Next time you’re trying to explain to a non-footy fan why we’ve got the best sport in the world, just show them the highlights of Round 14, 2017. What an unbelievable four days of Australian rules football.
Ordinarily, the Thursday night clash between Adelaide and Hawthorn could have been close to match of the round. This weekend it wouldn’t get onto the podium. Seventeenth beat first for the second straight week and Don Pyke has some big questions to answer with finals on the horizon.
On Friday night, Sydney stormed home in the final three minutes of their clash with Essendon in perhaps the best comeback since ‘The Miracle on Grass’ in 2013. The Swans have gone from finals smokey to flag smokey in just a few weeks.
The Saturday afternoon double-header saw Port top Collingwood and GWS smash Brisbane. Nathan Buckley’s team now sits 13th and September action is looking increasingly unlikely.
The remote control definitely got a workout on Saturday night with two absolute heart-stoppers. Melbourne beat West Coast in the dying moments to notch up their first win against the Eagles in Perth since 2002. With Jack Watts, Jesse Hogan and Nathan Jones all missing, the Demons were simply too tough when the game was on the line.
At Etihad Stadium the Bulldogs just held on against a valiant Kangaroos side. North stormed home in the last quarter and drew level at one stage but couldn’t quite get over the line. Roos fans felt aggrieved at some contentious umpiring decisions, but the Dogs were the better team for most of the game and deserved winners.
Despite losing their skipper Joel Selwood in the opening minute, Geelong beat Fremantle in yet another thriller. The Cats had just one fit player on the bench by the end of the game but bravely fought on and ultimately triumphed by just two points.
Finally, Richmond and St Kilda both had solid wins to wrap up an absolutely extraordinary round of AFL footy.
If that’s a sign of things to come for the rest of 2017, we’re in for a treat.
