Summary North Melbourne had its biggest win of the season, upsetting Geelong 15.6 (96) to 13.8 (86).
MELBOURNE (AP) - The Australian Football League s 18th round featured a form reversal for its leading and last-place teams with first-place Hawthorn and then closest pursuer Geelong both suffering defeats, while the Western Sydney Giants ended a year-long, 21-match losing streak.
The Richmond Tigers, who beat Hawthorn by 10 goals the last time the teams met in 2012, continued their mastery over their inner-city Melbourne rivals with a 16.11 (107) to 9.12 (66) decision over the Hawks before 63,000 fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
On Friday, North Melbourne had its biggest win of the season, upsetting Geelong 15.6 (96) to 13.8 (86).
The last-place Giants, meanwhile, earned their first win in 18 starts this season with a 19.10 (124) to 12.15 (87) victory over Melbourne.
On Sunday, the Sydney Swans moved into second place, two points behind Hawthorn and two ahead of Geelong, after beating the Western Bulldogs 21.8 (134) to 15.9 (99). Essendon can also gain on the leaders if the Bombers beat Collingwood in the final match of the round later Sunday.
In other matches, forward Josh Kennedy kicked five goals as the West Coast Eagles beat the Gold Coast Suns 20.10 (130) to 17.11 (113), Brisbane defeated St. Kilda 16.12 (108) to 11.11 (77) and Fremantle, moving into fourth place, handed Carlton its first loss in four matches, beating the Blues 17.14 (116) to 12.8 (80).
Sixth-place Richmond has all but sealed its first AFL finals berth in 12 years as the side moved to 12-6 on the season. The Tigers moved clear with a six-goals-to-three first quarter, before the Hawks fought back to hold a two-point lead at halftime.
But Richmond pulled away in a tight, contested finals-like third quarter, in which they outscored Hawthorn 4.4 to 1.2 as rain began falling, to take a three-goal advantage. The Tigers then kicked six of the first seven goals of the last quarter to clinch the match.
The Kangaroos led by 20 points at halftime and eight points at three-quarter time before holding firm with a three-goal final term to edge Geelong.
North Melbourne coach Brad Scott said the win helped his side forgot about a late collapse against the Cats in the second round.
"It had a bit of an eerie sense of deja vu didn t it, in the third quarter," he said. "We ve had some really disappointing losses this year that have cut pretty deep.
"From a coaching perspective, we could have taken the loser s attitude and said gee we ve been unlucky . But we haven t done that at any point."
The Giants kicked seven goals to three in the final quarter to notch their largest winning margin in club history and first victory since beating Port Adelaide in the corresponding round last year.
Coach Kevin Sheedy predicted better things for his Giants.
"I never thought we would have a winless season, but you ve just got to believe that in your heart," said Sheedy. "I think it won t be our only win this season."
