ICYMI: All the key intel and takeaways from AFL pre-season clashes
Missed the practice games? We’ve got you covered. Catch up on the AAMI Series stat leaders, key intel and takeaways from the pre-season ahead of Opening Round.
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Missed some of the AFL’s pre-season matches?
We’ve got you covered.
Here are some of the key takeaways as the countdown to Opening Round ticks down.
THE IN-FORM STARS
– Collingwood’s Nick Daicos logged a massive 153 SuperCoach ranking points before being taken out of the game in the third quarter against Richmond, doing as he pleased through the midfield. He had 11 score involvements and four goal assists from his 32 touches.
– Adelaide captain Jordan Dawson was back to his best after an inconsistent 2024. The Crows skipper was back on the ball for most of the game but was able to go forward and kick two goals, the second of which was the game winner, against Brisbane. He finished with 24 disposals, nine tackles and seven marks, with his kicking sublime.
– Carlton’s Sam De Koning showed why there is so much hype around him as he dominated as the sole ruck for the Blues against GWS. He was everywhere in Canberra as he finished with 138 SuperCoach ranking points, helped by 17 disposals.
– Newly appointed Gold Coast captain Noah Anderson was dominant for the Suns despite them going down to Sydney. Anderson finished with 35 disposals and a goal in his first hit-out as skipper.
– Port Adelaide will start the season without one of its stars in Zak Butters, but captain Connor Rozee indicated that is set to step up and shoulder the load. The Power skipper had 39 disposals and a goal in a sensational performance against St Kilda that yielded a whopping 161 SuperCoach ranking points. Young star Jason Horne-Francis wasn’t too bad himself with 31 disposals and a goal.
– North Melbourne star Harry Sheezel was electric despite the Kangaroos going down to West Coast. Playing mostly in midfield he finished with 36 disposals, nine score involvements and a goal with his disposal efficiency at 89 per cent for the casual 170 SuperCoach ranking points.
THE RECRUITS
– Hawthorn looked more assured in defence, with key recruits Tom Barrass and Josh Battle slotting in seamlessly. Battle had 27 disposals and six marks, while Barrass had six intercepts among his 11 disposals.
– Jack Macrae did what he does best for St Kilda as an in-and-under onballer. The former Bulldog gathered 32 disposals and seven clearances. Traded for pick 45 in last year’s draft, he looks set to play a significant role this season.
– Harry Perryman and Dan Houston showed what they will bring to Collingwood this year. Unable to really get a look in when it came to GWS’ stacked midfield, Perryman had 20 disposals, 10 tackles and a goal playing on the ball against the Tigers. While Houston set up plenty off halfback. Former Saint Tim Membrey finished with four goals to show what he can bring to the Pies forward line.
– Daniel Rioli looks set to bring some classy ball movement to Gold Coast’s backline. The former Tiger had 24 disposals at just under 80 per cent efficiency. Suns coach Damien Hardwick will be wanting that to increase when their season starts this week.
– Liam Baker made the best first impression that he could have for new club West Coast with his 55m bomb getting the Eagles the win over North Melbourne. The former Tiger had 18 disposals as well as that goal. Fellow former Richmond teammate Jack Graham brought physicality to the Eagles midfield.
THE BOLTERS
– Essendon fans already have a new cult hero. We knew Isaac Kako had a bag of tricks but he stole the show against Geelong with four goals. The small forward is now going to be essential viewing.
– We love a mature-ager just coming in and shining straight away and Sam Davidson did exactly that for the Western Bulldogs as he all but locked in a Round 1 spot. The former Richmond VFL player had 29 disposals, eight inside 50s, six score involvements and a goal in Launceston against the Hawks to announce himself in style.
– Son-of-a-gun Lucas Camporeale might have played his way into a Round 1 spot for Carlton after his showing on a wing for the Blues. The son of Scott, Camporeale had 20 disposals and eight marks to give Michael Voss something to really think about.
– After impressing in match simulation against Carlton, St Kilda’s Hugh Boxshall backed it up against Port Adelaide to push his case for a round 1 debut. The No. 45 draft pick from last year caught the eye with his running power and strength, gathering 15 disposals and kicking two goals to finish as one of his side’s better players.
THE NEW ROLES
– Port Adelaide’s Jeremy Finlayson looked a natural filling a role down back in the absence of Brandon Zerk-Thatcher. An inconsistent forward last year, he finished with 29 disposals and 13 marks in defence, repelling almost everything that came his way against St Kilda.
– Essendon veteran Dylan Shiel has embraced his new role at halfback with both hands. Playing with poise and composure down back, the 32-year-old had 26 disposals and seven marks against Geelong.
– Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield looks set to play out of the goalsquare a lot more in 2025. With the Cats now without Tom Hawkins, could the powerful Dangerfield be the man to replace his presence in the Geelong forward line?
– Carlton’s Ollie Hollands again played at halfback and presented as a target at every opportunity. That move from the wing definitely looks to be on.
THE KEY INJURIES
– Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli reassured us he was fine after he was taken out of the game against Hawthorn early with a calf issue. But when it was scanned it emerged that he had suffered a complex injury that will rule him out for at least six weeks.
– Sydney star Errol Gulden has undergone surgery on his fractured ankle after it got caught under him in a tackle from Will Graham, leaving the Swan in agony. A return date is yet to be determined.
– Brisbane will be without important defender Brandon Starcevich for its season opener against Geelong after he entered the AFL’s concussion protocols following being pushed into Luke Pedlar by Dan Curtin during a marking contest against the Crows.
– St Kilda’s Mitch Owens was another player to suffer an injury from an opponent pushing into him in a marking contest, with the Saint set to see specialists this week.
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