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Snapshot of round three action in the AFL

3 minute read

Dustin Martin will come under media scrutiny and Melbourne are also in strife with a 0-3 start, while West Coast won the grand final rematch.

DUSTIN MARTIN of the Tigers runs with the ball during the JLT Community Series AFL match between the Essendon Bombers and the Richmond Tigers at Norm Minns Oval in Wangaratta, Australia. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

WHAT HAPPENED IN ROUND THREE OF THE AFL:

THEY SAID IT: "Let the bloke play the game. Protect the ball carrier is what I'm saying. Don't get me wrong, de Boer did a terrific job, but geez ..." Richmond coach Damien Hardwick approached the emergency umpires at one stage on Saturday as GWS tagger Matt de Boer shut down Tigers star Dustin Martin.

STATS THAT MATTER: After making a preliminary final last year, Melbourne's season is on the brink at 0-3. The last time they were 0-3 was in 2013 and '14, when they finished second-last.

MAN OF THE ROUND: GWS star Jeremy Cameron dominated in the win over Richmond with 7.5 and 30 possessions. It's his highest score and he's also the first AFL player since Geelong's Steve Johnson in 2011 to kick seven goals and have 30 disposals in a game.

KEY MOMENT: Ed Richards was running into an open goal when the halftime siren beat him by a second. It was that sort of day for the Western Bulldogs, who lost to Gold Coast by five points.

TALKING POINT: Brisbane are unbeaten and Gold Coast have defied prophecies of doom with a 2-1 start. Isn't Queensland supposed to be the AFL's weakest link? Meanwhile, the Broncos, Titans and Cowboys are struggling in the NRL.

TRIBUNAL WATCH: Richmond star Dustin Martin had a bad day against GWS and he's certain to come under video review for an off-the-ball hit that cost the Tigers a goal.

KEY INJURIES: Paul Seedsman (Adelaide, knee) Tim Kelly (Geelong, ankle) Mark O'Connor (Geelong, hip) Andrew Phillips (Carlton, quad) Mitch McGovern (Carlton, hamstring) Will Hayward (Sydney, broken jaw) Jarrad McVeigh (Sydney, quad) Shaun McKernan (Essendon, hamstring) Kobe Mutch (Essendon, hamstring) Tom Rockliff (Port Adelaide, concussion) Robbie Gray (Port Adelaide, shoulder) Tommy Sheriden (GWS, calf) Jeremy Cameron (GWS, shoulder) Trent Cotchin (Richmond, hamstring) Jayden Short (Richmond, dislocated elbow) Jarryd Roughead (Hawthorn, corked thigh) Jaeger O'Meara (Hawthorn, hip) Luke Breust (Hawthorn, back) Nat Fyfe (Fremantle, concussion)

WHAT'S NEXT: Melbourne have a must-win game this Thursday night on the controversial SCG playing surface. Unbeaten Geelong host GWS on Saturday in the match of the round, while West Coast's Andrew Gaff faces Fremantle and Andrew Brayshaw in a massive Western Derby. Gold Coast will fancy their chances at home against winless Carlton.