, but the missed chance proved costly as St Kilda went on to win by 20 points.
TALKING POINT: Will the Kangaroos win a match in 2021? We're only four rounds in, but it's a legitimate question following North's latest loss. The Kangaroos at least put up more fight in their 41-point defeat to Adelaide, but their percentage of 43 illustrates just how far off the pace they are.
TRIBUNAL WATCH: Bulldogs defender Caleb Daniel was offered a one-match ban for his dangerous tackle on Brisbane's Tom Berry. Star Hawthorn midfielder Jaeger O'Meara could cop a fine for his elbow to the ribs of Fremantle's Caleb Serong. Hawthorn's Jack Scrimshaw could be in trouble for his blatant trip on Nat Fyfe.
KEY INJURIES: Taylor Adams (Collingwood - knee), Brayden Sier (Collingwood - ill), Callan Ward (GWS - hand), Shannon Hurn (West Coast - calf) , Jack SIlvagni (Carl - shoulder), Sean Lemmens (GC - head), Xavier Duursma (Port - knee), Zak Butters (Port - ankle), Orazio Fantasia (Port - ankle), Aliir Aliir (Port, leg), Luke McDonald (North, pectoral), Cameron Zurhaar (North, concussion), Steven May (Melb, eye)
WHAT'S NEXT: Out-of-form Richmond kick off round four in a crunch clash with St Kilda on Thursday night, while Collingwood's match against West Coast in Perth the following day also looms as crucial. Sydney and GWS face off in a derby on Saturday, while Carlton's resurgence will receive a big test against Port Adelaide later that day. Adelaide and Fremantle lock horns on Sunday, with the Hawks taking on Melbourne at the MCG.
