The second of the AFL's three split rounds passed with an end to the Dockers' resurgence, a rib-tickler of a contest between the Saints and Cats and more stumbles from the once table-topping Kangaroos.
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Our crack (pot) panel returns to run the rule over round 14 of the AFL season.
The panel:
Brendan Foster (WAtoday's resident grumpy old man); Tim Carrier (Fantasy footy nut and occasional WAtoday social media producer); Steve Allen (Radio 6PR producer and stats guru); Simon White (WAtoday editor and chief puppet hater)
Fossie:
1. Was Cats coach Chris Scott's decision to leave gun on-baller Patrick Dangerfield on the bench in the dying minutes of the game against the Saints, arrogance or just dumb coaching? Either way, it probably cost the Cats the game.
2. Speaking of the Cats. The last five minutes of the Saints and Cats game was the most exhilarating end to a game I've seen all year. Intense. Pulsating. Bloody good fun.
3. The Roos are cooked. The only thing saving North Melbourne from dramatically falling out of the top eight at the end of the home-and-away season is the teams outside the eight are crap (at the moment). If the Saints and Port come with a run, the Roos might be vulnerable.
Timbo:
1. If St Kilda play Geelong in Round 14 in the future - tune in! Saturday's only night fixture delivered the goods with a thrilling game that evoked memories of one of the best home-and-away fixtures of all time - between the Saints and the Cats in the same round in the 2009 season. Also, first year player Jade Gresham's stunning work to evade Tom Lonergan and snap a crucial goal should be rewarded with the goal-of-the-round and come in contention for goal of the year. What a classy effort!
JADE GRESHAM! Extraordinary goal! #AFLSaintsCats #ohwhatafeeling https://t.co/oXRWRfJcOt— AFL (@AFL) June 25, 2016
2. With Gary Ablett getting back to his best and the troops starting to return for the Suns, Gold Coast could definitely trouble a few Top 8 sides in the run home.
3. Despite a mini-revival, Fremantle still look like they'll finish the season in the bottom four. Will that be enough to lure new home-buyer Jesse Hogan west? Only time will tell.
Steve-o:
1. Patrick Dangerfield is closer a fiancé than suspension after getting down on one knee with Jarryn Geary.
2. Sam Collins is a good find for Freo. His performance was even enough to elicit a rare tweet from Luke McPharlin. If it's good for Luke it's good for me.
3. You can put the Hawks in one of the worst jumpers ever seen but you can't keep them from top of the ladder.
Whitey:
1. Jack Hannath's performance on Friday night officially moves him back into the box marked "break glass only in the case of extreme emergency."
2. The Saints against the Cats was the ultimate advertisement for staying in and watching two teams you don't support on a chilly Saturday evening.
3. Interesting to hear Justin Leppitsch talking about the Lions likely having the best "spine" in the league in a few years after the loss to Richmond. There's a pretty handy one just down the coast at the Suns; the trick for both clubs is clearly going to be hanging on to them.
