THEY SAID IT: “I don’t mind if it keeps going. You understand how tough this competition is that you’re not likely to go on a streak anywhere near that” – Coach Ken Hinkley on Port Adelaide’s club-record 13-game successful streak.
PLAYER OF THE ROUND: Jack Gunston. Sent on a much-talked-about coaching block after a sluggish begin for Brisbane, Hawthorn’s triple-premiership recruit confirmed what he might carry to the Lions with an equal-best six-goal haul that includes 20 disposals. The 31-year-old confirmed his versatility in a roaming function that took him all the best way to halfback in an emotional return that got here a yr after his father died of a coronary heart assault.
THE MOMENT: St Kilda ahead Max King re-injured his troublesome left shoulder in a seemingly innocuous spoiling try early in his workforce’s loss to Melbourne. Subsequent scans have proven the injury is intensive, ruling him out for the remainder of the season. King had the identical shoulder reconstructed after a coaching mishap final December and missed the opening 9 rounds of the season. Can the Saints make the finals with out their star spearhead?
TALKING POINT: Is Christian Petracca the answer to Melbourne’s scoring woes? The explosive midfielder was thrust ahead towards St Kilda and booted a career-high 4 targets in a match-winning show, because the Demons registered their greatest rating in virtually two months. It got here regardless of main goalkicker Bayley Fritsch’s absence by way of harm and with livewire ahead Kysaiah Pickett saved quiet.
STATS THAT MATTER: 9665. That’s what number of possessions Collingwood veteran Scott Pendlebury has now amassed – breaking the earlier file of 9656 held by St Kilda champion Robert Harvey. Special point out additionally goes to Geelong defender Zach Touhy, whose 265th AFL look on Sunday means he has now surpassed the late Jim Stynes for essentially the most VFL/AFL video games performed by an Irish-born participant. Port Adelaide veteran Charlie Dixon performed his two hundredth AFL recreation because the Power defeated his former membership Gold Coast.
TRIBUNAL WATCH: Richmond co-captain Toby Nankervis is going through a ban of a minimum of three weeks after being despatched on to the tribunal for the excessive bump that left Sydney’s Jake Lloyd concussed. GWS defender Nick Haynes was handed a one-match ban for a harmful deal with on Hawthorn’s Josh Ward. Essendon ruckman Andrew Phillips will face scrutiny over a excessive bump on Adelaide’s Reilly O’Brien.
INJURIES: J Bauer (Rich, hamstring), T McKenzie (PA, ankle), S Ross (SK, hamstring), M King (SK, shoulder), Z Cordy (SK, concussion), L Keeffe (GWS, hamstring), X O’Halloran (GWS, hand), W Hoskin-Elliott (Coll, hand), R Gardner (WB, ankle), J Ridley (Ess, knee), G Logue (NM, knee)
WHAT’S NEXT: Sydney host the Western Bulldogs on Thursday night time, with Melbourne going through Brisbane on the MCG in a top-four blockbuster on Friday night time. Collingwood tackle Fremantle on the MCG on Saturday, with Port Adelaide aiming to make it 14 straight wins once they face Carlton at Marvel Stadium.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
