Australian Football

Round 10

Premiership Season 2017 - Round 10 Review

Total Crowd 331,567 (Avg 36,841)

Round 10 brought us Indigenous Round and the season a step closer to its midpoint, and there a perhaps two sides that could perhaps be seen as standout premiership chances, with Adelaide back to its best, thrashing Fremantle by three figures at home, and an undermanned GWS still managing to get over the line against West Coast at the Eagles' Subiaco fortress. The Crows and Giants have now both won eight of 10 games, and are deservingly at the top of the premiership odds list.

The round began with a thriller at Kardinia Park, where Geelong's premiership players from 2007 looked on as the Cats took on Port Adelaide. The Power had the better of the early stages of the game, but Geelong hit back to lead by 12 points in the second term. That turned out to be the biggest margin of the match, and the lead changed hands throughout the night before the Cats found themselves ahead by two points at the final siren, courtesy of a late goal to Patrick Dangerfield.

24 hours later another thriller played out at the SCG and for the second year in a row at the venue, Hawthorn pinched victory from Sydney. The Swans looked to have the game in hand having chased down an earlier Hawks lead but a long set shot from skipper Jarryd Roughead saw the visitors pip Sydney by six points.

At Docklands on Saturday, the reigning premiers the Western Bulldogs brushed off some indifferent recent form and also brushed aside a disappointing St Kilda outfit to win by 40 points. Jake Stringer returning from injury kicked five goals for the winners, four more than any other player on the ground.

Melbourne made its annual trip to Alice Springs this week and came away with the points after a strange match against the Gold Coast Suns. The Suns looked the goods leading by 30 points early in the third quarter but fell apart after that, the Demons turning the match on its head to win by 35 points.

Dreamtime at the 'G pitted a nervous Richmond against the improving Essendon on Saturday. Having lost three matches in a row by narrow margins, the Tigers looked like they could cough up yet another match when challenged in the final term, but they rose to the occasion and eked out an important 15-point win.

Saturday night's other match saw Adelaide host Fremantle. The two sides were only a game apart when the match began but by the end there was a 100-point margin between them as the Crows consolidated top place on the ladder while the Dockers revealed themselves to be possible top eight pretenders.`

Collingwood kept its finals hopes alive and coach Nathan Buckley in his job for a little longer by defeating bottom side Brisbane at the MCG on Sunday. The young Lions were good in patches but were unable to sustain their efforts for a full 120 minutes, and the Magpies saw them off comfortably in the end, winning by 45 points.

Across town at Docklands, North Melbourne was doing what many have come to expect of it in recent times, jumping out to a big lead before giving it up, this time to Carlton. Fortunately for the Kangaroos and their fans, this time around they recovered once they'd lost the lead, composing themselves for long enough to record a 17-point win.

The last match of the round was one of the best as top four sides West Coast and GWS battled it out at Subiaco. The Giants went into the match with a very much undermanned side but stayed within touch of the Eagles throughout the match before breaking away with a late burst of goals and then holding on to record an exciting eight-point win.

At the end of the round Adelaide and GWS had stolen a break on the other sides at the top of the ladder. The Crows and Giants each have eight wins, one ahead of Geelong, and two clear of the Western Bulldogs, Richmond and Fremantle. Round 11 will see six teams having a rest, Brisbane, Carlton, Melbourne, St Kilda, Sydney and the Bulldogs all having a bye.

Leading goalkickers after round 10

34 - Josh Kennedy (WCo)
33 - Jeremy Cameron (GWS)
32 - Lance Franklin (Syd)
31 - Eddie Betts (Adel)
29 - Joe Daniher (Ess)
28 - Tom Hawkins (Geel)
27 - Ben Brown (NM), Jack Riewoldt (Rich)
25 - Taylor Walker (Adel), Jeff Garlett (Melb)

R-10, Ladder