Zero Hanger’s top five upsets of 2017 (so far)

Published by
Stephen Marson

This season is crazy.

It's been one of the most even years in AFL history, and following Hawthorn's upset win over Adelaide last night, the surprising results don't look like stopping any time soon.

Because this season has been so unpredictable, we thought we'd try our hand at selecting the biggest results of the year so far.

So here they are, our top five upsets of 2017.

Adelaide v Melbourne, round 8

Adelaide 9.12 (66) def by Melbourne 17.5 (107)

The Crows had just lost to North Melbourne the week before, but were still hanging on to first place on the ladder, while Melbourne were in 10th with a 3-4 record.

Jesse Hogan was withdrawn due to illness the night before the match (we would learn the following week the forward had testicular cancer), and were up against it having lost four of their past five matches.

Adelaide led by as many as 28 points midway through the second quarter, but the Dees then took control of the game, booting nine unanswered goals to turn the match on its head.

Melbourne eventually ran out 41-point winners,in one of their best performances of the year so far.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 13: Dean Kent, Jack Watts and Tom McDonald of the Demons celebrate after scoring a goal as Daniel Talia of the Crows looks on dejected during the round eight AFL match between the Adelaide Crows and the Melbourne Demons at Adelaide Oval on May 13, 2017 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)

Fremantle v Western Bulldogs, round 3

Fremantle 13.11 (89) def Western Bulldogs 10.13 (73)

After losing their opening two matches by a combined 131 points, Fremantle sat in last place after round two, and Ross Lyon was well and truly under the pump.

The veteran coach wasn't afraid to swing the axe and made six changes, with veterans Danyle Pearce, Zac Dawson, Nick Suban and Jonathon Griffin all omitted from the side.

Griffin Logue and Harley Balic both made their debuts for the Dockers, with youngsters Ethan Hughes, Brady Grey, Tommy Sheridan and Hayden Crozier the six inclusions.

The Dogs won their first two matches and were seemingly cruising to start the season, so not many people expected the result that followed.

Fremantle kicked the first four goals of the game before the Bulldogs managed to wrestle the lead back in the third term, with the Dogs taking a 14-point advantage into the final change.

Five goals to just one behind in the last gave Fremantle their first win of the season, and one of the results of the year.

Brady Gray during the round three AFL match between the Fremantle Dockers and the Western Bulldogs at Domain Stadium on April 8, 2017 in Perth, Australia.

North Melbourne v Adelaide, round 7

North Melbourne 22.13 (145) def Adelaide 13.8 (86)

Probably the most surprising quarter of football we've seen so far in 2017.

North Melbourne, who had only won their first game of the season the week prior against the Gold Coast at Etihad Stadium were heading into their clash with the undefeated Crows in round seven up against it.

With the game in Tasmania it probably gave Roos fans hope that the margin may not be as bad as many predicted, but no one certainly thought it was going to be this good.

A 10-goal to nil first term saw North take a 64-0 lead into the first change, as onlookers would have been stunned at the quarter time score.

The Roos didn't take their foot off the pedal all afternoon, and recorded a 59-point thrashing to hand Adelaide their first loss of the season.

HOBART, AUSTRALIA - MAY 06: Jarrad Waite of the Kangaroos celebrates kicking a goal during the round seven AFL match between the North Melbourne Kangaroos and the Adelaide Crows at Blundstone Arena on May 6, 2017 in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Carlton v GWS, round 12

Carlton 10.11 (71) def GWS 9.16 (70)

The Blues were heading into their clash with the Giants on the back of three straight losses and in 17th position, while GWS had won four on the bounce and were a game clear at the top of the ladder.

It seemed like there was only one way this could go, right? Wrong.

Carlton brought Liam Jones into the line-up for his first match of the season, and he put in a match-winning performance on Giant key forward Jon Patton.

Carlton held a lead for most of the afternoon but fell behind to the Giants at the start of the fourth term, and the league's best team in close games was just expected to pull away from there.

Zac Fisher's point put the Blues in front with just two minutes remaining, and Brendon Bolton's men held on for a stirring win, which is easily their best of the season.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 11: Matthew Wright of the Blues celebrates the win on the final siren during the round 12 AFL match between the Carlton Blues and the Greater Western Sydney Giants at Etihad Stadium on June 11, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

Adelaide v Hawthorn, round 14

Adelaide 12.10 (82) def by Hawthorn 14.12 (96)

Hawthorn's win against Adelaide on Thursday night was the biggest upset of the season.

The Hawks had been a shadow of themselves for the entire season, and were coming into the game in 17th position on the table, with the Crows flying in first.

Bad memories of Hawthorn's recent trip to the Adelaide Oval in round 11 would have been fresh in the players' minds, after their first half on that night yielded just 0.3 (3), the lowest half-time score in their history.

Hawthorn started strong this time around but Adelaide took control late in the first half, and took an 18-point lead into the main change.

Luke Hodge, Grant Birchall, Ryan Schoenmakers and Luke Breust were all brought in by Alastair Clarkson for Thursday's match, but it was the younger brigade who led the way.

Ryan Burton starred with 21 disposals and two goals, as the Hawks kept their season alive and recorded the most surprising result of 2017.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 22: Shaun Burgoyne of the Hawks celebrates a goal during the 2017 AFL round 14 match between the Adelaide Crows and the Hawthorn Hawks at the Adelaide Oval on June 22, 2017 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Media/Getty Images)
Published by
Stephen Marson