The Western Bulldogs are a shadow of their 2016 premiership version, they barely got close to Sydney in their clash on Thursday, losing by 46 points. 

Interestingly, the refreshed Brisbane and Carlton, who were heavily unfavoured in their matchups, won against the unrested Fremantle and GWS.

Melbourne surged back into the top eight, defeating a gallant Collingwood by four points in their annual Queen’s Birthday clash in front of over 70,000 people at the MCG. 

The only team to lose coming off the bye was St Kilda, who travelled to Adelaide to play the Crows. The AFL must be careful with their fixturing of the bye Rounds moving forward.

Adelaide are once again kings of the table with a league best percentage of 141.75. You have to wonder how long it will last given the way the erratic season has unfolded.

THE GOOD

Milestone man fit and firing

Matthew Kreuzer’s 150-game career has been plagued by injuries, playing 20 games or more in just four of his 10 seasons.

Drafted with the first pick of the 2007 National Draft, Carlton picked Kreuzer ahead of Trent Cotchin, Patrick Dangerfield and Alex Rance.

He’s now justifying that selection, averaging career-highs in disposals, tackles and hitouts in 2017. He outdueled Shane Mumford and monstered the Giants with 21 disposals, 6 marks, 8 tackles, 33 hitouts and 1 goal on the weekend.

He is the in-form ruckman of the competition and pressing his case for All-Australian selection.

Walla’s wizardry

Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti’s highlight reel was in full flight on Saturday night. First came his best Gary Moorcraft impression, dropping a goal of the year contender on Jack Hombsch‘s head in the goalsquare.

Then came one of the goals of the season. The Tiwi Island native outclassed Hamish Hartlett in the forward pocket to keep the ball in, before kicking a banana goal to put an exclamation point on Essendon’s big night. 

Howe in the heavens

Jeremy Howe seems to take mark of the year every week, but this was something special. A Melbourne kick in to a big pack created the perfect stage for the high flyer.

The ex-Demon leaped onto Tom McDonald’s shoulders, then further propelled himself to take the mark. Howe displays hops that would even challenge the most athletic NBA players. 

THE BAD

Clarko’s ‘disgraceful’ call

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson has been fined $20,000 for saying the umpires were “disgraceful” following his side’s loss to Gold Coast.

In a silver lining, the AFL will donate $5,000 of the fine to the Freeze MND charity led by former Melbourne coach Neale Daniher.

Swans’ halt JJ’s run

Jason Johannisen has done serious damage to the Sydney Swans in recent times. He kicked the match winning goal against them at the SCG last year and ran rampant in the Grand Final to claim the Norm Smith Medal.

Not this time. George Hewett played a defensive role on Johannisen and didn’t allow him to run loose. The Swans bumped and harassed him at every opportunity, in one of the smartest coaching tactics of the season. He finished with just 9 disposals and had very little impact.

Spare the celebrations

Rhys Mathieson is not afraid of the limelight. We all remember his shotgun goal celebration after his first career-major last year. No, he didn’t bring it back, but unleashed something just as cringe worthy

Raising both arms as he ran back with a taunt like WWE’s Randy Orton, Mathieson celebrated a goal which could only be described as a: “Look at me, look at me” moment by Hawthorn legend Dermot Brereton.

THE UGLY

Greene’s nightmare fourth quarter

Late in the final term, Toby Greene missed a golden opportunity to put the Giants in front, blemishing an easy shot on the run. Then, in the Giant’s last roll of the dice inside 50 with a minute left, he chipped a meaningless kick into the pocket that resulted in a turnover.

Greene has been the mailman for GWS on numerous occasions in clutch moments, because he always delivers. Unfortunately, the mailman doesn’t deliver on Sundays.