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A snapshot of round 16 of the AFL season, with GWS replacing Richmond in the top eight and Sydney making a big move as the finals scramble heated up.
SNAPSHOT OF ROUND 16 OF THE AFL SEASON
THEY SAID IT: "He doesn't look all that sexy, I suppose, in terms of the way he plays the game, but he's very, very effective" - Brisbane coach Chris Fagan on 150-gamer Jarryd Lyons. The midfielder was delisted by Gold Coast and torched another of his ex-clubs, Adelaide, on Saturday night with 31 disposals in his milestone match.
STATS THAT MATTER: Another trip to Geelong, another horror show for West Coast. The Eagles' combined score in second quarters in their two games at GMHBA Stadium this year is 0.1 (1) to the opposition's 16.3 (99). Their final tally of 3.8 (26) against Sydney was their lowest since 1992 and the third-worst in club history.
PLAYER OF THE ROUND: Touk Miller set the tone for Gold Coast's giant upset of Richmond under Friday night lights. The hardworking midfielder picked up 13 first-quarter possessions on his way to 36 and nine clearances for the game. Suns coach Stuart Dew declared Miller is "having a season to remember".
KEY MOMENT: Fremantle had all the momentum after erasing Carlton's 28-point lead and edging ahead by one point early in the final term at the MCG on Saturday night. But with 13 minutes left in the match, Eddie Betts chased down Fremantle defender Griffin Logue and won a holding-the-ball decision. Betts kicked truly with his subsequent set shot to snatch back the lead and sent Carlton on their way.
TALKING POINT: Have Melbourne lost their mojo or is it just a mid-season blip after starting the year with 10-straight wins? The Demons' defeat to GWS was their second loss in three games and they have averaged just 62 points a game in that period. Key forward Ben Brown is still in the VFL and looks certain to return next week to boost a misfiring attack.
INJURIES: Callum Coleman-Jones (Rich, calf), Josh Corbett (GC Suns, concussion), Jeremy Cameron (Geel, hamstring), Jack Buckley (GWS, knee) Taylor Walker (Adel, neck), Kane Farrell (Port, knee), Patrick Cripps (Carl, foot), Jack Redden (WCE, knee), Josh Daicos (Coll, finger), Aaron Naughton (WB, concussion).
TRIBUNAL WATCH: West Coast captain Luke Shuey was reported for striking Callum Mills during the second quarter of the Eagles' loss to Sydney. Shuey hit Mills in attempt to break a tackle but will be helped by the fact the Swans midfielder got up immediately and did not seem too concerned by the high contact.
WHAT'S NEXT: Port Adelaide are locked in to take on Melbourne in a top-four showdown at Adelaide Oval on Thursday night, with Essendon expected to host Adelaide the following night. Geelong believe they're taking on Carlton at the MCG on Saturday, but the AFL is yet to confirm the bulk of the round 17 fixture because of rapidly changing COVID-19 restrictions and protocols.