Cameron calls on Giants to lift in AFL

GWS coach Leon Cameron has issued a call to arms, saying they must hit Collingwood head-on in next Saturday's crunch AFL home clash.

The Giants' injury woes continued on Sunday when they lost star onballer Stephen Coniglio to a knee injury within five minutes of the clash with Richmond.

Cameron could not fault their effort, saying it was eight or nine out of 10, but the 13.16 (94) to 9.13 (67) loss was their third in a row and they dropped from fifth to sixth on the ladder at the Tigers' expense.

As the Western Bulldogs held off Melbourne, Brisbane also continued their amazing season on Sunday when they mauled Port Adelaide early and scored a thumping win at Adelaide Oval.

Now the Giants host Collingwood, who are coming off an outstanding one-point upset win last Friday night against West Coast in Perth.

"You can't run away and hide for a week, saying we're having a week off,' Cameron said.

"We have to hit Collingwood head-on and if we continue to do that, it doesn't guarantee you wins, but what it does guarantee you is that you're in games."

Apart from losing Coniglio, GWS also managed just two behinds in the first quarter as Richmond kicked four goals and that ultimately was the difference.

The Giants were already without key players Josh Kelly, Callan Ward and Matt de Boer because of injury and are crossing their fingers that scans on Coniglio's injured knee bear some good news.

Coniglio's left knee, heavily-strapped after an injury last week, gave way when he changed direction.

But Cameron stressed he was given the all-clear to play.

While the Giants are in the wars, Richmond are on a three-game winning streak and are fifth on the ladder.

Sunday was the start of the seven-game run at their MCG home that will take Richmond to the end of the regular season.

At Adelaide Oval, a week after their Showdown triumph, Port's inconsistency again bit them hard.

The Lions kicked 10 goals to three in the first half and easily won 14.13 (97) to 6.13 (49), meaning they are now third as the Power dropped out of the top eight.

Also on Sunday, the Western Bulldogs stayed in the finals hunt with an eight-point win over Melbourne at Marvel Stadium.

Josh Dunkely starred for the Bulldogs in the 10.14 (74) to 9.12 (66) arm-wrestle, which lifted them to 10th on the ladder - four points shy of the sixth-placed Giants.

Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti's superb snapped goal with 17 seconds left on Saturday night gave Essendon a five-point win over North Melbourne.

More importantly, it also put the Bombers into the top eight.

Seventh-placed Adelaide boosted their percentage at Gold Coast's expense with a 95-point mauling.

Adelaide will now host Essendon in a Friday night blockbuster.

West Coast's loss and Geelong's win over St Kilda means the Cats again are two games clear at the top of the ladder with six rounds left.