The twenty-first round of the 2024 AFL season saw Mitch McGovern miss a chance to end Collingwood’s season on the siren, Geelong and GWS win thrillers and Sydney Swans’ misery continue after a humiliating defeat to Port Adelaide.
Mitch McGovern misses on the siren
The Collingwood Magpies have hung onto their final chances, surviving a late onslaught by arch-rivals Carlton in the final quarter of their match on Saturday night. Defender Mitch McGovern took a mark with second remaining in the match and had the opportunity to not only provide the Blues with one of their greatest-ever victories but end the Magpies hopes to win back-to-back AFL premierships.
However, it was not to be as McGovern missed a shot after the siren to give Carlton the lead, having booted the final five goals of the match. As McGovern wasn’t able to repeat his heroics – he kicked a goal after the siren against Collingwood when he was with the Adelaide Crows – Collingwood celebrated Scott Pendlebury’s 400th milestone match in style as the veteran recorded 27 disposals and six tackles.
“When the siren went I just put my hands in the air, it’s like what do we do we have no control over what’s about to happen,” Scott Pendlebury said via AAP.
“I feel like we played really well for three quarters.
“We probably went a little bit safe back into our shell in that last quarter, but for three quarters it felt really like a Collingwood game of footy.”
Mitch McGovern had a chance to win it after the siren…
BUT THE PIES HOLD ON 😮
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🔢 MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/xRXMmqe2Sl pic.twitter.com/YqkMkjmN1c— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) August 3, 2024
Cats and Giants win thrillers
Desperately needing victories to get their season back on track, the Geelong Cats and GWS Giants have prevailed in thrillers against the Adelaide Crows and Hawthorn Hawks, respectively. Forward Jeremy Cameron was unstoppable for the Cats as he booted six goals against the Crows and showed that he is hitting season-best form at the perfect time. The 2019 Coleman Medallist has now kicked multiple goals in seven of his past eight matches as he looks like he is back to his best. The Cats will be hoping Cameron’s amazing form can rub off on fellow key forward Tom Hawkins.
As the Cats won in Victoria, the GWS Giants cameback from 28 points down against the Hawks with one quarter remaining to walk away with a two-point victory. In particular, midfield-forward Brent Daniels had a magnificent performance in the final quarter that saw him guide the club to victory and finish with 12 disposals, three tackles and two goal assists in the final quarter.
Still thinking about THAT last quarter 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/dNSZEd2oWS
— GWS GIANTS (@GWSGIANTS) August 5, 2024
Opening quarter misery continues for Sydney – Port Adelaide 45, Swans 0
The Sydney Swans looked like the premiership favourite for the majority of the season, but since Round 16, the Swans have looked like anything but AFL Premiership contenders. Their performance on Saturday against Port Adelaide further illustrated their struggles as they succumbed to a humiliating 112-point defeat, which included them scoring no points and conceding 45 in the opening quarter of the match. The Swans needed a hard wake-up call as they headed into the finals and were now in doubt about entering the finals as minor premiers.
Their stars – Gulden, Heeney and Warner – were miserably beaten in the midfield and looked lifeless as their opponents ran circles around them for the entire 80 minutes of play. William Drew, Zak Butters and ex-Brownlow winner Ollie Wines were the best on ground with the trio recording 30+ possessions as Willie Rioli and Mitch Georgiades led the goal-scoring tally with four goals a piece.
“It’s completely and utterly unacceptable,” Longmire said post-match.
“It’s not up to standard. We’ve been in every game this year until last week, and we dropped away last week. And today just didn’t seem like it had a baseline to it at all, in any area.
“We just didn’t come to compete and that’s the very essence of the game. If you don’t come to compete and fight you get shown up, no matter who you play.”
Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has rated last night's Swans smashing as one of the best he has seen in his career. After a statement win against the Blues, the Power went to another level, obliterating the ladder leaders to re-emerge as a genuine contender. @_andrewhayes #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/4rLTYL2BfN
— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) August 4, 2024