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AFL live: Latest SuperCoach scores, talking points from Saturday’s round 15 matches

Taggers are back — and causing havoc in SuperCoach. Can the Kangaroos continue on their hot form and claim a big scalp on Saturday night at the G’? FOLLOW LIVE

Jake Garland
12 min read
June 23, 2024 - 6:12AM
News Sport Network
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 22: Max Gawn of the Demons leads his team out onto the field during the round 15 AFL match between Melbourne Demons and North Melbourne Kangaroos at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on June 22, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 22: Max Gawn of the Demons leads his team out onto the field during the round 15 AFL match between Melbourne Demons and North Melbourne Kangaroos at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on June 22, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Melbourne have hung on by the skin of their teeth to slide back into the top eight after an almighty scare by North Melbourne on Saturday night.

It was a midfielders day on the super Saturday with Sydney’s James Rowbottom finishing on top of the day with 163 points, closely followed by Giants’ Tom Green on 153, with fellow Swan Errol Gulden on 151 in a high scoring SuperCoach day for the six clubs.

Rowbottom finished with 31 disposals, a career high for him, while Gulden finished just one disposal behind his all time best.

Scroll down for a full recap of the day’s talking points.

Swans mids rampage.

The Giants went into Derby 28 ready to tag Errol Gulden and Issac Heeney but the powerful mids were just too strong and shook off any likelihood of the tag slowing them down.

Gulden had a season high 41 disposals, with Heeney 23 but it was James Rowbottom who popped up and showed his class, adding another dominant powerhouse inside the Swans midfield.

Lions massive bite.

The Lions are back with a vengeance after a slow start to the season and it was on full display for the 2023 grand finalists as they manhandled Port Adelaide who were celebrating the 20 year anniversary of their only premiership. Neale (148), Dunkley (142) and Oscar McInerney (126) were the top three SuperCoach players, with the Lions having seven of the top 10 players.

Demons far off best.

Melbourne’s captain Max Gawn said he believed his club wasn’t far off their best but supporters and AFL fans struggle to believe it when they were pushed to the final siren against the one-win North Melbourne. The Demons slide into the eight (equal fifth) and will head to Brisbane next week with another must win game for both sides as the Lions sit half a game outside of the eight.

Follow all of Saturday’s major footy and SuperCoach talking points below.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 22: Bayley Fritsch of the Demons runs out onto the field during the round 15 AFL match between Melbourne Demons and North Melbourne Kangaroos at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on June 22, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 22: Bayley Fritsch of the Demons runs out onto the field during the round 15 AFL match between Melbourne Demons and North Melbourne Kangaroos at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on June 22, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

FT SuperCoach Analysis:

It might have been Sydney’s James Rowbottom day with 163 SuperCoach points and the 1.3 per cent of coaches loved every bit of his day today but the eyes will turn to the tag of Clayton Oliver.

Oliver finished with just 32 points in the three point win over the Kangaroos but it was the tag by Will Phillips in the first three quarters that left Oliver with just seven disposals.

At one stage midway through the second quarter, Oliver was in the minus scoreline and seemingly showed frustration which AFL coaches will now look at in the future weeks which could potentially see SuperCoaches trading him out over the next few weeks.

10:12PM: FULL TIME SUPERCOACH LEADERS

Luke Davies-Uniacke had a quarter to remember as he tried to get the second win for the season for his Kangaroos but will remember the dropped mark with eight seconds to go on the 50 as the Demons won by three points.

LDU finished with a game high 143 points, with 31 disposals, 10 kicks, 21 handballs, four marks, three tackles and a goal.

Melbourne’s Trent Rivers (130) and North’s Harry Sheezel (123) rounded out the top three.

Full Time Super Coach Leaders
Full Time Super Coach Leaders

9:56PM: DEMONS ACTIVATE SUB

Debutant Kynan Brown has come on with 10 minutes to go in the final quarter as the Roos kick the last four goals to peg it back to 9 points.

Brown has replaced Christian Salem as a tactical sub.

9:47PM: ROOS HOP INTO THE FOURTH QUARTER

The Kangaroos have responded in style to open up the fourth quarter, kicking the first two goals to close the gap to 21 points inside the first five minutes of the quarter.

Cam Zurhaar kicked the opener and his third of the night as the Roos have won the first three centre bounce clearances, leading 7-1 inside 50s and 4-1 clearances.

9:37PM: THREE QUARTER TIME SUPERCOACH LEADERS

Wardlaw leads all comers once again at the break as the Roos midfielder is the only player to reach triple figures.

Sitting on 110 a three quarter time, Wardlaw has wrapped up 20 disposals, 12 kicks, eight handballs, three marks and six tackles to go with his one behind.

Davies-Uniacke (95) and Sheezel (92) round out the top three as we head into the final quarter with the Demons up by 33 points.

Three Quarter Time Supercoach Leaders
Three Quarter Time Supercoach Leaders

9:23PM: NORTH ACTIVATE SUB

The Demons have kicked the last three goals to break out to a 33 point lead, meanwhile the Roos have activated their sub with defender Toby Pink coming off with what looks like an ankle injury.

Dylan Stephens has entered the game, replacing the injured Pink.

9:10PM: WARDLAW HITS TRIPLE FIGURES

The feeling as definitely gone up a notch as both teams are chasing a win but it seems to be George Wardlaw who is leading the Roos to a come from behind chase.

Wardlaw broke the 100 mark as the Roos trail by 15 points half way through the third quarter.

The Demons kicked the opening goal before the Roos responded thanks to LDU.

8:56PM: PLENTY OF FEELING IN THIS ONE

The Demons and the Roos have been invovled in a half time push and shove as the teams headed to the rooms at the half time break.

There was plenty of feeling heading into half time as the Roos are pushing the Demons who are chasing a top eight spot.

8:45PM: HALF TIME SUPERCOACH LEADERS

Roos’ George Wardlaw has taken the game on, opening it up and leading the SuperCoach leaderboard with 73 points at half time thanks to 13 disposal, nine kicks, four handballs, two marks and four tackles.

He has fellow Roos’ gun, Harry Sheezel breathing down his neck on 72 points and Demons’ Tom McDonald on 66 points rounds out the top three.

Half Time super Coach leaders
Half Time super Coach leaders

8:37PM: GOAL FOR GOAL AT THE G’

Cameron Zurhaar kicked the opening goal in the second quarter at the 16th minunte mark before Trent Rivers kicked his first for the season just six minutes later to take the lead out to 22 points.

But it would be Jy Simpkin who would respond just four minutes later to give the Roos a bit of momentum heading into the half time break, kicking his first goal of the night, bringing the margin back to 16 points.

8:20PM: GOOD OLD FASHION TAG

Kangaroos’ Will Phillips has shut down Clayton Oliver for the first quarter and a half as the Demons gun has just two disposals midway through the second quarter.

Oliver sits on negative six points while Phillips sits on 13 points with just three disposals.

Both teams are still chasing the opening goal of the second quarter, as the Demons lead by 23 points.

8:06PM: QUARTER TIME SUPERCOACH LEADERS

Despite only one goal against the Demons in the opening term, Melbourne defender Steven May sits on top of SuperCoach leaderboard for the Demons with 38 while North’s midfield gun Harry Sheezel is leading all comers with 41 SuperCoach points.

Sheezel finished the quarter with seven disposal, six kicks, a handball, three marks and a goal.

Quarter time Super Coach Leaders
Quarter time Super Coach Leaders

7:53PM: GAWN DOMINANCE AS COACHES CHANGE CAPTAIN

Coming into the match up with the Roos, Gawn was highest picked ruckman with 57.8 per cent of SuperCoaches naming him, 11.4 per cent higher than Brodie Grundy.

Gawn has been named captain for SuperCoach sides 16.8 per cent, 8.9 per cent more than Zach Merrett from the Bombers.

The ruckman sits on 25 points so far this game with six disposals, five kicks, one handball, four hit-outs.

7:37PM: OLIVER PREPARES FOR TAG AS DEMONS OPEN THE SCORING

With no Christian Petracca, Roos’ Will Phillips has gone to Clayton Oliver in the old fashion tag, while Oliver is trying to run with Luke Davies-Uniacke.

But it was Kysaiah Pickett who opened the scoring between the two Victorian clubs.

7:19PM: DEMONS, ROOS READY TO GO

There have been no late changes for the Demons and Kangaroos as we head into the final game of the terrific Saturday.

Kynan Brown is the sub for Melbourne, with Dylan Stephens the sub for North Melbourne.

7:15PM: FULL TIME SUPERCOACH LEADERS

Coming into the game, Swans’ James Rowbottom best possession game was just 27 and his best SuperCoach score of 150, scored in round 15 last season.

Rowbottom finished with 31 disposals and leads the game with 163 SuperCoach points.

Fellow Swan, Gulden, finished just one disposal behind his best disposal game in his career with 42, finishing with 152 SuperCoach points, just five behind his best which he scored against the Cats in round 13 this season.

Full Time Super Coach Leaders
Full Time Super Coach Leaders

6:55PM: ONE KICK, ONE GOAL CLUB

Sydney made the tactical sub, bringing Lewis Melican off the ground for Caiden Cleary in his debut match.

With the Giants kicking the last five goals, the Swans needed to respond and it was out the back of the pack where the debutant got his first touch, first kick and first goal to take the score back out to 29 points.

6:46PM: GIANTS ACTIVATE THEIR SUB

After trailing by 42 points at three quarter time, Adam Kingsley and his men have activated their sub, bringing in James Peatling for Ryan Angwin.

On the back of that, the Giants opened the scoring in the final quarter, kicking the first goal inside the first two minutes to bring the score back to 36 points.

6:42PM: THREE QUARTER TIME SUPERCOACH LEADERS

A quiet quarter for James Rowbottom but still sitting on top of the leaderboard with 136 points, thanks to 29 disposals, 18 kicks, 11 handballs, two marks, five tackles.

Tom Green (129) sits second with Errol Gulden (122) sitting third on the SuperCoach leaderboard.

Three Quarter Time Super Coach Leaders
Three Quarter Time Super Coach Leaders

6:33PM: A WEEK IS A LONG TIME IN FOOTY

Joel Amartey had a day to remember against the Crows last week, kicking a bag of nine and finishing with 182 SuperCoach points.

Late in the third quarter, the forward sits on 17 points, with just five disposals, three kicks, two handballs, one mark, two tackles and no goals.

But it won’t effect if you chucked him in the side this week as his breakeven is minus 52.

6:17PM: DEBUTANT NAILS HIS FIRST AS GIANTS BITE BACK

GWS Giants number 22 pick of the 2022 draft, Max Gruzewski kicks his first goal in the AFL as the Giants peg their way back to a 47 point lead, ending a run of 10 goals in a row.

The Giants have kicked the last two goals, pegging it back from 58 points as they look to channel their inner Collingwood against the Kangaroos.

6:06PM: PAPLEY CONTINUES ONSLAUGHT OF GIANTS

It took all of 27 seconds for the Swans to kick the opening goal of the third quarter making it eight goals in a row.

The mozzi like footballer Tom Papley kicked his second and the opener to take the score ot 46 points.

5:47PM: HALF TIME SUPERCOACH LEADERS

James Rowbottom has had a half to remember, being the first player to break triple digits as the Swans lead by 40 points at half time.

63.4 per cent of SuperCoaches own Rowbottom with 4.8 per cent of them naming him as captain.

Tom Green (94) and Errol Gulden (84) sit second and third and chasing the century in the third quarter.

HALF TIME SUPER COACH LEADERS
HALF TIME SUPER COACH LEADERS

5:35PM: SWANS ONSLAUGHT AGAINST THE GIANTS

The Giants kicked the opening goal in the second quarter to give themselves the lead but it has been all Swans since that goal which came in the first minute of the quarter.

The Swans have kicked the next six goals in a row, with Hayden McLean kicking his second and becoming the only player on the ground to kick multiple goals.

Sydney have blown out to a 33 point lead, while trailing 26-23 inside 50s.

5:21PM: GULDEN GIVES SWANS THE LEAD

Tom Greene might have 17 disposals and sits atop the leading possessions and SuperCoach leaderboard but it is Swans’ star Errol Gulden who is leading the way for the Swans.

Gulden leads with 13 disposals, 10 kicks, three handballs, four marks and 59 points and a goal as the Swans sit in front by eight points.

5:08PM: QUARTER TIME SUPERCOACH LEADERS

Giants’ Tom Green leads all comers on the ground as the first player to break the 50 mark, sitting on 55 SuperCoach points at quarter time, 12 ahead of Swans’ Isaac Heeney.

Green finished the quarter with 15 disposals, six kicks, nine handballs, five marks and three tackles.

QUARTER TIME SUPER COACH LEADERS
QUARTER TIME SUPER COACH LEADERS

5:00PM: SYDNEY DERBY HEATS UP

There was plenty of feeling heading into the clash as the Giants had plenty to say, but the Swans have had plenty to say on field with a quick response to the Giants opening goal.

Gulden (40), Blakey (36), Heeney (35) and Grundy (31) are the four in the top five players with Tom Green the only Giant inside the top five with 31 points.

4:47PM: GULDEN, HEENEY RUN A MUCK EARLY

Heeney and Gulden both sit with seven disposals as we hit midway through a wet first quarter as the Swans have kicked the only two points of the game.

Both Swans’ guns sit with 24 points, chasing their breakevns of 82 for Gulden and 92 for Heeney.

Gulden, Heeney run a muck early
Gulden, Heeney run a muck early

4:30PM: NO LATE CHANGES IN CLASH OF THE BRIDGE

There have been no late changes for the GWS Giants and Sydney Swans clash at ENGINE Stadium.

James Peatling is the Giants sub while Caiden Cleary is the sub for the Swans.

Zak Butters is learning fast just how tough life can be in the spotlight.

The Port Adelaide star has become the No. 1 target for taggers in recent weeks, curtailed by Alex Cincotta and Toby Bedford in the Power’s last two games.

Butters, who has averaged 27.1 disposals this year, has been limited to 23 and 17 in his last two outings as the return of the tagger takes the AFL by storm.

Butters is likely to get attention again in round 15 from Jarrod Berry, who stood Jack Steele last round and Marcus Bontempelli two weeks ago.

Butters isn’t the only SuperCoach star likely to be tagged, with Lachie Neale facing the possibility of more close checking.

After being frustrated by Marcus Windhager last week, Willem Drew could have the Lions co-captain in his sights in a crucial game for both Port Adelaide and the Lions.

4:30PM: FULL TIME SUPERCOACH LEADERS

Brisbane have helped Harris Andrews celebrate his 200th game in style by demolishing the Power at Adelaide Oval by 79 points.

It is Brisbane’s biggest score at Adelaide oval, falling five points short of the record defeat for the Power on their home deck.

Neale was the leading SuperCoach scorer with 148 points, falling three short of his breakeven while Dunkley (142) and McInerney (126) rounded out the top three.

FULL TIME SUPER COACH LEADERS
FULL TIME SUPER COACH LEADERS

4:21PM: NEALE CLOSES IN ON BREAKEVEN

Lachie Neale had a tough 151 for his breakeven to start the game but the Brisbane midfield gun sits just 11 short of reaching the target with six minutes to go.

He has scored 73 in the second half, three more points than what he scored alone in last round.

4:02PM: DANGEROUS TERRITORY FOR POWER

Port Adelaide are on the cusp of their biggest defeat at Adelaide Oval as the Lions pile on three of the opening four goals in the final term to take it to an 86 point lead.

The Power lost to the Hawks by 84 points in round 20 2017, with the biggest defeat at the hands of the Lions was 48 points in round 2 2015.

3:51PM: THREE QUARTER TIME SUPERCOACH LEADERS

It is all Brisbane at Adelaide Oval with midfield guns Dunkley (121) and Neale (108) the only two players who have made it to triple digits while Hipwood (94) and McInerney (92) aren’t far behind.

Hipwood is the leading goal scorer on the ground with five, while Butters, despite the shoulder concern, leads the Power’s possession count with 25, sitting on 88 SuperCoach points.

THREE QUARTER TIME SUPERCOACH LEADERS
THREE QUARTER TIME SUPERCOACH LEADERS

3:34PM: PORT END LIONS RUN

Power’s Mitch Georgiades kicked his first goal of the game late in the third quarter, ending the run of 12 on the trot for the Lions.

It had been 51 minutes since their last goal which came in the eighth minute of the second quarter.

3:34PM: BUTTERS SERIOUS CONCERN

Port’s best player has gone down with a serious shoulder injury early in the third quarter, leaving 35.7 per cent of SuperCoaches biting their nails in fear of losing the Powers leading SuperCoach scorer.

3:27PM: DUNKLEY’S PRIDE

Josh Dunkley has taken complete control of this clash against the Power as the Lions have kicked the last 10 goals of the match.

Dunkley sits with a game high 24 disposals, seven kicks, 17 handballs, five marks, seven tackles with 102 SuperCoach points, 23 ahead of second placed Lachie Neale (79).

3:01PM: HALF TIME SUPERCOACH LEADERS

Similar to the opening quarter, the Power kicked the opening two goals of the quarter, since then the Lions have kicked the last seven to give them a 46 point lead at half time.

Hipwood has kicked three while Morris and ruckman McInerney has kicked two a piece while Josh Dunkley leads all comers with 20 disposals with 90 SuperCoach points, with McInerney sitting second with 70 and Brownlow medallist Neale on 67.

HALF TIME SUPER COACH LEADERS
HALF TIME SUPER COACH LEADERS

2:42PM: LIONS POUNCE AFTER POWER SURGE

Port’s Ollie Lord booted a goal to close the gap to just a goal at the eight minute mark of the second quarter, then the Lions pounced kicking the next four goals within five minutes to blow it back out to a 31 point lead half way through the quarter.

2:32PM: ROZEE BROUGHT HIS OWN FOOTY

Connor Rozee is making up for missing a few weeks with injury by running a muck through the opening quarter and half.

The Port skipper was the first player to break the 50 point mark with 14 disposals (seven kicks, seven handballs) four marks, four tackles.

2:18PM: QUARTER TIME SUPERCOACH LEADERS

Port skipper Connor Rozee has stepped up late in the first quarter and led by example leading all players with 47 SuperCoach points at quarter time.

Brisbane’s Dunkley (44) and Neale (41) make up the top three. While Zak Butters tag seems to have gotten the better of him so far, sitting 12th with 23 points.

SUPER COACH QUARTER TIME LEADERS
SUPER COACH QUARTER TIME LEADERS

2:07PM: LIONS ROAR PAST POWER

After conceding the first two goals of the game, the Lions have roared past the Power kicking the next four goals to give themselves a 16 point lead.

The 6.9 per cent of coaches who own Josh Dunkley and the 12.4 per cent of coaches who own Lachie Neale will be happy with their start to the game with 26 and 32 points respectively.

1:51PM: PING PONG START BEFORE FINLAYSON OPENER

A lot of back and forth to start the eight minutes of the clash between the Power and Lions before Jeremy Finlayson opened Port’s scoring and the games first goal.

It would be first gamer Josh Sinn who would back up giving the Power their second as Lions runner Josh Dunkley has dominated with seven disposals and 21 SuperCoach points to start the game.

1:31PM: NO LATE CHANGES

We are all systems go ahead of the monster Saturday starting with Port Adelaide and Brisbane Lions at Adelaide Oval.

No changes late changes from either side with Quinton Narkle the sub for Port Adelaide and Shadeau Brain the sub for Brisbane.

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Originally published as AFL live: Latest SuperCoach scores, talking points from Saturday’s round 15 matches

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Original URL: https://www.ntnews.com.au/sport/afl/afl-live-latest-supercoach-scores-talking-points-from-saturdays-round-15-matches/news-story/9d96a9484f991ed0ea11d17de8dce4b4