THEY SAID IT: "It doesn't take much, if you drop off in that area, for you to look second-rate - and we looked third-rate today." - Essendon coach Brad Scott lamented a serious lack of effort and intent from his players after a horror 53-point loss to St Kilda dented their finals hopes. PLAYER OF THE ROUND: Dayne Zorko won his second Marcus Ashcroft Medal of the season as best-on-ground in Brisbane's win over Gold Coast, but it was Lions skipper Lachie Neale who ran the show.
Neale racked up 35 disposals and 10 clearances and added a late goal in another dominant display by the dual Brownlow medallist. THE MOMENT: In a clanger that will be replayed for years, GWS young gun Harvey Thomas blew a certain six-pointer when, from less than 10 metres out, he booted the ball straight into teammate Jesse Hogan standing on the goal-line. The teammates, and Giants coach Adam Kingsley, were able to laugh it off after completing a thrilling two-point win against Melbourne.
TALKING POINT: Carlton were reprimanded by the AFL for failing to immediately remove Harry McKay from play after he suffered a head knock against North Melbourne. McKay passed concussion tests and was named to face Port Adelaide - but was a late withdrawal from Friday's game through illness. After the game, coach Michael Voss insisted McKay was just "crook".
But the AFL on Saturday confirmed they would make enquiries with Carlton to check how McKay was managed. STAT THAT MATTERS I: North Melbourne's second-year star Har.