North Melbourne coach Brad Scott wasn’t having any talk of finals after the Kangaroos’ 54-point win over injury-ravaged Brisbane.
But he’ll have to get used to being asked about the Roos’ premiership credentials after their seventh win of the season.
So could Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley after the Pies trounced Fremantle by 61 points to consolidate themselves in the top eight.
And Greater Western Sydney also joined Sunday’s winner’s list with an upset away 16-point win against Adelaide which was hailed by coach Leon Cameron as “one of our better wins for a number of years”.
The Giants ended their four-game losing streak with a 14.15 (97) to 11.15 (81) win – their first victory over the Crows in Adelaide – while Collingwood thrashed the Dockers 21.12 (138) to 12.5 (77).
And Scott’s Roos banked a comfortable 21.15 (141) to 12.15 (87) win at Etihad Stadium over the Lions
“It was a very, very good performance, all in all,” Scott said.
“When the game was there to be won we played some really good footy.
“I thought it was a really even performance across (all) lines.”
Shaun Higgins, Ben Cunnington and Luke McDonald were all influential for the Roos, with Dayne Beams the standout for Brisbane.
Jarrad Waite (calf) was a late withdrawal and Jed Anderson (hip) didn’t play after quarter-time.
For the Lions, Charlie Cameron (ankle), Allen Christensen (concussion) and Hugh McCluggage (hamstring) all left the game in the first half after Jarrod Berry was a late withdrawal with hamstring soreness.
West Coast sit a game clear atop the AFL ladder at the halfway point of the season after they overcame a dogged challenge from St Kilda at Optus Stadium.
Jack Darling injured his right ankle in a marking contest during the opening quarter, but Josh Kennedy filled the void with six goals in the 16.5 (101) to 14.4 (88) win.
It was their 10th win in a row .
Reigning premiers Richmond are second after they romped to a 17.12 (114) to 6.7 (43) win over Essendon in Saturday night’s annual marquee clash at the MCG.
The horror night stopped the Bombers’ two-win rally dead in its tracks and they also lost David Zaharakis with a suspected broken collarbone.
Third-placed Melbourne made it six wins in a row but their 49-point victory over the Western Bulldogs came at a cost with defender Jake Lever rupturing an anterior cruciate ligament and ruled out for the season.
Sydney round out the top four after they saw off Carlton by 30 points – 13.13 (91) to 9.7 (61) – at the SCG on Friday night.
Geelong improved to a 7-4 record with an 85-point thumping of Gold Coast on Saturday with Gary Ablett kicking three goals in his return to Metricon Stadium to go with 37 possessions in his side’s 17.19 (121) to 4.12 (36) mauling.
Hawthorn skipper Jarryd Roughead booted what turned out to be the match-winner late in his side’s three-point win over Port Adelaide.
Hawthorn came back from a 24-point deficit at quarter-time in the 9.10.(64) to 9.7.(61) win in Launceston.
