A snapshot of round 10 of the AFL season, where Adelaide caused the upset of the year by inflicting Melbourne with their first loss of 2021.
SNAPSHOT OF ROUND 10 OF THE AFL SEASON
THEY SAID IT:
"If you're going to have a player from your team at 40 metres, dead in front, he is the guy to have with the ball."
- Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks on Taylor Walker, who kicked the match-winning goal against Melbourne with less than a minute remaining.
STATS THAT MATTER:
Carlton secured their first victory over Hawthorn at the MCG in 21 years, breaking the Hawks' nine-game winning run at the venue against the Blues. The Blues' previous victory came on July, 2 2000 - the same day Carlton star Sam Walsh was born.
PLAYER OF THE ROUND:
Lance Franklin. The Sydney veteran wound back the clock with a six-goal haul in his side's two-point loss to Fremantle. Three of Franklin's goals were from beyond the arc, and his three-goal burst in the final term almost got the Swans over the line.
KEY MOMENT:
The Brisbane Lions were seriously threatened by their bogey side, Richmond, in the first half of the Friday night showdown at the Gabba. But Chris Fagan's side was able to shrug off the fierce pressure applied by the Tigers and record their sixth-straight win. The result leaves the Lions in fourth at 7-3, while the reigning premiers are 5-5 but will regain several flag heroes in coming weeks.
TALKING POINT:
Adelaide produced the upset of the season when they downed previously unbeaten Melbourne in a one-point thriller. But late umpiring decisions in that contest will be reviewed by the AFL. The Demons unsuccessfully appealed for a deliberate out-of-bounds free kick against Ganmain's Nick Murray in their forward line in the dying seconds, although video footage from a boundary angle appears to show the fist of Melbourne's Charlie Spargo deflected the ball towards the line. Crows midfielder Ben Keays also appeared to be caught holding the ball before managing a kick to Taylor Walker, who slotted the match-winning goal.
INJURIES:
Adam Treloar (Bulldogs, ankle), Anthony Scott (Bulldogs, head knock), Matt Taberner (Frem, ankle), Tom Hickey (Syd, knee), Robbie Fox (Syd, eye), Mitch Duncan (Geel, concussion), Sam Taylor (GWS, ankle), Jack Buckley (GWS, ankle), Alex Witherden (WC, groin).
WHAT'S NEXT:
Ladder-leaders Western Bulldogs and Melbourne face off in a blockbuster 1 v 2 battle at Marvel Stadium on Friday night. All other games are finals contenders against bottom-10 teams, or strugglers facing off, as is the case with Gold Coast against Hawthorn in Darwin on Saturday night.
-- with AAP