The Western Bulldogs survive some final quarter jitters to beat rivals GWS, while Fremantle claim a much-needed and convincing win over Hawthorn and Melbourne hang on to beat Gold Coast.
Earlier, there was another win for Geelong at home to Adelaide, while Richmond ran away with a 46-point win over West Coast at the MCG.
A mammoth night from captain Marcus Bontempelli helped the Bulldogs crack the AFL's top eight for the first time this season in a 13.8 (86) to 10.11 (71) win against GWS.
In driving rain at Manuka Oval, the Giants again failed to roll over but couldn't snap their eight-game losing run in the capital, with skipper Toby Greene withdrawn from the side late with an ankle injury.
Career-high numbers in contested possessions (25) and clearances (14) saw Bontempelli show the dynamism that makes him arguably the game's best player, putting the team on his shoulders to carry them to an important win.
But he traded blows with emerging GWS bull Tom Green, who posted his own career highs with 38 touches and three goals back on his home Canberra turf.
Four straight goals to start the second half saw the Dogs burn their opponents off, although the Giants returned the favour in the final term's first 11 minutes to keep themselves in the fight just 10 points down.
It set up a grandstand finish, but back-to-back majors from Bulldogs key forward Aaron Naughton iced the game off.
Much was made of GWS coach Adam Kingsley's potential inclination to send a hard tag to Bontempelli but he had free rein early and helped himself to 15 contested possessions, 10 clearances, six inside 50s and a goal in a monstrous first half.
The Bulldogs shared the load up forward with nine individual goalkickers and their power trio of Naughton, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Rory Lobb found six between them despite the wet conditions, while a young excitement machine led the way early.
Sixth-gamer Arthur Jones kicked two goals in a lively cameo, his high-energy play inside 50 helping them pinch a 10-point quarter-time break.
Greene's absence clearly hurt the Giants and they lacked efficiency inside 50, veteran Callan Ward stepping up to kick two goals before Green hit the scoreboard late to give his side a lifeline.
Midfield supremos Lachie Whitfield and Josh Kelly racked up 65 disposals between them, while running defenders Lachie Ash (28 touches) and Connor Idun (28) were particularly damaging.
In eight games under Kingsley, the Giants haven't sustained a final margin of more than 21 points, but still have a 3-5 record.
A potential hamstring injury for midfielder Adam Treloar that saw him immediately subbed out of the game was the only major negative for the Bulldogs.
Dockers dismantle poor Hawks in the west
Nat Fyfe made his highly-anticipated return but it was Luke Jackson who was the star of the show as Fremantle posted a 69-point AFL win over Hawthorn at Perth Stadium.
Fyfe, who had been sidelined since round one with a plantar fasciitis injury, was subbed into Saturday night's game with less than seven minutes remaining in the third quarter.
Fremantle had already built a 55-point lead by that stage, and the home side cruised to the 18.9 (117) to 7.6 (48) victory in front of 37,160 fans.
Fyfe finished with 10 disposals, two clearances and a goal playing a mix of midfield and forward-line duties, but more importantly he made it through the match unscathed.
Jackson played his best game since joining the Dockers, tallying 24 disposals, six marks, seven tackles, four clearances and two goals.
His two majors from contested marks in the third quarter helped break the game wide open, and his work around the ground was also a highlight.
Saturday's win improved Fremantle's record to 3-5, but their finals credentials will be severely tested over the next three weeks when they take on Sydney (SCG), Geelong (Perth Stadium) and Melbourne (MCG).
Andrew Brayshaw was prolific on the way to 33 disposals and two goals, while Michael Frederick and Jye Amiss booted three goals apiece.
Hawthorn trio Will Day, Conor Nash and James Worpel combined for 21 clearances.
But it was an otherwise disappointing effort from the Hawks, who are now 1-7 and last on the ladder.
Fremantle lost the centre clearance count 12-3 and the inside 50s 29-19 in the first half, but their efficiency in attack ensured they went into the main break with a 31-point lead.
Dockers goalsneak Michael Frederick needed medical treatment after being crunched by Sam Frost early, but he was able to return and he kicked a clever checkside goal that gave Fremantle a 13-point lead at quarter time.
It marked the first time since round 21 last year that Fremantle had won an opening term, ending a barren run of 11 straight matches.
Frost continued to be a battering ram in the second quarter, cleaning up Lachie Schultz while pulling off a remarkable defensive spoil in the goalsquare.
But the Hawthorn defender produced a moment of madness later in the term, giving up a 50m penalty when he needlessly pushed Amiss after the Dockers forward had taken a mark.
The resultant goal stretched the margin to 25 points, and Fremantle led by as much as 37 before a late goal to Chad Wingard gave Hawthorn something to cling to at half-time.
Fremantle broke the game open in the third term, with Jackson booting two goals from contested marks as the lead ballooned out.
Fyfe was given a rousing reception when he was subbed into the contest at the expense of Josh Treacy.
The two-time Brownlow medallist went straight to the forward line, and he sent the crowd wild when he snapped a clever goal in the final quarter.
Demons hang on to beat brave Suns by five
Melbourne have escaped with a five-point win against a brave Gold Coast to return to the top of the AFL ladder.
The Demons' 13.12 (90) to 13.7 (85) win, an 11th-straight over the Suns, came despite Gold Coast's midfield matching their all-star cast.
Darcy McPherson missed his shot to tie the game with 20 seconds on the clock, while key forward Ben King was earlier controversially denied a free kick as the Suns hunted the go-ahead goal.
Gold Coast were without injured trio Touk Miller, Ben Ainsworth and Lachie Weller but up stepped Noah Anderson (36 touches, one goal).
He and Matt Rowell (11 clearances, 13 contested possessions) held sway with Christian Petracca (26 touches, one goal) and Clayton Oliver (28 touches).
McPherson (30 disposals) and Wil Powell (25 disposals) were influential for the Suns.
The Demons skipped clear early in the first term and again in the second but the hosts rallied on both occasions, only a late Alex Neal-Bullen goal handing them a seven-point lead.
Full-back Charlie Ballard was stretchered off for Gold Coast after copping a knock from Jacob van Rooyen's spoil and his side trailed by 15.
But Anderson soccered to himself to score a great goal then Malcolm Rosas Jnr snapped his fourth after more great up-field pressure.
The Suns pressed for the go-ahead goal but King wasn't rewarded despite appearing to be dragged down as he led for a mark.
McPherson still had the chance to tie the game but his set shot went right for a behind and the Demons were able to see out the clock and improve to 6-2.
Max Gawn was everywhere for the Demons in the first half, adding two goals, but was kept honest in a stoic ruck battle with Jarrod Witts.
Cats made to work for win by Crows
Rampaging Geelong's fifth-straight AFL win has been soured by a suspected hamstring injury to captain Patrick Dangerfield.
The 33-year-old star was subbed out in the third quarter of the Cats' workmanlike 26-point victory over Adelaide, sitting on the bench at Kardinia Park with ice on his left hamstring.
Dangerfield was enjoying a blockbuster battle in the middle with opposing captain Jordan Dawson, with the pair the best players on the ground during Saturday's first half.
The Cats were able to record a 14.14 (98) to 11.6 (72) victory despite Adelaide pushing hard to end their 12-game losing streak in Geelong dating back to 2004.
Dangerfield, who was replaced in the match by sub Ollie Dempsey, suffered numerous calf setbacks last year before starring in Geelong's charge to the premiership.
Geelong's class shown through as they broke the game open with a six-goal second quarter and they threatened to pull away for a trademark comfortable win at home.
However, Adelaide refused to be blown away as so many teams are at Kardinia Park, pulling the deficit back to 12 points with five minutes remaining.
The Crows had a golden opportunity to cut the margin to six points with three minutes remaining, but some desperate defending from the Cats saved a certain goal.
Geelong then raced the ball down the other end, as Ollie Henry slotted the sealer.
Superstar Geelong forward Jeremy Cameron reclaimed his lead in the Coleman Medal race, booting a game-high three goals to go two ahead of Carlton spearhead Charlie Curnow (31).
Cats small forward Gryan Miers put through his first goal of the season after five behinds and 14 goals assists during the opening seven rounds.
The Crows were also forced to use their sub, with defender Nick Murray (concussion) taken off for experienced midfielder Matt Crouch during the third term.
Adelaide's defensive stocks took another blow when Jordon Butts, who was playing on powerful veteran Tom Hawkins, was treated by trainers.
But Butts was able to return after about 10 minutes off the ground and played out the match.
After starting their flag defence 0-3, Geelong have recaptured their scintillating best and could finish round eight as high as fourth on the ladder.
The Cats will head to the MCG on Friday night for a showdown with struggling Richmond.
Adelaide, who have failed to play finals since 2017, are 4-4 ahead of a crucial home game against in-form St Kilda next Sunday.
Tigers storm home against Eagles
A brilliant burst from Dion Prestia has helped Richmond snap a five-match losing streak with a 46-point win over injury-ravaged West Coast.
Prestia got hot in bitterly cold conditions on Saturday, kicking three goals in five minutes late in the third quarter to break open a dour contest at the MCG.
Midfield recruits Tim Taranto (30 disposals, 10 clearances) and Jacob Hopper (32, 10) were also influential as the Tigers triumphed 15.14 (104) to 8.10 (58).
Prestia's three majors equalled a career-high tally for the 199-game midfielder.
Fellow star Shai Bolton (31 disposals, seven clearances) also finished with three goals and Taranto added two.
It was Richmond's (2-1-5) first win since round two, breathing some much-needed life back into their season.
West Coast forward Oscar Allen kicked a game-high four goals but couldn't drag his side over the line as they suffered a sixth-straight defeat.
Already ravaged by injuries this season, the Eagles' woes continued when young midfielder Jai Culley went down clutching his right knee 12 minutes into the match.
The 20-year-old, a Rising Star nominee playing his ninth senior game, hobbled off with help from trainers and was substituted out minutes later.
Culley and coach Adam Simpson were both emotional at the quarter-time huddle.
Tim Kelly (29 disposals, nine clearances) and Dom Sheed (29, nine) worked tirelessly in a losing cause for the Eagles, while Jamaine Jones won a career-high 30 disposals.
The visitors won clearances (45-37) but were beaten in contested possession (151-130) and smashed in inside-50s (65-42).
West Coast kicked the first two goals of a scrappy opening term — which featured just one mark inside 50m for each side — before Culley was injured.
They kept their noses in front until midway through the second quarter when a Bolton mark and goal gave Richmond the lead for the first time.
Inaccuracy prevented a bigger margin than the Tigers' nine-point buffer at the main break after they dominated inside-50s (20-8) and kicked 4.6 to 2.2 in the second term.
Two goals from Allen to start the second half and another from the rarely-sighted Jack Darling, who was limited to just four disposals by Nathan Broad, briefly put the Eagles back in front.
But a quick reply from Bolton and Prestia's scintillating burst wrested momentum before the final change and the Tigers coasted home.
Richmond forward Noah Cumberland was substituted out of the match during the third quarter with just two disposals to his name.
Cumberland gave away two free kicks and was harshly penalised 50 metres when he kicked a ball that had already drifted over the boundary line.
