AFL 2021 LIVE updates: North start well in cellar-dweller clash with Pies after GWS pip Dons and Saints edge Suns

North Melb. 2.2 (14)
Collingwood 3.2 (20)

GOALS
North Melb: Stephenson, Mahony
Collingwood: De Goey 2, Pendlebury

DISPOSALS
North Melb: Ziebell 12, Atley 10, McKay 9, Stephenson 9, Hall 8
Collingwood: Crisp 10, Moore 9, Sidebottom 8

The Kangaroos have made a bright start as they chase their first win of the season.

At quarter-time they lead the disposals 108-104, tackles 15-9, marks 34-20, free kicks 4-3 and hitouts 8-5.

Collingwood hold sway in clearances 10-4, inside 50s 14-10, contested possessions 37-30 and scoring shots 5-4.

GWS 6.2, 7.4, 14.8, 16.11 (107)
Essendon 2.2, 5.7, 10.7, 16.9 (105)

GOALS
GWS: Finlayson 3, Sproule 2, Bruhn 2, Greene 2, Kelly 2, Himmelberg, Lloyd, Taranto, Hill, Hopper
Essendon: Langford 3, Wright 2, McDonald-Tipungwuti 2, Jones 2, Snelling 2, Hooker, Perkins, Cox, Redman, Guelfi

DISPOSALS
GWS: Kelly 30, Taranto 29, Green 28, Perryman 24
Essendon: Merrett 37, Parish 35, Hind 29, Heppell 26, McGrath 25

The young Bombers did a great job to fight back from 31 points down, and Hooker looked like he was unlucky to not be paid a mark or free kick very late to potentially give them the lead.

However, they fell short by two points despite winning the disposals 393-380, tackles 45-43, marsk 104-88, inside 50s 61-49 and hitouts 36-28.

For the second week in a row, the Bombers record over 60 inside 50s but lose the game.

GWS smashed the Bombers in the contested possessions 136-117 and also had the edge in clearances 37-32.

Hopper snaps truly under pressure from the pocket with 25 seconds to go and the Giants will hang on for victory. They lead 16.11.107 to 15.9.99.

Langford unloads a long bomb from 52m out and bangs it home!! The Bombers trail by two points with 1:49 to go, 15.9.99 to 15.11.101!

Don’t forget, the Bombers trailed by 31 points at one stage.

Things have really tightened up in the last seven minutes. Only two behinds have been scored, one each to GWS and Essendon, meaning the hosts’ lead is still eight points with 5:20 to go, 15.11.101 to 14.9.93.

The Bombers came so close to cutting the edficit even further but Parish’s running shot at goal from 50m out hit the post.

Moore is starting in defence for Collingwood, Maynard has the job on former Pie Stephenson and Roughead is manning Larkey.

It’s game on now! Essendon’s running game is really starting to trouble the Giants. The Bombers have kicked back-to-back goals courtesy of Jones and Snelling and the hosts’ lead is now just eight points nearing the halfway mark of the final quarter, 15.10.100 to 14.8.92.

Early goals to Jones and activated sub Guelfi in the final quarter have certainly made things interesting. The Giants now lead Essendon by just 14 points, 14.9.93 to 12.7.79.