The fourteenth round of the 2024 AFL season saw North Melbourne Kangaroos nearly produce the upset of the year, Hawthorn’s surge continue and the Western Bulldogs dominate the in-form Fremantle Dockers.
Collingwood produce miraculous comeback
54 points down early in the third quarter, the Collingwood Magpies have produced a miraculous comeback to emerge victorious against the bottom-of-the-table North Melbourne Kangaroos, winning by a single point. The Magpies didn’t look like themselves in the opening three quarters, conceding eight of the first nine goals to start the match and down by five goals heading into the final 20 minutes. However, they were their premiership-best in the final quarter of the match.
Collingwood’s comeback was led by star midfielder Nick Daicos who finished with 29 disposals, two goals and two tackles. This came despite coach Craig McRae revealing that he nearly didn’t play due to being sick the day before the clash. The match wouldn’t be without controversy as many pundits believed the Kangaroos were robbed during the final minute as the umpires failed to award them a 50m penalty.
“He is a marvel, isn’t he? He was sick yesterday. He was a chance not to play. When you come into training and Nick has gone home sick, you (think) ‘Oh God’,” McRae said of Nick Daicos.
“You know the old like-for-like magnet, we don’t have one of those.
“I didn’t sleep that well and didn’t really check the phone this morning to see if he was going to be OK. We had to have a discussion with Ed Allan yesterday to be ready mate. We’re not sure what’s going to happen.
“Then getting tagged well. They’ve been doing some good jobs on him the last couple of weeks. He finds a way to get into the game and it is through work rate contest to contest. I’m really proud of him.”
North fans will have a right to be upset after this wasn't paid a 50m penalty in the final minute.
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🔢 MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/5bspQpnfkd pic.twitter.com/rlleBDe6vR— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) June 16, 2024
Hawks surge ruins Dusty’s 300th
The Hawthorn Hawks surge has continued, this time ruining Dustin Martin’s 300th milestone game celebrations. Richmond couldn’t have asked for a better start, with Martin kicking the opening goal of the match, but from then on, the Hawks ruined the party. Winning 97 (14.13) to 49 (6.13), the Hawks’ winning streak goes on while the Tigers’ struggles continue as they remain near the bottom of the AFL ladder.
Forward Mabior Chol would go on to kick four goals during the match, but the standout performer was none other than Will Day. The club’s 2023 Best and Fairest winner, Day, lit up the MCG with his leadership in the midfield and ability to completely change the team’s fortunes around. Missing the first six games with injury, he has been instrumental in their victories since returning to the side.
“It’s amazing – it’s a disappointing result, but I love the Tiger army so much, I love the club so much,” Martin said on Fox Footy.
“All the love I’ve received this week has just meant the absolute world to me.”
'WHO WRITES THESE SCRIPTS?' 😱🔥🔥
Dustin Martin kicks the first goal in his 300th game!
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🔢 MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/Ff7CPjNcR8 pic.twitter.com/rquBCyVOcO— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) June 15, 2024
Western Bulldogs dominate Fremantle
For the third time in three years, the Fremantle Dockers have lost after coming off the bye; this time, they have been thumped by 67 points against the Western Bulldogs away from home. This comes just a few weeks after they destroyed the Melbourne Demons in Alice Springs. Off the pace throughout the entire clash, the Dockers struggled immensely in the middle of the park and in their defence.
While the Dockers struggled last round, the Western Bulldogs starred through their superstars, such as Tom Liberatore and Marcus Bontempelli, as five players kicked more than three goals to close out the match. Finishing as the man-of-the-match, Bontempelli led by example and finished the match with three goals, 30 touches, eight marks and five tackles.
“Clearly, something wasn’t right, and we got dominated from go to whoa, really. We kicked four in a row in the first and the scoreboard would have looked OK, but we were doing it from the back half and never really got the game going on our terms,” Dockers coach Justin Longmuir said after the match.
“We got beaten in all aspects we wanted to compete in today.
“The contest numbers wouldn’t have looked overly bad, but what they were able to get out of their contest wins versus what we were able to get out of our contest wins was chalk and cheese.
“We had 11 guys at half-time who hadn’t had a tackle. Through that period where they kicked 12 or 13 goals, our pressure was 1.6 and that hasn’t been us.”
Choosing just three stats to highlight for this one was EXTREMELY tough.
The captain showed out, taking home his second @coinspotau MVP in a row 🚀 pic.twitter.com/O9Co5BXIDF
— Western Bulldogs (@westernbulldogs) June 17, 2024