Richmond looms as dangerous flag chance and Sam Walsh shows why Carlton took him with pick 1

A couple of premiership fancies stumble, one contender moves closer to redemption and last year’s no.1 draft pick might have silenced a doubter. Jon Anderson assesses every AFL club.

Jason Castagna led the way in attack for Richmond. Pic: AAP

As the race for this year’s finals heats up, so too is the battle for the Rising Star.

Some experts believe Sam Walsh, Connor Rozee and Tiger Sydney Stack will fight it out for the honour.

As Jon Anderson assesses every AFL club after Round 16, he writes one expert might want to revisit his belief the Blues erred by selecting their star midfielder.

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1. GEELONG — 48pts, 140.6%

There will be some tinkering, with Scott Selwood a chance to be reignited in a hard tagging role, the type that plays some time on players such as “The Bont”. Tom Hawkins desperately requires Esava Ratugolea to spread the tall forward load, which by extension helps the crumbers.

2. WEST COAST — 44pts, 114.3%

The three best for the Eagles in this paper were Andrew Gaff, Brad Sheppard and Nic Naitanui, none of whom played in last year’s GG. So take Rd 16 as the weekend when the true premiership favourites emerged, for this crew doesn’t have an obvious weakness now that Nic Nat has returned.

Scott Pendlebury and the Pies have some issues. Pic: AAP

3. COLLINGWOOD — 40pts, 118.3%

Injuries aside, and none is more important than the defensive midfield qualities of Taylor Adams, they aren’t getting value for possessions, and that includes their gun midfielders in Adam Treloar, Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom. They seem uncertain moving forward.

4. BRISBANE LIONS — 40pts, 111.5%

Lincoln McCarthy played to honour his grandfather who died in Bordertown during the week, prompting flights halfway across the country and back (Brisbane-Adelaide-Bordertown-Adelaide-Brisbane-Sydney). He did him proud. As for his team, this is getting serious.

5. GWS — 36pts, 125.4%

Have a peep at the Giants 2016 prelim final side and note how vastly superior it was to Sunday’s outfit. Yet there was still a reference in Fox commentary about how talented this list is. I dispute that, in fact their quality drops off all too quickly.

Derek Eggmolesse-Smith did some nice things in his Tigers debut. Pic: AAP

6. RICHMOND — 36pts, 103%

The best part was they played in a similar style to the last two years, and their previously out-of-form small forwards led the way. With Jack Riewoldt returning they can become as dangerous as any premiership aspirant as their percentage creeps up. You can hear the roar.

7. PORT ADELAIDE — 32pts, 110.3%

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde are mere bagatelles in the area of alternate personalities when compared with this mob. Is there a more exhilarating sight than Port streaming through the guts? And while he wasn’t in their best, Sam Powell-Pepper’s intent was spot on.

8. ADELAIDE — 32pts, 105%

Short of losing cut-throat finals, it surely can’t get any worse than being embarrassed before 50,000 in a “home” game at Adelaide Oval. They would (or should) have a number of players asking how much did they really want it when the heat was turned up by Port?

9. ESSENDON — 32pts, 102.1%

No heart and soul from Dyson Heppell and no ruck impact made it a gutsy win. Dylan Shiel’s defensive game set the standards. Don’t think they make the eight but it won’t be for lack of effort. They are going to have to invent something or someone as a quasi-ruckman.

10. NORTH MELBOURNE — 28pts, 99.8%

There have been many interim coaches over the past two decades, some relatively successful. But none has made the statement that Rhyce Shaw is making. And the supporters are starting to make some noise, just like Sydney with Paul Roos 17 years ago.

11. FREMANTLE — 28pts, 98.4%

A fair summation of where they are at, a team not to be taken lightly but one that falls short at the highest level. Bad kicking aside, they don’t score enough (hardly a revelation). They have some good kids and Jesse Hogan in his second season could make a significant difference.

The Western Bulldogs’ form against the best stacks up. Pic: Mark Stewart

12. WESTERN BULLDOGS — 28pts, 93.96%

Beating Geelong and Port at Port (plus they should have claimed Collingwood) is pretty fair old form. I know two NZ rugby fans who saw their first AFL match on Saturday night. They are now Bulldog fanatics, with their favourite player a very marketable young man named Aaron Naughton.

13. HAWTHORN — 24pts, 97.4%

Said it last week and will say it again, Ollie Hanrahan has something, namely explosive speed over his first five steps, very quick hands and an improved appetite for tackling. James Sicily produced the best defensive intercepting game of the year.

14. SYDNEY — 24pts, 95.6%

Had their chances, but when Tom Papley and Will Hayward missed early set shot sitters it set the tone. They just didn’t get enough cohesion up forward, particularly when the ball hit the deck. A game that went begging, but it is 96 years since they beat the Dons at the ‘G.

The Saints slumped to another heavy defeat. Pic: Getty Images

15. ST KILDA — 24pts, 80.7%

Forget the final margin as the Saints were never in this game. If their board has already made a call on next year’s coach, then losses like these provide justification for change. Just ask Brett Ratten after Carlton’s Rd 22 defeat by the Suns in 2012 (after the Blues had won four of their last five).

16. MELBOURNE — 20pts, 79.9%

The Demons received no favours from the injury Gods and in the end were stoic to hang on. But they remain a long way from where they need to be. Their midfield can be prolific but too often lacks potency. And they make dumb decisions and too many skill errors.

17. CARLTON — 12pts, 81.8%

Wonder if Kane Cornes would like to revisit his claim that the Blues made a blue by taking Sam Walsh with pick 1? On the same day that Jack Silvagni displayed his versatility and all-round kicking ability, Will Setterfield showed what a cheap pick-up he is.

18. GOLD COAST SUNS — 12pts, 67.1%

They have to lure at least two ready made types because the Suns are a fair way off in terms of strength given their current creche. It will come, but not as quickly as next year, so it’s all about how to sell a sunny dream to potential clients. David Swallow can help with that task.

Sam Walsh had 25 touches and seven tackles in the Blues’ close loss to Melbourne. Pic: AAP