The AFL season is now through five rounds. Stay abreast of all the Round 6 results, reaction and video as they come to hand below.
Jump ahead to a particular game:
Cats vs. Lions
Magpies vs. Hawks
Dockers vs. Saints
Eagles vs. Crows
Demons vs. Suns
Bombers vs. Kangaroos
Power vs Giants
Tigers vs. Swans
Blues vs. Bulldogs
Thursday, July 9
Geelong 73-46 Brisbane, SCG, 7:40pm (AEST)
Team news: Geelong has elected to rest new recruit Jack Steven as the side comes off a five-day break, with young midfielder Sam Simpson selected for his first game of 2020. In a boost for the Lions, skipper Dayne Zorko returns to the side after missing last week's clash with a calf injury. Cam Ellis-Yolmen is the one to make way.
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Prediction: The Lions are the form side in the competition and haven't dropped a game since the AFL's restart last month. However, this will be their first trip away from the Gabba in that time. We know that at their best the Cats can be world beaters but too much inconsistency in 2020 means it's Brisbane game to lose. Lions by 10 points.
Score: Geelong 11. 7. (73) def. Brisbane 6.10. (46)
Recap: A third quarter demolition has seen the Cats bounce back from a poor three-goal first half to secure a 73-46 hammering over the Lions. Unbeaten since the season restart, the Lions looked likely to keep their streak alive, but a seven goal bombardment from the Cats in the third quarter has seen their run come to an end.
Friday, July 10
Collingwood vs. Hawthorn, Giants Stadium, 7.50pm (AEST)
Team news: Hawthorn have made four changes to their side with No. 13 pick Will Day to be unveiled against Collingwood. Josh Morris will also make his debut, while Shaun Burgoyne will be rested. The Pies have made a selection shock, naming second-year forward Atu Bosenavulagi to debut alongside father-son Will Kelly. Defender Isaac Quaynor will make his first start, while Jordan De Goey wasn't considered for selection and sent ahead to Perth. Josh Daicos will sit out with an ankle injury.
Prediction: A game which would normally have been played at the MCG has been moved north, but the intrigue remains. The Pies dominated patches of their clash against the Bombers last week but fell to another loss, with its forward line unable to contribute. The Hawks are also coming off a loss, to GWS, but crucially have the benefit of having played at Giants Stadium last week. Hawks by a goal.
Score: Collingwood 8.11. (59) def. Hawthorn 3.9. (27)
Recap: A four goal haul from Brody Mihocek has helped the Pies to a much needed win in Sydney. Nathan Buckley's side burst out of the block at Giants Stadium, kicking five goals to Hawthorn's one in the opening term. The Hawks, who lost key forward Jonathan Patton early, struggled to find avenues to goal, being restricted to just two goals in the first three quarters. Some late scoring by the Hawks closed the final margin to 32 points and saw the Pies move back inside the top four.
Saturday, July 11
Fremantle vs. St Kilda, Metricon Stadium, 12.35pm (AEST)
Team news: Nat Fyfe makes his awaited return from a hamstring strain with Blake Acres to play his first game for Fremantle. Fremantle are without Griffin Logue (toe), Reece Conca (hamstring) and Jesse Hogan (calf) are all out with Taylin Duman dropped. The Saints have named Zak Jones to replace Dan Hannebery (hamstring).
Prediction: It's hardly must-watch football, but both teams did get the four points last week and will fancy this one. If the Saints are to be taken seriously in 2020 they simply can't afford to drop this game to the lowly Dockers. Fremantle should be used to the Metricon Stadium conditions by now but there's only one winner here. Saints by three goals.
Score: Fremantle 12.7. (79) def. St Kilda 11.7. (73)
Recap: Fremantle completed its biggest ever comeback victory after trailing by six goals at the end of the first quarter to upset St Kilda and record its third win of the year. Down 37 points entering the second quarter, the Dockers rallied to stun the Saints with Michael Walters leading the charge (27 disposals) as they recovered to be behind by just 13 at halftime. Walters went from hero to villain when he entered the five metre exclusion zone around Zak Jones late in the contest, almost costing the Dockers the game, before Lachie Schultz sealed the comeback with the winning goal with just over a minute to play.
West Coast vs. Adelaide, Gabba, 3.05pm (AEST)
Team news: Adelaide have dropped Ben Crocker and Myles Poholke, while Lachlan Murphy (suspended) and Taylor Walker (knee) have been sidelined. Tyson Stengle will make his return after four weeks, while Andrew McPherson has been named for his debut. The Eagles have named Jarrod Cameron for his first game in 2020 and added Brayden Ainsworth in place of Luke Shuey and Jamaine Jones (hamstring injuries).
Prediction: Is a prediction necessary when the Crows are playing? West Coast found form last week with a comfortable win over the Swans, and should double up here and boost their percentage when they face a winless Adelaide outfit. If the Eagles are locked in, this could get ugly. West Coast by 38 points.
Score: West Coast 10.7 (67) def. Adelaide 5.4 (34)
Recap: The Eagles have registered back to back wins and their third of the season thanks to a four-goal third quarter against the winless Crows. Tim Kelly led the way with 25 disposals, thriving off the ruck work of the dynamic Nic Naitanui. The Crows booted two goals in the final term -- making the scoreboard look more respectable -- but they are still left slumbering at the bottom of the ladder. Squaring their ledger to 3-3, the Eagles will now head back to Perth on a positive note ahead of a mouth-watering western derby against the Dockers next Saturday night.
Melbourne vs. Gold Coast, Giants Stadium, 6.05pm (AEST)
Team news: Melbourne has made just three changes for Saturday, dumping high-profile recruit Adam Tomlinson and recalling midfielder Harley Bennell for their clash against the Suns. Jayden Hunt, Trent Rivers and Joel Smith have also taken the axe. While No. 3 draft pick Izak Rankine will make his Suns debut.
Prediction: It's still relatively early in the season, but the pressure is mounting on the Demons and coach Simon Goodwin who have won just one game. Another loss and it could just about be curtains in a shortened 2020. The Suns will be looking to get back on the winners' list and even without rising star Matthew Rowell will be the favourite. Suns by two goals.
Score: Melbourne 12.8 (80) def. Gold Coast 9.9 (63)
Recap: Melbourne bounced back from two consecutive losses with a spirit-lifting win over the impressive Suns. After a four-goal second term, the Demons kept their noses in front until scores were level late in the final stanza -- putting hearts in the mouths of the Melbourne faithful. But in a mature display and with composure in front of goals late, they now go into next week's clash against the Hawks full of confidence. Suns young gun Izak Rankine showed he is a star of the future kicking three impressive goals on debut.
Essendon vs. North Melbourne, Metricon Stadium, 7.40pm (AEST)
Team news: Tom Bellchambers has been sideline for Essendon as they name Conor McKenna for his first game of the season, while Zach Merrett returns from suspension. Jake Stronger is out (ankle), while Mason Redman has been dropped. North Melbourne will be without Ben Cunnington through a back complaint, with Marley Willams a big-name casualty.
Prediction: North have faltered in the last couple of weeks, and come up against a side in Essendon which has an impressive win over Collingwood. Both teams will be missing stars after Jake Stringer and Ben Cunnington failed to finish last week's matches for Essendon and North Melbourne respectively. Who wins this? The Bombers by maybe 15 points.
Score: Essendon 9.13 (67) def North Melbourne 7.11 (53)
Recap: Essendon recovered from a slow start to hold off North Melbourne by 14 points at Metricon Stadium. The win sees the Bombers move to 4-1 for the season with a game in hand, placing them inside the top four. The out of form David Zaharakis proved his critics wrong, booting three goals from 20 disposals in an outing perhaps only bettered by the explosive Andy McGrath. The Kangas now sit 16th on the ladder after losing four straight matches. The Bombers will head into next week's clash against the Dogs with plenty of momentum behind them.
Sunday, July 12
Port Adelaide vs. GWS, Metricon Stadium, 1:05pm (AEST)
Team news: Port Adelaide have made four additions for Sunday with Ryan Burton headlining, while the Giants have included Callan Ward and Sam Jacobs.
Prediction: This is a huge clash in the scheme of the top eight race given Port's fast start to the year (but bas loss to Brisbane last week) and GWS's impressive win over Hawthorn. This is being played in neutral territory, though if anything, the Power have the advantage having been in a Gold Coast hub for some time. Expect them to bounce back by two goals.
Score: Power 9.9 (63) def. Giants 6.10 (46)
Recap: The Power bounced back in a big way after suffering their first loss of the year, making a statement to the rest of the league that they are a force to be reckoned with. The match was a tough grind for the majority of the contest, with the Power leading by just three points at three-quarter time, before Jeremy Finlayson kicked the Giants to the lead early in the fourth. Port Adelaide managed to wrestle back control, however, kicking four quick goals to seal the victory.
Richmond vs. Sydney, Gabba, 3:35pm (AEST)
Team news: Richmond have added nine names to their squad of 26 for Sunday's clash. Potential debutants Callum Coleman-Jones and Riley Dawkins have been called up, while Dion Prestia and Toby Nankervis miss out with ankle surgery. Trent Cotchin was ruled out with a hamstring injury, while Bachar Houli and Shane Edwards remain in Melbourne. Tom Lynch remains in the squad despite finger surgery on Monday. The Swans have confirmed No. 5 pick Dylan Stepehen and Chad Warner will make their AFL debuts.
Prediction: The Tigers looked strong last week against Melbourne, but ... it's Melbourne. The Swans might put up more of a fight, and with this match being played on a neutral ground, perhaps Richmond isn't as short a favourite as they seem. Back the Tigers, even with their injury woes, just. Richmond by 6 points.
Score: Tigers 4.10 (34) def. Swans 3.8 (26)
Recap: It was the lowest scoring AFL game in 24 years, but even in slippery conditions Richmond managed to put away a sorry Sydney team to take their place in the top six. Between the rain and the Swans' 'defensive' manner of play, the game was limited to just seven goals with Richmond kicking three in the first quarter alone. The defending premiers would only go on to kick one more goal, but showed enough defensive steel to hold off the Swans.
Carlton vs. Western Bulldogs, Metricon Stadium, 6:45pm (AEST)
Team news: The Western Bulldogs will have Lachie Hunter back after his four-match suspension. Zac Fisher is one of four potential ins for the Blues.
Prediction: The Bulldogs have been one of the stingiest teams since the restart, with their defence having given up no more than 38 points over the past three weeks. The Blues have been known to give up five-goal leads, which doesn't bode well for this matchup. The Dogs should have enough in them to win this by three goals.
Score: Blues 16.7 (103) def Bulldogs 7.9 (51)
Recap: Carlton continued their 2020 resurgence, demolishing the Bulldogs on the Gold Coast. The Blues started strongly jumping to a three-goal lead at the first break and maintained that margin until running away in the final term. Eddie Betts (4) and Harry McKay (3) led the scoring for the Blues, the 52-point victory moving them into the Top 8.