Logan Morris booted a career-high six majors as reigning Premiers Brisbane put last week’s Q-Clash horror show behind them by beating Collingwood at the MCG.
The 20-year-old key forward, the youngest Lions player to ever feature in a grand final, was in scintillating form and not fazed at all by the 82,326-strong crowd – he is proving to be a real asset to the side, following the retirement of Joe Daniher, up top.
It was also a big night for young ruckman Henry Smith, who came in for his first match of the year to replace the injured Oscar McInerney. He repaid the faith shown in him by coach Chris Fagan with an excellent showing and played a pivotal role.
The result sees the Magpies dethroned from top spot, a position that they had held since round ten back in May, and hitting a sticky spot at just the wrong time by dropping the last three out of four – it now puts a double chance in real jeopardy.
Crows now installed as flag favourites
In a highly anticipated clash that certainly lived up to its billing, Adelaide have now taken over as ladder leaders after seeing off Hawthorn in an absolute beauty.
Before a sold-out Oval, the match featured big momentum swings, in which both teams had control, but it was the hosts that made the most of theirs and prevailed.
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A huge deciding factor, in the result, came late in the fourth when the usually reliable Massimo D’Ambrosio missed an absolute sitter for the Hawks, just 20 yards out, before play quickly switched ends, where Taylor Walker booted the sealer.
The Crows haven’t been involved in the September action since 2017 but are the in-form squad and have been installed as the new bookmakers’ favourites for the flag.
Doggies rip the Giants apart
The Western Bulldogs are firmly banging on the door of the all-important eight after taking care of a disappointing Greater Western Sydney outfit in clinical fashion.
Criticised for their win-loss record against teams in that part of the ladder, with an eight-in-one record in 2025, they didn’t just beat the Giants but thrashed them by 88 points.
In truth, such was their dominance, they could have won by an even bigger margin, but registered 18 behinds – it is the fourth time this campaign that they have triumphed by an 80+ margin and are currently the highest scorers in the competition.
Forwards Sam Darcy (pictured below, left) and Aaron Naughton (pictured below, right), both in a rich vein of form, each snagged five each while youngster Lachlan McNeil helped himself to a career-high three.
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As part of the AFL’s Cultural Heritage Series, viewers of both Fox Footy and Kayo were able to listen to an alternative commentary, complete with key on-screen graphics, in Hindi as Rajbir Ghuman and Harbir Singh Kang called all the action.
Cameron closing in on second Coleman
Geelong put up a score of over 150 points, for the third time this campaign, in hammering a Port Adelaide outfit that faded away very badly after the first quarter.
Once more, Jeremy Cameron was amongst the goals with another bag of six to take his tally to 75 and is now almost guaranteed a second Coleman Medal of his career.
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Substitute Jack Martin (pictured above) certainly made a real impact, following his introduction, as he scored four times in five minutes sixteen seconds – the quickest haul since 1970.
To highlight the contribution regional football clubs make to the sport, the Cats wore a commemorative guernsey featuring the colours of every player’s junior or local club – whether Australian Rules or Gaelic Football – with 36 represented in total on it.
Records broken at People First Stadium
A rampant Gold Coast avenged their shock defeat to lowly Richmond, back in April, by handing them their heaviest defeat of the season in an 84-point demolition.
Not only did the Suns register their highest ever score against the Tigers, it was also the biggest winning margin against them and a great percentage boost as well.
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The Queenslanders, who were never troubled in this contest at all, are chasing their first finals appearance in club history and have things firmly in their own hands.
Adam Yze’s young outfit, amid a complete rebuild, has been mostly competitive, but this was a day to forget. They were kept goalless in the first half, only scored two majors for the game and kept to their fifth lowest score ever since 1925.
Saints hold on to see of Kangas
St.Kilda had to survive some nervous final few moments and resort to some desperate defending before falling over the line against lowly North Melbourne.
Nick Larkey got the fast-finishing Kangas within a kick, but despite pushing hard to complete the comeback, they ultimately fell to their 17th defeat of the year.
For the Saints, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera showed just why he is the most talked about footballer, at the moment, with another best on-ground display that included 36 disposals, nine clearances, nine score involvements and 677 metres gained.
The 22-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season. It faces a big decision with several clubs looking to secure his signature, including the two from his native South Australia, in what is likely to be the highest-paid offer in AFL history.
However, he gave absolutely nothing away when interviewed, post-match on Fox Footy, saying, “I’ll sort that out with the club and my manager but just sort of going about my business playing footy at the moment. So, that’ll come in due time.”
Demons thrash Eagles in one-sided affair
Melbourne returned to the winners’ circle, leading all afternoon, as they romped to a comfortable success over bottom side West Coast in a pretty one-sided affair.
Having been on the wrong end of the biggest ever final-term comeback in history, six days ago, they were keen to make amends and restore some pride to the group.
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Vice-captain Jack Viney (pictured above) lined up for his 234th appearance in a Demons Guernsey to surpass his All-Australian father Todd who played between 1987-1999 for the club.
It was a big afternoon for debutant Jai Culley, previously delisted by the Eagles, as he made his debut having been given a second chance after being signed in the Supplemental Selection Period as a replacement for Andy Moniz-Wakefield.
Jayden Nguyen makes AFL history
It may not have been the prettiest, but that won’t bother Sydney too much as they managed to get the job done against Essendon in the annual Pride Game.
Ruckman Brodie Grundy (pictured below) stood out by recording a career-high 39 disposals, 17 first possessions, 13 clearances, eight score involvements as well as eight marks.
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Although he finished on the losing side, Bombers debutant Jayden Nguyen made AFL history by becoming the first player of Vietnamese descent to play at this level.
The 19-year-old defender is a former member of the James Hird Academy/NGA program and earned a call-up to the side after impressing in the VFL with Aberfeldie.
Round 21 Results
Western Bulldogs 19.18 (132)
GWS 6.8 (44)
Adelaide 15.11 (101)
Hawthorn 13.9 (87)
Melbourne 21.13 (139)
West Coast 8.8 (56)
Gold Coast 16.11 (107)
Richmond 2.11 (23)
Sydney 9.14 (68)
Essendon 7.12 (54)
Collingwood 10.5 (65)
Brisbane 14.8 (92)
St.Kilda 11.12 (72)
North Melbourne 10.9 (69)
Geelong 23.15 (153)
Port Adelaide 9.11 (65)
Fremantle 15.4 (94)
Carlton 10.7 (67)
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