WHAT HAPPENED IN ROUND 6 OF THE AFL SEASON:
* THEY SAID IT: “Brad’s as fair a player as you can get. He’s had as many head knocks as anyone in the world, so he understands what goes on … we’ll let the people who look at those things take care of it.” – Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley on Brad Ebert’s dangerous high bump on Harry Perryman.
* STATS THAT MATTER: Hawthorn’s score of 3.9 (27) in their loss to Collingwood was the club’s lowest score under coach Alastair Clarkson, and also the Hawks’ lowest score since Round 9, 1975.
* MAN OF THE ROUND: West Coast recruit Tim Kelly has taken a while to get going, but he played his best game for the Eagles in Saturday’s win over Adelaide. The former Cat tallied 24 disposals and eight clearances in a best-afield display.
* KEY MOMENT: With scores level and just two minutes remaining, Fremantle veteran Michael Walters opened up St Kilda’s defence with a pin-point diagonal kick through the midfield. Lachie Schulz ended up kicking the match-winning goal, but it was Walters who set it up.
* TALKING POINT: Is Gold Coast’s Izak Rankine the new kid to beat for the AFL’s rising star award? The No.3 pick from the 2018 national draft booted 3.3 in his AFL debut on Saturday. With his teammate Matt Rowell ruled out for three months with a shoulder injury, Rankine has the chance to become the league’s standout youngster this year.
* TRIBUNAL WATCH: St Kilda’s Ben Long could be facing a long suspension after his bump on Fremantle ruckman Sean Darcy was referred straight to the AFL tribunal. Essendon star Dylan Shiel was handed a two-match ban for his head-high bump on Curtis Taylor. Port Adelaide veteran Brad Ebert faces a nervous wait after being reported for his high bump at full speed on GWS midfielder Harry Perryman.
* KEY INJURIES: Rory Sloane (Adel, hand), Shane McAdam (Adel, ankle), Sean Darcy (Frem, concussion), Hayden Young (Frem, ankle), Jed Anderson (NM, quad), Will Kelly (Coll, elbow), Jonathon Patton (Haw, hamstring), Tom McDonald (Melb, eye), Josh Kennedy (Syd, knee), Conor McKenna (Ess, finger)
* WHAT’S NEXT: A crowd of up to 30,000 fans will be present for Collingwood’s blockbuster clash with Geelong at Optus Stadium on Thursday night. The Bombers will be aiming to continue their hot form when they host the Bulldogs at Metricon Stadium on Friday night. GWS lock horns with Brisbane, Richmond take on North Melbourne, while Fremantle and West Coast will be back in home comforts for the 51st edition of the western derby.
