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.
AFL
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
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.
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.
STARS FADED
So often the complaint about Carlton targets the lesser players.
The Blues are top heavy and their depth is always a. Concern but on Saturday, the stars didn’t stand up when needed either.
Usually so rock solid, Jacob Weitering made two critical errors when the game was on the line midway through the final term.
Weitering could have taken through a rushed behind but instead dropped the ball in a tackle, allowing Aaron Cadman to cleverly soccer one through.
And not long later, the star defender left way too much air on a kick to Matt Carroll in the corridor that led to a Jesse Hogan goal.
Weitering’s fellow vice-captain, Charlie Curnow, also fell away when he was needed.
Curnow kicked two first quarter goals but faded faster than the Liberals in opinion polls leading into the election.
He kicked a goal with his only disposal in the third term and then didn’t have one possession in the last.
A one-kick half just doesn’t get it done and at times it just didn’t look like the superstar was working to get to enough contests.
When he did find the ball in the first half, Curnow showed little interest in passing it off and fired a few pot shots at goal.
Harry McKay went goalless.
So good for much of this year, George Hewett had just two handballs in the last, and Tom De Koning didn’t have his usual impact on return from injury.
Those depth players weren’t the problem against the Giants.
Cooper Lord has emerged as a genuine find, Ollie Hollands was good in a new role at half-forward and Will White has shown something.
The Blues are now two games back from the top eight and wont bridge that gap if their stars don’t lift.
Carlton simply had to beat GWS and didn’t.
Another wasted season is looming.
THROW IT AWAY
The umpires have copped plenty lately and this is just another minor gripe.
Far too often players are shovelling the ball out of a tackle, throwing it to teammates, and being allowed to play on.
The interpretation that an effort is enough even if the ball is moved on illegally just isn’t right if a team gains advantage from a throw.
Umpires are hesitant to ping a throw in case there was a fist on the handball but not throwing the ball is a core tenant of our game.
Unfortunately, it’s a gripe that would land a long way down the list of issues for AFL HQ right now.
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.
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.
GREENE LIGHT
Toby Greene dialled it up with an outstanding first term – 12 disposals, two goals and 307 metres gained – and carried that form on to a memorable win in his 250th game.
Greene has had an indifferent 18 months by his high standards and showed some of his best to squash Carlton.
If he really gets rolling the Giants can be serious contenders because their depth behind the A-graders is so good.
Leek Aleer is being hunted by Victorian clubs and would play every week in 17 other defences, and he was strong in his first game of the season.
Calum Brown comes and goes from matches but he bagged three goals at important times after being thrown around between the seniors and reserves this year and has serious talent.
Aaron Cadman kicked two late goals when it mattered, Harvey Thomas is a player and Joe Fonti showed good composure when it counted in the last term.
The Giants will still feel they gave it away last year when they could have won the flag and have some injury worries.
They need to bank wins against Richmond and Port Adelaide in the next fortnight before back-to-back meetings with the Queensland clubs that could decide if they make the top four.
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.
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.
Scott defends Smith after ‘nose beers’ post
Bailey Smith took to social media after Geelong’s win over the Bulldogs, referencing illicit drug use. But Chris Scott has stood behind his star man.
Forgotten stars excite in return as draft hopefuls make final audition
Geelong could be bolstered in the coming weeks after two ageing stars made encouraging returns in the VFL. Plus, several mid-season draft prospects had their last chance to press their claims.