News Story

Fremantle young gun Anthony Morabito's timing is impeccable.

The 18-year-old midfielder sneaks in as the last NAB AFL Rising Star nominee for 2010.
 
Morabito gathered 18 possessions and kicked a goal to help the Dockers to their nail-biting six- point victory over Carlton at Subiaco Oval on Friday night.

Retiring Corey Jones kicked two goals in the last quarter to help inspire North Melbourne's win over Melbourne in a terrific twilight game at the MCG.

The Kangas jumped out of the blocks to slam on the first three goals of the game, but the Demons hit back through mercurial forward Liam Jurrah.

Jurrah finished with five goals as did Brad Green.

But the Kangas finished strongly with inspirational captain Brent Harvey leading the way in game No. 301.

The little champ kicked three goals, including the sealer on the run from 50m midway through the last quarter.

Jones also kicked three goals.

Levi Greenwood was best on the ground with 39 possessions.

Brady Rawlings, Harvey, Andrew Swallow, Scott Thompson and Daniel Wells also played well.

Melbourne captain James McDonald tried his heart out in his 251st and last appearance for the Dees.

Final scores: North Melbourne 17.11 (113) to Melbourne 15.13 (103)

Matty Primus is almost certain to be offered Port Adelaide's coaching position after a splendid job as caretaker coach.

Primus is celebrating his fifth win (in seven games) after the Power out-lasted a fast-finishing Richmond at Etihad Stadium.

AFL superstar and bad boy Ben Cousins battled hard for the Tigers in his last game.

Port slammed on 10.2 to 1.3 in the second quarter to blow the game to bits.

Travis Boak was best on ground with 31 possessions and three goals.

Daniel Stewart kicked four goals.

The Power had 10 goalkickers.

Mitch Morton and Jake King kicked three goals apiece for Richmond.

The Power led by 59 points early in the third quarter before the Tigers stormed home to get within three points at the 13-minute of the last.

But Port steadied to upset hopes of a fairytale finish for Cousins.

Final scores: Port Adelaide 18.14 (122) to Richmond 16.16 (112) 

Essendon has sacked its coach-under-seige Matthew Knights.

The Richmond champ was in the job for three years and had two years to run on his current contract.

Knights was axed less than 24 years after the Bombers went down to the Western Bulldogs by 29 points at Etihad Stadium.

Essendon finished in 14th position with just seven wins in the 22 home and away rounds.

Knights will be shattered by his axing.

Club president David Evans and chief executive Ian Robson had backed him to retain the job just weeks ago.

Disgruntled fans have launched into Knights for most of the season.

Sydney will do battle with Carlton at ANZ Stadium this Sunday.

Out-going coach Paul Roos will have his players fired up for an all-out assault on the finals.

The Swans made sure of fifth spot (and a home final) by out-playing Brisbane after half-time at the Gabba.

In-form youngsters Trent Dennis-Lane and Kieran Jack kicked three goals apiece.

Nick Malceski, Marty Mattner and Brett Kirk playedwell.

Brent Staker tried his heart out for the Lions with a terrific effort on two-time Brownlow Medal winner Adam Goodes.

Tom Rockliff impressed along with Jared Brennan who kicked two goals.

Brisbane was without inspirational captain Jonathon Brown, who was unstoppable with four goals in the win over Essendon at Etihad Stadium in the previous round.

Final scores: Sydney 16.10 (106) to Brisbane 10.8 (68)

Jarrad Grant's confidence is skyhigh after an eye-catching six-goal display as the Western Bulldogs beat Essendon by 29 points at Etihad Stadium.

Barry Hall kicked four goals to finish with 73 goals for the home and away rounds.

Veteran Nathan Eagleton kicked three goals.

Robert Murphy provided a lot of drive off the half-back line.

Leroy Jetta battled his heart out for the Bombers.

Ryan Griffen injured a knee in a big blow to the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs do battle with Collingwood in a qualifying final at the MCG on Saturday night.

The Bombers are left to lick their wounds.

Has Matthew Knights coached the Bombers for the last time?

Final scores: Western Bulldogs 17.5 (107) to Essendon 11.12 (78)

Champion Gary Ablett gathered 33 possessions and kicked four goals as Geelong comfortably beat West Coast by 44 points after a slow start at Skilled Stadium.

Can Little Gaz win his second Brownlow Medal in a row?

James Kelly continued his brilliant form with 33 possessions.

Cameron Mooney and Steve Johnson kicked three goals apiece.

Callum Wilson kicked three goals for the Eagles, who are licking their wounds after collecting their first wooden spoon.

Geelong is gunning for a third flag in four years.

Final scores: Geelong 16.16 (112) to West Coast 10.8 (68)

St Kilda will be hoping to keep the scoreboard ticking over a lot more against Geelong in a qualifying final at the MCG this Friday.

The Saints were pathetic against Adelaide at AAMI Stadium.

They managed just five goals to go down by 28 points in a low-scoring scrap.

Captain Nick Riewoldt was held goal-less by Phil Davis.

Taylor Walker kicked three goals as the Crows split the game open in the third quarter.

Kurt Tippett kicked two goals.

Scott Thompson continued his outstanding form in the midfield with 37 possessions and received fine support from Richard Douglas and Brodie Martin.

Lenny Hayes and Nick Dal Santo collected 32 and 34 possessions respectively for St Kilda.

The Saints lost goalsneak Stephen Milne with an ankle injury from the selected side.

Final scores: Adelaide 9.11 (65) to St Kilda 5.7 (37)

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Collingwood coach Michael Malthouse and his players won't be losing too much sleep, despite seeing their winning run of nine games come to halt.

The Flagpies suffered a three-point loss to Hawthorn in a finals-like thriller at the MCG, despite having seven more scoring shots.

The brown and golds added 6.1 to 3.5 in the last quarter.

Collingwood young gun Dayne Beams had a shot at the big sticks from 25m after receiving a free kick in the dying seconds, but his kick faded to the left. 

The mercurial Lance "Buddy" Franklin was the difference.

He booted six goals in a match-winning performance for the Hawks.

Cyril Rioli chipped in with two goals.

Captain Sam Mitchell was superb under intense pressure.

Clinton Young and Xavier Ellis provided important drive as Hawthorn stormed home in the last quarter.

Brownlow Medal favourite Dane Swan was brilliant early for the Magpies.

Scott Pendlebury and Sharrod Wellingham also starred in the midfield.

Leon Davis, Darren Jolly and Jarryd Blair kicked two goals apiece. 

Josh Fraser finally played his 200th game, but is likely to be omitted as Collingwood do battle with the Western Bulldogs in a qualifying final at the MCG on Saturday night.

Hawthorn play Fremantle at Subiaco Oval on Saturday afternoon.

Final scores: Hawthorn 15.8 (98) to Collingwood 13.17 (95) 

Freo coach Mark Harvey punched the air with delight as the final siren sounded.

Fremantle will host an elimination final at Subiaco Oval in the first week of the finals (probably against Hawthorn).

The Dockers outlasted a fast-finishing Carlton by six points in a thrilling game at Subiaco Oval.

Indigenous key position player Michael Johnson was a driving force in the victory.

Marngrook Footy Show panel member Alan Thorpe wouldn't be surprised.

He likened Johnson to Sydney champ Adam Goodes on a recent episode of the top-rating Marngrook Footy Show.

Indigenous speedster Stephen Hill returned to form with a brilliant game.

Hill gathered 25 possessions and kicked two goals.

Chris Mayne, Johnson, Michael Walters and Matthew Pavlich also kicked two goals.

"Pav" collected 10 kicks and 15 handballs.

Ruckman Aaron Sandilands was terrific.

Jeff Garlett kicked three goals for the Blues, including two goals in the dying minutes as the visitors stormed home with six goals in the last quarter.

Chris Judd and Marc Murphy collected 30 possessions apiece.

Heath Scotland also played well.

Final scores: Fremantle 13.15 (93) to Carlton 13.9 (87)