Australia

Wins for Melbourne, Hawthorn and Sydney in Sunday AFL matches


Luke Jackson and Ben Brown have combined for eight goals to help Melbourne regain their scoring mojo in a 98-point thrashing of hapless Gold Coast at Marvel Stadium.

The Demons entered Sunday’s match with big question marks about their scoring potency after averaging just 69 points over their past six games.

Saturday’s flight debacle — the Demons flew to Brisbane and spent two hours on the tarmac before flying straight back to Melbourne due to Queensland’s snap lockdown — added another hurdle to the team’s race to return to form.

But any doubts were extinguished in emphatic fashion as the Demons produced a scoring masterclass on the way to a 18.20 (128) to 4.6 (30) victory.

Melbourne led 80-21 at half-time, with Jackson entering the long break with four goals to his name.

It was just the second time in 16 years Melbourne had reached 80 points in a first half — the other coming against Gold Coast in 2018.

The result ensures Melbourne will remain in the top four ahead of their round-21 match against West Coast in Perth.

Hawthorn weren’t distracted by a recent change of coaches as they upset Brisbane in Launceston. (

AAP: Rob Blakers

)

Meanwhile, Hawthorn overcame distractions surrounding the Alastair Clarkson-Sam Mitchell coaching handover to produce a stunning 12-point upset of finals-bound Brisbane in Launceston.

After a tumultuous few weeks off the field, it was confirmed on Friday that master coach Clarkson will pass the reins to Mitchell at the end of the season — one year earlier than previously planned.

The Hawks entered Sunday’s contest with question marks over how they would respond to the shock news, and with only percentage separating them from last-placed North Melbourne.

But their intensity was at a far higher level than Brisbane’s for three quarters and four unanswered goals in the opening term laid the platform for the 14.8 (92) to 12.8 (80) win at UTAS Stadium.

An AFL player in black and red catches a yellow football above opponents wearing white and red in empty stadium.
Kyle Langford takes a mark for the Bombers in their dogfight against the Swans.(

AAP: Rob Prezioso

)

Sydney kept their top-four chances alive as they came from behind to beat Essendon 17.7 (109) to 16.6 (102) at the MCG.

The Swans move up to fifth on the AFL ladder, helped by Brisbane’s unexpected defeat.

With their last five meetings being decided by 10 points or less, the two sides produced a game to remember.

The Bombers led for most of the first half and held a 12-point advantage at the long break.

But known for their comebacks, Sydney were boosted by a seven-goal third term to give them a two-point lead going into the final quarter.

In a thrilling end to a classic match, the Swans gained control when Essendon ran out of interchanges with five minutes to play, leaving Dylan Shiel and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti sitting on the bench.

In later games on Sunday, Fremantle face Richmond at Perth’s Optus Stadium and GWS do battle with Port Adelaide at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium.

AAP



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