Tyrone Sam Maguire winner Conor McKenna helped the Brisbane Lions to demolish the Richmond Tigers 163-44 at the Gabba in Round 10 of the AFL season on Saturday.
This season, Brisbane have looked a pale shadow of the team that was leading last year’s Grand Final with barely four minutes remaining but are now unbeaten in their last three matches.
Despite their marked improvement, a 4-5 record for the season, leaves their finals hopes in the balance. Since 1997, only two sides have won a premiership from outside of the top four, which underscores the magnitude of Brisbane’s task this time around.
Currently in 12th on the season ladder, the Lions are six points outside of the top eight and a whopping ten points outside of the top four.
McKenna collected 19 disposals (19 kicks), 11 marks, and gained 390 metres from the halfback flank.
On Friday night, Geelong lost their third consecutive match of the season after a 164-100 hammering by the Gold Coast Suns in tropical Darwin as the players sweltered in 34 degrees at TIO Stadium.
Zach Tuohy is out of contract at the end of the season but is on North Melbourne’s recruitment list. The Portloaise veteran finished with 13 disposals (6 kicks & 7 handballs), 1 goal, and 1 behind. Kerry defender Mark O’Connor chipped in with 12 disposals (6 kicks & 6 handballs), and 4 marks.
The Swans and Dons are flying 🔝 pic.twitter.com/coeRXXQRgS
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The Cats, who endured their biggest defeat since 1994, remain in the top four but are no certainties to stay there given their recent struggles.
On Saturday, Cork dual footballer Mark Keane showed his old club Collingwood what they are missing after being named as one of the Adelaide Crows best players in their 78-74 defeat at the MCG.
Keane collected 20 disposals (13 kicks & 7 handballs), 5 marks, and gained 317 metres for the Crows, who slid to 13th place on the season ladder.
On Sunday Meath midfielder Conor Nash was on the Hawthorn team who lost a one-point thriller 80-79 away to Port Adelaide at The Adelaide Oval. Nash tallied 17 disposals (8 kicks & 9 handballs), 1 mark, and 7 tackles.
Nash will become a free agent at the end of the season and having established himself as an elite player is likely to command big dollars if he chooses to leave Hawthorn. The Hawks are out of finals contention with a 3-7 record for the season.
Also on Sunday, rock bottom North Melbourne were thrashed 106-66 by Essendon at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne.
Tyrone-born Aidan Corr collected 8 disposals (6 kicks & 2 handballs), 4 marks, and 4 tackles for the winless Kangaroos.
