THE Brisbane Lions will face one of the toughest tasks in the AFL next weekend – traveling to Kardinia Park to try and knock off a suddenly top-of-the-table Geelong.

After five rounds, the Cats were 2-3 and Mark Thompson was favourite to be the first coach sacked for 2007.

But they’ve since reeled off six straight wins by an average of 57 points, the latest a seven-point triumph over Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Sunday.

Geelong, which had not beaten the Crows in Adelaide for seven years, led by one point at three-quarter-time then fought back when the Crows hit the front in the final term, eventually scraping home on the back of Steve Johnson’s late goal.

The only downside for the Cats also came late, when the outstanding Gary Ablett left the field with what looked like a slight knee injury.

Geelong was able to claim top spot thanks to a Friday night upset which saw Essendon come back from the brink to account for West Coast by a point. James Hird was again brilliant for the Bombers.

In other results, Peter Everitt had his revenge when Sydney accounted for his old side Hawthorn by nine points, Carlton made it back-to-back wins with a 39-point defeat of Port Adelaide and the Kangaroos posted a seventh win for the season, by 22 points over a disappointing St Kilda.

Fremantle continued its “win-one, lose-one” run with a battling 21-point defeat of Richmond, while Melbourne, having gone nine weeks without a win, posted a second successive victory by 13 points over Collingwood.

For performance of the week, it’s difficult to find one to top Hird, who is supposed to be well past his prime, but was best afield with 32 possessions against reigning premier West Coast.

In fact, it was something of a weekend for veterans, with the seasoned Peter Bell (Fremantle), Brent Harvey (Kangaroos) and Everitt (Sydney) all having first-rate outings.

Russell Robertson’s seven goals in Melbourne’s win was another highlight.

Essendon 15.5 (95) d West Coat 14.10 (94)
The Eagles led by 36 points during the second term and 30 points at half-time, but the Bombers and James Hird just don’t know how to lie down. Helped by West Coast’s inaccuracy, Hird led his side back into the contest and then some. The Bombers are now 7-4.

Sydney 11.9 (75) d Hawthorn 9.12 (66)
Revenge is a dish best served cold and on a cool afternoon at the MCG, Peter Everitt exacted vengeance on his old side Hawthorn. Spida was amongst Sydney’s best as the Swans won an arm-wrestle over the vastly improved Hawks. After several quiet weekends, Lance Franklin bounced back to goalkicking form with six for Hawthorn.

Carlton 22.9 (141) d Port Adelaide 14.18 (102)
Carlton won a shootout for the second week in a row, with the Blues’ dominance evident in a 59-point three-quarter-time lead. Carlton had seven multiple goal-kickers, led by Jarrad Waite’s four, while Port Adelaide, which topped the ladder after round seven, has now lost four on the trot.

Kangaroos 11.14 (80) d St Kilda 8.10 (58)
St Kilda president Rod Butterss has called a public truce to his spat with former coach Grant Thomas, but the Saints’ poor on-field run continues. St Kilda appears as far away from a long-awaited premiership as ever and never looked like beating a committed Roos outfit, which improved to 7-4 on the season.

Geelong 9.15 (69) d Adelaide 9.8 (62)
The Crows were reduced to 19 fit players but there was no doubting the merit of Geelong’s first win over the Crows in Adelaide for seven years. The Cats trailed early, weathered a last-quarter Adelaide fightback and could have won more comfortably with better accuracy in front of goal – especially in a second term that netted 2.9.

Fremantle 18.15 (123) d Richmond 15.12 (102)
The Dockers aren’t doing it pretty but they stayed in touch with the top eight thanks to a grinding victory over the winless Richmond. The Tigers led by 26 points in the second quarter but ran out of legs, as Fremantle got five goals from Des Headland and outstanding contributions from Peter Bell and Matthew Pavlich.

Melbourne 13.16 (94) d Collingwood 11.15 (81)
Russell Roberton’s seven-goal haul, including three in each of the first and last terms, lifted Melbourne to its second win of the season. While Robertson starred and was best afield, Collingwood’s Anthony Rocca was held goalless at the other end – a crucial contrast given the tightness of the contest.

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.