AFL 2024 round 21 LIVE updates: Bombers’ rebound after ‘season on the brink’; Brereton critical of Ben McKay; Hawks’ finals hopes take a Giant blow; Lions crunch Saints

Here’s some sharp analysis from our man at Marvel Stadium, Daniel Brettig, after the Lions thumped the Saints by 85 points.

Roaring Lions are breathing down Swans’ neck

In this most evenly fought of seasons, Brisbane mauled St Kilda by 85 points for a ninth consecutive victory that pushed them into rarefied air, as rivals stumble and struggle around them.

A loss to St Kilda would have seen the Lions slide from second to fifth, but there was little doubt of that from the opening minutes of a lopsided affair that served mainly to underline why the Lions have cut a swathe through the second half of the season after a slow start. They are now just two points back of Sydney following the faltering Swans’ obliteration by Port Adelaide.

Brisbane’s streak has generated plenty of swagger for the 2023 grand finalists. This was summed up by how Logan Morris snaffled a contested mark in front of Callum Wilkie for the second goal of the game then delivered the “too small” gesture borrowed from the NBA to literally belittle his opponent.

On another night, that sort of moment might have come back to haunt Morris, but here it was a fair indicator of the procession to follow. Resembling the Harlem Globetrotters versus the Washington Generals on the scoreboard, it was mirrored in the stands by the steady stream of Saints supporters making an early exit to finish the weekend.

Rayner’s reign

Cam Rayner is not a big disposal winner, but his impact is high.

This was Rayner’s sixth game in a row with multiple goals, but he was also responsible for several of the most striking moments of the Lions’ big win. By combining power, speed and skill with a good deal of experience, Rayner is a neat encapsulation of much of what the Lions do well. His bursts through the middle with clean skills (leading all comers for metres gained), plus the strength to shrug off a tackle and snap on his left in the second term, were pivotal contributions when the game was even slightly up for grabs.

Rayner had plenty of help, of course. Lachie Neale was the Lions’ engine room as ever, collecting another double figure haul of clearances and shrugging off a knock to the back of the head in the third term. Hugh McCluggage and Dane Zorko also had plenty of the ball, while Morris, Charlie Cameron (subbed off at three-quarter-time), Callum Ah Chee and Zac Bailey complemented Joe Daniher’s four goals.

Even Cameron’s early exit brought a further morale boost for the Lions, as the substitute Bruce Reville curled through a goal with his first possession. So relaxed was Chris Fagan that he even cracked a smile when Daniher shanked an attempted soccer goal in the closing minutes.

Saints left in the dust

Less than a couple of months ago St Kilda were similarly jumped by the Lions at the Gabba but gave as good as they got in the second half to fall 20 points short in a genuinely entertaining and high scoring affair. What will frustrate Saints coach Ross Lyon is how his charges gave barely a yelp after Brisbane’s fast start here. In statistical terms, St Kilda may even have been fortunate not to lose by more.

As it was, the Saints threatened to register the lowest score by any team this season for much of the last quarter, until Rowan Marshall’s set shot took the hosts past the 30-point mark set by West Coast against the Bulldogs in round four.

Here’s what our man at the MCG, Marc McGowan, says about the stunning events seen at the MCG this afternoon:

Bombers still alive

Essendon looked dead and buried when Jye Amiss kicked Fremantle 25 points clear inside the first three minutes of the final term at the MCG on Sunday.

Not only did the match look out of reach, but the Bombers’ season looked in jeopardy because a loss would have left them six points behind eighth-placed Carlton with three rounds to go.

Less than half an hour later, Essendon were celebrating a remarkable one-point victory after a clutch Zach Merrett centre clearance set up Sam Durham’s match-winning behind on the run.

So much happened in between, not the least of which was a five-goal surge that brought the Bombers back from the brink.

Durham’s moment also followed a contentious free kick and goal to Amiss, against Jayden Laverde, that tied the scores with only 36 seconds to go.

The other hero was Sam Draper, who took a massive intercept mark at half-forward to effectively kill the contest as the Dockers tried to go end-to-end from the kick-in.

Dylan Shiel won three clearances - two out of the centre - in an important solo performance in the final term.

Ruck experiment

Nick Bryan’s AFL opportunities have been few and far between in his career, but Brad Scott handed him the No.1 ruck keys on Sunday.

Sam Draper started inside 50 instead, after Peter Wright was dumped to the VFL for the second time in three weeks.

Bryan held up his end of the bargain against Fremantle’s feared duo of Sean Darcy and Luke Jackson, managing eight disposals, four tackles and 19 hit-outs before being subbed off to unleash Draper.

It will be interesting to see how this all plays out, but Bryan showed plenty enough to receive more opportunities, particularly if Wright stays out of favour.

Costly defeat?

Fremantle would have been in third place if they held on to win Sunday’s match but suddenly find themselves back in sixth in this tightest of tight seasons.

They have a strong percentage, which will work in their favour, but this result was a hammer blow to their premiership aspirations.

Two of the Dockers’ three remaining home-and-away season matches are in Perth, but the opposition is stiff - Geelong and Port Adelaide - while there is a trip to Sydney to take on the Giants in between.

The defeat may well have cost Justin Longmuir’s side a top-four berth and a double chance in the finals.

Thanks for following us through another engrossing day of football.

It’s been a stunning round 21, the intensity and desperation rising as finals approach for those teams in contention, while the results involving Richmond, North Melbourne and West Coast were also intriguing.

For all the latest news, views and analysis, please click back through the week. Over the next 48 hours, we’ll have analysis through our highly respected 4 points, weekend wrap, and run home columns, with much more as well.

Stay safe, and we’ll chat soon.

St Kilda v Brisbane: Daniel Brettig’s votes

9 Cam Rayner (Brisbane)
8 Lachie Neale (Brisbane)
8 Hugh McCluggage (Brisbane)
7 Dane Zorko (Brisbane)
7 Joe Daniher (Brisbane)

Here’s some sharp analysis from our man at Marvel Stadium, Daniel Brettig, after the Lions thumped the Saints by 85 points.

Roaring Lions are breathing down Swans’ neck

In this most evenly fought of seasons, Brisbane mauled St Kilda by 85 points for a ninth consecutive victory that pushed them into rarefied air, as rivals stumble and struggle around them.

A loss to St Kilda would have seen the Lions slide from second to fifth, but there was little doubt of that from the opening minutes of a lopsided affair that served mainly to underline why the Lions have cut a swathe through the second half of the season after a slow start. They are now just two points back of Sydney following the faltering Swans’ obliteration by Port Adelaide.

Brisbane’s streak has generated plenty of swagger for the 2023 grand finalists. This was summed up by how Logan Morris snaffled a contested mark in front of Callum Wilkie for the second goal of the game then delivered the “too small” gesture borrowed from the NBA to literally belittle his opponent.

On another night, that sort of moment might have come back to haunt Morris, but here it was a fair indicator of the procession to follow. Resembling the Harlem Globetrotters versus the Washington Generals on the scoreboard, it was mirrored in the stands by the steady stream of Saints supporters making an early exit to finish the weekend.

Rayner’s reign

Cam Rayner is not a big disposal winner, but his impact is high.

This was Rayner’s sixth game in a row with multiple goals, but he was also responsible for several of the most striking moments of the Lions’ big win. By combining power, speed and skill with a good deal of experience, Rayner is a neat encapsulation of much of what the Lions do well. His bursts through the middle with clean skills (leading all comers for metres gained), plus the strength to shrug off a tackle and snap on his left in the second term, were pivotal contributions when the game was even slightly up for grabs.

Rayner had plenty of help, of course. Lachie Neale was the Lions’ engine room as ever, collecting another double figure haul of clearances and shrugging off a knock to the back of the head in the third term. Hugh McCluggage and Dane Zorko also had plenty of the ball, while Morris, Charlie Cameron (subbed off at three-quarter-time), Callum Ah Chee and Zac Bailey complemented Joe Daniher’s four goals.

Even Cameron’s early exit brought a further morale boost for the Lions, as the substitute Bruce Reville curled through a goal with his first possession. So relaxed was Chris Fagan that he even cracked a smile when Daniher shanked an attempted soccer goal in the closing minutes.

Saints left in the dust

Less than a couple of months ago St Kilda were similarly jumped by the Lions at the Gabba but gave as good as they got in the second half to fall 20 points short in a genuinely entertaining and high scoring affair. What will frustrate Saints coach Ross Lyon is how his charges gave barely a yelp after Brisbane’s fast start here. In statistical terms, St Kilda may even have been fortunate not to lose by more.

As it was, the Saints threatened to register the lowest score by any team this season for much of the last quarter, until Rowan Marshall’s set shot took the hosts past the 30-point mark set by West Coast against the Bulldogs in round four.

Rowan Marshall drills a late goal for the Saints. Here’s a question for the Saints - is he a frontline ruckman, or more of a forward. Marshall can struggle against taller opponents in the ruck, but has a forward craft that is more than handy. Plenty of questions for the Saints to answer. The Saints trail by 13 goals.

Daniel Brettig reports from Marvel Stadium:

Charlie Cameron has been subbed out of the game, has ice on his hamstring, but a smile on his face. Bruce Reville into the game.

The Swans’ woes over the past month, despite remaining on top of the ladder, mean the Lions are arguably the team to beat heading into September. They almost certainly will have nine straight wins when they leave Marvel Stadium tonight, although Greater Western Sydney and a revitalised Collingwood - minus Jordan De Goey - await.

For St Kilda, while they enjoyed three wins from their past four games, there is much to do through the trade and draft periods. They have aggressively sought established talent, and need success in this area if they are to be a threat next season.

They trail by 59 points at the final break at Marvel Stadium.

Here’s what our man at the MCG, Marc McGowan, says about the stunning events seen at the MCG this afternoon:

Bombers still alive

Essendon looked dead and buried when Jye Amiss kicked Fremantle 25 points clear inside the first three minutes of the final term at the MCG on Sunday.

Not only did the match look out of reach, but the Bombers’ season looked in jeopardy because a loss would have left them six points behind eighth-placed Carlton with three rounds to go.

Less than half an hour later, Essendon were celebrating a remarkable one-point victory after a clutch Zach Merrett centre clearance set up Sam Durham’s match-winning behind on the run.

So much happened in between, not the least of which was a five-goal surge that brought the Bombers back from the brink.

Durham’s moment also followed a contentious free kick and goal to Amiss, against Jayden Laverde, that tied the scores with only 36 seconds to go.

The other hero was Sam Draper, who took a massive intercept mark at half-forward to effectively kill the contest as the Dockers tried to go end-to-end from the kick-in.

Dylan Shiel won three clearances - two out of the centre - in an important solo performance in the final term.

Ruck experiment

Nick Bryan’s AFL opportunities have been few and far between in his career, but Brad Scott handed him the No.1 ruck keys on Sunday.

Sam Draper started inside 50 instead, after Peter Wright was dumped to the VFL for the second time in three weeks.

Bryan held up his end of the bargain against Fremantle’s feared duo of Sean Darcy and Luke Jackson, managing eight disposals, four tackles and 19 hit-outs before being subbed off to unleash Draper.

It will be interesting to see how this all plays out, but Bryan showed plenty enough to receive more opportunities, particularly if Wright stays out of favour.

Costly defeat?

Fremantle would have been in third place if they held on to win Sunday’s match but suddenly find themselves back in sixth in this tightest of tight seasons.

They have a strong percentage, which will work in their favour, but this result was a hammer blow to their premiership aspirations.

Two of the Dockers’ three remaining home-and-away season matches are in Perth, but the opposition is stiff - Geelong and Port Adelaide - while there is a trip to Sydney to take on the Giants in between.

The defeat may well have cost Justin Longmuir’s side a top-four berth and a double chance in the finals.