AFL Saturday Scoreboard: Crows Pip Demons, Blues Lead Giants, Hawk Suspensions

AFL Saturday Scoreboard

By Andrew McGarry

Giants vs Blues

Crows vs Demons

Matthew Cottrell struts after another Carlton goal

M By Michael Doyle

Brilliant pressure from Carlton led to another goal.

Blake Acres smothered a handpass deep in GWS territory, and then gathered the loose ball and handpassed to Matthew Cottrell.

Off a step, Cottrell snapped through the big sticks, then he strutted away from goal like it was all too easy.

Francis Evans kicks his third goal for Carlton

M By Michael Doyle

Great start to the second half for Carlton.

GWS were unable to clear the ball effectively from the defensive 50, and the Blues turned the ball over.

Patrick Cripps tapped the ball down inside forward 50 and Francis Evans was there to pick up the loose ball.

Evans broke a tackle, then snapped off his right foot for his third goal of the match.

Blues lead by 17.

Second half between GWS and Carlton begins

M By Michael Doyle

Match report: Crows claw their way back for thrilling win over Dees

A By Andrew McGarry

Adelaide, the AFL's great escape artists, have come from behind to pip Melbourne by 17 points and climb to fifth on the ladder.

The Crows, after trailing for most of Saturday afternoon's thriller at Adelaide Oval, booted the last two goals for a precious 11.13 (79) to 9.8 (62) victory.

With a fourth win by 17 points or less this season, Adelaide stole fifth spot from the Demons, who slip to sixth.

Melbourne led at the quarter breaks by eight, one and two points, but key Crow Riley Thilthorpe kicked the go-ahead goal 22 minutes into the final term.

And Josh Rachele slotted his third major on the final siren to steer the Crows to a 9-5 win-loss record — the same as the Dees.

Adelaide skipper Jordan Dawson (18 disposals) was relatively quiet but kicked two goals, Rachele's triple treats came from 17 touches, and Darcy Fogarty booted two goals.

Adelaide defenders Wayne Milera (27 disposals, one goal) and Rory Laird (26 possessions) were outstanding, and Sam Berry's breakout season continued with 24 touches, seven clearances and eight score involvements.

Melbourne captain Max Gawn was superb with 28 disposals and 31 hitouts, and Jacob van Rooyen kicked three goals in a first-term blitz.

And while Kysaiah Pickett was restricted to just 15 disposals by James Peatling and forced into attack in the frenetic final term, Jake Lever, in his 200th AFL game and against his former club, was a standout in defence.

His teammates Jake Bowey (24 touches) and Daniel Turner (22) were other chief ball-winners for the visitors, who have a bye next weekend, when the Crows face home-town rivals Port Adelaide.

The Demons, sparked by van Rooyen, gained an early edge by kicking 5.0 to 3.4 in the opening term when Adelaide's Izak Rankine, after a two-game injury absence, set up two of the Crows' majors with class passes.

Adelaide kicked the only two goals of a tight second stanza, with Dawson's conversion on the run from 55 metres a highlight.

Melbourne's first-term accuracy deserted them, scoring 0.6 for the quarter — they led at halftime 5.6 to 5.5.

Each team scored three goals in a proverbial arm-wrestle of a third quarter when the Crows took the lead briefly.

But double strikes from Melbourne's Kade Chandler gave the visitors a two-point buffer at three-quarter time, 8.8 to 8.6.

Goalsneak Rachele then took centre stage with two goals in the last quarter, punctuated by Thilthorpe's major, as the home side banked a hard-fought triumph.

AAP

Hawk cops three match ban for breaking Suns' jaw

M By Michael Doyle

— reporting by AAP

Hawthorn defender Josh Weddle has been handed a three-match suspension, with Gold Coast's Sam Clohesy also facing a rough-conduct ban after a first half of carnage.

Weddle is set to miss against GWS, Melbourne and Carlton after his late hit on Daniel Rioli left the Suns star with a fractured jaw.

Rioli had already disposed of the ball when he copped contact to the jaw from Weddle's shoulder, with Suns coach Damien Hardwick saying the defender will miss "some time".

Loading Instagram content

The incident in the second quarter of Hawthorn's 16-point win at People First Stadium was graded as careless conduct, severe impact and high contact.

Rioli's teammate Clohesy copped a two-match ban for his driving tackle on Hawk Cam Nairn, also during the second quarter.

Nairn was able to return to the match after the tackle, with the incident graded as careless conduct, high impact and high contact.

Clohesy will miss Gold Coast's away clash against league leaders Fremantle, and a home match against Collingwood.

Hawthorn also lost Jarman Impey to a hamstring injury in the first half, with the club expecting the veteran defender to miss several weeks.

Hawks star Jack Ginnivan also drew the ire of the match review officer for striking Suns opponent Zeke Uwland, but he can accept a $1000 fine.

Crows coach Matthew Nicks says the Adelaide club will always be with Tony Modra

M By Michael Doyle

AFL great Tony Modra was involved in a truck crash earlier this week, taken to hospital in a critical condition.

It is an incident which has saddened the football community, especially the Crows where Modra was not only a great player but remains a very popular member of the club.

Following their win over Melbourne earlier today, Crows coach Matthew Nicks said the Adelaide club will be with Modra and his family ever step of the way through this difficult time.

I don't know exactly yet where Mods is at. My thoughts and prayers are with him.

I know that he will fight his way through it. It's tough to hear but what we do know we will be there for he and the family, no matter where this goes.

HT stats

A By Andrew McGarry

Inside 50s: 32-23 Carlton

Clearances: 20-16 Carlton

Centre clearances: 8-4 Carlton

Contested possessions: 66-63 Carlton

Uncontested possessions: 117-109 GWS

Marks inside 50s: 8-4 Carlton

Tackles: 25-22 GWS

HT: Carlton 6.10 (46) leads GWS 5.6 (36)

A By Andrew McGarry

The half ends with a bit of frustration for Carlton.

Patrick Cripps is dominating - he has 20 touches and five clearances to the long break - got the ball on 50 and chipped to hit up Brodie Kemp, but Kemp missed from in front.

The Blues lead by 10 at the siren - but it could have been more.

The Giants are still in this, but they can't count on Carlton doing half their job for them. They must lift.

Blues keep their composure and kick another goal

A By Andrew McGarry

The teams are going goal for goal in the final minutes of the half.

Sam Walsh marked on the left wing, he whirled and hoisted one to the square, and Will Hayward took the mark!

That's poor by the Giants defence.

Hayward snaps the goal, and Carlton should lead into half-time here.

Giants hit back through Stone

A By Andrew McGarry

We're just not seeing any separation between the teams here. Whenever one side breaks, the other hits back.

The Blues have just handed GWS a goal, with a stoppage in their defensive 50. A punch of the ball to the side landed in the arms of Conor Stone, and the Giants' player snapped his second of the game from the pocket.

Just two points in it in time on.

The Blues keep coming with goal to Brodie Kemp

A By Andrew McGarry

Carlton is sticking solidly to its plan, with plenty of pressure and a good handball game to move the ball fast.

They shift it forward, and the Giants defence makes a blue (small b, that is) with a high tackle on Brodie Kemp.

Kemp goes back and kicks the goal, and Carlton leads 5.8 (38) to 4.6 (30) approaching time on in the second quarter.

Giants reply to close the gap

A By Andrew McGarry

The Blues have been dominating the clearances, but they can't quite make it all pay.

They have the lead, but the Giants produce a goal from Conor Stone to bring the gap back to a point, nearly halfway through the second quarter.

It's not pretty stuff, but it's close!

Another Evans goal puts Carlton ahead

A By Andrew McGarry

Francis Evans is hardly Carlton's most high-profile forward, but he has kicked another to give the Blues the lead.

And now a point from Talor Byrne puts the lead beyond a kick.

Francis Evans kicks one to put the Blues level

A By Andrew McGarry

We're going goal for goal in Sydney!

The Blues have lifted to match the Giants, there's solid contests and Carlton get it in the right forward pocket - it's Francis Evans who gets the snap.

It's signalled a goal, there is a review, but no edge from the ARC!

The goal stands, and we're level again.

Toby Greene kicks GWS in front

A By Andrew McGarry

There's a bit of tension out there with the Giants, some chat between teammates there. But they get the job done.

A fierce tackle from Toby Bedford gets Patrick Cripps holding the ball, Finn Callaghan runs forward and kicks to the pocket where Toby Greene is in space.

He runs around, and snaps it home.

The Giants lead by six!

Hewett goal gives Carlton the lead

A By Andrew McGarry

Well we were just talking about clearances being at a premium.

The Blues have broken out of a middle, locked it inside 50, got a holding the ball free - and George Hewett has nailed the set shot from in front with 62 seconds gone in the second quarter.

QT stats

A By Andrew McGarry

Inside 50s: 18-12 Carlton

Clearances: 6-4 Carlton

Centre clearances: 3-1 Carlton

Contested possessions: 29-25 GWS

Uncontested possessions: 57-56 GWS

Marks inside 50: 5-3 Carlton

Tackles: 9-7 Carlton

It's been a scrappy term with clearances at a premium, just favouring Carlton, and the Blues have the edge in marks inside 50 - but they can't get the scores on the board.

QT: GWS 2.5 (17) leads Carlton 1.6 (12)

A By Andrew McGarry

The siren sounds and Jesse Hogan hits the post to end a mixed opening quarter at Sydney Showground.

There have been moments of attacking flair, and defensive desperation, but there has also been a lot of fumbly football.

If one of these sides gets it together, they could kick well clear.

If both of them do, we could be in for a cracker.