Geelong have overcome the late withdrawal of Patrick Dangerfield to take a step closer to the AFL minor premiership with a 45-point belting of St Kilda.
Dangerfield sat out after feeling tightness in his troublesome right calf during the warm-up, having been sidelined for six matches earlier in the season with similar issues.
But the Cats still proved too powerful for the Saints, kicking clear after half-time to post a commanding 17.8 (110) to 10.5 (65) victory at Kardinia Park on Saturday night.
The result extended Geelong's winning streak to 11 matches, keeping them four points clear on top of the ladder, and was a huge blow to St Kilda's (11-9) finals hopes amid a tight race for top-eight spots.
The Saints also lost injury-plagued veteran Dan Hannebery to an ankle issue in what was only his second game of the season after repeated soft tissue setbacks.
Tom Hawkins and Isaac Smith kicked three goals each for Geelong as Sam De Koning held St Kilda spearhead Max King to one goal from eight disposals in a battle of the young key position stars at the other end.
Brandan Parfitt celebrated his fresh two-year contract extension in a strong midfield display, finishing with 25 disposals and 10 clearances in the absence of Dangerfield and rested captain Joel Selwood.
It was the first time the Cats have taken to the field without both Selwood and Dangerfield since the latter's arrival from Adelaide in 2016.
Max Holmes (24 disposals), Sam Menegola (25) and ruckman Rhys Stanley were also important for Geelong.
Brad Crouch (28 disposals) and Jack Steele (20, seven clearances) fought against the tide for St Kilda and defender Callum Wilkie did well on Jeremy Cameron but the visitors had too few contributors.
Geelong led by just four points in the shadows of half-time and pulled away with four unanswered goals during the third quarter, when their superior efficiency in attack told the story.
It was party time for the Cats made as they rattled off nine consecutive majors before Jack Higgins broke the Saints' drought late in the final term.
Higgins and Tim Membrey finished with two goals each for St Kilda, who have now lost on 11 consecutive trips to Geelong's Kardinia Park ground, with their most recent win there in 1999.
Tigers back in the eight with win over Port
Richmond are back in the AFL top-eight after shrugging off a severe defence disruption to run away from Port Adelaide in a 38-point win.
The Tigers blew open the contest with a seven goals third-quarter burst to set up the 16.13 (109) to 10.11 (71) victory at Adelaide Oval.
It was as if the Tigers sniffed finals action again with their maniacal attack on the ball after an even first half to take control despite losing a key backman for the entire second half.
A backline already missing co-captain Dylan Grimes had to defend the entire second half without another premiership hero in Nick Vlastuin, who was subbed out with a rib injury in the opening minute of the third quarter.
Richmond covered the limitations down back by simply denying the Power the ability to go forward and get within range.
While the Tigers had viable targets with Tom Lynch and Shai Bolton each booting four goals, the home team lacked firepower up forward and was even forced to throw Charlie Dixon into the ruck in the second half to try to counter the Tigers' rampaging Toby Nankervis.
The only downside for the triumphant Tigers was a striking charge against wingman Kamdyn McIntosh and possible citing of former skipper Trent Cotchin for a sling tackle.
But overall this was another example of why any premiership contender would fear facing Richmond in September as the Tigers ran the Power raged with slick ball movement and an ability to take risks to get the ball quickly to its imposing targets up forward.
And the Tigers posted their biggest win against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval without any scoreboard contribution from veteran Jack Riewoldt.
Bolton, who was goalless when the Tigers beat the Power by 12 points in round 13, further enhanced his standing as one of the game's most exciting players.
He was a constant danger up forward with his lightning speed and clean hands.
And he helped set up the Tigers' second-half onslaught with a goal after the quarter-time siren and another seconds before the half-time siren.
Cotching, Richmond's experienced midfield leader, may come under match review scrutiny for a sling tackle on Power counterpart Ollie Wines midway through the opening quarter.
The Tigers' inaccuracy within scoring range proved costly during a dominant first term when they led the inside 50 count 16-7 and it prevented them from taking a far more sizeable advantage than nine points into the first break.
In contrast, the Power made the most of limited chances and then worked back into the contest through the centre takeaway control from the on-ballers led by Wines and Travis Boak.
With so much on the line for both teams, it was little wonder the ball carrier had to endure finals-type pressure which resulted in regular turnovers and rebound out of defence.
And both combatants would have liked their winning chances during a welcome breather at half-time.
The Power posted the first goal after the restart, but any hopes of a hometown upset were snuffed out by three Lynch goals in Richmond's 7.4 to 3.2 third term.
Freo's top four fight back on as Bulldogs' finals hopes dented
Fremantle have returned to form and bolstered their AFL top-four hopes, dismantling the disappointing Western Bulldogs by 17 points at Marvel Stadium.
Rory Lobb, who has been linked with an off-season move to the Bulldogs, was the game-breaker for the Dockers with four goals, all of them coming from long-range.
The Dockers burst clear with a four-goal-to-two second quarter, taking a 23-point lead at half-time, as the Bulldogs struggled to cut the margin to under three goals for the rest of Saturday's match.
Fremantle moved to 13-1-6 with their fifth win in Victoria this season, prevailing 14.11 (95) to 11.12 (78).
Justin Longmuir's team jumped back into fourth place but could be replaced by the Sydney Swans and the Brisbane Lions depending on Sunday's results.
The Bulldogs were favoured to take care of Fremantle, who drew to Richmond and lost to the Swans and Melbourne during the past three weeks.
But Fremantle recaptured the form that has allowed them to book a finals appearance for the first time since 2015.
The Dockers have struggled to score in the past month, but rediscovered their attacking flare as Lobb, Michael Frederick (three goals) and Matt Taberner got on top of the Bulldogs' defence.
Taberner started brightly with two first-quarter goals but the injury-prone forward was subbed off in the third term.
It was a costly result for the Bulldogs, who will need to defeat GWS and Hawthorn in their final two games to be any chance of playing in the finals this year.
Sam Darcy, the son of Bulldogs great Luke, made a solid AFL debut as he played in a defence desperate for tall players.
Aaron Naughton loomed large for the Bulldogs with three goals but young star Jamarra Ugle-Hagan had an off-day as his normally reliable set-shot kicking deserted him to finish with 0.3.
The Dockers will host battling West Coast in the Western Australia derby at Perth Stadium next Saturday night.
Hawks hold on to end Suns' finals hopes
Hawthorn have all but snuffed out Gold Coast's AFL finals hopes, holding off a final-quarter Suns fightback for a seven-point win in the milestone match of skipper Ben McEvoy.
Veteran Hawk Jack Gunston picked up five goals in Launceston on Saturday afternoon in the 10.10 (70) to 8.15 (63) result in McEvoy's 250th appearance.
Despite leading at each change, the Hawks had some nervous moments late with the Gold Coast virtually setting up camp in their half.
Trailing by 17 at three-quarter time, the Suns kicked the opening two goals of the fourth term and got within a goal with about five minutes left on the clock.
The Gold Coast were left to rue several muffed opportunities in the final quarter, with big man Mabior Chol and rookie Mac Andrew missing gettable set shots.
McEvoy picked up a crucial mark in defence inside the final two minutes as the Hawks scrambled for their eighth win of the year despite scoring just one point in the last term.
The result leaves the Suns in 11th position on the ladder, two wins outside the top eight with two rounds remaining and a host of teams above them still to play in round 21.
Gunston was on fire early, picking up four of his five goals before half-time.
The Suns were slow out of the blocks and took until the 21st minute to register their opening major but trailed by just eight at the first break.
Hawthorn pulled ahead in the second term with three goals straight, including Gunston's third which was shortly followed by a fourth on the run, for a 21-point half-time lead.
Hawthorn's Jarman Impey was put on report in the third quarter for contact on Darcy Macpherson after he kicked the ball following a mark.
Despite having the breeze at their back in the all-important third term, the Suns could only equal Hawthorn's two goals.
Suns' livewire small forward Izak Rankine picked up 11 disposals amid reports the Adelaide Crows have offered the 22-year-old a $4 million deal over five years.
Giants finish stronger to beat Bombers
GWS have responded to a week of intense focus and strong internal criticism with a rousing 27-point AFL triumph over Essendon at Giants Stadium.
The fired-up Giants were looking to bounce back after an insipid performance last week but were unable to shake off the Bombers until slamming on seven consecutive second-half goals to set up a 14.12 (96) to 10.9 (69) victory on Saturday.
The Bombers (7-13) came into the clash having won four of their past five matches but had little answer to the Giants' improved effort after briefly claiming the lead with two majors just after the main change, only kicking one consolation goal from there.
Jesse Hogan (four goals, 12 marks) set the tone with his intensity as he collected three tackles inside 50 as the Giants dominated that count 16-1, while the key forward was also his usual threat around goal and in the air.
Giants co-captains Stephen Coniglio (20 disposals, one goal) and Josh Kelly (19, one) led from the front in the midfield, while Lachie Whitfield (30, one) was one of the best afield and did plenty of damage with his sharp foot skills.
Harry Perryman (23 touches) was one of few Giants lauded by their coach last week and backed it up with a crucial role keeping Zach Merrett in check.
The Bombers' star midfielder gathered 19 disposals but his influence on the contest and especially around the stoppages was down on his usual output.
Toby Greene (two goals) looked dangerous throughout but young forward James Peatling had to be subbed out in the second term after he chose to bump rather than tackle Mason Redman and they clashed heads.
Darcy Parish was straight back to his prolific ball-winning best after a month out with a calf injury, collecting 28 disposals and seven clearances and Sam Durham collected 23 touches.
Bombers spearhead Peter Wright had an enthralling duel with the Giants gun defender Sam Taylor but made the most of his chances with two goals, while Matt Guelfi slotted four goals from just six kicks.
The Giants looked eager to make an early impact after coach Mark McVeigh's scathing post-match criticisms last week, with spot fires breaking out around the ground as both teams lined up for the opening bounce.
When play finally started, Stephen Coniglio rushed forward and snapped a goal after 47 seconds, and after Jake Stringer knocked Harry Himmelberg over before the ball had gone back to the middle the Giants had two goals in as many minutes.
The Giants' victory snapped a four-match losing streak and lifts them to a 6-14 record and within reach of avoiding their first bottom-four finish since 2014.
GWS will be on the road next week to face arch-rivals Western Bulldogs on Saturday, while Essendon are at home to Port Adelaide on Sunday.
