If the finals began now, none in the opening week would be played in Melbourne, the home of football. Take a moment to let that sink in.

Geelong did no justice to the idea that they don’t rely on Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood. With their stars missing through suspension and injury, the Cats were flattened at their trusty home base of Simonds Stadium by the Swans.

The Crows continue their lead at the top of the table with the Giants not far behind. The Tigers have emerged as genuine premiership contenders, defeating the Hawks and claiming third place.

Who could have predicted Richmond would be third back in April when experts were questioning Damien Hardwick’s direction?     

At the other end, the terrible ‘T’ word has returned as North Melbourne, Carlton and Brisbane contend for the wooden spoon.

Supports of these sides can sit back and enjoy the exposure of their youth, knowing that a loss brings them closer to that treasured number one pick.
 

THE GOOD

A cult hero

Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti has the heart of a lion. In a play that would’ve tested his stamina, he fought off three Carlton players on the boundary line to paddle the ball to the goal square.

As the ball nutmegged Sam Petrevski-Seton, McDonald-Tipungwuti ran around him and kicked the ball through the goals. Later, McDonald-Tipungwuti kicked the match winning goal, after slipping through Carlton’s defense and winning a crucial foot race. He finished with three majors for the afternoon,

The Bombers have profited big time from their 2016 Rookie Draft pick 22. McDonald-Tipungwuti was one of the great finds for the Bombers last year, cementing a spot in their best 22 as a defender.

His move to the forward line this season has been a coaching master stroke, chopping defenses apart with his deadly pace and uncompromising energy.  

 

Trademark Treloar

WWE has the pedigree, tombstone piledriver and powerbomb. Adam Treloar might have to come up with his own name for this one. In a game that didn’t have many highlights, Treloar delivered a signature move that Collingwood fans are becoming familiar with.

Treloar burst through the center of Etihad Stadium at full pace, splitting every North Melbourne player. He bombed it from inside the center square to kick truly through the goals. Normally we might see one or two bounces, but this time Treloar delivered one from downtown.

 

Grunt of the Irish

Anthony Miles ran into an open goal square to seal the game for Richmond – or so he thought. Hawthorn’s new Irish recruit, Connor Glass, come out of nowhere to forcefully bump Miles to the deck, causing him to drop the ball. Glass ensured it rolled over the goal line for a point.

Perhaps Miles was distracted by future Brownlow Medalist, Dustin Martin running by his side. Luckily the play didn’t affect the result, but Miles may be sweating about his place in the team after botching the easiest shot on goal he’ll ever see. 

THE BAD

The ‘perfect tackle’  

The perfect take down or suspension worthy? Brodie Grundy laid a contentious tackle on Ben Brown where he pinned his arms and drove him head first into the ground. Brown was stretchered off with concussion and taken to hospital.

Nathan Buckley labelled it a ‘perfect tackle’, but it’ll cost the Pies’ ruckman a week, maybe two. Just a week after Dangerfield was controversially suspended for a similar tackle, the AFL is clearly trying to remove such antics.

The players now have a duty of care every time they step onto the field, from bumping, to tackling, to sledging. It’s a new age and a line’s been drawn to protect the health, safety and warfare of the players.

 

Always take your first option

Last week, a McGovern was the hero. This week, he was the villain.

In the dying stages of the game and West Coast’s season on the line, Jeremy McGovern ignored a simple hand pass to the sweeping Sam Mitchell. Instead, he ran back into traffic and got tackled, turning the ball over. The turnover resulted in a Jack Billings goal that sealed St Kilda’s win

McGovern can’t be blamed for the result, but it was a moment that personified West Coast’s season – too slow and unconvincing. What hurts more is that it cost them a position in the top eight and means the Saints are breathing down their neck with equal points.  

 

League punching bag

Zach Merrett will almost certainly be suspended by the Match Review Panel after jumper punching Carlton’s Lachie Plowman. Two weeks ago, Dayne Zorko was handed a one-week suspension for striking Plowman and Toby Greene was suspended for two games after jumper punching Alex Rance.

The AFL has made a strong stance against any sort of foul acts this year and Merrett, like Zorko and Greene before him will be penalized. Merret is set to miss Essendon’s crucial clash with Adelaide.

It’s also not crazy to think Merrett could win this year’s Brownlow Medal. Imagine if he and Dangerfield placed first and second in this year’s count? Stranger things have happened. 

THE UGLY

Betts out powers Port

Adelaide ambushed Port Adelaide in Showdown 43 and defeated them by 84 points. The Crows established themselves as premiership favourites, while the Power lessened their premiership credentials, dropping out of the top four.   

Eddie Betts’ highlight reel was in full force, kicking four goals in a return from appendix surgery in the days following Adelaide’s Round 18 win over Geelong.

Betts kicked an extraordinary banana goal from the boundary line that left the FOX Sports commentary box stunned, reminding fans how much we love the goal sneak magician.