This was published 4 years ago
That’s all we have for you today everyone but let’s wrap up this huge day in the AFL and another wild day in this COVID-19 pandemic which could still see more changes for the AFL season in the days to come.
The match reports:
O’Brien flies high as Hawthorn beats the Giants
Bontempelli stars again as the Bulldogs thump West Coast
Murphy a casualty as Blues beat the Crows
Carlton burned in the second term then held on in the final term to score a pressure-relieving win over the Adelaide Crows this afternoon.
An eight-game second term blew open the game for the Blues but they had to withstand a fightback from the Crows who came within 10 points late in the final term.
The Blues had to fight and scrap which they did manfully after a week where the club was put under the microscope and coach David Teague was threatened with potentially losing his job.
This win will give them a small reprieve but questions will keep being asked.
Harry McKay and Sam Petreski-Seton have missed shots keeping the Crows in the game and bringing the draw into play.
The Blues lead 83-71 with three and a half minutes to go.
Taylor Walker has led out powerfully and pulled in a strong mark before going back from 45m out and kicking another goal.
There is time enough if the Crows are good enough while Carlton needs to find some goals desperately after their 34-point lead is down to 10 points.
Blues lead 81-71 with eight mins to go.
The Blues have missed a couple of good chances to extend their lead with Lachie Fogarty and Matthew Owies both dragging kicks for goal wide of the mark.
The Blues are fighting on but they aren’t taking their chances.
Blues lead 81-64 with nine minutes to go.
Taylor Walker has kicked a goal after an intercept mark from Riley Thilthorpe and now the Crows are less than three goals from the lead.
Blues in front 78-63 with 14 mins to go.
This is not strictly an AFL post but it could have ramifications for the West Coast Eagles and Fremantle Dockers.
The WA government has called a COVID-19 press conference after having some cases appear today.
Premier Mark McGowan and Health Minister Roger Cook are due to speak to the media in a few minutes time, you can watch the press conference on our COVID-19 blog.
Jack Martin has again shown his class with a downfield free-kick giving him a shot for goal from 30 metres out which he converted.
The Crows have cut a frustrated side in this third term making some late and silly challenges on the Blues, it hasn’t paid off.
Still the quality work from the Crows early in the term sees them still in the match heading into the last term but the Crows have plenty of work to do to overcome a 21-point deficit in this final term.
The Blues will need to dig deep physically with Marc Murphy off injured and Eddie Betts and Jacob Weitering taking some bumps and bruises in that third term.
This is a stress test of this inconsistent Blues side, can they finish their work and claim a memorable win or drop their bundle again and heap more pressure upon their coaches and themselves.
We sent Daniel Cherny along to cover the footy and now he is offering us bonus bird watching....
The Western Bulldogs came to Western Australia to claim a season-defining win and they have left with that and a healthy percentage boost as well.
The Bulldogs stormed to a 55-point win in front of nothing more than a few flocks of seagulls at Optus Stadium after a gameday COVID-19 outbreak saw fans banned from the ground just hours before the first bounce.
Marcus Bontempelli put another shining performance on the board while he has plenty of help with Bailey Smith, Aaron Naughton and many others standing tall for the visitors.
It was a day to forget for the Eagles although they still have a friendly-looking draw in the run to the finals so they should still figure highly come finals time.
A painful-looking shoulder injury to defender Ryan Gardner will be a dampener for the Bulldogs although time will tell if it costs him his season or allows him to return for the run to the finals.