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Wayward goal kicking wasn’t enough to deny Essendon after a final term resurgence helped them to victory over Port Adelaide 9.18(72)-8.12(60) in Melbourne on Thursday.
On Friday, Carlton (11.9.75) started strongly in the first half but were run down by the Bulldogs (12.11.83) at Mavel Stadium on Friday.
At the MCG on Saturday, Melbourne (8.14.62) were never in the game as the Gold Coast Suns (18.12.120) ran away with it.
Also in Melbourne on Saturday, St Kilda (20.15.135) staged a second-half onslaught to account for Richmond (7.11.53).
In Launceston, ‘home side’ Hawthorn (10.16.76) staged a second-quarter six-goal revival to account for West Sydney Giants (9.10.64).
Hawks coach Sam Mitchell told a post-match press conference that he was “enormously proud” of our response to the Giants’ pressure.
“… they obviously jumped us. Their pressure and intensity early in the game was just a bit much to be honest. The breeze helped in the second but to maintain that in the third was pleasing.”
Giants coach Adam Kingsley says his team failed to capitalise on opportunities.
“Both teams are capable of scoring in short bursts … during those moments when the opposition has momentum, you need to be able to minimise the damage and we weren’t able to do that,” he said.
Reigning premiers Brisbane Lions (10.10.70) rallied in the face of a second-quarter four-goal attack by Geelong Cats (9.7.61) for the result at the Gabba.
At a post-match press conference, Cats coach Chris Scott was left to rue the result.
“We were in complete control early. We had a few issues that I won’t talk about that made it a bit harder for us,” he told journalists.
“We’ll rue the lost opportunity … it is a game of inches. It’s very annoying we let it slip.”
Hosts Adelaide (17.12.114) kicked four goals and in the second quarters and five in the third as they held out North Melbourne (12.6.78) for the win on Sunday.
In the other Sunday game, West Coast Eagles (10.8.68) were playing catch-up to Fremantle (15.16.106) all day at Optus Stadium in Perth.
