Callum Brown’s return from a three-match suspension wasn’t enough to help the Greater Western Sydney Giants from slumping to their fourth defeat in their past five matches in round 13 of the AFL season on Saturday.
GWS lost 85-79 in a thriller against Hawthorn at UTS Stadium in Launceston, Tasmania.
Hawthorn’s Luke Bruest booted the winner with only a minute remaining on the clock.
Brown struggled to impact the contest and was replaced by teammate Toby McMullin at three-quarter time having collected just two disposals.
The Giants, in seventh spot on 28 points, are only one win out of the top four finals spots but a logjam of five teams all separated by only one win is breathing down their necks.
One of those finals hopefuls is 12th placed Hawthorn on 24 points. Meath’s Conor Nash finished with 20 disposals (11 kicks & 9 handballs), 2 marks, and 7 tackles in midfield.
On Friday, the Brisbane Lions in 13th spot kept their season alive with an impressive 71-114 hammering of the Western Bulldogs at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium.
Conor McKenna was subbed out in the closing minutes after tweaking his ankle but is expected to be fully fit next week.
“(McKenna) could have kept playing but we had Noah Answerth sitting there (as a substitute) who plays as a small defender, so we just took him off the ground,” Lions coach Chris Fagan confirmed post-match.
On Sunday, Geelong was beaten 112-82 by premiership favourites the Sydney Swans at the SCG. The Cats dominated the first quarter with six unanswered goals but were overwhelmed by the rampant Swans.
Geelong is in danger of falling out of the top eight finals spots altogether having lost four of their past five matches.
Kerry defender Mark O’Connor was named as one of Geelong’s best players for his match tally of 16 disposals (12 kicks & 4 handballs), 9 marks, 2 tackles, and also gained 392 minutes.
Mayo defender Oisin Mullin tallied 15 disposals (8 kicks & 7 handballs), 3 marks, and 2 tackles.
On Thursday, Cork dual star Mark Keane was named as one of the Adelaide Crows best players in their 71-79 defeat at home to Richmond at The Adelaide Oval.
eane collected 16 disposals (14 kicks & 2 handballs), 4 marks, and 2 tackles for the Crows who have a dismal 4-8 record for the season.
On Saturday Tyrone-born Aidan Corr celebrated North Melbourne’s first victory of the season when they defeated the West Coast Eagles 65-74 at Optus Stadium in Perth.
Corr collected 8 disposals (7 kicks & 1 handball), 2 marks, and 2 tackles for the cellar dwellers.