AFL pre-season games, player ratings: Ollie Dempsey looms as Geelong’s wildcard as Will Day stars in new role
The reigning premiers have a secret weapon up their sleeve. Plus, a young Hawks star impressed in a new role. See how every player rated.
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Ollie Henry struggled to get a game for Collingwood in the back half of last season but looks set to earn a spot in the Round 1 side of the reigning premiers.
The crafty forward was electrifying in his first outing in Geelong colours at GMHBA Stadium on Thursday evening, showing why the Cats were so desperate to have him join his older brother Jack at the club.
SCROLL DOWN FOR PLAYER RATINGS AND GOLD COAST v ESSENDON NOTES
While only standing 189cm tall, Henry is a dangerous match-up with his ability in the air and knows where the goals are.
He booted four majors to be one of the standouts during Geelong’s practice match against Hawthorn.
It was a goal fest for the Cats, who gave their forwards plenty of opportunities with their dominance around the ground.
Key forward Jeremy Cameron – who finished last year with 65 goals – also got on the end of four majors despite looking like he had not got out of second gear.
Small forward Tyson Stengle also starred with arguably the three best goals of the game, including a dribbler from the impossible angle on the boundary in the second quarter.
Winners across the ground were few and far between for the Hawks, but second-year midfielder Josh Ward battled hard all day and won plenty of the ball, as did fellow onballer Jai Newcombe who also finished off his good work with a goal pushing forward in the fourth quarter.
Vice-captain Dylan Moore was the pick of the Hawks forwards with three goals, while Fergus Greene was also lively in attack.
Ollie Henry's slotting into Geelong's forward line seamlessly with two goals. pic.twitter.com/PFWroKtabu
— AFL (@AFL) February 23, 2023
MAGNETS MOVED
There are midfield spots up for grabs at the Hawks this year after the departures of Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O’Meara over the off-season and talented youngster Will Day is putting up his hand for one.
A rebounding defender across his first three seasons at AFL level, Day attended plenty of centre bounces against the Cats and also spent some time on the wing.
Having struggled to find a regular spot in Geelong’s side as a key forward to start his career, Esava Ratugolea looks right at home in a new role down back.
The 198cm big man finished last season in defence in the VFL and showed off his new skills against the Hawks.
Ratugolea’s intercept marking was a feature of his game as he played in a first-choice Cats backline which also included Sam De Koning, Tom Stewart, Zach Tuohy, Jed Bews, Zach Guthrie and Jake Kolodjashnij.
De Koning was thrown forward for most of the third quarter.
After winning the Norm Smith Medal on a wing last year, Isaac Smith spent one quarter across half back and one quarter across half forward.
RECRUITS & DRAFTEES
Former Greater Western Sydney midfielder Tanner Bruhn played a key role for the Cats as he pushes for more opportunities this season.
Bruhn attended a host of centre bounces as well as spending some time on a wing and found a bit of the ball.
Former Gold Coast Suns onballer Jack Bowes was solid early for Geelong and was one of the better players on the ground in the opening quarter as he received plenty of midfield opportunity.
Both Bruhn and Bowes had less midfield minutes in the second half, though, after Tom Atkins was brought into the game and the side played a more senior onball brigade.
For the Hawks, former Port Adelaide player Karl Amon slotted straight in on one wing, while former Fremantle big man Lloyd Meek started in the forward line before completing some relief ruck work for Ned Reeves, the two working well in tandem.
First-round draft pick Josh Weddle started for the Hawks and spent some time chasing after Mark Blicavs on a wing, while fellow draftee Henry Hustwaite showed some clean hands after coming on for the fourth quarter.
ROUND 1 BOLTERS
He featured in only two AFL matches in Rounds 6 and 7 last year, but Oliver Dempsey looks like he could be in the Cats for Round 1.
One of the standout performers over summer, Dempsey started on the ground as a forward and created a contest.
He showed a nice sidestep to snap a goal in the second quarter, snapped a second major from the boundary line in the third quarter and booted a third goal as he got over the back of Blake Hardwick in the fourth quarter.
Geelong played two ruckman throughout the match, with Jonathon Ceglar teaming up with Rhys Stanley.
Ceglar battled injuries last season which restricted him to three senior matches, but looks like he is in the frame to play more games if he can stay fit.
New rules around the medical substitute mean are likely to see more sides playing two ruckmen.
INJURY LIST
GEELONG
Tom Hawkins (foot), Mitch Duncan (managed), Gary Rohan (managed)
HAWTHORN
Mitch Lewis (knee), Luke Bruest (managed), Cam Mackenzie (corkie), Cooper Stephens (concussion), Harry Morrison (hamstring), Changkuoth Jiath (managed)
Gold Coast v Essendon notes: Young Dons duo turn heads
— Ed Bourke
Essendon’s reinvigorated fleet of small forwards were a constant source of excitement as the Bombers overcame a messy start to beat Gold Coast by five points on Thursday night.
The Bombers deployed a mixed side throughout the scratch match, which was cut short to consist of four 25-minute periods and a final 10-minute term at Austworld Centre Oval.
Sam Draper and Dylan Shiel were held back until the third period by Essendon coach Brad Scott, while Gold Coast played their best available 22 in the first three periods before sending out a second choice side for the remaining minutes.
Alwyn Davey Jr snaps one off a step 🔴⚫ pic.twitter.com/5X2t0QbTiu
— AFL (@AFL) February 23, 2023
The ball lived in the Suns’ forward half during the first two periods as Essendon appeared unsettled by the home side’s relentless forward pressure and slick stoppage work led by Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson.
But the Bombers looked significantly more dangerous every time they came close to goal, leading by 16 points at the main break and playing more consistently during the shortened second half, winning 11.14.(80) to 11.9.(75).
TOP PERFORMERS
Sam Flanders showed he is ready to cement a place in the Suns’ side in his fourth season, with the powerful midfielder-forward the clear standout in the first two periods as he kicked two goals including a stunning volley as he roamed a pack.
The 21-year-old covered the ground well when he spent time in the middle and on the wing, positioning himself well and taking an impressive intercept mark running back into the hole.
Jye Menzie got the Bombers going early with his slick finishing skills on display, scoring a clever back-heel goal in the square and slotting two near identical snaps over his head about 30m out from goal.
Sam Flanders out of mid-air!
— AFL (@AFL) February 23, 2023
He's got the first two for the Suns ☀ï¸
Watch now on Kayo and Fox Sports pic.twitter.com/ZaiWcgyaf0
MOVED MAGNETS
With Brandon Zerk-Thatcher a late withdrawal due to quad soreness, the Bombers started Kaine Baldwin in defence, where the 20-year-old had played some of his VFL footy in 2022.
Baldwin’s ball use was tidy as he spent time on Levi Casboult (scoreless) and Mabior Chol (two goals).
It looks like Dyson Heppell is yet to lock down a settled role in the Bombers’ side, moving between half-forward and the wing, while Gold Coast, missing a raft of rebounding defenders, used Charlie Constable off half-back as expected, along with Darcy Macpherson and Ben Long.
Jye Menzie is impressing up forward for the Bombers, slotting his third. pic.twitter.com/9YSNQGDhwH
— AFL (@AFL) February 23, 2023
THE RECRUITS
Alwyn Davey Jr’s performance will excite Dons fans the most, with the father-son selection impressively working his way into the game following a quiet first period.
He nabbed his first goal in red and black during the third term, while Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, effectively a new recruit, also found his way into the game soon after with a goal from what may have been his first disposal.
In a strong hint to how Essendon’s on-ball configuration might change this season, Will Setterfield was a regular at centre bounces during all periods and became the dominant midfielder on the ground after the Suns introduced their B side at the start of the fourth term.
He pushed forward hard on several occasions and got onto the end of a clever pass from Will Snelling late in the match, slotting a set shot from 35m out.
Sam Weideman presented strongly up forward and kicked the first goal of the match with a tidy set shot from the pocket.
Tom Berry was the standout among Gold Coast’s new recruits, applying frantic pressure up forward and working well in tandem with Ben Ainsworth and Nick Holman as the Suns won several holding-the-ball free kicks in their forward 50.
Ben Long looked composed across half-back, where he was locked in an intriguing battle with Davey Jr, winning a crucial free kick against the youngster to prevent a certain Bombers goal.
TOP PICK DANGEROUS
Top 10 pick Bailey Humphrey was fairly quiet but found himself in dangerous positions in the forward half several times, with a set shot from the arc just dropping short due to a strong breeze and a snap from the pocket forcing a desperate lunge from Jordan Ridley on the goal line.
FT SCORE (5 quarters) - Gold Coast 11.9.(75) - Essendon 11.14.(80)
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