If there weren’t already warning signs on West Coast’s season,it can officially be declared cooked following. Adam Simpson hasn’t used the word “rebuild,” but which means they’ll be using the rest of the season to.
Hunted:Tim Kelly gathers the ball.Getty Images
Richmond,however,look rejuvenated.Jayden Short played well through the midfield,Shai Bolton continued his electric form,andTom Lynch flourished against the spiritless Eagles,kicking 7.5.Noah Balta went back into defence against West Coast’s tall timber. With next week,it’s a chance for the Tigers to build some momentum heading towards the halfway point of the season.
- Damien Ractliffe
Geelong v Fremantle,GMHBA Stadium
Fremantle are the real deal. They are organised,quick and skilful,and they value defence. Against Geelong,on the Cats’ home deck, and were better defensively than their opponents. Fremantle only allowed Geelong nine scoring shots in the first three quarters,the fewest scoring shots the Cats have managed in the first three quarters since 1964. And,after conceding 82 points to Adelaide in round one,the Dockers have not conceded more than 66 points a game.
Justin Longmuir was a key architect behind Collingwood’s surge up the ladder in 2018,and he looks to have the Dockers humming too with their talented young midfield,buttressed by a bunch of mid-sized key defenders. The Cats are a finals team but on the evidence so far,only just. Their contest work inside remains elite,but they were outspread,and they are vulnerable in defence when the ball hits the ground. The positives areSam De Koning andTyson Stengle,who are exciting,while the loss ofMax Holmes to injury was significant. But the Dockers’ future looks much brighter withJordan Clark’s performance rubbing salt into the Cats’ wounds.
- Peter Ryan
Adelaide v Greater Western Sydney,Adelaide Oval
WithToby Greene andJesse Hogan featuring together for the first time this season,it is no coincidence Greater Western Sydney could reverse their run of outs and produce their most emphatic victory of 2021,. Greene (four goals),Hogan (three),Stephen Coniglio (three) andLachie Whitfield (three) capitalised on a dominant display further afield from the likes of Josh Kelly,Tom Green andTim Taranto in the midfield andIsaac Cumming across half-back.
Brodie Smith was knocked out cold after taking this mark over Harry Perryman.Getty Images
GWS,as they did in the corresponding Adelaide Oval fixture 12 months earlier,bullied the Crows from the opening bounce to relieve some of the pressure on coach Leon Cameron. Adelaide had few winners and lostBrodie Smith to concussion after he hit his head on the turf on the way down from taking a magnificent mark. The Crows never really recovered from their landslide loss to the Giants last year and will be hoping this one doesn’t again cripple their promising progress.
- Steve Barrett
Melbourne v Hawthorn,MCG
The Demons did what they had to do to keep their unbeaten record intact,and it was their leaders who steered the ship.Max Gawn was influential,while it was no surprise to seeChristian Petracca andClayton Oliver among the most prolific on the field. The Hawks threw challenges at the Demons,but at key stages class prevailed. Four unanswered goals in the “premiership quarter” helped the Dees keep the Hawks at arm’s length in the final term. Sam Mitchell was clearly disappointed for his players that they were able to get within 10 points but unable to overthrow the reigning premiers. He labelled it a missed opportunity,butDylan Moore,Jai Newcombe andJacob Koschitzke – all 22 and under – showed growth for the Hawks and would have given fans something to be pleased about. Games against Essendon and Richmond in the next fortnight will test their mettle as aspiring finalists.
- Damien Ractliffe
St Kilda v Port Adelaide,Cazaly’s Stadium
This was a game St Kilda should have won and,it could be easily argued,they would have if it had been played under the roof at Marvel Stadium instead of the humidity and dew of Cairns. Such are the commercial imperatives for a club scrambling to make ends meet. It may cost them a top-four berth or a home final,it may not.
From a football point of view,even though they lost the exercise should not be seen as a failure. The Saints did plenty right. They won the contested ball,were strong at the contest,but let themselves down with execution,particularly in front of goal. However,their game is in order. The impending returns ofJack Billings andZak Jonesshould provide a point of difference with their class and speed. The Saints can still head into their exam this week against Melbourne with confidence.
In 2017,Sydney stormed into the finals after a 0-6 start.Port must view them as the blueprint. All is not lost at Alberton;they are still up for the fight. The increased responsibility given toConnor Rozee andZak Butters has boosted the Power – and should reap richer dividends in the years to come.Ryan Burton is having a career-best season. Other than the grit they showed in coming back from a slow start,the most pleasing aspect from their trip to Cairns was the return to form ofAliir Aliir. It shows two things:the gun defender is regaining confidence on his return from ankle syndesmosis surgery,and Port are buying into team defence again,which gives someone playing Aliir’s role the time and confidence to make attacking calls to intercept.
-Andrew Wu
Port Adelaide players celebrate their one-point win.AFL Photos
Carlton v North Melbourne,Marvel Stadium
Defeating a battling opponent with only one win to its credit may not seem particularly special,but for Blues supporters accustomed over the years to watching their side drop matches they should win,this 50-point thumping of North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium was a sign of maturity. The Kangaroos pressed in the second term,but the Blues responded with seven third-quarter goals to all but secure victory. It’s debatable whether that would have happened last season. Tired of their third-term issues this season,the Blues responded in fitting style. Without the injured George Hewett,Marc Pittonet andZac Williams,skipperPatrick Cripps continued his stellar season,and he has to be the Brownlow Medal favourite. In twin towersHarry McKay andCharlie Curnow,the Blues have the firepower to rebound from any position. The Kangaroos were undersized,and paid the price. The Blues have the Crows at Marvel Stadium on Sunday,and should improve to a 6-2 record.
On song:Carlton’s Harry McKay,left,and Patrick Cripps celebrate.Getty Images
For the Kangaroos,the pain continues.Jason Horne-Francis′ hard work and spirit are admirable,and he shapes as a star.Jy Simpkin was again strong but the Kangaroos’ lack of pressure after half-time was damning. They remain in a deep and troubling rebuild. To add to their troubles,they now face the Dockers in Perth. In the short term,it’s about giving the youngsters a run and deciding whether they should pursue a priority pick and/or make a play for Alastair Clarkson.
- Jon Pierik
Collingwood v Gold Coast,MCG
Jack Ginnivan kicks a goal of the year contender.Fox Footy
Darcy Cameron and rookie ruckmanAiden Begg could not match Gold Coast captainJarrod Witts at rucking contests,but their competitiveness around the ground,combined with the Magpies’ ability to almost square the ledger in clearances (-3) was a positive for Collingwood on Sunday. If Cameron can continue to kick goals,as he did early against the Suns,he will be even more valuable. CoachCraig McRae all but confirmed the combination will be preferred against Richmond next week as the Magpies look to cover the absence ofBrodie Grundy for the next three months. The Suns enjoyed some dominant patches on Sunday but coachStuart Dew was clearly frustrated by their inconsistency and lack of defensive intent,particularly in the opening term when they conceded seven goals. With just two wins and clashes against Sydney and Fremantle to come,their season is teetering on the brink of being disappointing at best yet again.
Finally,an Anzac Day medallist against Essendon,Jack Ginnivanput himself into contention for goal of the year honours after a stellar second-term major against the Suns.
- Courtney Walsh
Bulldogs v Essendon,Marvel Stadium
Lance Franklin celebrates a goal on Sunday.AFL Photos
If the Bombers,they received a reality check on Sunday against a hungry Bulldogs outfit. The Dons had 26 turnovers in their back half and the Dogs made them pay,kicking 8.2.
If the perception was that the Dogs needAaron Naughton to kick a score for them to be dangerous,that concept was quashed on Sunday. They had 10 individual goal kickers and it was their smalls who looked most dangerous.Luke Beveridge was most pleased with their lesser types inLachie McNeil (three goals) andRobbie McComb (two),but he cautioned they had to back-up the win next week against Port Adelaide to get some momentum into their season.
- Damien Ractliffe
Sydney v Brisbane,SCG
The number one contender to Melbourne’s premiership crown has revealed themselves. It’s the Lions,who were way too good for an off-colour Sydney Swans as they put together their best game of the year,and now deservedly sit in second spot on the ladder. They looked a team with every piece of the jigsaw puzzle in place as the took the Swans apart - their first win at the SCG in 13 years and their first 6-1 start since 2002. It was the usual suspects likeLachie Neale andDayne Zorko doing the damage in the midfield,and coachChris Fagan will be pleased with his spread of goalkickers,withCharlie Cameron,Cam Rayner andDan McStay all contributing three majors - although he won’t be happy at seeingJoe Daniher taken off,albeit as a ‘precaution’,in the second quarter with a shoulder problem. There was also a late injury scare forJaxon Prior. For Sydney,it would have been far uglier were it not forLance Franklin’s move into sicko mode in a thrilling third term,which got them back to within three points. That should make the contract re-negotiations a bit easier,althoughJohn Longmire has bigger,broader concerns after the way his side’s colours were lowered. DefenderHarry Cunningham also came off with a groin problem late in the clash.
- Vince Rugari
Match review news
Stemming from the eventful clash between Carlton and North Melbourne,Nick Larkey and Carlton pairLewis Young andLiam Stocker were all handed one-match bans.
Larkey’s incident was the most eye-catching as he was ruled to have engaged in rough conduct when he appared to ‘tunnel’ Young,who was charged was forceful front-on contact for his bump onCameron Zurhaar.
Stocker was charged with engaging in rough conduct in a head clash withTarryn Thomas.
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