By Jon Pierik and Andrew Wu
With the bye rounds in full swing, it’s time to run the rule over how each club is faring at the midway point of their seasons.
Teams with the round 13 bye
St Kilda (11th, five wins, seven losses)
Who’s hot?
Jack Higgins has been a consistent force up forward, the small forward leading the Saints’ goal kicking – including four goals against Geelong – to be included in the All-Australian preliminary squad. Jack Sinclair (27 disposals per game) and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (28) have been two of the premier rebounding half-backs. The dashing Wanganeen-Milera, off-contract and weighing up offers to return home to South Australia, has become the Saints’ most important player, and the best player they have had in the past decade. That he has yet to agree to a contract extension by this point of the season is a major worry for the Saints. Former Western Bulldog Jack Macrae has been a strong leader through the midfield and found plenty of the ball (before a major lung injury), while intercept defender Callum Wilkie should be in All-Australian squad discussions. Youngster Hugo Garcia is making progress, despite a public spray from Ross Lyon during the loss to Brisbane and recent axing to the VFL. Marcus Windhager, one of several off-contract Saints, has, at times, been a stand-out, whether tagging or finding his own ball.
Cookin’: Jack Higgins has had a strong season, and will be in All-Australian squad calculations.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
Who’s not?
Young midfielder Darcy Wilson has stagnated, while Mattaes Phillipou has endured an injury-hit start to the season, the latest a calf injury in the opening minutes against Melbourne. Wingman Brad Hill still provides dash, but there are times when he could rip a game open. Rowan Marshall has been steady, but is no longer among the conversation as one of the top three ruckmen in the league. Injuries to Max King and Zaine Cordy have hurt.
Verdict: The Saints are 2-4 against top-eight teams, including their best win of the season, against Geelong. They are a system-based side, so, when the system wobbles, the whole team wobbles, which can lead to heavy defeats. The flip side is what we saw against Melbourne, when they dominated through scores from defence. That they are the only team to lose to the last-placed Eagles highlights the gulf between their worst and best. The Saints still remain a line-ball finals contender, as they were before this campaign began. Through that prism, they sit where many had expected.
Jon Pierik’s grade: C+
Man on a mission: Caleb Serong has been influential for the Dockers this season.Credit: AFL Photos
Fremantle (eighth, seven wins, five losses)
Who’s hot?
Midfield gun Caleb Serong (28 disposals per game) typically finds plenty of the ball, but has struggled, at times, when there has been an aggressive tag. Fellow star onballer Andrew Brayshaw (also 28 disposals per game) has been busy, and put his body on the line in the desperate final minutes against Gold Coast on Saturday, and is also firmly in contention for All-Australian selection. Jordan Clark has provided drive from half-back, Shai Bolton has added life inside attacking 50 and been arguably the second-best recruit of the season (behind Bailey Smith), while Luke Jackson has been at his best when used as a sole ruckman. The Dockers have been one of the more efficient teams, according to Champion Data, but need to find more marks inside 50 if they are to challenge for a top-four spot.
Who’s not?
Sean Darcy, tied to the club until the end of 2030, has largely been a shadow of his former self because of an off-season hampered by a knee issue but was strong in ruck contests in the wet against the Suns. Whether he and Jackson can thrive in the same team remains a burning question for coach Justin Longmuir. It also remains to be seen if talls Josh Treacy, Jye Amiss and Pat Voss can consistently also work alongside each other up forward, as the Dockers have struggled to turn inside-50 advantage into scores. That could also be because of a lack of speed with ball in hand, something the Dockers have looked to address. It was great to see Nat Fyfe back for his first senior game of the season last weekend. Hayden Young’s extended absence because of a serious hamstring injury which has required surgery has hurt. He shapes as an x-factor later in the season.
Verdict: The Dockers remain an enigma. They have a list capable of finishing in the top four, reinforced by their win on the Gold Coast and their three wins in five games against top-eight teams, but have had head-shaking losses, including a 61-point defeat to St Kilda at Marvel Stadium, and a 14-point loss at home to a depleted Collingwood. The pressure remains on Longmuir to deliver a deep finals run.
Jon Pierik’s grade: B-
Teams with the round 12 bye
Carlton (12th, four wins, seven losses)
Who’s hot?
In his 10th season, Jack Silvagni has been a revelation in his new role as a defender. Silvagni’s ability to stop high-quality forwards, from a key type like Aaron Naughton to the medium-sized threat like Patrick Dangerfield, intercept and launch counter-attacks is one of the reasons why the Blues, for all their problems, has been one of the more difficult sides to score against. A streamlined George Hewett is having a career-best season in the midfield at the age of 29, and Nick Haynes has overcome a horror start to life as a Blue by turning the clock back to the pre-pandemic years. Tom De Koning was the best ruck in the competition in the first month, but his form has tailed off. Jacob Weitering had been in All-Australian form before two below-par games coming into the bye.
Jack Silvagni has been a revelation in defence for the Blues so far this season.Credit: AFL Photos
Who’s not?
The Blues need more from their superstars. Patrick Cripps and Charlie Curnow are having reasonable years but are capable of finding another level. Harry McKay has struggled with consistency since returning from a mental health break, though his best has been the reason why the Blues have won. After another interrupted preseason, Sam Walsh has become just a player, unable to run opponents off their legs like he used to. The same can be said of Blake Acres, who is not having the same impact of his first two years at the club.
Verdict: So much more was expected of the Blues, who have been one of the most disappointing clubs of the season. Despite having two Coleman medallists in their forward line the Blues are having enormous difficulties scoring. Their lack of class small forwards has hurt, but their ball movement is slow and imprecise. They are as tense as a patient visiting the dentist. Similar problems were overcome in 2023 when they mounted a stunning run to the preliminary final, but they do not have the same quality on their list. A friendly draw over the next month will give Blues fans hope but a finals berth is unlikely.
Andrew Wu’s grade: D+
Tristan Xerri is mounting a case for All-Australian selection this year.Credit: Getty Images
North Melbourne (17th, two wins, one draw, eight losses)
Who’s hot?
After a slow start to the season, Tristan Xerri is again mounting a strong claim for a maiden All-Australian blazer. The ruckman, with his attack on the ball and wholehearted manner in which he plays, has become the Kangaroos’ on-field spiritual leader. Small forward Paul Curtis has continued his improvement and, with 19 goals to the bye, is on track to pass his career-best haul of 30 last year. Cameron Zurhaar has rediscovered his bull-at-a-gate ways in attack to add much-needed bite to the forward line. Veteran Luke Parker has justified his acquisition on the field even if his greatest impact might be felt in the locker room.
Who’s not?
This might be harsh on North’s leading possession-getter but Caleb Daniel is not having the impact he should. A damaging kick at his best, Daniel has often erred on the side of recklessness with his ball use by taking low-percentage options deep in defence. In his third year at Arden Street, Griffin Logue cannot get a clear run at it due to injury and now form. Dropped amid North’s horror run, Logue is yet to reclaim his position in the side. The Roos need more from experienced duo Aidan Corr and Zac Fisher, who have both had stints in the VFL.
Caleb Daniel: Plenty of possessions but more impact needed.Credit: Getty Images
Verdict: As painful as this season has been for their fans, North have actually improved. At this stage last year, they were winless with a percentage of 55.9 and uncompetitive. This year, they have been in contention at three-quarter-time in eight games. The question is whether North should be further advanced after five seasons in the bottom two.
Given they have traded away their first pick, the Kangaroos would have expected to have picked up an extra win or two instead of being in the familiar position of 17th.
Andrew Wu’s grade: D+
Port Adelaide (15th, four wins, seven losses)
Who’s hot?
Port’s best phase of the season came after Zak Butters returned from injury. Butters was instrumental in Port’s best win of the year, against Hawthorn, but needs more help in the guts. The Power cannot afford to lose him. Moved to half-back, Connor Rozee has maintained his high standards while others’ have fallen, though Port need him in the middle as well as providing run out of defence. Though not necessarily built for it, Mitch Georgiades has prospered being the main man in the forward 50. Miles Bergman’s star is on the rise though he, like Butters, may be on the move at season’s end.
Who’s not?
Esava Ratugolea, Ivan Soldo, and Jordon Sweet were recruited at the end of 2023 to help Port take the next step. Eighteen months on, those moves have not had the desired effect. Ratugolea is struggling in an overworked defence that does not get enough pressure on the ball from up the field. Sweet lost his spot after being monstered by Tim English, and his understudy Soldo is out of favour. The move of Jeremy Finlayson into defence lasted just one disastrous game against Collingwood.
Ed Richards has been a midfield weapon for the Western Bulldogs.Credit: Getty Images
Verdict: Ken Hinkley’s 13th and final season at the helm at Alberton is headed for an inglorious finish. Preliminary finalists last year, Port are headed for a bottom-six finish. The impending handover from Hinkley to Josh Carr is an easy target to explain Port’s poor season even though many had tipped them to be this season’s slider. The club would not have seen such a drop coming, given they traded out their first-round pick for Jack Lukosius, who has been injured.
Most concerning is how quickly the Power have waved the white flag when things became difficult. Five of the heaviest losses of the Hinkley era have come in Port’s last 24 games.
Andrew Wu’s grade: E
Western Bulldogs (seventh, six wins, five losses)
Who’s hot?
Ed Richards has morphed from a capable half-back into one of the game’s best midfielders in the past 12 months. Richards’ speed and penetrating left foot makes him a major weapon for the Dogs. Rebounding defender Bailey Dale, who had a career-best 49 possessions a fortnight ago, is on track for a second All-Australian blazer. Tom Liberatore is defying Father Time. Small forward Rhylee West is one of the most improved players in the league, thriving since taking over from the injured Cody Weightman. Matt Kennedy is close to the recruit of the year since his move from Carlton, revelling as a midfielder who can also be dangerous when moved forward.
Who’s not?
Veteran defender Liam Jones has struggled after having his pre-season severely disrupted by a serious hamstring injury. He lost his place to former cricketer James O’Donnell, who has performed admirably in the key defensive post alongside the rejuvenated Rory Lobb. Injuries threatened to derail the season. Marcus Bontempelli, Adam Treloar, Sam Darcy have all spent significant periods in a star-studded casualty ward at Whitten Oval, but all are either back or will return shortly after the bye for the Dogs’ run to September.
Verdict: So much could have gone wrong for the injury-hit Dogs but coach Luke Beveridge has navigated a safe passage through treacherous waters. A contract extension looms. At the start of the year, most Dogs fans would have happily accepted a 6-5 record and seventh given their extensive injury toll. The wins they banked while undermanned have given the Dogs a serious chance to break into the top four in the second half of the year. Of their remaining 12 games, only four are against teams currently in the eight, and they leave Victoria only twice. Though they have been close against the best, their next challenge will be to claim a scalp to stamp themselves as a top premiership contender. They’ll get their chance straight after the bye against Hawthorn.
Andrew Wu’s grade: A
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