AFL Round 21 likes and dislikes: Mark Robinson’s best and worst from the weekend

IT WAS agony for Richmond, GWS and Collingwood but ecstasy for Essendon and Geelong after a pulsating weekend of footy.

Richmond’s Alex Rance collapses after the final siren.

FOOTY can be a cruel game.

Mark Robinson looks at the highlights and lowlights of Round 21 as Essendon, West Coast and Richmond and Geelong highlight the agony and ecstasy of our game.

LIKES

1. NIC NAT. It will be dissected to death by the Giants coaches and like everything in football, it will be a learning experience. It came about because Naitanui too easily pushed Shane Mumford out of the ruck contest and the ball landed on Naitanui’s body and dropped to the left and into space and then Naitanui’s reaction was quicker than any other player. He went past Dylan Shiel, scooped the ball and threw it on the left to claim one of the magical moments of the season. It was a stunning final quarter from Nic Nat. He had two clearances and seven hit outs to advantage against Mumford.

2. GEELONG. Would head the dislikes if not for their thrilling final quarter, which poses two theories. They can be got at as Richmond showed in the first three quarters, but they also have the fortitude to believe they are never out of the game. Kicked 6.9 to 1.0 to arrest a 35-point three-quarter time deficit on the back of increased intensity and a rejigged forward line. It was desperate moves from the coach, swinging Harry Taylor and Lachie Henderson forward, and the defence without them was sturdy. It’s top four for the Cats, so it was significant.

Essendon players celebrate on the final siren on Sunday.

3. HARTLEY, DEA, BROWN. The Essendon backmen took on Peter Wright, Tom Lynch and Sam Day and were pillars in defence. The second win of the season would’ve been celebrated and the games of David Zaharakis, Zach Merrett, James Kelly and Mathew Stokes, were among the headline acts. But this game was won on the back of Essendon’s defensive trio and you have to wonder if any of them will be at the club next year. Brown yes, Hartley yes and Dea probably deserves a new contract as well. Maybe it depends on what Michael Hurley does. The Bombers are expecting an answer from the suspended backmen by the end of the week.

4. SCENES OF JUBILATION. When you’ve won one game in 20, it’s kind of understandable the post-match scenes are reminiscent of a finals win. Let’s not kid anyone, it has been a debacle for Essendon this season, but for the likes of Jake Long, Jayden Laverde, Orasio Fantasia and Conor McKenna, the win would go close to being a career-highlight in a team sense. It makes the Round 23 clash with Carlton at the MCG a fitting finish to two once powerful football clubs.

5. MELBOURNE. Could they? They were 100-1 before the weekend to play finals and that’s probably now single figures. What you like best about the Demons is the depth of contribution — only one player, Jesse Hogan, didn’t reach double-figure possessions against Port — and the ball movement. And big Max Gawn, of course. It’s the first time since 2010 Melbourne has won three games in a row. So what do you say? Go ask every Melbourne supporter you know and ask them: How does it feel to be a finals contender with two rounds to play? This is massive.

Nathan Jones celebrates a goal against Port Adelaide.

6. QUARTERLY LOVE (I). Luke Parker: Was playing largely forward as the Swans put the foot to the throat in the third quarter and it looked like Parker was either the go-to man or he willed himself to be the go-to-man. He had nine disposals, six marks, seven uncontested possessions, 222m gained, five score involvements and two goals. The popular theory is he will be All Australian and despite his recent form, still believe Dan Hannebery and Josh Kennedy are ahead of him. Can we have three Swans midfielders in the one team?

7. QUARTERLY LOVE (II). Lance Franklin. Can’t wait to see if coach John Longmire continues to play Franklin as a roaming mid in the finals or, when the moment arrives, he plonks him back inside 50m. Franklin’s third quarter against the Saints wasn’t so much magical, but powerful — a galloping monster between the arcs who attracts the ball and is so efficient with his field kicking. Had 15 disposals, three marks, five contested possessions, 229m gained, six score involvements and three goals in what was one of the most dynamic quarters of football ever played.

8. ROCKLIFF AND ZORKO. Played like Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood at their best and there’s a couple of Carlton midfielders who would be disappointed with their defensive capabilities. The Brisbane duo combined for 66 disposals, 12 marks, 16 tackles, nine clearances, 17 inside 50s and five goals and gave coach Justin Leppitsch some joy in what looks to be his final weeks in the job. Nice to see Michael Close up forward as well.

James Aish runs away Liam Picken on Friday night.

9. JAMES AISH. Getting better and better with the Magpies which, after a poor start to the season and a stint in the VFL, is testament to the young man’s resilience. Had 28 disposals, 19 uncontested possessions, 559m gained, five clearances and seven score involvements. You’ve got to like his calmness with the ball, which wasn’t his strongest ally before he was axed.

10. OK, MARCUS BONTEMPELLI AGAIN. Waxed lyrical in last week’s column that nothing more could be written about the brilliance of The Bont. Then Sam Landsberger wrote a cracking piece about how he got to the Bulldogs in Friday’s Herald Sun. Then The Bont went crazy in the final 45 minutes of Friday night’s game. In a tough contest, he had 14 disposals at 93 per cent efficiency, five score involvements and two goals. Another three votes in the Brownlow Medal?

DISLIKES

1. BOOMER HARVEY. Just two weeks back, Harvey spoke of standards and role models and values and inner belief and on Saturday at the MCG displayed all the signs of a frustrated old footballer whose retirement must now be a serious consideration for the club and him. One, he looked like he played without a competitive edge and/or urgency and, two, with the game gone against the Hawks, Harvey went after Sam Mitchell with a crude round-arm to the face/neck which should see him suspended. It was deliberate, late and highly irresponsible from a leader of a team struggling to hold on to a finals spot. Coach Brad Scott should be furious.

2. REALLY, NORTH? Big build up, plenty of talk, finals beckoning and it was 8.4 to 1.0 at quarter time. There was improvement after that but what does that matter when the game is still lost by 40 points. If not for Robbie Tarrant at the back, this would’ve been 65 points. None to little impact from Harvey, Nick Dal Santo, Ben Cunnington, Michael Firrito, Daniel Wells and Lindsay Thomas doesn’t help the September crusade.

Brent Harvey wasn’t at his best against Hawthorn. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

3. RICHMOND. Enormous first three quarters and went into conservation mode in the final quarter. Couldn’t get their hands on the ball and when they did, run and space disappeared as the Cats upped their defensive actions. Too easy to say they choked. Ran out of fitness, ran out of leadership and ran out of luck. I suppose that’s a choke when you think about it. The positive is no-one’s calling for Hardwick’s head and Shaun Hampson’s revival as a footballer is worthy of a two-year contract extension.

4. PORT ADELAIDE. Yes, Melbourne is in form, but that was frightful from Ken Hinkley’s men. What a horrible season and it means Hinkley’s position is under threat if next season follows the same path as this season. Seem to play on passion and that gives you the sort of inconsistency we’ve seen because sometimes the players want to crack in and sometimes they don’t. When the skill level also falls away, it is a rabble. Am also tired of this talk about injuries, and that Patrick Ryder and Angus Monfries will be back next season. Plenty of teams miss key players, but plenty of them don’t turn their toes up at home as Port Adelaide did.

5. SWAP SHUEY FOR LINDSAY. There would be howls of criticism if it was Thomas who won two free kicks in the final quarter and not Shuey and it reinforces the belief Thomas is victimised. Shuey was enormous nonetheless and if not for Nic Naitanui, the Eagles midfielder would be in the spotlight with yet another vote-grabber which makes him a legitimate Brownlow Medal contender. This was his best game of the season: 38 disposals, six tackles, 13 clearances, six inside 50s, 596m gained, two goals and 179 ranking points, and his clearances at the death set up Nic Nat’s famous finish.

West Coast players celebrate as Tom Scully looks on.

6. GIANTS AT THE DEATH. In a loss like that, there are a thousand incidents in the last 10 minutes which could’ve been done better. Rory Lobb looked to be the hero with his goal from the 50m line on the boundary line, and then Jeremy Cameron’s spoil on Tom Barrass was huge, and with the Giants three goals ahead, it should’ve been the game. But it all came down to the throw-in. Not enough players around the pill and no-one going third man-up to try to kill the ball long. The lack of organisation could’ve cost the Giants a top-four spot and possibly a premiership. Yes, it was that important

7. WHY THE TISSUES AT FREMANTLE? Headlines screamed that the Dockers were in crisis and that fan favourites Matthew Pavlich, Hayden Ballantyne, Michael Barlow and Anthony Morabito could depart the club. Former captain Peter Bell used the word “horrid’’ but that was in regards to the results and not the environment. But why the tears? Change was always coming after the year from hell, but have to say I’m shocked with Ballantyne who has reportedly asked for a trade. A heart and soul player for the Dockers, it looks like he wants to abandon the sinking ship.

8. ST KILDA. This was more than a reality check. This was poor from St Kilda. Yes, the Swans are a good side, maybe the best in it, but that can’t be an excuse for a 15-goal to four second half at St Kilda’s favourite Saturday night spot — Etihad Stadium. Paddy McCartin, Tim Membrey and Josh Bruce didn’t work, but they weren’t helped by their midfield who couldn’t contain or pressure the Swans mids nearly enough and the Saints defence was under siege throughout. Didn’t see this coming from the Saints and by the look on Alan Richardson’s face, neither did he.

Nick Riewoldt and Blake Acres leave Etihad Stadium after losing to Sydney.

9. HARSH AND UNFAIR UMPIRING. What’s happened to incorrect disposal? Fans bleat every week about throws and players simply dropping the ball. And now creeping into the game is the decision by umpires to penalise players for correctly disposing of the ball. On Sunday, Essendon’s Matt Dea was run down from behind and tackled and Dea got a foot to the ball. The umpire paid incorrect disposal. Forever and a day that was play on. But not now in an era of rewarding the tackler.

10. SLAM TACKLES. Don’t think Simon Turnbridge’s slam on Adam Kennedy warrants action from the MRP. Turnbridge went hard while Kennedy was kicking the ball and the problem was Kennedy could not protect himself from the heavy contact with the ground. Accidents are allowed to happen in football and this was an unfortunate accident in the flow of the game.

BEST TWEETS

@spiderxx: Dislike @CarltonFC insipid first half at the Gabba was like going back to 2015 under Malthouse!!!!!

@chris_1993: Paddy Ambrose! Has done jobs on J.Reiwoldt, Lynch, Cameron et al; all season and still goes largely unnoticed.

@Gavabrahams: Harry Taylor, 200 games, swings forward and kicks the goal to put Cats in front. #clutch #sensesthemoment

@tigerterrific: No-one calling for Hardwick’s head @Robbo_heraldsun ? They should be. Another abject capitulation against a good side @brendongale25.

@ArthurCloke 2h2: dislike NM midfield goal-scoring power - Wells, Dal Santo, Swallow & Cunnington - 12 goals total for season!!!

@sydneysaint: L doing it for Leppa D no 50 against Dangerfield in last seconds. Clearly inside zone

@bjotway: like - buddy in the 3/4. Brilliant. Look out finals. He will poll well Brownlow night. Big influence.

@littlej5: like Hartley’s courage/dislike saints performance in such an important game

@Scottland2007: like @JackRiewoldt08 he was trying till the end. If that mark had of stuck, different story.

@nathanmilne18: any chance Zach merrett can a mention for AA. Numbers across the board are better than the bont!

@BrentonMenzies: like: 5 games 6 points or under... love: The Bont

‏@JenLove01: L: Maxy’s victory lap around Adelaide Oval D: Richmond’s capitulation

@JimmaCastles: likes James Aish, his development away from lions is interesting dislikes grumpy wife due to blues losing to lions

@Kingclivemc: Aliir Aliiir

@hulk_bruce: like.Dayne Zorko beacon in otherwise bleak environment. Dislike Tigers coaches losing unloseable game

‏@AndrewR94994450: Dislikes. Tigers 30 plus points up and bam! Likes. Lovely bottle of Pizzini, Sangiovese easing the frustration

@liamkelly05: LIKE: the dees can still make the finals. DISLIKE: Luke Shuey ducking, not the way the game should be played!

@timw1995: Shuey. 14 disposals and two goals in the last quarter. Huge

@scottbrennan13: Same as most weeks lately North, big game 1st qtr was disgraceful

@RockySaggio: Liam picken job on Steele

@never1983: dislike: ports standard push and shove before the game. Backed up by a 2 goal first half. #portadelaidefooty

@stkildamatt: Like Pride Game, was a great celebration and hopefully StKilda do it every year. Dislike Saints 2nd half

@bridgetkelly123: Like - Darcy Moore breaking through the barriers of inexperience and youth - just not the Etihad ones.

Originally published as AFL Round 21 likes and dislikes: Mark Robinson’s best and worst from the weekend