The biggest shock of the day came at the MCG where Melbourne stunned the reigning triple premiers Hawthorn by 29 points.
It was a historic result for the Demons who scored their first win over the Hawks in 10 years, having lost their previous 13 encounters.
Melbourne's win also ended Hawthorn's nine-game winning streak.
And the result could have serious ramifications for the Hawks.
Although Alastair Clarkson's men sit on top of the ladder with a one-game break on the rest of the competition, their percentage (120.7) is currently the worst in the top five by some margin.
If Hawthorn lose one of their last three games, they will be in serious danger of slipping out of the top four and being denied a double chance.
The Hawks have North Melbourne, West Coast (away) and Collingwood in their run-in to the finals so it's not exactly the easiest three games they could have hoped for.
Melbourne might be out of finals calculations this year, but their sensational victory suggests that September action might not be far away and that Paul Roos will leave the place in good nick when he departs at the end of the season.
The Dees did a huge favour for Hawthorn's top-four rivals.
Second-placed Sydney (144.2) smashed Port Adelaide today by 67 points, third-placed Adelaide (141.2) annihilated the Lions by 138 points and fourth-placed GWS (140.2) squeaked past Gold Coast after the Suns put up a brave effort at Metricon Stadium.
All of those teams are just a game behind the Hawks.
Adelaide's victory against Brisbane was the equal-second biggest in their history and their score of 27.15.177 was the biggest of any team this season.
In the day's other result, the Western Bulldogs scored a gutsy 14-point win over North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium.
The Dogs headed into the clash without seven of their best players and then had to overcome the loss of Clay Smith early in the contest due to concussion.
But Luke Beveridge's men showed true grit and determination to get the result and officially confirm their spot in this year's finals series.
FULL TIME
Adelaide 7.4, 14.10, 22.13, 27.15 (177)
Bris.Lions 3.0, 5.0, 6.1, 6.3 (39)
GOALS
Adelaide: Walker 4, Lynch 4, Betts 4, Jenkins 3, Ellis-Yolmen 2, Sloane 2, Cameron, Seedsman, Lyons, B.Crouch, O'Brien, Smith, Brown, M.Crouch
Bris.Lions: Mathieson 2, Rich, Robinson, Rockliff, Taylor
LEADING DISPOSALS
Adelaide: Laird 36, B.Crouch 34, Sloane 34, M.Crouch 32
Bris.Lions: Rockliff 31, Bastinac 27
Q4 25 MIN, ADEL 177 BL 39
Matt Crouch becomes Adelaide's 14th goalkicker.
Josh Jenkins crashes the pack
The Adelaide players celebrate a goal kicked by debutant Reilly O'Brien
Q4 17 MIN, ADEL 170 BL 39
Brown drifts forward and his set shot from 50m out on a 45-degree angle is a ripper.
There aren't any words in the dictionary that can accurately describe the Brisbane Lions right now.
Q4 13 MIN, ADEL 164 BL 38
Sloane roves the pack expertly and becomes Adelaide's sixth multiple goalscorer.
He's also had 30 disposals.
This is like a car crash for the Lions and it has to be said that Justin Leppitsch struggle to keep his job in the next few days.
Q4 9 MIN, ADEL 157 BL 38
Betts centring ball hits Jenkins in the goal square and the big forward slams home the easy goal from point-blank range. He now has three goals.
Q4 6 MIN, ADEL 151 BL 38
Betts' set shot from 40m out on a 45-degree angle is accurate and he joins Taylor Walker and Lynch on four goals.
23.13.151 is Adelaide's highest score for the year. Can they crack the 200?
FULL TIME
Western Bulldogs 1.4, 4.5, 7.7, 9.7 (61)
North Melbourne 2.2, 2.4, 4.5, 7.5 (47)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Dickson, Daniel, Bontempelli, Hrovat, Johannisen, Hunter, Cordy, Roughead, Stringer
North Melbourne: Brown, Harvey, Daw, Thomas, Wells, Ziebell, Goldstein
LEADING DISPOSALS
Western Bulldogs: Dahlhaus 28, M.Boyd 22, Johannisen 22
North Melbourne: Macmillan 30, Dal Santo 29, Gibson 28
Back to top
Q4 28 MIN, WB 61 NM 47
Dickson shoves Tarrant in the back in the Dogs' forward line and gives away the free kick.
But the Dogs are going to hang on here for a famous win!
1:06 to go
Q4 27 MIN, WB 61 NM 47
Ziebell is blocked at the stoppage on the wing and wins the free kick. Kangas need to score from this foray forward.
1:54 to go
Q4 27 MIN, WB 61 NM 47
The ball goes out for a throw-in on the wing
2:12 to go
Q4 26 MIN, WB 61 NM 47
Hunter is tackled high by Swallow and wins the free kick on the wing
2:40 to go
Q4 25 MIN, WB 61 NM 47
Goldstein like a brick wall takes the relieving mark for North on their defensive 50m line
3:30 to go
Back to topQ4 24 MIN, WB 61 NM 47
Wood pops it up, Stringer sprints to the front of the pack and takes the uncontested mark. He read that beautifully!
But from 48m out on a 45-degree angle, Stringer kicks it out on the full!
Kangas still have a pulse. Goldstein to take the free kick.
4:04 to go
Q4 23 MIN, WB 61 NM 47
Tom Boyd wraps up his North Melbourne opponent and we'll have a ball-up on North's 50m line.
5:22 to go
Q4 22 MIN, WB 61 NM 47
Roberts effects the spoil on the wing, follows it up and spots up Stringer
But from 50m out on the boundary line, Stringer fails to make the distance and the Kangas clear the danger.
6:15 to go
Q3 29 MIN, ADEL 139 BL 37
Goals to O'Brien and Sloane see Adelaide's margin top 100 points before three-quarter time!
Hear Adelaide crow for Reilly O'Brien as he kicks his first goal on debut. #AFLCrowsLions https://t.co/pUjmsFlhR1
— AFL (@AFL) August 6, 2016
Q4 20 MIN, WB 61 NM 47
Goldstein is paid the free kick for being taken high by Roughead in the marking contest and from 25m out directly in front the All-Australian ruckman makes no mistake!
The Kangas are back in this!
7:46 to go
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