Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson reveals his likes and dislikes from Round 22 AFL action

KANGAROOS shine, Magpies earns his wings while Robbie Gray and Luke Parker stitch up their All-Australian credentials.

AFL Round 22 - North Melbourne v Adelaide at Blundstone Arena , Jack Ziebell celebrates a goal. 23rd August 2014. Picture : Colleen Petch.

LIKES

1. Swallow and Ziebell. Been waiting a long time to write those two names and after Saturday it’s absolutely appropriate. Swallow’s final 10 minutes were the best of his career. “He willed the team over line,’’ coach Brad Scott said. Swallow had influence at six of the last eight stoppages as North won by seven points. Swallow was huge and Ziebell was probably the matchwinner. Rested forward he had nine shots at goal for 4.5 to go with 25 disposals. Mids going forward is giving the Roos a different dimension. Last week it was Cunnington, this week it was Ziebell.

2. The triple Docker. It’s Ballantyne, Walters and Mayne. We’ve been waiting for Mayne to influence and Walters to return and suddenly the Dockers look complete. There are issues with McPharlin and you don’t want a sore Pavlich, but with the small forward trio, the Dockers look alive. Ballantyne and Walters kicked six and seemed to be involved in everything, while Mayne defended and won the ball. Can’t wait for Port v Fremantle this weekend.

Magpie Josh Thomas starred in the win over Greater Western Sydney. Picture: Getty

3. Josh Thomas. Pendlebury was huge, but he always stands up. It was time for others and no-one was better than Josh Thomas. Had 28 disposals, eight tackles and kicked three goals, including the super-cool sealer. When Collingwood people question Collingwood’s future, they should well remember Saturday’s game. Thomas, Broomhead, Dwyer and Sinclair were all significant in a game when substance more than coaching was the overriding factor.

4. Talking about kids. He can butcher it with the best, yet there’s no denying Toby Greene’s football nous. Since his return from suspension for the fight with bouncers - the kid sure has some go in him - he racked up 14 off the subs bench, then 35, 32, 27, 35, 29 and 42 against the Pies. There were fears his career at GWS was shot, but the club says he hasn’t put a foot wrong since the fight. Still, he’s one big night and one bad decision from it all going belly-up.

5. Luke Parker. Has become a Tackle hall of famer in one season, joining the legendary Lenny Hayes and Nathan Fyfe. Perfect midfielder’s game from Parker: 32 disposals, 18 contested, 11 tackles, 10 clearances. Beauty is he’s in the mould of Hayes and there isn’t a better compliment.

6. Masten, Gaff and Shuey. The experts say West Coast needs midfielders, but these three have been instrumental in West Coast finding consistency in the latter part of the season, Against the Demons - yes, it was only the Demons - they compiled 84 disposals, with Masten leading with 32. What they need is youth pushing up under them so in, say, three years, the Eagles will have a formidable group.

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7. Jared Polec. Named Chad Wingard on Saturday as the player who had to improve for Port to contend. It was between Polec and Wingard to be honest and both stood up in an awesome display from Port Adelaide on Friday night. Chad kicked three but it was Polec through the middle and Pittard on a back flank who made Port looks scary good. He’s an interesting player Pittard. He can go missing for weeks on end but when his confidence is strong, and when he’s getting a kick, he likes to pick fights and get into opposition players. Maybe he’s the barometer.

Bomber Brendon Goddard soars high above the pack. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

8. Brendon Goddard. Potted Goddard as well on Saturday and at the end of the game he was, with Michael Hurley, the best player on the ground. For the past three weeks, Goddard seemingly wanted to watch the play instead of getting involved and his marking had deteriorated to the point he wanted to use body instead of jumping at the ball. That all changed against the Suns. Played midfield/forward, kicked three, was involved in three others and had a team-high 28 touches.

9. Jon Ceglar. Going to pin my flag on Ceglar to keep Ben McEvoy out of the team. No disrespect to McEvoy, but Ceglar doesn’t do a lot wrong for a player who has 12 games to his name. More agile than McEvoy, looks more dangerous forward, and while not at the same level as McEvoy as a ruckman, he was solid against McIntosh and Blicavs. Yep, Hale and Ceglar to perhaps lead the Hawks to their most famous of premierships.

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10. All Australian locks. In no particular order they are Gray, Rockliff, Fyfe, Jacobs, Selwood, Parker, Malceski, Franklin, Boomer, reckon Boak is in, so is Roughead, so is Lewis, and Jarrad McVeigh has had an outstanding season. If he makes it, he could be the All Australian captain, although Joel Selwood would be tough to beat. What I do know is Rockliff, Parker and Gray will be first-timers and rightly so.

Honourable mentions: Gray again, love Jackson Trengove, Richard Douglas’s 10 clearances, Zach Merrett a smokie for Rising Star, a weekend for the Swallow brothers, Will Langford’s ticker, Mitch Duncan, Liam Shiels’ tackling, Josh Gibson’s a star, so is Rockliff, have to go with Buddy, Hrovat and Macrae, Ray on Ellis, Troy Chaplin is back and Petterd is in the form of his career.

Magpie Brent Macaffer is helped from the field. Picture: Getty

DISLIKES

1. Collingwood injuries. The soft tissue crisis got even worse with Young and Swan going down with hamstrings and the review of training and weights programs will be the most important aspect when the club reviews its season. Doc Larkins said last night the Pies have had 22 soft tissue injuries this year and at an average of three games per injury, it’s amazing they’re still in the hunt for the finals. Larkins said only Essendon’s doomed 2012 season with a mountain of hamstring injuries was worse than Collingwood’s hit list of injuries

2. Another bloody knee. Terrible news for Brent Macaffer and highly rated youngster Matthew Scharenberg. Scharenberg was the future and we’ll have to wait another 12 months to see him, while Macaffer has been struck down for the second time. Macaffer’s standing at the club was evident when coach Nathan Buckley spoke in the post-match. “When you go to the three-quarter time huddle and you can see some of his teammates in tears because they know what’s happened and they know what he’s been through... that tells you something about the make-up of our playing group.’’

3. Carlton. Got turned over in every hideous fashion. Simpson got taken out by Monfries, Wood drops marks, Kane Lucas might have played his final game for the club, Yarran’s hurt, Murphy was put to sleep, Bell butchered it and the kids were overwhelmed because of Port’s ferocity at the man and fury with the ball. Joked on Twitter that the Blues crossed back over the Rubicon, much to Carlton fans’ displeasure, but also noted it wasn’t entirely their fault. Port were that good. And Carlton was decidedly timid.

Demon Jack Watts looks on as the Eagles push for their finals berth. Picture: Getty

4. And the debate rages. Who will Melbourne trade and who will leave of their volition? It’s practically a given that James Frawley is goneski and there will be interest in Jack Watts if the club is ballsy enough. Where does Kent sit, and Matt Jones, and Bail and Michie? It’s odd because all the above named have played some good footy, but the Demons need a serious overhaul. As for Frawley, another person who reckons he’s in the know says Frawley is bound for Collingwood. The Magpies have denied it. But they would, wouldn’t they?

5. Who will play forward? The Cats had backed in Shane Kersten and he’s now gone for three weeks with a hamstring. Have already plonked Bartel in the forward line, but will have to find another tall. Will it be Walker? Maybe. They will be reluctant to move Harry Taylor forward permanently, but desperate times calls for desperate decisions.

6. Jimmy Bartel. Yes, he dove and yes, he deserves to be highlighted, but Bartel isn’t a serial diver. If anything, Bartel is one of the more courageous players I’ve seen play the game. My fear is that Bartel is feeling the pinch. It happens to all players. The absolute attack at the ball is substituted for some play acting, especially for the veterans.

7. Armchair coaches. We all are, and we all have an opinion on Cyril Rioli. Mine is play him if he’s fit. Play him off the sub’s bench if you have to, but play him nonetheless.

Hawk Jordan Lewis in action against Geelong. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

8. Jordan Lewis. Group of mates got together to wet the baby’s head and in went some cash for the first goalkicker in the Hawks-Cats match. A mate took Lewis among four others. We had $35 at 26-1 for Lewis and when he marked 30m from goal, slight angle, the $910 return was already spent. To cut a long story to a sad one, Lewis kicked across goal and the 900 disappeared. And yes, can’t wait until Tuesday night. By the way, people, bet responsibly.

9. Awkward television. Malthouse v Mark Stevens on Friday night was painful to watch. Malthouse treated Stevo like he was a cadet and Stevo didn’t quite get out the questions he wanted to. Time to step in Channel Seven because this has gone from an entertaining sideshow to cringe television.

TOP TWEETS

@B1ZK3Z: Like: Robbie Gray for the 20th week in a row! Dislike: Channel 7 goal review

@MattyMullan: like: will langfords game on Saturday night dislike: Joel Selwoods elbow on roughed’s neck could cost him the brownlow

@keith77068771: dislike as a north fan no thank you from tiger fans #reasontigersrin8atm

@BenLass: Like: Tigers completing my 9 leg multi across the weekend paying $10.89 ... with $100 on it!

@BevanAbevan: Like Murph getting clapped off by a hostile crowd & Robbie Gray Dislike channel 7 Friday night commentary team

@mickobrien83: Like.: Rockliff 40 plus 4 out of the last 5 weeks. Dislike Bartel dive ... he’s better than that. certain it’ll be a one off

@brynthomas01: Like: The Morris tackle on @Buddy_Franklin

@LeonTacy: like; pies courage and spencer white dislike; players diving and opposition supporters booing champions (rooey and goods)

@AlanBamffHolden: not policing diving. Thomas and now Bartel are making a mockery of this. Warning needs to go out for next year

@TheOxman3: Sonny Walters. No settling in period required.

@tim_smith_87: Like: 3 weeks, 3 guards of honour for Lenny Hayes. Ever happened before? #champion #ilovelenny

@ghotye: Hodgey and Langford the son of a gun putting a wreath on the Kennett curse ...

@Benny_Boy85: likes — Kayne Turner. Dislikes — anyone who disagrees with my Like.

@magoogly: Malthouse pressers. Seriously Mick. Grow up! Dislike

@brem06: Like Michael Hurley. Dislike Bulldogs banner.

@GeorgiaLove71: Like: North’s win. Many stood up when we needed it — Ziebell’s a gun, Turner impressive & Swallow was fantastic

@Crooksy18: I really like @patrick_ryder he has taken the next step, a modern day Polly Farmer, should be AA

@jcrackford: Dislike Dees looking for easy way out once again with priority pick application.

@kiel_henry: Tabeners 22 possessions, 10 marks in a KF role without PAV. Who says we lack key position players?

@Pedders6: like: Kayne Turner with attack at the man with the ball not seen since Archer

@mainy66: dislike free having a 6 day break compared to the power’s 8 days for the ‘fight for four’ game next Saturday!

@bozza1980: likes Spencer Whites debut a glimmer of hope on horizon as saints rebuild. Dislike Hayes to be farewelled in Adelaide..

@HBNadolny: like: Port, they are back. Suddenly the premiership is a 5 way battle again. Dislike: Bartel’s dive

@leesacatto: Like: Celebrating career of women’s footy legend Shannon McFerran who hung up the boots today after an amazing career. B & F’s, state captaincy, premierships, a brain tumour & twins to boot. she’s done it all. #Legend

‏@spoonzav: like dempseys back heel

@leigheustace: Like: Josh Thomas. Not only 29 touches and 3 goals but 8 tackles with hardly a rest all second half #stoodup

@Heals 1982: L: Richmond placed perfectly for the 9th place perpetual trophy next week. D: Malthouse v Stevo. Kiss and make up boys ...

Originally published as Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson reveals his likes and dislikes from Round 22 AFL action