AFL SuperLadder: Form analysis after Round 11, 2016

WHERE does your team sit after Round 11. JON ANDERSON runs his rule over every AFL club.

WHERE does your team sit after Round 11 of the 2016 season?

Jon Anderson takes a closer look at every club.

NORTH MELBOURNE

Is Daw only a ruckman or can he play as a forward who pinch-hits with Goldstein? If it’s the latter, they have a delicate balancing act up forward. Boomer must teach Nahas how to convert. Injuries: Wright (ankle). SC: All those that kept hold of Wells (138) are rejoicing.

SYDNEY

The Swans keep rolling along on the back of their midfield. With Tippett spending more time on the ball they need extra goalkicking options, hence the importance of Rohan hitting form. Injuries: Hewett (concussion). SC: Mitchell’s run continues. Hewett’s time is up.

GEELONG

Geelong’s key performance indicators were through the roof but it’s still not getting enough from its bottom four or five. Lacks a second contested marking option up forward, which could be Mitch Clark. Injuries: Nil. SC:Selwood was back in a big way. Mots (55) still battling.

WESTERN BULLDOGS

Missed six set shots, and by fair margins, that were very gettable. Why do players take extravagant run-ups? Two or three steps and kick. Should be like a dance routine, the Pride of Erin to be precise. Injuries: McLean (foot). SC: The Bont (147) huge. One of four who had 120-plus.

Jack Gunston celebrates a goal with Luke Breust. Picture: Getty

HAWTHORN

The most satisfying aspect was the fact that Stewart, Howe, Hartung and O’Brien had some impact, because you know Mitchell, Gibson, Gunston, Birchall and Lewis will be in or near the best. Injuries: Gunston (leg). SC: An even share with Puopolo’s 104 the best.

GWS

The scoreboard flattered GWS given the dominance of its opposition in most facets. And its biggest let-down was up forward with one combined goal from Cameron, Lobb and Patton. Injuries: Nil. SC: Stevie J started in a blaze of glory but finished with just 52.

WEST COAST

Kennedy, Darling and Naitanui had massive points to prove in Melbourne after last year’s Grand Final. They still do. But the delivery into the Eagles forward line is chaotic at best and embarrassing at worst. Injuries: Naitanui (nose). SC: Usual guns Nic Nat and Kennedy well down.

ADELAIDE

Jenkins keeps adding dollars to his next contract, it’s just a matter of where that will be. He is seen as a loyal young man, but as Jerry Maguire once demanded, ‘show me the money’. Injuries: Nil. SC: A feast. Eight players hit triple figures. Jenkins (171) the best of the lot.

PORT ADELAIDE

Dixon took just three marks and didn’t kick a goal, but showed how vital a crash and bang forward presence can be. Young would be some chance to be leading their B&F. Don’t reckon they are made of finals stuff. Injuries: Nil. SC: Impey 114 from just 70 per cent game time.

CARLTON

So there is room for the good guys with the reinvention of Armfield. And I reckon Lamb might get even better as the team grows. Weitering plays as if he’s been in the caper longer than Boomer. Injuries: Kreuzer (concussion). SC: Three had 120-plus. Gibbs (42) quiet.

MELBOURNE

High on effort and short on strength and experience when it counted. Tyson and Vince are the result of clever specific recruiting. Watts was impressive on a day that may not have suited him in the past. Injuries: Nil. SC: Tyson, Vince topped 130. Petracca (89) going well.

Magpie Travis Cloke was double-teamed for much of the game. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

COLLINGWOOD

The Pies were shambolic at times down back but just keep copping injuries. The jury on Bucks and his lads can have a long break and reset this time next year, but there is a disturbing sameness to their midfield. Injuries: Nil. SC: Reid and Howe providing good value.

ST KILDA

A couple of steps forward and a large one backwards are part of the learning curve for the Saints. The key is to limit the blowout losses and in fairness injury didn’t help their cause. Injuries: Goddard (Achilles), McCartin (concussion). SC: Eight Saints scored lower than 50.

RICHMOND

Given Dimma’s comments about the list being well placed, there must be a few good ones at VFL level because half of Friday’s team are surely not part of their next flag. Injuries: Griffiths (ankle), Vlastuin (conc.), Morris (knee), Grimes (h’string). SC: Six below 50. Says it all.

GOLD COAST

The Suns aren’t far off causing a boilover as they get numbers back. Tippett got all the kudos but liked the game of Nicholls in the ruck. Miller’s return to form was a real positive. Injuries: Lonergan (knee). SC: Gaz (121) was worth hanging on to. Lynch (37) was a bust.

FREMANTLE

The win doesn’t mean that much but what was important were the games of Collins, Blakely and Tucker as Freo gets time into its next batch of kids. Pav might see the year out yet. Injuries: Mayne (head), Apeness (collarbone). SC: Neale (138) led seven players to top ton.

BRISBANE

Carlton had been up for a month and should have been very gettable so this was ordinary. Rich and Hanley should be good every week, while Martin is a long way from recent seasons. Injuries: Christensen (collarbone). SC: Rockliff (204) extraordinary. Only one other hit ton.

ESSENDON

Merrett has quietly slipped into the A-grade category and he surely heads for A-plus marks. Leuenberger has improved as the year has progressed which points to 2017 happiness. Injuries: Crowley (hamstring). SC: Has had a great year but only 20 from Zaka was a shocker.

Originally published as AFL SuperLadder: Form analysis after Round 11, 2016