Early Tackle: Josh Barnes names his likes and dislikes from round 11 so far

Footy fans would have been reaching for the remote during another lacklustre Essendon prime-time match. The bad news is, there’s more to come. See round 11’s early likes and dislikes.

There’s only been two games so far in round 11, but there has been no shortage of talking points.

What does Josh Barnes think of what has transpired?

He names his likes and dislikes here.

DISLIKES

BORING BOMBERS

The first Friday night Dreamtime at the ‘G was not a game befitting the occasion.

As the Bombers and Tigers eeked out a lacklustre first half, footy fans were scanning the channels wondering if there was a dull detective drama elsewhere more worth their time.

Essendon’s kicking style has not been conducive to entertaining footy and even their close finishes have often been slogs, like the round 8 win over North Melbourne, which was a snooze fest to half-time.

We will see plenty more of Essendon in prime-time slots. Picture: Getty Images

Dons fans do deserve a shoutout for showing up, the crowd of 76,051 was the third Essendon game above 75,000 this year.

The bad news for footy broadcasters – and good news for those who broadcast dull detective shows – is Essendon remains a prime time regular.

The Dons play Thursday next week against Brisbane, then have two more Thursday and three more Friday night games.

And eight of Essendon’s 11 fixtured games to come are in prime time.

That not only leaves Brad Scott’s developing side with nowhere to hide, it also means the footy fans have to reach for the remote or start planning some date nights.

Cats fans didn’t show up in massive numbers for Bailey Smith’s clash with his former side. Picture: Getty Images

CROWD QUESTION

There are some excuses.

Getting to Geelong – and back – after work on Thursday can be tricky, and the timeslot is really better for TV than for fans going to the game.

But the Cats should be disappointed about landing only 32,641 fans for what was the best built-up game of the year.

Clearly there was some concern for ticket sales when the club sent out messages to come seat holders on Wednesday offering them a free seat.

Ticket sales at GMHBA Stadium are complex.

A large swathe of seats are held year-round and many don’t take up the seat return system – in which you get a discount on next year’s membership for returning your seat and it selling when you can’t come.

But there needs to be a better way of filling out the stadium.

Only twice have more than 33,000 gone to a Cats game since the Selwood Stand has been open, so work needs to be done.

Nic Martin is presented with the Yiooken Trophy by Aunty Pam Pedersen (left) and Michael Long (right). Picture: Getty Images

LIKES

NIC’S KNACK FOR IT

He may not always deliver the ball as crisply as you expect, but things generally flow a lot better for Essendon when Nic Martin is involved.

The running machine at least points Essendon forward when he win the footy and his 35 disposals and 660 metres gained added some verve to the Bombers attacking play on Friday.

With Archie Roberts (34 disposals) and Andrew McGrath (31) adding some bounce off half-back.

It’s always a relief for Zach Merrett to have some support and Essendon is a tough team to beat if someone is running shotgun to the captain.

The story is often told of how Martin was let slip out of West Coast’s grasp, but he must be thankful as well that he wasn’t forced to find his way with the battling Eagles and has at least played on a competitive team to start his career.

So, Nic Martin just did this 😮#AFLTigersDons | #AFLDeadlypic.twitter.com/e7OGMRbM6g

— AFL (@AFL) May 23, 2025

The Dons can get caught in their own malaise at times but Martin is always looking to attack and was a deserving winner of the Yiooken Award.

Essendon has not been a good side this year but they were in the top eight on Friday night and continue to force-feed games to kids like Angus Clarke, who showed something with a few goals.

That’s a win for a club that actively got younger last off-season.

As Nate Caddy noted post-match, the Bombers need to go big in the mid-season draft just to get enough bodies around the club to field a team, but they have put in each week, even if the polish isn’t always there.

Jeremy Cameron enjoys one of his six goals against the Dogs. Picture: Michael Klein

CAMERON’S COLEMAN CASE

Geelong stationed Jeremy Cameron close to goal in the final term of a loss to Sydney in round 13 last year and liked what it saw.

From then on, ‘Roaming Jerry’ was contained deep and in the final 12 games of 2024 he averaged 3.3 goals and 5.5 scoring shots per game – both would have led the league last year.

Cameron played a heap of wing time against GWS in round 9 but when Patrick Dangerfield felt that familiar hamstring twang early in last week’s win over Port Adelaide, Chris Scott and forwards coach James Rahilly sent him deep and he has bagged 13 goals in eight quarters since.

‘Jezza’ was irrepressible against the Western Bulldogs on Thursday, and Rory Lobb will be having nightmares about him running back into an open forward line for weeks – wearing the same blue and white colours as the great thoroughbred, defenders chase forlornly like they are trying to mow down Winx as Cameron picks up steam.

Jeremy Cameron kicks a goal

Cameron was at his best in his Giants days when he could sprint towards goal into space and the Cats set the field up beautifully for him that way.

He can win the Coleman Medal if played in this role.

Instead of Pagan’s Paddock, defenders will get lost in Scott’s Sinkhole if that kind of space is left for Cameron in coming weeks.

Only Lance Franklin could rival Cameron in terms of genuine tall forwards in space in modern times, and the elder Cats fans rugged up at GMHBA Stadium would have been having flashbacks to another jaw-dropping forward who wore No.5 at times on Thursday.

The Dogs small forwards were just as dangerous during the brilliant ‘Baz Battle’ and Luke Beveridge would not have been too concerned about how his team is travelling come Friday morning, especially when he remembers those five posters.

We have all lauded Dangerfield’s dominance up forward this year, and now Cameron is rounding into form, with Shannon Neale starting to get a handle on senior footy.

Look out.

Originally published as Early Tackle: Josh Barnes names his likes and dislikes from round 11 so far