Echuca’s Brownlow Medallist Ollie Wines tallied up the touches in Port Adelaide’s dour defeat to Richmond, while a pair of goals from Moama’s Lachie Schultz helped Fremantle hold its spot in the top four.
Wines had 26 touches on Thursday night at the MCG as the Power reeled in a 26-point deficit.
Although just one point separated Port and the Tigers at three-quarter-time, Richmond broke away early in the final quarter to run away two-goal victors.
Defeat consigns Wines and the Power to a 5-7 record midway through the season, now sitting three games adrift of the top eight.
Despite his sides difficult position, Wines continues to toil away in the Port engine room, averaging 27 disposals a game.
Meanwhile, Schultz and Fremantle were forced into a Saturday afternoon scrap with Hawthorn at Optus Stadium.
Schultz had another productive outing for Freo in the club’s 13-point win over the Hawks, compiling 17 touches and two goals as the Dockers held third spot on the AFL ladder.
The small forward now has 18 goals from 12 games this season.
VFL
In the Victorian Football League, Leitchville football product Marty Hore has issued a strong response after missing out on an AFL spot at the mid-season draft.
Hore has been a force for North Melbourne this season, and in their last two games has collected 37 touches — 33 of which were kicks — against Box Hill Hawks in round 11, before backing it up with 33 and five marks against GWS on Sunday.
Hore, aligned with GVL club Echuca this season, has averaged 26 touches in the VFL since his exit from Melbourne, and has been a shining light for the Roos in 2022.
While the mid-season draft on June 1 passed without Hore securing an AFL spot, the top tier’s loss could be the Murray Bombers gain if the 26-year-old opts to suit up for Echuca during North’s byes on June 18 and July 23.
Out at Windy Hill, Essendon snatched a thrilling nine-point victory over Carlton, with Rochester’s Joe Atley featuring with 19 disposals and six clearances.
The Tigers midfielder is compiling a productive season for Essendon’s state league side averaging 21 touches and six tackles a game.
Echuca product Brodie Kemp notched up 14 disposals and four marks for Carlton in the round 12 match-up as he aims to make a return to the Blues’ AFL outfit.