New colours, same dominance for Demons recruit; emerging Lion snags seven

Melbourne’s mid-season draftee Joel Fitzgerald showed that the colours of his guernsey had nothing to do with his amazing career-best form after destroying another opposition midfield on his Casey Demons debut in a 14-point upset of GWS Giants at Casey Fields on Sunday.

Luker Kentfield’s strong touch continued with another four goals, while the second-placed Giants were again best-served by untried midfielder Jack Ough (33) and Harry Rowston (29).

Geelong’s AFL quality midfield slapped down another contender as the Cats moved two games clear on the top of the ladder with a 50-point spanking of top-four opponent Carlton at Ikon Park on Saturday.

George Stevens (41 disposals – 18 contested, seven clearances, six tackles, seven entries), Jack Bowes (28, three goals) and Oli Wiltshire (19, three goals) were unstoppable as Geelong booted nine third-quarter goals to two to turn an 11-point lead into a 53-point blowout by the last change, with captain Dan Capiron nailing his second five-goal haul of the year.

Cooper Lord (26, three goals), Darcy Hogg (27, two goals) and Ben Camporeale (29) were best for the Blues.

Werribee produced a stunning 11-goal third quarter on its way blasting 27 majors past Essendon in a record-breaking statement at Windy Hill to climb from 11th to fourth in one fell swoop on Sunday.

Improving forward Brady Wright kicked four goals in seven minutes and six for the game, while 50th-gamer Jack Riding (28, three goals), Jordan Busuttil (26, three goals), Sam Donegan (32) and Dom Brew (27, one goal) all ran riot.

The Bombers fielded just five AFL-listed players and the best of them was Lewis Hayes (14 touches) as they were led by VFL keys Jackson Hately (24, two goals), Kristian Ferronato (24, two) and Jaxon Binns (21, one).

St Kilda made its biggest statement since returning to the competition in its own right, stunning Box Hill Hawks by 34 points at RSEA Park for its third straight win.

VFL-listers Ned Maginness (four goals) and Joey Campigli (three) starred up front with support from mid-season draftee Campbell Lake (two), while Paddy Dow (26, one goal) and Lance Collard (26) put their hands up for AFL recalls, something Henry Hustwaite (25) and Harry Morrison (24) did on the other side of the ledger.

Kaine Baldwin had absolutely zero luck with injuries during his time as Essendon, but the now fully fit forward reminded us of exactly what he is capable of by kicking six goals as Port Melbourne pipped Tasmania by four points in a Bill Withers Cup classic at ETU Stadium on Sunday.

Baldwin only had four marks and 10 touches, but made a monster impact with them to boot 6.1, dragging the Borough back to level at three quarter-time with two late strikes including one after the siren and then the match-winner at the 29-minute mark of the last quarter as fellow ex-Bomber Ben Hobbs racked up 30 touches at the coalface.

Hugh Dixon was a tower of strength at the other end for Tasmania with 10 marks and 3.2 and Brandon Leary (20) was terrific with his distribution, but the Devils were left to rue spraying 2.8 to 4.0 at the business end.

Coburg recorded a fourth-straight win for the first time since the opening four weeks of the 2015 season by controlling Williamstown all the way to win by 18 points by Barry Plant Park as former AFL man Jack Bytel (37, 11 clearances), should-be AFL man Flynn Gentile (32, seven tackles, two goals) and in-form Joel Trudgeon (34) had a field day to lift the Lions to eighth on the ladder.

Richmond might be undermanned but its courage can never be questioned after shocking a flat Sydney by 12 points at Tramway Oval on the back of a deadly Josh Pollocks, who kicked 5.0 from just five kicks, while Kaleb Smith racked up 37 disposals.

Reigning premier Footscray broke a four-match losing streak with a hard-fought 20-point win over Collingwood at Mission Whitten Oval that resurrected its season and left the Magpies’ finals hopes in need of a miracle turnaround, sparked by Jack Billings’ 26 disposals and three goals and despite a best-afield performance from Lachie Sullivan (30, 11 tackles, nine inside-50s).

Frankston returned to the top 10 with a 27-point shootout win (135-108) over the Brisbane Lions at Brighton Homes Arena despite a seven-goal haul from Lion young gun Will McLachlan as regular defender Taine Barlow booted four majors and Darby Hipwell (31, one goal) and Trent Mynott (26, two goals) enjoyed days out.

Richmond’s Hugo Ralphsmith has accepted a two-match suspension (down from three with an early plea) for striking Sydney’s Max Geddes in the only sour point from an impressive win that won’t help the Tigers’ massive absentee list.

Box Hill Hawk Cody Anderson has been reprimanded for striking Saints captain Billy McGee-Galimberti and GWS Giant Finn Davis fined $500 for forceful front-on contact against Demon Luamon Lual.

Joel Fitzgerald image from Casey Demons on X.