THE BAD

Champion dog down

Robert Murphy injured his hamstring late in the fourth quarter of the Western Bulldog’ stifling 40-point win over St Kilda. 

Murphy famously missed the Bulldogs' 2016 premiership triumph and deserves an honest shot at this season’s final campaign more than anyone.  Every AFL should want to see him there...

Falcon of the year 

Umpire Luke Walker was subbed out of the Melbourne v Gold Coast game after Sean Lemmens booted a goal straight into his face from the goal square. 

Remarkably, Walker got straight back up to award the Gold Coast goal.  

Walker has officiated more finals than any other goal umpire, including six grand finals. 

Deliberate?

One of the most controversial umpiring decisions of 2017 was paid against Richmond’s Jayden Short on Saturday night 

Short and Essendon’s Josh Green were sprinting full pelt towards the goal square, when Green stopped to allow Short to knock the ball over the line. The umpire ruled that Short wasn’t under pressure when he arrived to the ball, paying Green a free kick for a deliberate knock over. 

The decision is disheartening and cheats the spirit, awarding the player who gave up in the contest. 

THE UGLY

Anchored  

After a strong month of footy, the Dockers were destroyed by 100 points against the Crows on Saturday night in the pouring rain at Adelaide Oval.  

Dave Mundy, Michael Walters and Bradley Hill all had fewer than 15 disposals. 

Skipper Nathan Fyfe had 25 disposals and kicked a goal, but set a record for all the wrong reasons. Fyfe recorded 13 clangers, the most in a game in AFL/VFL history.