AFL Gather Round LIVE: Kangaroos, Bombers threaten to cause upsets, as young Roo takes a hanger

We are into the final 10 minutes at Barossa Park and North Melbourne trail Brisbane by 10 points.

Rain is falling, and the wind is blowing. Harry Sheezel is having a shot at goal.

He strolls in and ... oh, dear, he has pushed it to the left for a behind. They trail by nine points.

We’ve got some cracking games on our hands.

North Melbourne trail Brisbane by nine points in the final term at Barossa Park.

But things are even tighter at Adelaide Oval. Melbourne hold a mere one-point lead against Essendon in the thrid term.

Cancel that. Archie Roberts kicks a goal and Essendon hits the front. Roberts is having a day to remember, racking up 25 possessions so far.

Cooper Trembath has taken an absolute screamer late in the third quarter to give North Melbourne a sniff.

Trembath climbed above a pack in the goal square, sitting on Harris Andrews’ shoulders before marking the ball. He then kicked an easy goal.

It arrested a slide for the Kangaroos, after Brisbane had a five-goal-to-two third term. They lead by 16 points at the final change.

3QT: Brisbane 9.12 (66) lead North Melbourne 7.8 (50)

Melbourne felt like a team about to open this game up when they kicked their fourth goal of the second quarter to Essendon’s one.

They had a 19-point lead and if the script of Essendon games past was to be a guide this was when the tent would be folded up. But it didn’t.

Melbourne have been more efficient with their attack on goal, but they have been primarily constructed on turnovers.

Essendon have had 14 shots at goal to Melbourne’s accurate ten - eight goals and two behinds.

Essendon are looking defensively stronger and more varied in attack.

Melbourne takes a six-point lead into the long break against a gallant Essendon.

A quick look at the stats sheet tells an interesting tale - the leading possession winners on the ground are Essendon players.

Archie Roberts and Kyle Langford both have chalked up 16 disposals across the first two quarters, while teammate Elijah Tsatas has had 15 possessions.

For Melbourne, their new dynamic duo have continued their good form. Jack Steele and Kysaiah Pickett have both had 15 possessions.

Here’s one for the MRO. Eyebrows were raised during the second quarter at Barossa Park over Jarrod Berry’s crude attempt to spoil a Dylan Stephens’ mark.

The big Lion comes in from the side during the second quarter and his round-arm appears to collect Stephens across the head.

Stephens goes to ground and is paid a free kick, but the impact appears minimal as the Kangaroos’ player gets straight back up to take his kick. Hard to see Berry copping a week for this one.

Brisbane have found their mojo against the old dark navy Kangaroos - yes, they are wearing a silly strip that looks more Carlton than North Melbourne. Not to mention the brown shorts.

But footy jumpers aside, the Kangaroos served it up the reigning premiers and held a four-point half-time lead.

The Lions have struck twice after the half break with goals to Zac Bailey and Kai Lohmann. They now lead by 10 points - 6.11 (47) to 5.7 (37).

The Kangaroos were saved a goal by the ARC. Hugh McCluggage snapped one through the big sticks, and it was paid a goal, but the ARC showed that North defender Luke Parker had touched the ball with a fingertip.

So, there is a need for the AFL review centre. But not every minute to decide last-touch out-of-bounds decisions.

Lincoln McCarthy has just banged on another goal for the Lions, and they have stretched their lead to 16 points.

Fremantle have been criticised for their decision to allow concussed ruckman Sean Darcy to sing the club song after their thrilling six-point victory against Collingwood on Friday night.

Post-game footage showed a groggy Darcy standing alongside his teammates in the Adelaide Oval change rooms as they belted out “we’re the mighty Freo Dockers”.

Darcy was ruled out of the game in the second quarter after accidental head contact with Magpies midfielder Ned Long.

During the theme song, the 27-year-old 203cm-tall ruckman still appeared to be dazed and confused.

Good start from the Bombers. They lead by four points at quarter time at Adelaide Oval.

A theory in football is starting the next week how you finished the last game - and Essendon are making a case for it to be accurate, looking far more defensively strong than they had in the opening rounds.

Melbourne like the game played with speed and fast ball movement, which is also the type of game Essendon have typically struggled to defend.

But today they are setting up very well to defend the ground, holding Melbourne up and limiting the uncontested marks - its 41-25 marks in Essendon’s favour.

The Kangaroos have headed into the half-time break with a hard-fought four-point lead against Brisbane at Barossa Park.

They gave up the first two goals of the game before kicking the next four straight.

Maybe Brisbane players are confused by what the Roos are wearing - jumpers that look more like Carlton’s navy blue strip than the traditional Kangaroo outfit.

Plus, their shorts are brown. Or so we think. No one seems to know.

In a blow for the Lions, Dayne Zorko has been ruled out of the remainder of the match with a calf injury.

HT: North Melbourne 5.6 (36) lead Brisbane 4.8 (32)

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