AFL

Snapshot for round 20 of the AFL season

By AAP Newswire

Jul 30, 2023

Carlton players celebrate their win over Collingwood. — Carlton's AFL stocks are on the rise after upsetting Collingwood for their sixth straight win. -AAP Image

THEY SAID IT: "We were looking at a stage there when we didn't know where our next win was going to come from" - Carlton coach Michael Voss was in a reflective mood after a sixth straight win, this time a 17-point upset of ladder leaders Collingwood at the MCG.

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PLAYER OF THE ROUND: Taylor Walker was critical to Adelaide reigniting their finals hopes with a seven-goal haul against Port Adelaide. The veteran forward equalled the record for the most majors in a Showdown and had a late opportunity to claim the benchmark for his own with a set shot from close range, but instead picked out Ben Keays alone in the goalsquare. The 33-year had 20 disposals and 15 score involvements to go with his 7.4 to earn a first Showdown Medal, and now sits just six majors behind Carlton's Charlie Curnow in the race for the Coleman Medal.

THE MOMENT: Lance Franklin owns Australia's second-most scrutinised calf after being subbed out of Sydney's thrilling two-point win against Essendon. If the Swans don't make finals, they only have four games left in what is likely Franklin's 19th and final season. It would be a sad way for a legend of the game to go out if his last match is a goal-less one-and-a-half quarters against the Bombers.

TALKING POINT: Aliir Aliir and Lachie Jones clashed heads in a heavy collision in the second term that looked set to end their nights early against a rampant Adelaide. Both Port Adelaide defenders made their way to the bench slowly and Jones was eventually subbed out of the contest at halftime due to a migraine. But Aliir returned to the action just minutes after the collision without undergoing a head injury assessment in a curious decision that the AFL are investigating. Don't be surprised to see Port copping a fine over the incident.

STATS THAT MATTER: GWS stretched their winning streak to a club-record seven matches with a thrilling win over the Western Bulldogs in Ballarat on Saturday. The Giants also boast an impressive record on the road - having won five consecutive matches outside Sydney - and have won at nine different venues this season, an AFL record.

TRIBUNAL WATCH: It was a star-studded affair in the match review panel stakes, with Patrick Cripps, Stephen Coniglio, Tom Liberatore, Lachie Neale, Touk Miller, and Jordan Dawson all receiving fines for various incidents over the weekend.

INJURIES: K Coleman (Bris, eye), L Franklin (Syd, calf), D Rampe (Syd, calf), A Cerra (Carl, hamstring), J Butts (Ade, foot), L Jones (PA, migraine), M Bergman (PA, hip), A Keath (WB, concussion), J Bruce (WB, knee), M Blicavs (Geel, hamstring), T Hawkins (Geel, hamstring), Z Jones (St K, knee), C Sharman (St K, hamstring)

WHAT'S NEXT: The Bulldogs and Tigers kick off round 21 on Friday night in a match that is crucial to the finals hopes of both sides. The Giants will be aiming to continue their hot run when they take on arch rivals Sydney on Saturday night. Geelong and Port Adelaide meet with time running out to rediscover their top form. The round concludes with Fremantle hosting top-four fancies Brisbane in Perth.