THEY SAID IT: "Oh, they're not morons and the missed opportunity bit - clearly we're disappointed. We knew what was at stake." - Geelong coach Chris Scott after his side blew the chance to lock in a top-four spot, letting a 33-point lead slip in a shock loss to also-rans St Kilda.
STAR PERFORMER I: Port Adelaide midfield jet Zak Butters amassed a Showdown-record 42 disposals in steering his side to an important win over arch-rivals Adelaide. Butters also had a game-high 20 contested possessions, 10 clearances, five tackles and a goal in a performance that earned him his first Showdown Medal. Butters' disposal tally was one more than the previous record held jointly by former Port stars Peter Burgoyne and Tom Rockliff, as well as Crows great Mark Ricciuto.
STAR PERFORMER II: A day after Alastair Clarkson outlined he wants to lure Jack Viney to North Melbourne, the heart-and-soul midfielder delivered a performance for the ages in Melbourne's 54-point win over the Gold Coast at People First Stadium. Demons vice-captain Viney racked up 30 touches, 10 tackles and nine clearances, as well as kicking two goals, before being labelled "red and blue through and through" after the game by delighted coach Simon Goodwin.
THE MOMENT: Collingwood have had countless last-quarter heroes across the past three seasons and Beau McCreery became the latest when he snapped a brilliant goal to put the Magpies in front of Brisbane for the first time in the match at the 29-minute mark of the final term. Collingwood hung on to win by one point and keep their slim finals hopes alive.
TALKING POINT: Essendon's season has faltered late for the second year in a row, condemning the once-powerful club to extending their infamous drought without winning a final into a 21st year. Bombers coach Brad Scott couldn't hide his disappointment, but believes his team is more advanced than it was 12 months earlier.
STAT THAT MATTERS: Western Bulldogs key-position player Sam Darcy became the tallest person in AFL/VFL history to kick six or more goals when he slammed through a personal-best seven majors in his side's hammering of North Melbourne. At 208cm, Darcy set a new mark and took the record from former Essendon and Hawthorn ruck-forward Paul Salmon (206cm).
TRIBUNAL WATCH: Dan Houston could miss Port Adelaide's finals campaign after he was sent directly to the tribunal for his high bump on Adelaide's Izak Rankine, who was concussed in the incident. Houston's actions were graded careless conduct, high contact and severe impact. Five players were fined for engaging in a melee during the fiery Showdown, while Port's Esava Ratugolea (rough conduct) and Charlie Dixon (striking), and Adelaide's Matt Crouch (striking) were fined for minor offences. GWS player Lachlan Ash was handed a one-match ban for rough conduct over a tackle on Fremantle's Hayden Young, and was also fined for staging.
KEY INJURIES: T Sparrow (Melb, ankle), J Berry (Lions, hamstring), B Hill (StK, back), A Caminiti (StK, shoulder), I Rankine (Adel, concussion), L Jones (PA, achilles soreness), W Day (Haw, collarbone), J Scrimshaw (Haw, finger), C Durdin (Carl, dislocated shoulder).
WHAT'S NEXT: The finals race is going right down to the wire in a high-stakes round to complete the home-and-away season. Collingwood's top-eight hopes are on the line when they take on Melbourne on Friday night, then Geelong can lock in the final top-four spot with victory over West Coast on Saturday. Hawthorn's finals hopes rest on a clash with North Melbourne, Richmond will officially farewell Dustin Martin in a home game with Damien Hardwick's Gold Coast, and Brisbane are chasing a favourable spot on September's starting grid when they host Essendon. On Sunday, the Bulldogs-Giants, Blues-Saints and Dockers-Power clashes will all have finals ramifications.
