Northampton’s Jamie Cripps’ three goals help Eagles get up late, Jack Martin goes down with injury again
When the game mattered most, Northampton’s Jamie Cripps stood up once again to help West Coast come back and steal the win over North Melbourne.
After a quiet first half which left the Eagles trailing 22-points at the main break, the side turned it around in the second to claim a 15.12 (102) to 14.13 (97) triumph on Saturday in Hobart.
Cripps (10 disposals, four marks, three goals) was massive in the second half, booting three majors with seven score involvements.
With just one minute remaining and seven points the difference, the ball broke the Eagles’ forward 50 and Cripps picked up the pill and dribbled it through the big sticks — closing the margin to just one point.
West Coast were able to break it forward from the centre bounce, and co-captain Oscar Allen snapped a jaw-dropping goal to give the team a second straight win.
Rovers export Liam Ryan (10 disposals, three marks, two tackles) took a half of footy to wake up, but worked himself into the game after getting minutes in the midfield.
While he didn’t directly affect the scoreboard, Ryan was surgical in the last quarter, helping set up his teammates with three goal assists and three score involvements.
Although he was on the losing end of the Eagles’ riches, mid-season pick-up and Northampton talent Brynn Teakle played his best game of football at AFL level.
The ruck-turned-forward had safe hands all day and was crashing packs, taking a career-high six marks while kicking two goals for the Roos.
Carlton have fallen outside the eight after an embarrassing 74-point drubbing by Hawthorn on Sunday.
Towns’ Jack Martin was subbed out at quarter-time with a hamstring concern as the forward;s season continues to be derailed by injury, making just three senior appearances this year.
He was one of four Blues that exited the game with injury, and captain Patrick Cripps (25 disposals, seven tackles, eight clearances) could do little to stop the Hawks’ scoring assault.
On Friday night, the magnets were getting thrown around, with Coorow-Latham forward Logan McDonald finding himself down back against Collingwood.
He spent most of the game playing a defensive role, and amassed seven marks, but looked lost at times.
McDonald swung up forward when the game mattered most, kicking a goal late during their come-from-behind three-point win.
The Dockers’ finals hopes took a shot following their 11-point loss to Geelong at Optus on Saturday.
Dongara product Jaeger O’Meara (14 disposals, two clearances, one goal assist) was quiet on the wing.
With two rounds to go, Fremantle and Carlton — who play the Eagles this weekend at Optus Stadium — find themselves in precarious positions, sitting at sixth and ninth on the ladder.
Young defender Judd McVee and the Demons had their slim chance at making finals all but ended after a two-point loss to the Power.
McVee (20 disposals, two clearances) saw plenty of the ball but during the dying minutes, the Demons couldn’t protect their lead, with Port taking over to win the game.
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