AFL live: Crows host Eagles as Swans, Giants get caught up in COVID chaos
The Crows play the Eagles in Adelaide, while the Swans and Giants each have several players in isolation after being exposed to a COVID-19 exposure site in Melbourne.
Earlier, the Bombers posted an 18-point triumph over the Kangaroos on the Gold Coast, while the Blues beat the Magpies by 29 points at an empty MCG.
Follow the live scores, stats and results below.
Crows vs Eagles
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Giants vs Swans
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Bombers scrape past Roos
Essendon remains right in the thick of the finals race after overcoming a lacklustre start to beat North Melbourne by 18 points in Carrara.
The Bombers were sluggish out of the blocks early then were plagued by poor goal kicking, before turning the match in their favour in the third term and holding the Kangaroos at bay to prevail 13.14 (92) to 11.8 (74).
Jake Stringer booted four second-half goals to steer the Bombers to victory, while big man Peter Wright (three goals, 20 disposals) and midfield duo Zach Merrett (39 disposals and nine clearances) and Darcy Parish (34 disposals, eight clearances) were excellent throughout.
The Kangaroos were without gun inside midfielder Ben Cunnington but boom youngster Tarryn Thomas was everywhere in the first half, racking up 15 touches and a goal across the opening two quarters before finishing with 23 disposals.
Jy Simpkin (23 disposals, seven clearances) and Luke Davies-Uniacke (21 disposals, six clearances) were industrious around the stoppages throughout while Aaron Hall was busy off half-back.
The Kangaroos burst out of the blocks, booting the first two goals of the match in quick succession and impressing with their run and dare to take an early lead.
The Bombers lifted their intensity after quarter-time but were left to rue poor goal kicking in the second quarter and trailed by 10 points at the main break.
They seized control through the contest in the third quarter but largely peppered the goals without reward until Devon Smith put them in front with a classy snap.
Tristan Xerri briefly regained the lead for the Kangaroos before Wright’s third goal kick-started a run of three consecutive majors to hand the Bombers control.
Curtis Taylor sparked the Kangaroos with two final-quarter goals but Stringer, who was arguably the difference in the second half, and Cale Hooker struck late to wrap up the four points.
Magpies vs Blues
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AAP