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Charlie Curnow bags nine goals in Carlton's 108-point AFL win over West Coast as Melbourne thrashes Kangaroos by 90 points

Charlie Curnow (right) was in superb touch as Carlton destroyed West Coast in Perth. (Getty Images/AFL Photos: Will Russell)

Carlton spearhead Charlie Curnow has put on a marking masterclass on his way to kicking a career-high nine goals in the Blues' 108-point trouncing of West Coast in Perth.

Meanwhile, Melbourne hammered the Kangaroos by 90 points at the MCG in the other evening match, while GWS, the Brisbane Lions and Western Bulldogs all enjoyed wins earlier on Saturday.

Curnow took eight contested marks among his 14 grabs in a dominant display up forward, with the 26-year-old brushing aside four opponents on the way to 9.3 in the 23.14 (152) to 6.8 (44) rout.

His previous career best was a seven-goal haul against the Western Bulldogs in 2019.

Curnow missed a shot on the run in the final quarter that would have given him 10 goals.

The result snapped a two-match losing streak for the Blues, who improved their win-loss record to 4-2, in addition to one draw.

West Coast (1-6) has now lost five matches on the trot and face a huge fight to avoid the wooden spoon this year amidst a devastating injury toll.

The win was Carlton's second biggest over West Coast, falling just short of the 119-point triumph in their first meeting in 1987.

Carlton captain Patrick Cripps starred with 33 disposals, eight clearances and a goal, while Nic Newman, Adam Cerra, Blake Acres, George Hewett and Sam Walsh all racked up 30 or more possessions.

Curnow started the match with undersized Eagles defender Josh Rotham for company, and the Carlton star burst out of the blocks with three contested marks and two goals in the first quarter.

Harry McKay also booted two early goals to give the Blues a 21-point lead at quarter-time and Curnow had four goals to his name by the main break as the lead swelled to 40 points.

Rotham was finally relieved of the job on Curnow when the spearhead booted his sixth goal at the nine-minute mark of the third quarter.

Curnow booted his seventh when he snared a mark under the tight attention of Tom Barrass before kicking truly from 50 metres.

Sub Rhett Bazzo was then sent to Curnow, but it was Hurn's brief cameo on the spearhead that created the biggest highlight.

Curnow jumped onto Shannon Hurn's shoulders to take a spectacular high grab before wheeling onto his right boot to snap his eighth.

He had the venue record of nine goals when he pushed off Bazzo to take a mark in a pack near the goal square.

The focus for the remainder of the match was on whether Curnow could make it a magical 10 goals, but West Coast double teamed him at times to ensure it did not happen.

Demons hammer Kangaroos

Angus Brayshaw (right) and Kysaiah Pickett enjoy a Demons goal against the Kangaroos. (AAP: Joel Carrett)

Melbourne triumphed in a mismatch marred by a horror leg injury sustained by Kangaroos youngster Charlie Comben.

The Demons killed off the contest with the first six goals and gave their percentage a healthy boost with the 22.7 (139) to 7.7 (49) win.

Comben, who has a history of left-leg injuries, was hurt when he went for a mark in the opening quarter.

Play was held up for several minutes and significantly the Seven Network opted against showing a replay of the gruesome incident.

North Melbourne's Charlie Comben was taken to hospital after suffering his horrific injury. (Getty Images: Quinn Rooney)

Comben was hospitalised with a suspected broken leg.

Fellow Kangaroos forward Callum Coleman-Jones was also forced from the match in the third term after coming off second-best in a marking contest with Demons defender Steven May.

Completing a disastrous night for the Kangaroos, Tom Powell needed help from trainers as he went off with a leg injury in the last term.

It is the Kangaroos' biggest losing margin under new coach Alastair Clarkson, after they won their first two matches, and also Melbourne's fourth 100-plus score this season.

The Demons kicked their highest score this season and were on track to record their biggest winning margin against North Melbourne, before the Kangaroos kicked the last three goals of the match.

Bayley Fritsch kicked a match-high four goals for the Demons and Cameron Zurhaar managed three for the Kangaroos.

Melbourne midfielder Clayton Oliver impressed with 37 disposals, while Christian Petracca and Angus Brayshaw — in his 150th match — also shone.

Impressive Kangaroos youngster Harry Sheezel and Aaron Hall each had 30-disposal matches.

Giants edge Swans in derby classic

Toby Greene (second from right) was the hero for the Giants in their comeback win over the Swans. (Getty Images/AFL Photos: Mark Kolbe)

Toby Greene snapped a last-minute goal to snatch victory for GWS over cross-town rivals Sydney in a high-scoring thriller at the SCG.

The Giants' captain was the quickest to react when the ball fell free after a throw-in deep in the forward pocket, but needed the composure to get it to his boot for the major that sealed the stirring 17.5 (107) to 16.10 (106) comeback win.

GWS kicked the last four goals of the match to overrun the Swans after trailing by as much as 24 points early in the final term.

Greene sparked the fightback with the first of those four goals, while versatile midfielder Harry Perryman also added two as the Giants surged late.

The Swans' dashing halfback Ollie Florent was a curious match-up on Greene for much of the contest and was mostly able to nullify the Giants' dangerman near goal.

Greene still finished with four goals and had just as much impact further afield to gather 22 disposals.

Stephen Coniglio (28 disposals, two goals) and Harry Perryman (21, three) were superb throughout for the Giants, while Xavier O'Halloran (15, two) and Finn Callaghan (26) were also influential in promising signs for the future.

The Giants' (3-4) key forward Jesse Hogan finished with two majors against the Swans' returning key defender Tom McCartin.

Young on-ball bulls Tom Green (31 disposals, 13 tackles) and Chad Warner (29 disposals, one goal) were engaged in an enthralling duel in a pointer to a match-up to watch for years to come.

Toby Bedford made an immediate impact in his GWS debut after 16 matches with Melbourne, taking a diving mark in the forward pocket then nailing the set shot for the opening goal of the game.

Sydney Derby specialist Luke Parker looked set to inspire the hosts to their own comeback victory as he was crucial early when the misfiring Swans battled to stay with the Giants through the first half.

The Swans co-captain gathered 33 disposals and booted an important final-term goal, but lacked support around the stoppages to stem the flow of goals as the Giants stormed home.

Lance Franklin took a while to warm into the match but got off the leash with three goals either side of the main break after Giants defender Jack Buckley had the better of their clash early on.

Key forward Logan McDonald and high-flying Will Hayward also finished with three majors, but the Swans will rue missed opportunities near goal that could have put the margin out of reach.

Lions add to Dockers' woes

Charlie Cameron celebrates after kicking a goal for the Lions. (Getty Images: Bradley Kanaris)

Will Ashcroft put forward a goal-of-the-year contender as the Brisbane Lions sunk Fremantle's season to further depths.

The Lions (5-2) notched a fourth-straight win, untroubled in a 17.13 (115) to 10.7 (67) Gabba cruise that plunged the Dockers to 2-5.

Lachie Neale had a day out but teenager Ashcroft was the talking point after surpassing his own incredible expectations with a stunning second-quarter effort.

In just his seventh match, the midfielder anticipated the tap from a bounce close to goal, running down the short side and tapping the ball to himself with his right hand.

He regathered in mid-air and — while under pressure — put the ball to the outside of his right foot and somehow squeaked through a goal from the tightest of angles.

The 18-year-old let his guard down, lifting both hands in disbelief and offering a cheeky smile as he was mobbed by his teammates.

Ashcroft's effort likely upstaged teammate Charlie Cameron's similarly freakish goal a week earlier, while it also had a higher degree of difficulty than Daniel Wells' much-celebrated 2004 goal of the year for North Melbourne.

Ashcroft kicked another goal from a set shot soon after that and finished with 28 mostly silky disposals.

The Dockers looked down on confidence and direction as they lost an 11th-straight first quarter.

Lachie Neale (35 disposals, 15 clearances) was everywhere for the Lions, while small forward Lincoln McCarthy kicked three goals to break the shackles of a quiet season.

Joe Daniher also booted three majors, with Ashcroft, Cameron, Zac Bailey, Eric Hipwood finished the match with doubles.

Bulldogs mark The Bont's 200th with a win

Bulldogs skipper Marcus Bontempelli kicks during his 200th AFL match. (Getty Images/AFL Photos: Michael Willson)

The Western Bulldogs ensured captain Marcus Bontempelli celebrated his 200-match milestone in positive fashion, grinding out a 29-point win over Hawthorn.

The Bulldogs (4-3) were well beaten in clearances and contested possession before half-time but gradually tilted the match in their favour to secure a 14.10 (94) to 9.11 (65) victory at Docklands.

It was the Hawks' (1-5) fourth straight loss, leaving them anchored to the bottom of the ladder.

Bontempelli (20 disposals) was below his scintillating best, drifting in and out of the contest as Hawthorn threatened a boilover in front of 40,119 spectators.

But the Brownlow Medal fancy finished with a match-high four goal assists to make his presence felt as the Bulldogs kicked seven goals to two after half-time.

Aaron Naughton (four goals), Caleb Daniel (27 disposals, six clearances) and Jack Macrae (26, six) were all influential in the victory, which put the Bulldogs ahead on the win-loss ledger for the first time this season.

Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Rory Lobb kicked two goals each.

Bailey Smith (24 disposals, six clearances) made a successful return after two weeks out with a calf injury but the Bulldogs missed concussed midfielder Tom Liberatore's grunt around the ball.

Will Day (30 touches, six clearances, one goal), James Worpel (25, eight, one) and Jai Newcombe (24, 10, two) took up the fight with the Bulldogs' engine room and veteran forward Luke Breust (three goals) was a handful in attack before half-time.

The Bulldogs owned the scoreboard for most of the second half but struggled to shake off the gallant Hawks.

Popular young livewire Arthur Jones kicked the sealer — his first AFL goal — to spark celebrations in the final few minutes.

Ladder

AAP/ABC

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