Collingwood has boosted his hopes for the final with a thrilling arch rival Carlton, who lost star defender Jacob Weitering to a shoulder injury.
Meanwhile, the Power defeated Essendon by 16 points in the Adelaide Oval, and St Kilda enjoyed a convincing 53-point victory over North Melbourne in the Docklands.
Weitering was replaced in Sunday’s clash at a strong MCG midway through the first quarter, leaving a big hole in the Blues’ bottom line.
The Magpies took advantage to survive their old enemies in a victory of 11.13 (79) to 11.9 (75).
The result was not resolved until the last seconds, when Jack Silvagni’s desperate bot from the congestion deviated agonizingly for the blues.
A crowd of 80,627 people witnessed the absorbing contest, the second highest attendance at an AFL party since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was the Magpies ’second win over one of the top four contenders in so many rounds after last week’s win over Fremantle, improving their record of 6-5 wins and losses and putting them on the brink of the top eight.
Young striker Oliver Henry regained his place in Collingwood’s 22 starters and scored three goals in a major contribution, which included two majors last season to help keep the Blues at bay.
Steele Sidebottom and Patrick Lipinski scored two goals each while Jack Crisp (27 eliminations), Jordan De Goey (24 eliminations, one goal) and Taylor Adams (21 eliminations) set to work in midfield.
They were involved in a tough battle with a Carlton ball division led by Adam Cerra (30 eliminations), George Hewett (31) and Sam Walsh (35).
Key striker Charlie Curnow scored four goals for the Blues, including the last two of the game to give his team a late chance to claim victory.
A fierce opener was found to be in the arms of Adams, who aimed to score another goal for FC.
The whimsical kick in goal kept the Magpies ahead in the second quarter by just 18 points and disappeared in a quick time when Cripps started a comeback.
The Blues scored the last four goals of the first half to advance by six points in the main break.
But they did not find the big opening in the third legislature, as the three goals to none of the Magpies gave them an 11-point cushion in the final change.
Jesse Motlop broke the deadlock when he passed a review of the score, dragging Carlton back with a kick.
Mason Cox got on his nerves with a shot from 15 yards out and Tyler Brown’s bot gave the Magpies more room to breathe.
But the Blues came back, with Curnow’s third and fourth goals putting them within reach of victory, before Silvagni missed a great goal with the final chance of the match.
Power comes home against the Fire Department
The parish of Darcy d’Essendon (left) faces defensive pressure from the Ollie Wines of Port Adelaide. (AAP: Matt Turner)
Port Adelaide survived a great fright from the humble Essendon to win a victory and sweep a short distance from the top eight.
The Power, with Charlie Dixon scoring two goals in their first AFL game this year, won 9.12 (66) to 6.14 (50).
After five straight losses to start the season, the Power is now in 11th place with five wins and six losses, just one win out of eight.
The Fire Department, on the other hand, is 16th with just two wins, with their final hopes coming into their mid-season farewell.
The Power took a 31-point lead at halftime (8.4 to 2.9) against the rebel Fire Department.
Essendon produced a vigorous fight in the third quarter with four consecutive goals to sneak to eight points.
But the Power, after advancing by 14 points in the last change, dominated the last quarter when neither team scored a goal.
Brownlow medalist for The Power, Ollie Wines (29 eliminations, six in the 50), Karl Amon (25 eliminations) and Zak Butters (24 eliminations, one goal) were instrumental in repelling the Fire Department’s challenge.
And Power pitcher Dixon successfully bounced back from the AFL after ankle surgery, and ended up as the only multi-goal pitcher in a rain-soaked second half game.
Dendy Parish of Essendon was the main winner of the match ball, with his 39 eliminations with 18 disputed possessions and nine participations.
Power scored four goals in the first quarter and after adding three more unanswered majors in the second period, maintained a 44-8 lead.
Essendon scored the last eight before ruckman Andrew Phillips kicked his team’s first goal in the 12th minute of the second season.
The Fire Department dropped 31 points in the half, but added four straight goals in the third quarter, the last of which, by Sam Durham, was then just eight points behind.
The Fire Department were 14 in the quarterfinals and were unable to advance in a goalless run last season.
The saints add the problems of the kangaroos
Tim Membrey was overjoyed during the Saints’ victory over the Kangaroos. (Getty Images: Robert Cianflone)
St Kilda did not cease in North Melbourne, dominating the distressed kangaroos.
Saints coach Brett Ratten saw it as a dangerous game, but his team led by a regulation victory of 16.7 (103) to 7.8 (50).
Midfielders Jack Sinclair and Seb Ross starred in the Saints, while Brad Hill had a maximum of 33 possessions and Max King scored three goals.
Small striker Jade Gresham, who scored two goals, and defender Callum Wilkie also impressed.
The Saints, much improved, enter the mid-season break with a record of 8-3 wins and losses.
Kangaroo captain Jack Ziebell threw a goal in his 250th game, but after a competitive start his team was no match for the Saints.
Another week of crisis follows on Arden Street, with the resignation of three of its recruitment staff and the great Wayne Carey of Kangaroos criticizing the club.
After Ziebell’s goal in the third quarter, the Saints took advantage of the basic mistakes of the Kangaroos defense and their four-goal streak ended hopes of an annoying result.
Mitch Owens was the scorer.
Saints’ young Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, the nephew of AFL’s great Gavin Wanganeen, marked Sir Douglas Nicholls Round with a bullet pass that found King in the middle of a kangaroo defender’s nest.
King scored his second goal.
Jang Simpkin of the Kangaroos had 29 dismissals and scored his first goal of the season.
Scale
AAP / ABC
Posted 7 hours 7 hours ago dig. May 29, 2022 at 3:00 am, last updated 43 minutes ago 43 minutes ago dig. May 29, 2022 at 9:25 AM