The tenth round of the 2024 AFL season saw a late Power surge by Port Adelaide defeat the Hawks, Harley Reid emerge as one of the best young players of all time and the Geelong Cats woes continue.
Power surge upset Hawks
A late surge by the Port Adelaide Power provided them with one of the most remarkable victories this season, which was capped off by a Darcy Byrne-Jones goal with two seconds remaining in the contest. Behind the Hawks for 121.4 minutes of the match (in front for only 0.6 minutes) – they led by as much as 41 points – the Power came back from 28 points in the final quarter, which saw them nail four consecutive goals while their defence only allowed their opponents to score just one point.
Five points down with 22 seconds left on the clock, following a Willie Rioli six-point goal, the Power refused to go down without a fight and executed the perfect finish to close the match. William Drew would find Zak Butters after Port Adelaide won the ruck tap, who sent the ball into their forward 50. Missing most players, Byrne-Jones would soccer the ball off the turf to score the winning goal and claim the four points.
Byrne-Jones wins the game with just 1 SECOND LEFT! 🤯
✍️ BLOG https://t.co/8wDUuLsE9S
🔢 MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/vrTv206dAK pic.twitter.com/Dg9fDCkceY— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) May 19, 2024
Is Harley Reid the best first-year player of all time?
After a magnificent performance against the Melbourne Demons on the weekend in which he guided the West Coast Eagles to victory, young midfielder Harley Reid has been regarded as one of the “best performing first-year players of the modern era”. The teenage sensation took control of the match multiple times over the four quarters in Sunday’s clash and added more highlights to an already impressive highlight reel in front of the home fans at Optus Stadium.
The first-season rookie midfielder recorded 21 possessions – 10 kicks and 11 handbells – two goals, two marks and four tackles in a standout performance.
“Harley Reid gets to work, powering away with a couple of bounces. Harley Reid on full show. Unbelievable!,” Fox Footy’s Adam Papalia said after the youngster produced a magnificent solo goal.
HARLEY REID, THAT IS SENSATIONAL 🤩#AFLEaglesDees pic.twitter.com/qCrS3mCEPY
— AFL (@AFL) May 19, 2024
Gold Coast humiliates Cats by 60 points
The Geelong Cats were utterly humiliated on the weekend by their opponents, recording their lowest tally in over two decades. In what was their biggest loss since the 2021 Preliminary Final, the Cats’ woes continued. They made only 49 marks throughout the game and lost the disposal count by 82 possessions.
Undefeated for the majority of the season – the last team to record a loss – the Cats have now lost their past three matches against the Melbourne Demons, Port Adelaide Power and now the Gold Coast Suns
“That’s one of the things the Suns did better than us, they were still able to mark the ball and use their hands and kick forward,” ruck Mark Blicavs told The Geelong Advertiser post-match.
“Tough game, we didn’t get it right, things to work on.”
The Geelong Cats will now face the GWS Giants this weekend who have beaten them in their past three matches at GMHBA Stadium but are in their own rut of lacklustre form.
Toby Conway with the best and worst moments of his young Cats career in the space of 5 seconds. 😩
📺 Watch #AFLSunsCats on ch. 504 or stream on Kayo: https://t.co/c5VwhmeFbG
✍️ BLOG https://t.co/mb2QpK1Omy
🔢 MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/LjwQIDKnhI pic.twitter.com/Lv4xQQnVrc— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) May 16, 2024