Round 21 of the 2026 AFL season saw many highlights and lowlights, headlined by the GWS Giants emerging as a genuine wildcard for this year’s finals.
GIANTS EMERGE AS FINALS WILDCARD
With only a few rounds to go in the 2026 AFL season, the GWS Giants have emerged as a genuine wildcard as they kept their finals hopes alive with a 12-point (75-63) victory over the Port Adelaide Power away from home at the Adelaide Oval.
Winning three of their last five, the Giants now sit one win behind the Carlton Blues for a spot in the ‘Wildcard’ and there are plenty of teams across the league that are concerned with them making it as they have proven they can contend with the best of them following victories against Fremantle, Hawthorn, Geelong and Melbourne this season.
Over the weekend, it was Lachie Whitfeld (29 touches, seven tackles, five marks) that led from the front in the midfield for the Western Sydney outfit while the consistent pairing of Jake Stringer and Stephen Coniglio both had three goals each.
GEELONG STAR ENTERS ALL-AUSTRALIAN CONTENTION
Geelong Cats star Ollie Dempsey has gotten better and better with every match that he plays, and the winger has now entered the conversation to be named in the All-Australian squad for this year’s campaign.
The star had 29 disposals and two goals – and was easily the best on ground on Thursday night – against the Collingwood Magpies as the Cats defeated them by 25 points (97-72).
The Daicos brothers (Josh and Nick) combined for 68 disposals, six marks, nine tackles and 11 clearances, but it wasn’t enough to give their side the win as Jay Polkinghorne and Oliver Henry kicked three goals each.