The Western Bulldogs have weathered a late surge from a desperate Carlton to hang on for a gritty 20-point AFL win at Docklands Stadium.
Cruising when they led by 31 points early in the third quarter, the Bulldogs conceded the next six goals as Carlton grabbed the lead midway through the final term.
But the Bulldogs responded in fine fashion, with goals to Arthur Jones, Bailey Smith, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and a third from Anthony Scott sealing the 11.13 (79) to 8.11 (59) triumph.
In the other Saturday night game, Joe Daniher kicked six as Brisbane ran away with a win over Essendon.
Earlier, Melbourne racked up another win as they comfortably overcame the young Hawks, while Fremantle celebrated a win over Sydney and Port Adelaide smashed North Melbourne.
The Bulldogs' victory puts Luke Beveridge's team into sixth on the ladder, winning a sixth game from their past seven starts.
After kicking just one goal until the 10th minute of the third quarter, the Blues came alive with some of their best football of the season during a scintillating period.
Carlton were booed off at half-time, the second time in as many weeks the passionate Blues faithful have expressed their frustration at Docklands Stadium.
Michael Voss' Blues were blasted from all corners of the AFL landscape after their disappointing 26-point defeat to the premiership contending Brisbane Lions.
Fans, powerbrokers and ex-players all expressed their frustration at Carlton's start to the season as they aim to play in the finals for the first time since 2013.
The Blues were insipid for the first two-and-a-half quarters, but should be able to take confidence from the way they played later in the match.
However, Carlton's twin towers Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay continue to struggle to have the same impact they had last year.
McKay finished goal-less, spraying a set-shot from 30m out directly in front during the first quarter as he went with his preferred snapping technique.
Curnow was important during the late-game surge, slotting a big goal in the last quarter, and finished with 2.3, but is not starring like he was during his Coleman Medal-winning campaign last season.
For the Bulldogs, Bailey Smith was back to his prolific best with 30 touches, while premiership midfielder Tom Liberatore was the catalyst in the last quarter with a vital goal.
Carlton (4-1-4) face another giant test next Sunday when they take on in-form rivals Collingwood in a blockbuster at the MCG.
The Bulldogs will head to Ballarat to host their first game of the season in the regional city against Adelaide on Saturday.
Lions stage second-half surge to beat Bombers
Joe Daniher has carried Brisbane's attack against his old club, kicking six of their 12 goals in a comeback AFL defeat of plucky Essendon.
The former Bombers star was the source of the Lions' first four goals, his quick-fire double after half-time a turning point in a 12.15 (87) to 6.9 (45) Gabba win.
Down by 10 points at half-time, the Lions kicked 10 goals to two after that to move to second on the ladder.
It was Brisbane's (7-2) sixth straight victory and a fourth consecutive loss for the Bombers (4-5), who were down on key men but made the hosts earn it.
Mason Redman (30 disposals) was prolific in the absence of star Essendon teammate Darcy Parish (calf) while Andrew McGrath put the clamps on a goalless Charlie Cameron.
For Brisbane, defenders Jack Payne and Harris Andrews were well supported by veteran defender Ryan Lester while Lachie Neale finished with 34 disposals and eight inside 50s.
Dylan Shiel appeared to shake off a third-quarter ankle injury while Zach Merrett managed seven clearances as the Bombers held tough against the Lions' all-star midfield.
The Lions had averaged 119 points in their four home games this season but had just two goals — both Daniher's - in a paltry 19-point total at half-time.
Missed sets shots from Daniher, Eric Hipwood and the returning Dayne Zorko all from the same slight angle meant they had no pay for their domination to begin the second quarter.
The Bombers obliged, Jake Stringer kicking straight and then Kyle Langford using his body smartly to snap the visitors to a shock lead.
When Jye Menzie was awarded a 50-metre penalty after rounding up Brandon Starcevich with possession they had a 10-point buffer at the main break.
There was a deluge of possession Brisbane's way in the third, 17 inside 50s to two painting the picture as the Lions lifted.
And they didn't waste them, Daniher kicking his third and fourth goals to put the Lions back in front.
Zac Bailey kicked the Lions' fifth and when Oscar McInerney marked strongly and Hipwood's radar improved the hosts were 23 points clear.
Langford booted his second against the run of play though and the gap was 17 at the final break.
Nick Hind's slow release cost his side a goal, a 50m penalty allowing Bailey to kick his second to open the fourth quarter.
Daniher then effortlessly swung onto his left, hooking a shot around his body to kick a fifth to kill his former side's hopes of an upset.
Demons cruise to win over Hawks
Melbourne young gun Jacob van Rooyen has moved on from his tribunal controversy with a goal and an assist in the AFL premiership fancies' 54-point victory over Hawthorn.
The Demons killed off the contest with the first six majors but took their collective foot off the pedal for a period of the second half in Saturday's comfortable 15.13 (103) to 7.7 (49) win at the MCG.
Midfield stars Clayton Oliver (34 disposals), Christian Petracca (30) and Jack Viney (31) were all important in delivering a result that could leave Melbourne (7-2) sitting on top of the ladder at the end of round nine.
Van Rooyen initially had his controversial two-match ban for striking Gold Coast's Charlie Ballard upheld at the tribunal but it was overturned on appeal, leaving him free to play against the Hawks.
The 20-year-old tall was a little jittery early but finished with 14 disposals and five marks, and was one of a dozen Melbourne goal-kickers.
Harry Petty kicked two majors before he was substituted out of the game with a bruised foot.
Charlie Spargo and Bayley Fritsch also finished with two, and All-Australian defender Steven May marshalled the back-line in his 200th game.
A sixth straight defeat was another tough pill for Hawthorn to swallow in a tough season.
The Hawks were well off the pace in the first half, with their woes compounded by injury issues for James Blanck (corked quad) and late withdrawal Ned Reeves (ankle).
Young midfielder Jai Newcombe will also come under scrutiny from the match review officer for a jab to Oliver's stomach at a centre bounce.
Melbourne's control was established early as their dominance around the contest led to a 23-0 head-start and a 34-point advantage at quarter-time.
The Hawks' only goal of the first half was fortuitous, coming through Mitch Lewis when the key forward was not penalised for a push in May's back.
Newcombe (26 disposals), Will Day (29) and James Worpel (26) breathed life into the contest as Hawthorn showed fight, outscoring Melbourne in the third term and trimming the margin to 27 points.
But the Demons had too much polish and a greater spread of contributors, and were never seriously threatened before kicking clear again in the final term.
Power have a day out in Tassie against Roos
Port Adelaide young gun Jason Horne-Francis has had the last laugh in his first clash with former club North Melbourne, with the Power belting the Kangaroos to hand them a seventh consecutive loss.
After an even opening term that saw North trail by one point at the first break, the Power piled on eight goals to one in the second quarter and didn't look back, eventually running out 70-point winners at Blundstone Arena in Hobart.
While the 20.15 (135) to 10.5 (65) smashing went largely to script, the Horne-Francis v North Melbourne sideshow wasn't nearly as fiery as many were expecting.
The 2021 number one draft pick, who left the Kangaroos after just one season, lined up against Hugh Greenwood at the opening bounce — but there were no fireworks.
His former teammates had little interest in targeting him physically and with the 19-year-old registering just one handball in the opening term, Kangaroos fans had little chance to boo him.
While North held their own in the first quarter, any hopes of an upset were snuffed out in the second term, as dynamic Power duo Zak Butters (32 disposals) and Connor Rozee (25 possessions) took control in the midfield and young defender Miles Bergman impressed with his intercept marking and precision kicking from halfback.
North were sloppy when delivering the ball inside 50 and offered little resistance the other way, with Port Adelaide frequently taking the ball from end to end with ease.
Even with Todd Marshall subbed out early with concussion, and Charlie Dixon (injury) and Junior Rioli (suspension) watching on from the sidelines, the Power had no issues finding goalkickers.
Jeremy Finlayson slotted three majors from eight shots, while former Cat Francis Evans kicked his first two goals in Port colours and Brynn Teakle kicked the first of his career.
Even key defender Tom Jonas got in on the action, booting a rare goal — the second of his 210-game career.
Things went from bad to worse for North Melbourne when midfielders Luke Davies-Uniacke and Darcy Tucker left the ground with hamstring injuries.
To add more insult to injury, Aidan Corr will face MRO scrutiny after being reported for striking Ollie Lord on the jaw in an off-the-ball scuffle.
Port Adelaide have an opportunity to firm up their top-four credentials with a win over Melbourne at Adelaide Oval next Saturday night.
Dockers claim best win over the year over depleted Swans
Twin towers Luke Jackson and Sean Darcy have combined to propel Fremantle to a 17-point triumph over injury-hit Sydney.
Jackson gave the Dockers a glimpse of his talents against Hawthorn last week and has now made his mark against a more competitive outfit in Saturday's 16.7 (103) to 13.8 (86) victory over the Swans.
The prized recruit booted three goals and hauled in three strong contested marks to stand out when the game was on the line early and help set up the Dockers' first win at the SCG since 2011.
While Jackson threatened whether roaming close to goal or pinch-hitting in the ruck, Darcy did the damage around the stoppages with 44 hitouts and an equal-game-high nine clearances.
Goal sneak Lachie Schultz slotted four majors for the Dockers, while Caleb Serong (33 disposals), Andrew Brayshaw (31) and Jaeger O'Meara (27) made the most of the visitors' advantage in the ruck.
The Dockers' former skipper Nat Fyfe started as the substitute for the second consecutive week and entered the contest at the final change, taking some time to catch up to the speed of the game before finishing with six touches.
The Swans started brightly as they looked to control the ball and pushed out to a 17-point lead in the opening term but lost co-captain Callum Mills with a calf injury before the first change.
Emerging Swans key forward Logan McDonald was also sidelined before half-time with an ankle issue, while Hayden McLean was restricted by a calf problem but played out the match.
Errol Gulden continued his sparkling season, the young gun gathering a career-high 39 disposals and booting two goals while spending more time in the middle than usual due to Mills' absence.
On-ballers Luke Parker (26 disposals), Chad Warner (25) and James Rowbottom (23, one goal) also battled hard but the Swans often found it difficult to move the ball forward against the Dockers' stoic defence.
Star forward Lance Franklin was regularly cheered by the Swans faithful but had little influence on the outcome as he went goalless in consecutive matches for the first time since moving to Sydney at the end of 2013.
The Swans will be on the road against North Melbourne next Saturday as they look to snap a four-game losing streak, while Fremantle host reigning premiers Geelong later the same day.
