It’s been renowned as the closest season in years. As we edge closer to the finish line, the arms race is becoming clearer.
THE BAD
Goldy’s blunder
With only seconds remaining, Todd Goldstein missed a routine set shot, 20 meters out on a slight angle that would’ve sealed the win for North Melbourne. He missed by a fair margin too.
The set shot ensured Fremantle’s victory and puts more scrutiny on Goldstein, whose been under pressure all year with his form woes and Braydon Preuss waiting in the wings as his replacement.

Talking the talk
Brayden Maynard was all talk and no action on Saturday afternoon against Essendon. The 20-year old found himself in a war of words, even staging for a free kick after receiving micro bump from Joe Daniher after one of his three goals.
His direct opponent, Orazio Fantasia, kicked five majors and Maynard was the catalyst for a series of goals due to poor defence and sloppy turnovers.
Maynard may have to spend a week in the VFL for disciplinary reasons and let his footy do the talking.
Cripps’ bad break
Carlton young gun Patrick Cripps suffered an accidental kick from Jayden Hunt in the second quarter that caused him to miss the remainder of the game. He tried to exit the field by himself but had to be helped by trainers.
Cripps will miss the remainder of the 2017 season after scans revealed he fractured his fibula in the incident but will not require surgery.
THE UGLY
Tigers tamed
A week on from reaching the top four and being labelled genuine premiership fancies, Richmond suffered a disastrous 67-point loss to St Kilda on Saturday night.

St Kilda buried Richmond in the second quarter with nine unanswered goals to set up an 82-point lead at the half time break. Dustin Martin, Trent Cotchin and Alex Rance were all kept quiet and the Tigers’ second string players failed to step up.
It was a night commemorating Maddie Riewoldt, with the traditional ‘Coventry’ and ‘Lockett’ ends being re-named ‘Maddie’ and ‘Riewoldt’. Nearly 50,000 piled into Etihad Stadium to see the Saints, who had their usual red step replaced with a purple one, devastate the Tigers.
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