WHAT HAPPENED IN ROUND SIX OF THE AFL SEASON:
THEY SAID IT: “I thought they’re the best side we’ve played this year.” – Richmond coach Damien Hardwick on Collingwood after his side’s pulsating win at the MCG, a comment sure to raise eyebrows at Adelaide given the Crows inflicted the Tigers’ only loss of the season in round two.
STAT THAT MATTERS: 0-6. Carlton’s win-loss record to start the season is the worst in their 122-year VFL/AFL history. And it’s hard to see where they’ll find a win before the mid-year bye with games against Adelaide, Essendon, Melbourne, Geelong and Sydney to come.
MAN OF THE ROUND: Josh Kennedy. West Coast’s Josh Kennedy deserves a nod for becoming the Eagles’ all-time leading goalkicker, but Sydney’s Josh Kennedy was the true hero of round six. The Swans skipper had 13 of his game-high 33 disposals in the final quarter as his side erased a 22-point three-quarter time deficit to score a famous win over Geelong at The Cattery.
KEY MOMENT: Collingwood had two chances to slice Richmond’s lead to 14 points with five minutes left on the clock, but Jordan De Goey then Tom Phillips couldn’t find the goals. Tigers skipper Trent Cotchin’s saving tackle on the goal line started a slingshot play that ended with a Dan Butler goal that helped seal an epic win.
TALKING POINTS: Should the AFL scrap match-day reports made by umpires? Geelong coach Chris Scott said Jordan Murdoch’s report for rough conduct on Sydney’s Isaac Heeney highlighted the absurdity of match-day reporting. Murdoch made minimal contact with Heeney and is likely to have the charge thrown out.
TRIBUNAL WATCH: AFL match review officer Michael Christian shouldn’t take too long to cancel out Murdoch’s report for rough conduct. Port Adelaide’s Darcy Byrne-Jones was reported for rough conduct on North Melbourne skipper Jack Ziebell in the third quarter of their win over the Roos at Etihad Stadium. West Coast’s Chris Masten was involved in a tussle with Fremantle’s Ed Langdon that will come under scrutiny.
KEY INJURIES: G Horlin-Smith (Geel, concussion), C Wingard (PA, hamstring), A Corr (GWS, shoulder), Z Langdon (GWS, knee), D Mackay (Adel, glute), T Walker (Adel, hamstring), J Hogan (Mel, ankle), J Aish (Coll, knee), B Reid (Coll, Achilles), Brayden Maynard (Coll, ankle), M Walters (Fre, knee).
WHAT’S NEXT: Geelong and Greater Western Sydney kick off round seven when the Giants visit GMHBA Stadium on Friday night. The Bombers will attempt to get their season back on track when they resume their rivalry with Hawthorn at the MCG on Saturday. The top-of-the-table Tigers host Fremantle in the early game on Sunday.