Melbourne, Hawthorn play out AFL draw as Western Bulldogs, Port Adelaide Power triumph

A goal to Luke Breust in the final minute of play has given rank outsiders Hawthorn a share of the points in a thrilling draw with ladder leaders Melbourne at the MCG.

In Saturday’s other AFL results, the Western Bulldogs enjoyed an 11-point victory over the Suns on the Gold Coast, and Port Adelaide beat St Kilda by 13 points at Docklands.

The 17th-placed Hawks trailed by 27 points midway through the second term against the Demons and looked gone for all money against the flag fancies.

But the Demons were ultimately left to rue missed opportunities in the 11.13 (79) to 12.7 (79) draw, played in front of empty stands at the MCG amid Victoria’s COVID-19 lockdown.

Angus Brayshaw and Kysaiah Pickett both had set shots in the final few minutes that could have sealed a win for Melbourne, before Breust pounced at the back of a pack at the other end.

Neither side could manage a score in the dying stages after the next centre bounce.

Brownlow Medal fancy Christian Petracca was outstanding for Melbourne, particularly in the first half, on his way to racking up 33 disposals, 23 contested possessions and nine clearances.

Clayton Oliver (34 disposals and eight clearances) and Jack Viney (32 and six) were also busy, while Bayley Fritsch kicked three goals.

But it was the plucky Hawks who were arguably more impressive, taking it up to their highly-rated opponents in a spirited display.

Hawthorn’s prolific on-baller Tom Mitchell continued to rack up big numbers with 39 disposals and six clearances, while James Worpel and Jaeger O’Meara were also influential.

Breust kicked three goals and tall forward Mitchell Lewis added two in his first match back from several weeks on the sidelines through a concussion sustained in a boxing incident at training.

The Demons kicked six of the first seven goals, with starting on-ballers Petracca, Viney and Oliver at the heart of their early dominance.

But the Hawks hit back and closed to within five points when Worpel kicked the first goal of the second half, benefiting from a contentious 50-metre penalty against Max Gawn for running through the protected zone.

Hawthorn deserved to be close, pegging the margin back to one point moments before three-quarter time when Mitchell finished a scrappy passage of play.

The Hawks hit the front for the first time when Lewis kicked the opening goal of the final term with a set shot from the pocket, teed up by Tyler Brockman’s neat distribution.

It was tight from there and a draw seemed a fitting result, though it could prove costly for Melbourne as teams jostle for finals spots near the top of the ladder.

Bulldogs beat stubborn Suns Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (second from left) was impressive in just his second senior match.(

AAP: Glenn Hunt

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Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli starred to help his side firm up a spot in the top four with an 11-point win over Gold Coast.

The Suns battled bravely against their more fancied opponents but the class of Bontempelli (36 disposals) and the Bulldogs midfield steered the visitors to a 14.6 (90) to 11.13 (79) victory in front of 8,244 spectators in Carrara.

Last year’s number one draft pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan excited Bulldogs fans in his second AFL match, kicking three goals to spearhead the team’s attack.

A typically combative performance from Touk Miller (38 disposals) and three goals each to Ben Ainsworth, Alex Sexton and Nick Holman kept the Suns in striking distance for most of the match, while Brayden Fiorini (32 disposals) Jeremy Sharp (30 disposals) also impressed.

Bulldogs trio Bailey Smith (33 disposals), Jackson Macrae (31) and Bailey Dale (30) all provided plenty of drive to back up the hard-running efforts of Bontempelli.

The Suns jumped the Bulldogs early, scoring the first three goals of the match to race out to a five-point quarter-time lead, despite the visitors dominating centre clearances (5-1) and inside 50s (17-10).

Holman was a surprise avenue to goal for the Suns with three majors in the opening term, but the Bulldogs were able to keep in touch thanks to Ugle-Hagan’s debut AFL goal from a set shot 45 metres out on a tight angle.

Caleb Daniel (centre) was among the Bulldogs’ goal kickers.(

AAP: Glenn Hunt

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Ugle-Hagan opened the scoring in the second quarter to start a four-goal run for the visitors and from there the Bulldogs took the ascendancy, with Bontempelli leading the way with 13 disposals for the quarter.

Gold Coast arrested the Bulldogs’ charge through goals to Ainsworth and Sexton, but the visitors looked comfortable as they jumped out to an 11-point half-time lead.

The Suns stayed within striking distance for most of the second half with Miller and Sexton leading the charge, but the class of the Bulldogs kept them in front for the win.

Midfielder Josh Dunkley (21 disposals) was solid in his first match back for the Bulldogs since round six after a shoulder reconstruction.

Power hold off late Saints challenge Ollie Wines (left) and Charlie Dixon celebrate following a Port Adelaide goal.(

AAP: James Ross

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Port Adelaide has jumped back into the top four after holding on for a crucial 13-point win over St Kilda at an empty Docklands stadium.

Barely anything about the contest was pretty, as both teams struggled to convert opportunities at goal.

But the Power did enough to move to a 12-5 win-loss record and replace Brisbane Lions in fourth place on the ladder.

St Kilda started better to lead by 10 points at quarter-time but the Power dominated most of the second and third terms, which set up the 10.14 (74) to 8.13 (61) result.

Seemingly cruising when leading by 20 points late in the third quarter, the Power had to contend with a St Kilda comeback, which saw the Saints briefly reclaim the lead midway through the final term.

But diabolical errors from St Kilda in its defensive half allowed Sam Mayes to put the Power back in front before Charlie Dixon eventually sealed the match with a minute to go.

While the Power’s campaign is back on track, St Kilda sits in a precarious position with an 8-9 win-loss record and one of the worst percentages in the AFL.

The Saints are in 10th spot on the ladder ahead of the completion of round 18.

Power midfielder Ollie Wines (36 disposals) produced another memorable performance to continue his outstanding season, while Mitch Georgiades’s career-best four-goal haul was like gold in a low-scoring match.

Not even prolific matches from Jack Steele (37 disposals) and Brad Crouch (36) were enough for the Saints to overcome their poor conversion in front of goal and sloppy ball use.

The Saints were forced to activate their sub Jack Bytel when defender Daniel McKenzie was carried off on a stretcher after he was knocked out late in the second quarter.

AAP