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Sydney survived a late North Melbourne surge in Hobart to salvage a five-point win, Essendon also holds on to defeat a fast-finishing Fremantle.
Earlier, Geelong dispatched the Bulldogs, Collingwood defeated St Kilda and Lions hung on to beat Adelaide by a point.
Catch up on all Saturday's AFL action.
Swans survive Roos' late surge in Hobart thriller
An undermanned and inspired Sydney have turned North Melbourne's Hobart fortress into a house of pain, prevailing by five points in a spiteful AFL encounter.
Already missing Lance Franklin, Sydney scratched Josh Kennedy (quad) from Saturday night's game, lost Zak Jones to a hamstring injury before half time and were without young star Isaac Heeney for much of the third quarter.
But the Swans turned the game on its head in a dominant second term and withstood a gripping Kangaroos comeback to run out 11.11 (77) to 10.12 (72) winners.
Fielding a side containing 11 players with less than 50 games' experience, Sydney stood up in all of the key moments — best exemplified by Callum Mills's sensational rundown tackle on Shaun Higgins to deny North a late victory.
Tom Papley was electric for Sydney with four goals, while George Hewett (29 disposals) and Luke Parker (28) were enormous in the midfield.
And after a week of fierce scrutiny for his bizarre goalpost climbing and umpire sledging antics, Dane Rampe held Ben Brown to one goal in a crucial contribution.
North had arrived in Hobart confident of maintaining their dominance in the Tasmanian capital but again couldn't match John Longmire's men.
The Roos have lost just five games at Bellerive Oval and three of those have come against the Swans.
With North president Ben Buckley and chief executive Carl Dilena watching in dismay from the stands, the Kangaroos conceded seven goals to two in the second quarter as the Swans began to impose themselves in the middle.
Officials were kept busy throughout the ill-tempered clash and tensions threatened to boil over when Lewis Melican nudged Mason Wood into the goalpost after he kicked a major, prompting a furious remonstration from Cam Zurhaar.
Sydney led by 32 points near the end of the third quarter before North struck back, with the unlikely figure of Robbie Tarrant among their late goalkickers.
But just when it looked like North had a pulse, Jy Simpkin ran into an open goal, opted for a dribble kick and missed the simplest of opportunities.
The Roos were well served by Jack Ziebell (35 disposals), Ben Cunnington and Jared Polec but Higgins was well down on his usual impact.
Parker will face match review scrutiny for an elbow to the head of Ziebell in the second quarter, although the Kangaroos skipper played out the game.
Essendon hangs on to beat fast-finishing Dockers
Star recruit Dylan Shiel has booted two late goals to help Essendon to a nail-biting seven-point AFL win over Fremantle at Docklands Stadium.
Shiel kicked his first two majors for the Bombers during a pressure-packed final term on Saturday night, but the Dockers stormed home with the last three goals to fall agonisingly short in the 8.12 (60) to 7.11 (53) result.
Not much separated the sides in a tight and often dour contest in front of 29,176 fans, but the home side looked to have secured the premiership points when they opened up a game-high 26-point lead in the last quarter.
But with just under eight minutes remaining, Michael Walters' goal from a contentious free kick was followed by a major to Jesse Hogan.
Then Brandon Matera set up a frantic final three minutes with his second goal of the night, but John Worsfold's side were able to hang on.
Shiel had 25 possessions in an eye-catching display, while Zach Merrett (35) and David Zaharakis (32) were also important as the Bombers snapped a three-match losing streak to improve to a 4-5 record.
David Mundy was the standout for Fremantle with 34 disposals, with Nat Fyfe also influential with 24.
In a first half more notable for the desperation shown by both sides than the execution of basic skills, Fremantle led by a goal at the first break before Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti sparked the Bombers.
The livewire forward hadn't kicked a goal in any of Essendon's five losses this season so it was a good omen when he gathered a loose ball deep in a pocket then evaded tacklers to snap truly midway through the second quarter.
While his second major that followed not long after wasn't quite as spectacular, it helped the home side to a slender two-point lead at half time.
Strong body work and quick thinking from Joe Daniher helped Jake Stringer convert from close range and when McDonald-Tipungwuti added his third the margin was out to 14 points midway through the third quarter.
But in a game short on highlights, Mundy's class stood out when he stroked home a brilliant goal late in the term to make it an eight-point game
Back-to-back goals to Shiel to open the final term settled the home fans nerves only for the Dockers to launch their brave final onslaught.
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Brisbane clings on to best Adelaide by one point in a thriller
Brisbane survived an Adelaide comeback to claim a one-point AFL win over the Crows at the Gabba on Saturday.
The Lions appeared to be cruising to victory when they opened up a 26-point lead in the final quarter, but the Crows booted four unanswered goals to fall to an agonising 13.15 (93) to 13.14 (92) defeat.
An Eddie Betts goal was the last score of the match to narrow the margin to just one point, but there wasn't enough time left for the ball to be taken back to the centre.
The win is Brisbane's fourth from five home matches this season and lifts them into the top four with a 6-3 record after nine matches.
It is also the Lions' first win over the Crows since 2012, after losing their past seven matches to the South Australian club.
Midfielder Lachie Neale was immense for the home team with 39 disposals, while captain Dayne Zorko was ferocious throughout, making 12 tackles and booting a monster goal from outside the 50 in the opening term.
Ex-Crow Charlie Cameron booted three goals, including an electrifying left-foot snap in the final quarter, while Dan McStay also kicked three majors in arguably his best individual performance of the season.
Rory Sloane was a standout for the visitors, picking up 28 disposals and kicking one of the four late goals that brought the Crows so close to the win in the final term.
Brad Crouch had 32 disposals for the Crows, while Bryce Gibbs, who was only included into the team on Friday, kicked two goals and picked up 22 disposals.
Tex Walker had three goals, as did Betts, with both stars playing a key role in the fourth-quarter fightback.
The Lions travel west next weekend to play Fremantle while the Crows are at home against West Coast.
AAP
Magpies soar after final quarter burst downs brave Saints
Steele Sidebottom starred for Collingwood as they stormed clear in the last quarter for a 41-point win over St Kilda at the MCG.
After a solid challenge from the Saints, Collingwood kicked six goals to one in Saturday afternoon's final term for a comfortable 17.10 (112) to 10.11 (71) win.
The Saints could have put the Magpies under much more pressure — they should have been four or five goals up at halftime — but paid dearly for ongoing problems in attack.
Collingwood lost stars Jordan De Goey and Darcy Moore as late withdrawals, and Tom Langdon sat out of the second half with a knee injury.
Sidebottom had another outstanding game on the wing and was best afield with 29 possessions and two goals, while Brody Mihocek kicked four majors.
Key forward Ben Reid booted three goals and was massive for the Magpies when they were under pressure.
Jaidyn Stephenson put an exclamation mark on the win with his third goal — a booming 50-metre-plus torpedo punt late in the match.
Saints ruckman Rowan Marshall had the better of Collingwood star Brodie Grundy and even kicked a goal in the second term.
It was almost as though that goal stung Grundy into action, with the All Australian taking control in the second half.
The Magpies started well, kicking three goals to one in the opening term as the Saints again struggled forward of centre.
Travis Varcoe was reported for rough conduct after his bump caught Ed Phillips high, but there was friendly fire as he also collected Phillips' brother Tom in the same incident.
Neither Phillips had to leave the ground, but Varcoe might face a rough conduct fine.
When Varcoe kicked a goal early in the second term to put the Magpies 15 points up, it looked like they would take the game away from St Kilda.
But the Saints went on to dominate the quarter in every aspect, except where it mattered most — the scoreboard.
They hit the lead briefly, but a late goal to Sidebottom had the Pies leading by five points at the main break.
St Kilda kicked 3.6 to 3.1 in the second term and should have been at least a couple of goals ahead.
The third quarter was a shootout as the game opened up, with five goals apiece, and the Magpies went into the last term with a five-point lead.
St Kilda's Robbie Young kicked two goals in the third quarter to mark his AFL debut.
De Goey did not come up in time from his shin soreness and Moore also had been in doubt with an ankle injury.
James Aish and Rupert Wills took their spots.
AAP
Geelong withstand late comeback to down Dogs
Mature-aged recruit Darcy Fort has made a dream AFL debut with three goals for fast-finishing Geelong, who have downed the Western Bulldogs by 44 points at Kardinia Park to remain a game clear atop the ladder.
The 25-year-old Fort has taken the long road to the top level, beginning his career with local club South Barwon before stints with Werribee and Footscray in the VFL and SANFL outfit Central District.
With number one ruckman Rhys Stanley a late withdrawal due to an adductor injury, another inexperienced big man Ryan Abbott and Fort were left to ruck against Bulldog Jackson Trengove.
But it was up forward where Fort had his biggest impact, marking strongly and kicking three goals as the Cats booted the last six goals of Saturday evening's game to win a high-scoring encounter 21.7 (133) to 13.11 (89).
The home side also had good returns from spearhead Tom Hawkins (four goals) and Gary Rohan, who had two of his three majors on the board inside the opening four minutes of the match.
Silky-smooth midfielder Mitch Duncan also booted three goals, including the sealer, from long range late in the final term as Geelong racked up their highest score of the season.
It was a free-flowing affair pretty much from the opening bounce, with the pick of the first-quarter goals a flying effort on the run from long distance by Bulldogs backman Jason Johannisen.
The visitors narrowed the margin to five points, entering time-on of the second quarter after a major from clever forward Sam Lloyd.
But the Cats ended the half with a bang, booting three goals in three minutes to lead by 22 points at the break.
Western Bulldogs superstar Marcus Bontempelli produced the two individual highlights of the third term with a pair of spectacular running goals — the first from 55 metres out and the latter from well inside the centre square.
Chasing their first win in Geelong since 2003, the Dogs looked every chance of springing a massive upset when Mitch Wallis narrowed the margin to nine points early in the final quarter.
But from then on, it was largely one-way traffic, with Geelong booting the last six goals and Tom Stewart thrilling the crowd with a stunning high mark over Tom Liberatore.
Midfielders Wallis, Bailey Smith and Lachie Hunter were among the Bulldogs' better players.
Star Geelong onballer Patrick Dangerfield spent the final few minutes on the sidelines after hurting his ankle.
The table-topping Cats travel next weekend to the Gold Coast to take on the Suns, while the Bulldogs' next challenge is against North Melbourne in a battle of the Docklands Stadium co-tenants.
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Topics: australian-football-league, sport, australia, vic, collingwood-3066, st-kilda-3182, geelong-3220, fitzroy-3065, essendon-3040, north-melbourne-3051, qld, brisbane-4000, sa, adelaide-5000, wa, fremantle-6160, nsw, sydney-2000, docklands-3008, tas, hobart-7000
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