AFL 2022 round eight as it happened: Bombers run over Hawks, Lions smash Eagles, Cats defeat Giants

1. Fremantle - 28 points - 153.2%
2. Brisbane - 28 points - 151.4%
3. Melbourne - 28 points* - 145.9%
4. St Kilda - 20 points* - 128.7%
5. Geelong - 20 points - 126.3%
6. Sydney - 20 points - 118.4%
7. Carlton - 20 points* - 104.5%
8. Richmond - 16 points - 116.5%
9. Collingwood - 16 points -104.9%
10. W Bulldogs - 12 points - 102.6%
11. Port Adelaide - 12 points - 98%
12. Hawthorn - 12 points - 92.8%
13. Gold Coast - 12 points - 89.9%
14. Adelaide - 12 points* - 87.1%
15. GWS Giants - 8 points - 79.9%
16. Essendon - 8 points - 78.3%
17. North Melbourne - 4 points - 55.6%
18. WC Eagles - 4 points - 52%

Two games to play tomorrow. Melbourne v St Kilda and Carlton v Adelaide.

An undermanned Essendon overcame a torrid week to overrun Hawthorn and post a famous backs-to-the-wall victory that has breathed new life into the Bombers’ troubled campaign.

Few would have given Ben Rutten’s men any hope of snapping their losing streak when news filtered through on Saturday afternoon that the Dons had made five late changes, including important defender Jordan Ridley, to a virus which had swept through the club.

But hours later the red and black faithful were belting out the team song in the Marvel Stadium stands after their side steamrolled the Hawks with eight goals to one in the final quarter to salute by 27 points - 16.12 (108) to 11.15 (81).

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Darcy Parish picked up 32 disposals, kicked 1.1, had six clearances and seven tackles. He also had five inside-50s, and 13 score involvements.

Zach Merrett was also prolific, with 28 disposals, six clearances, one goal, six inside-50s and eight score involvements.

Jai Newcombe and Jaegar O’Meara had 28 disposals each.

Peter Wright obviously kicked six goals and was really influential.

Jack Gunston kicked 2.4, and had some simple opportunities to inflict scoreboard pressure on the Bombers before three-quarter time.

Max Lynch and Jacob Koschitzke also kicked two goals each.

Nic Martin and Ben Hobbs were also influential, particularly in the second half. They kicked three goals and had 16 score involvements between them.

Peter Wright spoke on Fox Footy following his five-goal haul.

On the Hawks rivalry: “It’s definitely a big rivalry, one that we don’t take lightly.”

On the week: “We tried to eliminate a lot of the outside noise. To respond the way we did, we’re really happy. It’s the first step in a long season.”

On the five omissions: “It was a bit of a spanner in the works. It definitely throws a few things around, but we really just tried to close out a lot of the outside noise and play our best football individually.”

On Garry Lyon comparing him with Wayne Carey: “I caught wind of it. Obviously, comparisons to one of the best of all time, I’m not going to claim that.”

On the free kick he gave away late that cost Redman a goal: “It was disappointing. I didn’t realise it was a free kick, but obviously, you don’t want to cost the team a goal like that. But to be able to respond after a few little things didn’t go our way, it was really pleasing.”

On what’s changed since his time at the Gold Coast: ”I’ve really got the support of the coaching group here, they’ve really backed me in. There are probably some little craft things I’ve changed. I’m just gaining a little bit of confidence and going to work with the craft stuff.”