The AFL’s top two teams have been shocked by strugglers, with West Coast losing to Brisbane on Sunday to cap a weekend of upsets and individual records.
Just three wins now separate the top 11 teams in the competition, and only the bottom three sides could be confidently ruled out as finals hopes after 10 rounds.
Ladder leaders West Coast and second-placed Essendon were stunned by Brisbane and previously winless Melbourne.
Brisbane’s James Polkinghorne kicked a 60-metre barrel in the final two minutes to win the match for the Lions at the Gabba on Sunday by two points over the Eagles.
On Saturday night, Melbourne stunned wayward Essendon by six points at the MCG to register their first win after a dire start to the year.
Superstars Lance Franklin and Gary Ablett also set individual milestones.
Franklin booted 13 goals in Hawthorn’s huge 115-point win over North Melbourne in Launceston on Saturday – the first player to kick that many goals in an AFL match since West Coast’s Scott Cummings booted 14 in 2000.
Then Gold Coast skipper Ablett equalled the record for most disposals in an AFL match with 53 touches in his side’s 97-point flogging by Collingwood at the MCG on Sunday.
It tied Sydney midfielder Greg Williams’ mark set in 1989.
West Coast remain top of the ladder on percentage despite their defeat, ahead of Essendon, Adelaide and Collingwood who also boast 8-2 win-loss records.
But Eagles coach John Worsfold believes his side’s defeat is not cause for concern if they regroup quickly, saying finals places are consolidated over full seasons, not one week.
“There are areas for improvement – we are not the team we want to be yet,” Worsfold said.
“There are upsets like this every year and this is that round,
“Every year there are times when a team like Hawthorn get on a roll and a bloke kicks 13 and they win by a hundred – just when you think it is not going to happen.
“Then there is a team who haven’t won a game yet and they get up against a fancied team.
“And there are teams that win tight games when it comes down to the bounce of the ball.
“That’s the game.”
Adelaide survived a late Fremantle charge to beat the Dockers by 29 points on Saturday and remain in the top four.
Sydney addressed some up-and-down recent form with a comfortable 92-point win over Western Bulldogs on Sunday at the SCG.
The Swans kicked a remarkable 9.0 in the first quarter on the way to a 20.12 (132) to 5.10 (40) victory.
Swans veteran Jude Bolton was outstanding with 41 disposals, seven clearances and two goals.
Geelong overran Greater Western Sydney by 65 points on Saturday, while on Friday night Richmond beat St Kilda by eight points in an epic at Etihad Stadium.