Early Tackle: Glenn McFarlane names all his likes and dislikes from round 6 so far
There’s plenty of starpower at Carlton, who certainly came to play in their big win over GWS, but the lesser lights at the Blues were just as crucial. Early LIKES and DISLIKES from round 6.
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We’re getting stuck in to round 6 and there’s been some big stories so far. We’ve seen a commanding runaway win from the Dogs, a controversial non-call by the umpires in the final seconds between Adelaide and Essendon and a Magpies comeback that turned into a comfortable victory.
Glenn McFarlane looks at the likes and dislikes from the action so far.
LIKES
LAST CATS STANDING, LIONS OVERWHELMED
Geelong remains the only undefeated AFL side after seven weeks of footy – including Opening Round – as Chris Scott’s side stamped its flag credentials with a gusty on-the-road victory over Brisbane Lions.
In the 400th game at the Gabba, the Cats lost Tom Stewart to an accidental head knock before halftime but their ability to win the contest in wet conditions set them apart from the disappointing Lions.
The Lions kicked the first two goals of the game – by which stage the Cats had touched the ball only a handful of times – but the visitors were better planned and more committed, taking their season tally to 6-0.
It’s high time we started taking the Cats’ premiership aspirations more seriously, given their exciting blend of the old and the new.
Yes, they have a big five weeks ahead, with games against Carlton, Melbourne, Port Adelaide, Gold Coast and GWS Giants, but the intoxicating mix of talent – and the sheer competitive nature of this group – means they are right in the flag hunt.
The flip side is the question mark on the Lions’ own hopes. They are 2-5, and on Saturday night looked a shadow of the side that knocked off Melbourne last week.
Chris Fagan knows they must turn their form around before it is too late, and with crucial matches against the Giants and the Suns in the next two weeks, the clock is ticking.
BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS AND BLUE CHIP STARS
This Carlton outfit is made of sturdy stuff as evidenced by the extraordinary third quarter which set up the gutsy victory over the GWS Giants.
Despite losing another player to injury — Zac Williams to a knock to his Achilles — the Blues turned a 20-point deficit after halftime into a seven-goal third quarter fuelled by five collective goals in half an hour from Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay, set up by the relentless run of midfielders Patrick Cripps and Sam Walsh.
And some unsung heroes headlined by Jordan Boyd, who refused to back down from an arm-wrestle with Toby Greene when taking over from Williams, were inspirational when it mattered.
In the process, Michael Voss’ side ramped up the pressure to an almost off-the-charts 261 pressure rating in the last ten minutes of the third quarter.
Curnow overcame a wasteful start to kick three goals in a quarter while McKay chimed in with two. Cripps and Walsh had 25 disposals between them in the third term, with the latter having eight score involvements of the Blues’ ten for the quarter.
By game’s end, Cripps had 39 touches and Walsh had 35, overpowering one of the game’s best midfields.
This was a tough performance for a side who lost three players to hamstring issues last week – Adam Cerra, Mitch McGovern and Adam Saad – and who made up for last week’s shock loss to Adelaide.
The Blues face a tough next three weeks with clashes against Geelong, Collingwood and Melbourne, but the one thing you can’t doubt is their belief in the system.
They are going to take a power of beating at the business end.
BRING ON ANZAC DAY!
In recent years there has almost been as much attention on the Demons-Tigers Anzac Eve pairing as the traditional Pies-Bombers’ Anzac Day clash.
Not this year!
Essendon’s 4-2 start to the season, fuelled by impressive back to back wins over Western Bulldogs and Adelaide, and Collingwood’s three consecutive wins have breathed new life into one of the most anticipated Anzac Day clashes in recent years.
Brad Scott’s Bombers will like their chances against a rejuvenated Collingwood, who kicked back into gear with clinical efficiency after trailing Port Adelaide by more than five goals towards the end of the opening term on Saturday.
Essendon has only won three Anzac Day games since 2010, with a sellout crowd ready to pack out the MCG next Thursday to see if the Bombers can take their growing signs of maturity a step further against the reigning premiers.
This column last week lauded the efforts of Essendon’s remodelled and refashioned midfield. It was again on show against the Crows with Sam Durham (22 disposals and nine tackles) and Jye Caldwell (26 disposals and 10 tackles) continuing to give effort, edge and a level of excitement that must be making the fans happy.
Incredibly, Zach Merrett – who David King suggests is close to the AFL’s best skipper right now – trusts the new wave so much he was content to play mid-forward for long periods in the second half of this match.
His trust was rewarded.
There will still be some blips on the Essendon radar (they are still a work in progress), but with two games against West Coast and one against North Melbourne in the next two months, a finals berth is on the agenda.
They sprayed the footy in attack (10.18), which left the gate open for Adelaide late, but at least showed some steel to hold onto the game when it mattered.
Bring on Thursday!
WAS THIS EIGHT-GOAL STREAK THAT LIT THE FIRE ON THE PIES’ FLAG DEFENCE?
The doomsayers were lining up the bottles of ‘Berocca’ and some premiership hangover taunts when Collingwood trailed Port Adelaide by 31 points 23 minutes into the first term on Saturday.
But in the space of a quarter and a half, and with eight consecutive goals and a run of 10 from 12 goals stretching across three terms, the critics were silenced – at least for now.
Collingwood made it three consecutive wins and laid down some compelling evidence that its pressure game was back in a big win in brushing aside the Power.
The Magpies hadn’t kicked more than 14 goals so far this season, but reeled off 17.21 (123) to easily account for Port Adelaide’s 12.9 (81).
Crag McRae would have been delighted with his stars, including Nick Daicos who stormed back into form with 30 disposals, 14 score involvements, 15 contested possessions and eight clearances.
But it wasn’t just the stars who did the damage. The middle of the road Magpies also made an impact, with Patrick Lipinski kicking a career-best four goals and Will Hoskin-Elliott doubling his season-total of 11 scoring involvement with 11 against the Power and dragging down a towering mark.
Bobby Hill almost kicked a goal of the year contender only to have it stopped right on the goal-line on a day when the Magpies gave their rivals a reminder that they aren’t done with yet ahead of a big Anzac Day clash.
The final margin was 42 points, and if the Pies had kicked straight, it could have been more.
SING THE SONG, BEN
He might be one of the most highly paid players in the game this season (courtesy of a front-ended deal), but Ben McKay is showing why the Bombers were hell bent on securing the key defender … and why clubs like Hawthorn were so peeved at missing out.
McKay has had a strong start to his first season at his new club, shutting out Taylor Walker in a way he has done to several other power forwards this season.
He’s even getting his singing voice down pat after reaching an odd career milestone in the Bombers’ victory over Adelaide on Friday night.
McKay, 26, has sung the Bombers’ theme song four times already this season – after six rounds – which is the equal most wins he has ever had in a season.
His 71 games with North Melbourne came with a frustrating win-loss record of eight wins, one draw and 62 losses.
He had four wins with the Kangaroos in 2021, but has spent most of his AFL career on the losing side of the ledger, which is why he was beaming from ear to ear when he belted out ‘See The Bombers Fly Up’ again on Friday night.
KEEP NAUTS FORWARD
The Bulldogs media team were in a cheeky mood on Friday night – and for good reason given the way Luke Beveridge’s team responded to the heat against St Kilda.
They tweeted a photo of Aaron Naughton with ‘defender’ added to his profile with the comment “But this is what some of you wanted right??”
It’s hard to know who it was aimed at, but all the external debate about returning Naughton to defence should be over – for good.
Naughton’s imposing six goal performance more than made up for Jamarra Ugle-Hagan’s absence for family reasons. It was the 24-year-old’s best performance of the year and his equal highest return of goals in a game (dating back to 2020).
Judging Naughton solely on goals is only part of the story, though. What he brings to the Bulldogs’ forward line in terms of his aerial work, his crashing of packs and in creating some opportunities for the niftier small forwards should never be underestimated.
He could play in defence if needed, but he is best served in attack, and can form an exceptionally strong key position partnership with Ugle-Hagan and Sam Darcy in the future.
And while we are at it, kudos for Luke Beveridge for changing the mix of the Bulldogs midfield with Tom Liberatore out.
Putting Ed Richards into the middle was an inspired move, as was the change in Adam Treloar’s midfield role this week in Libba’s absence.
Bevo had a good night in the coaches’ box after a tough week.
DISLIKES
OH NO, FREO … YOU WOULDN’T REID ABOUT IT
Harley Reid and West Coast, take a bow.
Last year’s No. 1 draft pick and last year’s wooden spooners embarrassed a flaky Fremantle in a lopsided Western Derby to give the Eagles their first back-to-back wins since 2021 and their first consecutive 100-plus scores in six years.
It was a third straight defeat from the dull Dockers off the back of heartbreaking near-misses against Carlton and Port Adelaide.
But there was nothing unlucky – about this dreadful performance.
They were outplayed in a way that would have infuriated coach Justin Longmuir and their good work in the first three weeks of the season is long gone.
Reid was incredible. If you missed it, go to Kayo and watch the replay, it is worth it.
He had his 19th birthday on Wednesday, but the real present came on Saturday night when he shaped this game with three goals, a few brilliant marks and a swagger you cannot help but admire and respect.
Believe the hype; it is real.
It wasn’t just Reid, the Eagles combined for one of their best team wins in recent seasons, with their improvement and cohesion a huge boost for Adam Simpson’s immediate job security after a few torturous seasons.
This might just be the most important No. 1 draft selection in years.
TOBY IN MRO TROUBLE; GIANTS STRUGGLING TO STEM THE FLOW
Adam Kingsley has some problems to deal with.
The most immediate issue concerns skipper Toby Greene who is staring down the barrel of suspension after crashing into Jordan Boyd during the final quarter of the loss to Carlton.
He was late to the contest and turned his body at the point of impact, which might count against him in the eyes of the MRO.
“He was originally jumping for the ball, Toby, then he changed to protect himself at the end,” Fox Footy’s Jason Dunstall said.
Toby Tax or not, he looks to be in some strife.
And Jesse Hogan could be in trouble for an off-the-ball goal square swipe on Lewis Young.
But the other thing which would be troubling Kingsley is the manner in which the Giants are conceding consecutive goals.
Jesse Hogan was involved in this incident with Lewis Young.#AFLBluesGiantspic.twitter.com/WE8N3c3OiQ
— AFL (@AFL) April 20, 2024
Last week they gave up the last six goals of the game against St Kilda and almost blew the game. They held on … just.
But they couldn’t stop the Carlton floodgates when they opened during the third and fourth terms when the Blues piled on eight goals in succession to steal the game off them.
HINKLEY’S HEADACHES AGAINST THE BEST
Port Adelaide is a good side, but not yet a great side. Until they can claim a truly big scalp, we will always have that little nagging doubt about them.
They looked ready to do that when the Power ambushed the reigning premiers in the first 20 minutes of Saturday’s opening quarter.
Ken Hinkley’s team stormed out to a five-goal lead into time-on and it looked as if they were only a goal or two from taking a stranglehold on the match.
But in leaving the door ever so slightly ajar, the Magpies barged through it like the elite team that they are, and never looked back.
The Power conceded eight goals in a run – elite sides don’t often let that happen – and their early big lead turned into a 73-point turnaround by the end of the game.
They are 4-2 and still in good shape, but the drop off in pressure and intensity after quarter-time was alarming. They were -53 in contested possessions and -23 in inside 50s in the final three terms.
A showdown looms against Adelaide next week before a big challenge against Geelong at GMHBA Stadium.
PENDLES LEFT FOUR TOUCHES SHORT
Where was the sense of theatre, Pies?
Scott Pendlebury was on the verge of becoming the first VFL-AFL player to have 10,000 possessions late in Saturday’s big win over Port Adelaide when the Pies officials lodged the paperwork to sub the veteran out.
As he took his seat in the back stall of the bench, the 36-year-old was stuck on 9996 disposals – not too dissimilar to Don Bradman’s final Test average of 99.94.
Unlike Bradman, Pendles will get the chance to break through the barrier next week, unless of course he is named the sub next week, as he joked after the game.
“I might get there next week,” Pendlebury told Fox Footy. “If I don’t, I’ll probably be the sub.”
Pendlebury’s milestone disposal is likely to come in the opening quarter of the Anzac Day clash on Thursday before a packed MCG crowd.
DUCKS AND ‘DRAPES’
There were two bad errors of judgement at the Adelaide Oval late on Friday night and both concerned Essendon big man Sam Draper.
The first was a ‘howler’ from the umpire who failed to pay a free kick against Draper for his inexplicable ‘duck dive’ on the ball in a pack with Taylor Walker falling on top of him.
In any other part of the ground, it would have been a free kick to Walker, and it might have been the moment where the Crows dragged an unlikely victory from the jaws of defeat.
It would almost have been larceny in a sense as the Bombers were the best team on the night, but the free kick was clearly there.
Draper did nothing to disguise his attempt to kill the ball underneath him in the dying seconds.
The AFL said on Saturday morning that it “technically” should have been a free kick.
The second error of judgement was Draper’s alone when he mimicked the flop for teammates Nick Hind and Jake Stringer in the post-game after the Bombers’ three-point win.
As Bombers’ great Matthew Lloyd said on 3AW’s post-match review, Draper will get a reminder from within the club this week that it wasn’t the right thing to mock what happened. Those things have a way of coming back to bite.
He had just got away with one; he won’t get the same luxury from the umpires the next time he jumps on a footy.
It’s going to be an interesting week at selection for the Bombers too – in a good way.
Peter Wright is set to return for Anzac Day, which could put some of the heat on the Bombers’ two-ruck strategy, as Harrison Jones is going nowhere after making a strong start to the season.
Could Draper be the one to make way for Wright?
CROWS GONE?
A season that promised so much is all but over after six matches as Adelaide stares down the barrel in 2024.
At 1-5, this is virtually at the point of no return for the Crows.
You could almost see it in the soul searching Matthew Nicks was going through in his post-game press conference.
Nicks’ position isn’t under threat. He signed a new deal recently. But the heat will undoubtedly come on the Crows after what has been an unacceptable start to the year.
Their one win this season came on the road against the Blues last week, but the Crows’ normal home ground ascendancy has been smashed this season with three matches at Adelaide Oval for three losses.
Thankfully, Nicks didn’t blame the non-free kick to Walker as the reason for the Crows’ loss.
It should have been a free kick, but a quick look at the stats sheet would have shown there were some glaring issues that must be fixed ahead of a clash with North Melbourne in Tassie next week before ‘must win’ games against Port Adelaide and Brisbane Lions.
They were -19 for inside 50s and -16 for tackles, and while the Crows were pressing hard for the last 10 minutes of this match, it was – as Nicks said – too little too late.
The Crows are ranked last for scoring in time-on periods and as much of the footy as they had late, they just couldn’t get over the line.
It’s arguably too late already, but the Crows will be hoping to turn it around, as will the talented Josh Rachele who had a few late moments that he would like to back.
ONE-PACED MIDFIELDS JUST DON’T WORK IN 2024
One-paced midfields are footy’s modern equivalent of allowing yourself to sink into quicksand without a release strategy.
Adelaide found that out at their own peril in the early part of the season, and St Kilda is finding it out right now.
There was very much a sameness about the Saints’ mids on Friday night, similar type players who appeared to lack spark and pace, against a revamped Bulldogs engine room that had a better balance to it.
The Saints were – 7 in centre clearances (their second worst return across the past two seasons), 18 points from centre clearances (third worst ranking since 2023) and 45 points from clearances (second worst since 2023).
St Kilda’s centre bounce attendances on Friday nights were Jack Steele (25), Marcus Windhager (24), Hugo Garcia (13), Seb Ross (10), Jack Sinclair (seven), Liam Stocker (four), Zak Jones (three) and Mitch Owens (one).
Is it worth throwing the dynamic Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera in there on occasions? They need to inject some speed in there somehow.
GET RID OF THE 6X6X6 WARNING … AND A FEW OTHER BUGBEARS
It’s ridiculous that we still have a 6x6x6 warning for clubs five years on from the AFL bringing in the rule change.
It’s time to make any breach an automatic free kick.
Clubs and players have had long enough to adjust, so it seems ludicrous that the rule hasn’t been tightened up.
We saw the warning again on Friday night … If we drew a line in the sand and sent an immediate memo to the clubs this week that a free kick will be paid from next week onwards, I’m pretty sure you won’t see it again.
It’s time to make the call now.
And while we’re at it, here are a few other things that we would like to see change now or into the future for the sake of the game – stop the overlapping games (let’s make sure we do this wherever possible in next year’s fixture); let’s ditch the ‘Good Bloke’ tax at the tribunal; and let’s not have Tuesday night tribunals for the previous Thursday games.
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