There were less matches in round 12 in the AFL, the first of the 'bye' rounds, but ladder leaders Melbourne knocked off another contender and under-fire Collingwood registered a much-needed win.
SNAPSHOT OF ROUND 12 OF THE AFL SEASON
THEY SAID IT:
"Any time you have anyone in the community reflect on the behaviours of your people in a negative way, it certainly makes your stomach turn."
- Adelaide's head of football Adam Kelly after the Crows were slugged with a $50,000 fine by the AFL for breaching coronavirus protocols.
STATS THAT MATTER: 44 disposals. That was the epic haul from Darcy Parish in the Bombers' 39-point Dreamtime loss to Richmond. It was the most disposals tallied by an Essendon player in AFL/VFL history, bettering the 43 recorded by Barry Davis against the Western Bulldogs in 1969.
PLAYER OF THE ROUND: Jamie Elliott missed nine matches with a broken leg but you wouldn't have known it when he kicked six goals on return to help steer Collingwood to a much-needed five-point win over Adelaide. Elliott burst out of the blocks with five goals in the first half and signed off with the matchwinner in a stirring performance.
KEY MOMENT: Energetic small forward Jack Higgins had two golden chances to put St Kilda in front during the final three minutes against Sydney, but missed them both and finished with 1.6 for the day. The Swans got home by nine points after James Rowbottom kicked the sealer with just seconds remaining. The Saints (5-7) now face a monumental challenge to reach the finals.
TALKING POINT: Given the raging success of the Dreamtime matches in Darwin and Perth over the past two years, as Richmond elder Neil Balme suggested last week, should the marquee fixture be shared among other states in Australia, even when there is no COVID-19 problem in Melbourne?
INJURIES: Ryan Lester (Bris, hamstring), Jarryn Geary (StK, dislocated shoulder), Mason Wood (StK, hamstring), Max King (StK, back), Dion Prestia (Rich, hamstring), Andrew McGrath (Ess, knee), David Zaharakis (Ess, hamstring), Harry McKay (Carl, concussion), Nic Newman (Carl, concussion), Brad Sheppard (WC, concussion). Stefan Martin (WB, shoulder), Griffin Logue (Frem, concussion), Nat Fyfe (Frem, shoulder), Sean Darcy (Frem, hamstring), Brennan Cox (Frem, hamstring).
TRIBUNAL WATCH: Brisbane captain Dayne Zorko was offered a one-match suspension for striking Melbourne's Tom McDonald in an off-the-ball incident on Friday night. McDonald didn't appear too bothered by the contact, giving Zorko a spray before helping the Lion get off the ground after their tussle. Fremantle defender Nathan Wilson could be in strife for purposely hitting an opponent in the groin.
WHAT'S NEXT: The exact details of round 13 are still yet to be confirmed by the AFL as it grapples with the fallout from Melbourne's COVID-19 outbreak. Flag contenders Port Adelaide and Geelong are slated to meet in a Thursday night blockbuster at Adelaide Oval, while St Kilda are awaiting confirmation their clash with Adelaide in Cairns will go ahead as planned. The West Coast-Richmond fixture has been brought forward to Sunday, with both sides to have their byes in round 14.