As it happened: Tigers thump Dogs, Freo down GWS, Eagles upset Pies, Swans sneak past North, Crows win third AFLW flag

A memorable Saturday of footy comes to a close, and it’s hard to go past the AFLW grand final as the highlight.

Adelaide cemented their dynasty and their legacy as the best team in the short history of the competition by clinching their third premiership in six years with a 13-point win over Melbourne at Adelaide Oval.

In the AFL action, West Coast overcame yet another depleted line-up to register a win against the odds on the road against Collingwood at Marvel Stadium - their first victory of what has been a severely COVID-disrupted season so far.

North Melbourne came close to causing the upset of the season, but fell just short against Sydney at the SCG, losing by 11 points.

A last-quarter blitz helped Fremantle account for GWS at Optus Stadium, and the Western Bulldogs’ horrific goalkicking enabled Richmond to thump them by 38 points at the MCG tonight.

Thank you for tuning in today, be sure to join us next Saturday when we do it all again.

Here is some of what Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge had to say to the media after the game...

Q: How frustrating was that? So many opportunities in front of goal.
A: Frustrating is the obvious word. We have given away too many points the last few weeks and we were encouraged by the way we were playing actually. And then there were some blatant turnovers and ultimately we have seen that team from Richmond before and they got better as the game went on and they were able to stifle any hope that we had of coming back in that last quarter and it was the reverse of the recent games where they have faded and they did better than us and it is frustrating and we are creating opportunities and we could talk about taking some time with the lack of chemistry and some obvious opportunities and break them down in decision-making at times and we said there as coaches and think about what we need to change in the system and what we promote and a lot of the time it looks really good but if you keep looking at whether or not it is a personnel challenge as we evolve and that is one aspect of it and it is unfortunate and disappointing we did not capitalise and get the margin that helped us early in the game. But credit to Richmond because they persevered and I think that they found something in their game tonight with the pressure and intensity and I thought we were on top of things early and so that is a shame.

Q: Is it technique, something you address with the players?
A: All we can do is encourage and stay positive and I think it snowballed out of control
tonight and so it will not get better if I come down hard on them because they are disappointed themselves. They are disappointed they are not executing to the level that they would like and so I have to support and encourage them and say that it will come and we have got standards to improve on because it is as extreme as it has been in all of our time together in the last couple of weeks and Richmond did not let us get away tonight. We will stay positive and focus on getting a better outcome as far as efficiency and effectiveness goes next Friday against the Kangaroos.

Q: What can you do with the goalkicking? More is better? How do you approach that?
A: You have got to train it and it is a combination of set shots and starting the balls and getting into space and giving them the opportunity to connect and so they are are moving pieces and parts to the puzzle and we have got to keep training and provide feedback and tonight we knew that we would have to find some angles and I think we still let the ball through and over the back and we did well as far as metres gained and I will not sit here and talk about positives because there were some parts of the game that were in our favour and they are important for the next one and so to get that done again, we have got to be better with the forward half with effectiveness.

Tom Hafey once said there is nothing more Tigerish than a bloody Tiger, a wounded Tiger. Against the Western Bulldogs, Damien Hardwick’s men were again the Tigers of old.

The ensuing five months will decide whether the Richmond dynasty is indeed over but those eager to write the yellow and black epitaph will have to wait.

The powerhouse from Punt Road turned the clock back with a trademark performance to win by 38 points - 15.9 (99) to 7.19 (61) - raising more questions over the premiership credentials of last year’s runner-up. Click here to read more.

A fighting fury...

Toby Nankervis spoke to Channel Seven after the game...

Q: A good win from the club. The Bulldogs were on top early and did not kick straight. Does that give you confidence going into quarter-time?
A: I think the contest work was positive. We knew that if we could turn that around, we could score. They have a great midfield unit, credit to them.

Q: How are you enjoying the captaincy? Dylan Grimes not out there tonight. Leading from the front.
A: I have got so much great support with the rest of the great leaders. Definitely not on my own out there but great to get the win.

Q: Everyone talks about Tim English but you stuck with him for a lot of the night.
A: Someone that tall and mobile, great to compete against them and hopefully some more battles in the future.

Q: When he went forward and got the goal, the next contest he got into it.
A: Could not catch him. Just had to try to compete.

Dion Prestia spoke to Channel Seven after the game...

Q: Dion Prestia, 30 touches and the goal tonight. Must feel pretty good.
A: It was good. I was nervous coming in and did not know how I would hold up but I was happy to get through and it was awesome. Until next week.

Q: It felt like it was important to win contested possession and I know that they dominated but they tend to do that.
A: They have got that mentality and flicked it around and they were awesome and good to see the numbers.

Q: (Shai) Bolton spending more time in the midfield. The full package now?
A: So dominant. A bit like the old ‘Dusty’. Getting around the ball too. He is dangerous.

Q: The old against the young and Tim English was going to be an important player and he (Nankervis) nullified him and laid some tackles and loved that at the end.
A: We knew that Tim English would get around the ground and it is difficult not having Soldo in the team tonight.