Moose on the loose: Ex-Saint magnificent in epic Demons win

Many pundits thought Sandringham might struggle to win a game in its return to standalone status after 26 years, but the Zebras have already laid claim to the upset of the season after stunning the Lions by seven points in Brisbane.

Last year’s Morrish medallist Brodie Atkins kept his name in the mid-season draft discussion by kicking the sealer on the siren, while second-gamer Kyle Cooper (25 disposals, six marks) was best afield in Sandringham’s first ever win over the Lions in five attempts and small forward Willis Reidy kicked three goals.

Sam Marshall continued his good form with 25 touches and Will McLachlan booted 2.3 for the home team.

Apart from a 15-minute period in the first quarter, Tasmania turned its first visit to the mainland into a walkover as it hammered Frankston by 78 points in front of 4613 people at Kinetic Stadium.

The Devils trailed by a point at quarter-time but it was one-way traffic after that as they kicked 17 goals to five behind the sheer dominance of Jye Menzie (29 disposals, 12 marks, one goal), returning captain Robbie Fox (21), young talent Lachlan Hay (four goals) and Rory Wright (21, one goal) and TSL champions Sam Siggins (four goals) and Brad Cox-Goodyer (20 touches, one goal) to remain undefeated after three games.

Melbourne recruit Max Heath will be making it tough for Melbourne to avoid picking a second ruckman after a match-winning performance in Casey Demons’ epic four-point win over Box Hill Hawks on Sunday.

Former Power and Saints defender Riley Bonner (33) was brilliant for a Casey team that saw Luker Kentfield (four), Aidan Johnson (four) and Matt Jefferson (three) among the goals.

Hawthorn draftee Aidan Schubert threatened to tear the game apart early, kicking five goals by the four-minute mark of the second term, and dual Frosty Miller medallist Brodie McLaughlin added four, while Finn Maginness (31) and the returning Henry Hustwaite (28) won plenty of the ball.

The late Alan ‘Doc’ McKenzie is feted as a legend at both Southport and Gold Coast and it was the Sharks who honoured him best with a 76-point thrashing of their fellow premiership fancy at Fankhauser Reserve.

Liston medallist J__acob Dawson__ (38 disposals, 14 clearances, two goals) dominated again and ex-Port Adelaide players Boyd Woodcock (31, one goal) and Ryan Burton (26) also starred, while Max Pescud and Noah Gadsby kicked four goals each.

Former Shark Ben Jepson was best for the Suns with 29 touches and two goals, while cricket convert Zak Evans also impressed with 29 and top-10 draftee Dylan Patterson had 25.

Richmond’s Sam Toner put himself on the mid-season draft radar with a stunning third-quarter burst to drag the Tigers to a 33-point win over St Kilda at RSEA Park.

He finished with 18 touches, nine marks and 6.3 and was supported by SSP signing Tom Burton (three goals), Kaleb Smith (30) and captain Lachlan Street (26, one goal).

Hunter Clark was outstanding with 31 disposals and 11 marks for the Saints, while NGA draftee Kye Fincher had 26 and captain Billy McGee-Galimberti 24 and a goal.

Angus Anderson was brilliant with 29 disposals, 12 clearances, eight tackles and a goal, while key forwards Jack Buller (four) and Charlie West (three), plus draftee Jai Saxena (three) dominated up forward as Collingwood bounced back from a shock opening loss to thrash Coburg by 45 points.

North Melbourne youngster Brayden George has had exactly zero luck with injuries since arriving at Arden St in the 2022 National Draft, but he showed his boundless talent with a stunning first-quarter salvo in the Kangaroos’ 11-point Good Friday win over Carlton at Arden St.

Geelong kicked 6.7 to 0.0 in the first quarter before cruising to a 44-point win over Werribee, with VFL star Marcus Herbert unstoppable in racking up 34 touches, six marks, seven tackles and two goals, while James Worpel (24) and George Stevens (23) starred again.

Sydney took advantage of a wasteful Port Melbourne to win by 21 points and break its 2026 duck at ETU Stadium, with developing defenders Patrick Snell (26, seven marks) and Will Edwards performing strongly, while tall forwards Joel Hamling and Hayden McLean stood up in the second half to kick three goals apiece and Jesse Dattoli pushed for an AFL recall with two of his own.

Footscray lifted in the second half to ease to a 47-point win over Essendon at Marvel Stadium, led by five goals from former Saint and Demon Jack Billings, while young tall Louis Emmett (21, eight marks, three goals) put himself in the frame for an AFL debut given Tim English’s knee injury and Will Darcy also booted three, with Elijah Tsatas (35, eight marks, nine clearances) having a day out for the Bombers.