The Lance Franklin-less Sydney Swans have inflicted a second straight AFL defeat on Melbourne after edging the reigning premiers in a 12-point thriller at the MCG.
Even without suspended superstar Franklin, the Swans were able to recover from conceding the first five goals of Saturday night's game.
And trailing by 13 points early in the last quarter, the Swans rallied despite a colossal performance from Demons captain Max Gawn.
Young gun Errol Gulden slotted a clutch goal from the boundary to put the Swans in front with five minutes remaining.
Small forward Tom Papley sealed the deal when he snapped a free kick from the boundary a couple of minutes later as the Swans prevailed 10.13 (73) to 9.7 (61).
Sydney move to 8-4, backing up last week's nail-biting victory over fellow finals contenders Richmond, while the Demons drop to 10-2 after losing consecutive games for the first time since 2020.
The Swans were behind by as much as 26 points, but they stepped up to boot five goals to two during a commanding second-quarter performance.
Young tall forward Logan McDonald booted three goals in an electrifying display, while veteran Sam Reid turned back the clock with one of the best efforts of his 168-game career.
Star midfielder Callum Mills was inspirational, as were brothers Tom and Paddy McCartin down back.
Melbourne, again, looked nowhere near as formidable without All-Australian defender Steven May marking everything that came inside-50.
The Demons had appeared almost unbeatable until May was concussed early in last week's loss to Fremantle, underlining his standing as the most important player to any AFL team.
Fellow key backman Harrison Petty struggled through the match with strapping on his knee and was assessed after copping a big knock to his shoulder.
Premiership forward Tom McDonald was a late withdrawal due to an ankle issue and was replaced by veteran Mitch Brown.
In better news for Melbourne, dashing defender Christian Salem made a successful return to the AFL in his first game since injuring his knee in round one.
The Swans have the bye next week, while Melbourne have a nine-day break before facing Collingwood in the Queen's Birthday blockbuster.
Weller injured in big Suns' win over North
Gold Coast have thumped under-fire North Melbourne with a devastating seven-goal burst to continue their charge towards the AFL top-eight in a 62-point victory in Darwin.
The Suns started slowly and trailed by 17 points at the first change but led by Touk Miller they slammed on seven majors while keeping the Kangaroos scoreless in the second term to set up a 15.19 (109) to 7.5 (47) triumph on Saturday.
But the win could come at a cost after Suns defender Lachie Weller collapsed while dashing through the middle of the ground with ball in hand in the final term and immediately clutched at his knee.
In a stirring show of strength in the second quarter, the Suns dominated the contested possessions 47-27 and had an incredible 28-6 advantage in inside 50s to build a 32-point half-time lead that the Roos never looked like bouncing back from.
A fourth win in the past five matches moves the Suns to a 6-6 record and with a favourable run home they are well-placed to be a genuine finals contender for the first time since winning a club-record 10 games in 2014.
Co-captain Miller helped turn the contest around with 12 disposals and five clearances in the second term, finishing with 32 touches, 23 of them contested and 13 clearances as he starred while becoming just the fourth player to reach 150 matches for the Suns.
Matt Rowell responded well to a quieter run of form to partner Miller around the stoppages and gathered 25 disposals with 17 of those contested, while David Swallow (22 touches, one goal) and Noah Anderson (21) were also influential.
Suns foundation player Sam Day kicked two goals in his first match of the season after coming in for the injured Levi Casboult, as Izak Rankine also booted two majors.
Luke Davies-Uniacke (25 disposals, one goal), Jy Simpkin (20, one) and Jed Anderson (18, one) battled hard, while Luke McDonald (20) was one of few Roos looking to provide run and carry and ended with an equal game-high 11 rebounds.
Tarryn Thomas (19 touches) and Hugh Greenwood (21) took steps towards rediscovering their best form but the Roos needed more contributors after quarter-time to prevent a 10th consecutive loss.
The effects of the Kangaroos second-quarter nightmare are set to be felt into next week, with key defender Ben McKay copping a knock to the head late in the term and unable to return after the main break.
After the competitive opening the highlight for the Kangaroos was a stunning major from Jason Horne-Francis when the number one draft pick burst away from a stoppage and stepped around two Suns defenders on his way to goal.
The Suns ran away in the final term with four more goals while the Roos were again held goalless.
Gold Coast have a bye next week and then face Adelaide while North Melbourne play GWS on Sunday.
Eagles' winless run continues as Crows take care of business
A dominant Taylor Walker has helped Adelaide down West Coast by 31 points to emphatically snap a five-game AFL losing streak.
The Crows, with Walker, Shane McAdam and Darcy Fogarty kicking three goals each, triumphed 13.10 (88) to 8.9 (57) on a rain-soaked Adelaide Oval.
Adelaide laid their victory platform with five goals to none in Saturday's opening term as the Eagles' miserable season continued.
West Coast remain anchored in last spot with a solitary win as their percentage dropped to 50.7.
Adelaide stalwart Walker was superb with his three goals complemented by 22 disposals, 10 score involvements and eight marks.
His fellow forwards McAdam and Fogarty also feasted on supply from a dominant midfield headed by Rory Laird.
Laird's game-high 33 disposals included a goal, six inside 50s and eight clearances and on-ballers Jackson Hately (25 touches), Matt Crouch (27) and Ben Keays (29) also revelled in the wet.
Defenders Brodie Smith (21 possessions) and Jordan Dawson (23) were other standouts as the Crows banked a fourth win of the season.
West Coast's Andrew Gaff (30 touches, one goal), Tim Kelly (25 disposals) and captain Luke Shuey (27 possessions, eight inside 50s) battled against the tide and Jack Darling kicked two goals.
Eagles stalwart Jeremy McGovern was a late withdrawal because of a back injury which caused him to be substituted out of last week's game, replaced by Luke Foley.
And McGovern's defensive nous was sorely missed by the visitors as the opening quarter turned into an Adelaide procession.
The Crows kicked 5.2, including two goals from Fogarty, before West Coast managed to score, a snap from Josh Kennedy in the 26th minute slid off the side of his boot for a point.
Adelaide led 32-1 at quarter-time before West Coast's Darling scored his side's first major early in the second term, only for the Crows to kick the next three goals to create a commanding 42-point advantage.
The Eagles' Darling and Gaff added goals but Adelaide logged four goals to three for the quarter for a 9.6 to 3.4 half-time lead.
West Coast managed to outscore their hosts in constant rain in the second half, scoring five goals to four goals, but the damage had been done.
