The Tackle: Jay Clark names his likes, dislikes from round 18
One of the Pies’ biggest weapons this season has continued to fy under the radar. But no more, with his breakout year primed to make him an All-Australian. Check out the round 18 tackle.
AFL
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The Blues are back in town and the fight for the finals is wide open with six rounds to play.
Richmond’s win was far less spectacular than Carlton’s showstopper against Port Adelaide, but the Tigers have joined the Blues just half a game out of the eight. And the Giants keep winning, making St Kilda, Essendon and Western Bulldogs fans very nervous.
Meanwhile, could a superstar Melbourne recruit be traded to a third club and will anyone put some attention into Nick Daicos?
AFL reporter Jay Clark names his likes and dislikes from round 18.
LIKES
1. Blues finals hopes a big watch
It was the fireside chat at Ed Curnow’s place behind Bells Beach which helped spark the Carlton turnaround. Just when the pressure on Carlton reached fever pitch about a month ago, the Blues packed their swags for a good old-fashioned camp-out down the coast. That is when they stripped it back to basics, Charlie Curnow said of the mid-season bonding session. There was no finger-pointing; but rather some soul-searching around the flames under a moonlit sky.
“We spoke about what we wanted to get out of the season and obviously being a big club it can feel like a lot is going wrong at times with the media and everything,” he said. “We just highlighted a few things we were doing well and a few things we needed to get better at.
“Pretty much what came from that was our contest and pressure. Apart from that we just had a good chat around the fire, and just a bit of bonding time just to relax. At that point in the season everything seemed pretty tight, so it was a good time to spend with the boys, and obviously it has helped us go on a bit of a roll we’ve been on now.”
How far can Carlton go? Only two points outside the eight, the Blues will surely hammer West Coast this week and then take on Collingwood in a blockbuster the week after. But Harry McKay will be missing with a knee injury. Perfect opportunity for Jack Silvagni to continue to show his contract worth as the Blues try to pull off a remarkable finals berth.
“Five or six weeks ago, there was a lot to learn out of that,” Curnow said. “There were a lot of emotions, a lot of feelings. It was a big learning curve for us as a football club. Especially the young boys experiencing the highs and lows. It will keep us in good stead for the rest of the year and hopefully (making finals) that’s the plan.”
2. And they’ve finally been released from the shackles
Carlton’s fans were desperate for the Blues to drop the hammer after their poor start to the season and that is exactly what has happened. The Blues are being more aggressive in their ball movement, taking more risks going inside 50m, and providing more golden opportunities for their big gun forwards. And their engine room is at the heart of the revival, fuelling flash backs back to their best form last season.
Over the past month, Michael Voss’s men are ranked No.1 for points scored, scores per inside 50m and scores from clearances. They are second for contested possessions, according to Champion Data. Sam Walsh has averaged 10 contested possessions a game since his comeback, Sam Docherty spent 80 per cent of his game in the defensive half, Patrick Cripps provided the clearance muscle and Jesse Motlop played the best game of his career after the late call-up against a depleted Port Adelaide. Jacob Weitering looks like an All-Australian caliber key defender again. It might have taken too long, but Carlton is playing like the footy that was expected of it to begin the season.
3. Daniel Rioli
He has gone from talented goalkicker to elite half-back distributor. Richmond’s running man had one of his best games of the season racking up an equal career-high 31 disposals in the win over West Coast. Remarkably, the 26-year-old, who has been one of the club’s best players alongside Tim Taranto and Liam Baker this season, went at 97 per cent efficiency with only two turnovers. He powered the victory from half-back and is playing with a flair and a freedom which could put him into All-Australian squad calculations.
West Coast wasn’t disgraced either in this one and showed spirit challenging the Tigers in the third term. And there were signs of life from out-of-form veteran Andrew Gaff, who had 24 touches after coming on early as the sub. Victorian rivals are considering making a play for the Oakleigh product but interest is minimal at this point. He’d consider a move if an offer worked for him and both clubs. And for Gaff this was also one of his best efforts of the year on the wing.
4. Do Cats need Esava?
Essendon is Geelong’s bunny. Tom Hawkins kicked a career-high eight goals in their round 7 win, and Geelong tore apart the Bombers again on Saturday night to post another commanding 77-point win. The Cats have an average winning margin of 52 points in their last six wins over the red and black, and Chris Scott is grinning again. The Cats’ season has come alive over the past fortnight, pumping the Kangaroos and Bombers at home. And ahead of the clash against Brisbane this weekend, the Cats will ask the question is its defence better without Esava Ratugolea?
It certainly looked like it on Saturday night as Jack Henry, Tom Stewart and Sam De Koning put the clamps on the Bombers in Ratugolea’s absence. The out-of-contract backman was left out of the team at the weekend, and his name will feature heavily in discussions this week ahead of the battle against an in-form Joe Daniher. Port Adelaide remains keen on Ratugolea and there is doubt over whether Ratugolea is in Geelong’s best team.
Over the last four matches the Cats are firing again, and could loom as the team best-placed to topple flag favourite Collingwood this September. Over the past four matches, the Cats are No.1 for points from turnover, second for inside-50 differential and third for contested possession. In a nutshell, their turnover game is humming again, the pressure was relentless on Saturday night, the midfield is so much more damaging with Patrick Dangerfield leading the fray and Jeremy Cameron remains a top dog in the league. They were written off again, the Cats, after they were upset by GWS in round 11. But the Giants’ form has stacked up since, and Scott never gave up faith that Geelong can pull off back-to-back premierships.
5. Let’s talk about IQ
It is time to start the conversation about Isaac Quaynor’s All-Australian claims. The powerful half-back has flown under the radar this season but has clearly become one of the best rebounding defenders in the game. And he is crucial to Collingwood’s finals plans, helping shut down dangerous small forwards and then power the Pies on the rebound. He is so strong under the high ball, courageously intercepting alongside Darcy Moore in the rollicking win over Fremantle at the MCG on Saturday.
Between rounds 11-17, Quaynor was ranked fifth for intercept marks in the league, behind North’s Ben McKay, Brisbane’s Harris Andrews, Blue Jacob Weitering and Tiger Noah Balta. Handy company. Quaynor had the best game of his career against Western Bulldogs a week ago and looks like being a 200-game star. Collingwood got a steal from its next generation academy at a considerable discount.
Further, Gold Coast discard Oleg Markov has been an excellent addition, and looms as one of the stories of the season if he can cement a position in the best side in the competition. It was more astute recruiting from the Magpies, who knew Markov’s speed is exactly the kind of bounce out of the back half which would complement Craig McRae’s game plan. And Markov is on a minimum chips contract, making him one of the best value pickups in the game this season. They love him in the locker room, adding to the Culture Club at Olympic Park.
6. Playing for the team
Collingwood’s Brayden Maynard was probably already the toughest hombre in the game. But the pain he must be going through to be part of Collingwood’s run home to the finals might be something else. The star defender’s face was anguished at times as his right arm hung low down by his side after hurting it again early on Saturday. He is carrying a shoulder injury, and looks set for a procedure on it at some point. But the gusty backman is trying to grit his teeth over the next two months to help lead to the Pies to a premiership.
On Saturday he looked like he was playing with one arm, tackling and high-fiving teammates with his left arm only. Any player who tries to target it will clearly be taking a risk, as Maynard will likely not like it much. But how much can he take? He is a crucial player in Collingwood’s backline and will be avoiding any contact at training. Getting away with that approach in games is a more difficult proposition.
DISLIKES
1. Roos’ worrying rebuild
North Melbourne’s seemingly never-ending rebuild can be traced back to 2017. After a six-win season under Brad Scott that year, the Kangaroos drafted Luke Davies-Uniacke (pick 4), Will Walker (23), Kyron Hayden (62), Tristan Xerri (72) and Billy Hartung (77). Six years on, the club remains stuck at the bottom and would have to start as outsiders against last-placed West Coast in Perth in a fortnight. The Eagles’ percentage is much worse, meaning a victory for West Coast won’t cost them the No.1 pick and their shot at either welcoming or trading Harley Reid. But what is clear is that Hawthorn, a club which began its rebuild three years later, has leapfrogged the Kangaroos in a hurry.
The Hawks did it easy against the Roos on Sunday and could have really piled on the pain had they kicked accurately. Twenty-eight scoring shots to 10 is a hiding, really. And for all the hype about Harry Sheezel and George Wardlaw, who are stars, progress has been slow over the journey for the Roos.
On the flip side, Hawthorn started the season fending off tanking claims but looked miles ahead of the Kangaroos on Sunday to notch their fifth win of the year. Again it was clear the Hawks can score, and they had seven of the top nine possession-getters at Marvel Stadium. Expect the brown and gold to boost the goalscoring options in their forward half at season’s end after investing heavily in the midfield and defence in recent years.
2. Lack of polish
The Saints’ lack of class is costing them. Against a club loaded with top draft picks, St Kilda coughed the ball up in the loss to Gold Coast and got pounded in the clearances 41-26. The Saints have batted above their average for the bulk of the season and could have pipped Melbourne last week if they had converted their opportunities. But this team’s best player this season is Jack Sinclair. He is a beauty, and made the most of his move into the midfield. But they desperately need more polish and top-end talent to bolster a side which has tried hard this season.
The offensive side of the game and in particular their efficiency in the front half has gone backwards at a rate of knots lately. In the first six weeks of the season, the Saints were ranked No.5 for points from turnover, but over the last six weeks they are 14th. Ross Lyon said the team “slaughtered it” on occasions on Saturday night and looked “lost and confused” in the forward half. In their defence, they were super young in attack. But if he is that open in the press conference, you know Lyon won’t be beating around the bush behind the scenes.
The uncomfortable truth is exactly what the club needs considering it has won nothing in a long time and was going nowhere in particular before Lyon jumped on board. The Saints knew at the start of the season they had to recalibrate the list and the past month has put a spotlight on their weaknesses in the midfield and front half. Lyon and new list boss Stephen Silvagni won’t shy away from the hard calls that are necessary.
3. Grundy woes
For the second time in two years, Port Adelaide has to plug a call into Brodie Grundy. In a development many saw coming when the big trade went through last year, Melbourne dropped Grundy to the VFL to develop his game as a forward. It would have been tough on the ego for Grundy, who got the boot from Collingwood against his will last year. It might be the craziest trade idea to be floated this year, but does Grundy find a third club? Port Adelaide is the obvious one.
The Power were keen on Grundy, who is from South Australia, last year but Grundy chose the Demons. But they already have one of the best ruckmen in the game and Max Gawn played one of the most impactful games of his career to lead the incredible comeback win against Brisbane on Friday night. Port, meanwhile, is looking for its next ruckman to take over from Scott Lycett and likes Grundy. Melbourne would love another genuine key forward swap.
What about Grundy for Mitch Georgiades? Stranger things have happened and there would be no shame whatsoever to admit something hasn’t worked for all of the best intentions.
4. Overreactions
Maurice Rioli Jr was mightily stiff when the camera caught him looking unimpressed being subbed out of the game on Sunday night. His Tigers were up by 26 points when he was called off the ground after unselfishly giving off a goal to Marlion Pickett only minutes earlier. But as we saw, he was so flat about being taken out of the game, Rioli didn’t want to speak to the coaches up in the box. Ivan Maric tried to hand him the phone on the interchange bench, but the broadcast showed him wave the phone off. Clearly, Rioli didn’t want to have a bar of the conversation about why he’d been taken off.
But let’s not overreact like the blow-up over Clayton Oliver’s disappointment with the Melbourne fitness staffer about his hamstring injury. There is a strong current of emotion in the game, and Rioli would rather be out there helping lead the Tigers to victory in the fourth term. His frustration is understandable and shouldn’t be overblown. Clearly, the coaches would have caught up with him post game once he had cooled down to give any necessary feedback.
They’d be largely happy anyway, as the Tigers fended off a third-quarter charge from West Coast to keep their finals hopes alive in the west. Ivan Soldo held his own in the ruck in place of Toby Nankervis, Noah Balta played a brilliant game down back and Shai Bolton took another contender for mark of the year with a late speccie. If they can keep the ball rolling against Hawthorn, they’ll setup a fascinating game against Melbourne the following week where the Tigers’ finals credentials will go on the line. Win that and Andrew McQualter could take a big step torwards landing the coaching gig on a permanent basis.
5. Not tagging
It must have been infuriating for the Fremantle fans watching Nick Daicos cut the Dockers apart on Saturday. Justin Longmuir’s men were always up against it without Caleb Serong in what was a clear mismatch in the midfield. But in the opening few minutes of the first quarter, the tone was set when Daicos was allowed to do whatever he pleased on the MCG without a Fremantle player paying him any regard or attention whatsoever.
Daicos is the best and most damaging player in the competition, and it remains somewhat extraordinary that teams like Fremantle let him do what he wants. Can he be stopped with a tagger? Surely it’s a concept worth exploring for rival teams.
Collingwood thumped Port Adelaide in their meeting at the MCG early this season and now it will be the Power’s attempt to turn up the heat on their home deck, and it will start with Collingwood’s magnificent No.35. We take our hat off to the second-year sensation, whose fourth-quarter snap over the shoulder goal was simply sublime.
The best player of the next decade has emerged by the looks of things. And stopping Daicos will be the big story this September. So far it has been mission impossible, but all eyes will be on Ken Hinkley’s tactics on Saturday night. But considering these two teams seem somewhat destined to meet each other again sometime in finals, will Port show its cards in this one?
AFL Finals: Swans put Power to the sword as tensions rise
The Swans have a commanding lead in this crunch preliminary final, what can the Power do to get back in the game, before it’s too late? Follow live.
Bruce! Footy fans all say the same thing
There was a beloved footy figure back on TV screens on Friday night and it left fans all making the same comments.