Early Tackle: Glenn McFarlane’s likes and dislikes from AFL round 12
Yes, it was a loss, and a heartbreaking one at that. But there is so much to like about what Adem Yze’s Tigers are doing right now, writes Glenn McFarlane.
Four teams might be having a week off, but there’s still no shortage of big AFL talking points.
From Hugh McCluggage’s Thursday night masterclass to a worrying slump for the Hawks, there’s been plenty to dissect.
The footy world is praying for a miracle after Callan Ward’s suspected ACL injury, but he still found a way to help inspire GWS Giants’ last-quarter rally against Richmond.
Glenn McFarlane names his likes and dislikes from round 12.
DISLIKES
SO CRUEL FOR CAL
It was the kiss that showed how much Callan Ward means to his Greater Western Sydney teammates – and the footy world.
Just moments after going down with what looks like a serious knee injury – which could bring an end to his 327-game career – the GWS warrior was laying on the sidelines with a towel covering up his tears.
His teammate Lachie Whitfield came to console him, gave him a hug and a kiss on the head. It’s a bloody cruel game sometimes.
This was likely to be the 35-year-old’s final season, with his family living back in Melbourne this season as he remained in Sydney chasing one last shot at that elusive flag.
But this wasn’t the way it was meant to end.
The footy world will be hoping for a miracle but the man himself told Fox Footy’s Cam Mooney that he was expecting the worst.
Ward explained at three-quarter-time, just after delivering an emotional speech to the players in the huddle, that he feared it was an ACL, but stressed there were worse things happening in the world.
Whatever lies ahead for him, the inspirational Ward won’t be lost to footy.
ROOSY’S CHEEKY SWANS SLEDGE
Paul Roos, the coach who declared ‘Here it is’ when Sydney unlocked a 72-year flag drought 20 years ago, almost had the perfect comeback when asked on Fox Footy about the modern-day Swans’ embarrassing first half against the Crows.
Having kicked only one goal in the first half compared to Adelaide’s 12, Sydney was on the ropes and Roos was quizzed about what had transpired in a miserable first two quarters.
“I thought they might have brought their boots,” Roos said, referencing the 2005 premiership Swans who reunited at the SCG to mark two decades since the unforgettable flag.
He was making the point that the heroes of the past, including the great Adam Goodes, who received a massive reception from the crowd in his SCG return, couldn’t have done much worse than the confidence-zapped current Sydney side.
This once-proud football club is in serious trouble performance-wise and it looks to be frustrating the hell out of first year coach Dean Cox.
Hayden McLean kicked the first goal of the day but the Crows then went on a goalkicking rampage.
How often in the past two decades has an SCG crowd given the Bronx cheers when the Swans have scored … a behind!
They are not used to a Sydney Swans outfit being uncompetitive and many had left long before the final siren!
Injuries have admittedly smashed Cox’s start to his coaching career. But that alone is not what is ailing these Swans, who sit 4-9 with what is now a tough game with Richmond at the MCG before the midseason bye.
That bye can’t come quickly enough for a team that looks a shadow of the one that went into a grand final last year as favourites before copping a Lions’ hammering.
DIMMA’S DESK SLAM AS SUNS FALL SHORT
Just when you thought Gold Coast had all but booked its first finals berth – maybe even a top four spot – the degree of difficulty just went up a notch.
That’s why Damien Hardwick slammed the desk in the coaches’ box as a goal from Jye Amiss sunk the Suns in the dying moments of a classic wet weather encounter.
Gold Coast had been on the back foot all day as the conditions deteriorated. But a late surge, in part fuelled by two goals in three minutes in the last term from Sam Flanders, opened the door for an unlikely comeback.
Mac Andrew had the chance to put the home side in front with four minutes left but missed and the Dockers gamely held on to deliver the Suns’ first loss at home this season.
A win would have consolidated Hardwick’s side in the top four, but now they face a tough month ahead.
They travel to GMHBA Stadium next Saturday to take on Geelong, before having a bye and then returning with crunch games against GWS at Engie Stadium and Melbourne at home.
Debutant Leo Lombard’s exuberant goal celebration early in the game was at least one highlight.
Lombard is going to be fun to watch for the next decade… unless you are the Academy-resistant Saints.
After a week in which Gold Coast and St Kilda donned the gloves in the wake of Ross Lyon’s “Nepo Babies” comment, Lombard turned in one of the best first-goal celebrations this season.
The Suns matched St Kilda’s bid on Lombard, taking their Academy graduate at pick nine in last year’s draft, with the Saints being long-time critics of the bidding system.
Lombard turned on a show after kicking his goal, with a jumping chest-pump with teammate Bailey Humphrey, fist-pumping with his teammates, then a few high-fives with the crowd as he left the field.
It brought a smile to Hardwick’s face, but that grin from the coach was well and truly gone by the end of the match.
YZE BEATS? NOT ANYMORE!
It’s hard to know if this ‘take’ belongs in the likes or dislikes section, but Richmond was incredibly stiff not to win its fourth game of 2025 in a thriller at Engie Stadium.
Some wasteful shots in front of goal (with a 10.17 scoreline), a lack of composure in a goal-less final term and a Giants revival inspired by a stirring three-quarter-time speech from an injured Callan Ward after what could be his final game cost Adem Yze’s Tigers the victory.
A 28-point three quarter-time lead for the Tigers ended with a heartbreaking three-point loss to Greater Western Sydney, who overcame a sluggish first half to kick the last five goals.
Yes, it was a loss, and a heartbreaking one at that. But there is so much to like about what the ‘Tigers of Old’ and the ‘Tigers of New’ are doing right now – casting an eye to the future.
While the four premiership points would have been a fitting reward for effort, the long play for Tigers fans is that there is a hell of a lot to like about the young talent on display as well as the hunger of several premiership players still hoping to be a part of future success.
After starting the season with some doomsayers suggesting they might not win a game for the year, Richmond has shown it can cause some chaos for finals aspirants teams in the back end of the season.
Yze was incredibly proud, yet still frustrated after his team led for 110 minutes of the game.
“As a group we sit here really flat, but at the same time understand we’re on the right path,” Yze said after the match.
“The last quarter got away from us, but it wasn’t method or system.
“It was just a slight role execution.”
Dion Prestia was one of four inclusions in his first AFL game this season, and while some had suggested he might be in line for a mid-season retirement, he showed in his first game back that he has more left in him.
The 32-year-old finished with 31 disposals and a goal with his coach saying his return was like he was “riding a bike” and hadn’t forgotten what to do.
Former Giants Jacob Hopper (29 and a goal) and Tim Taranto (23 and two goals) were influential, as the Tiger cubs also got into the action and played some important roles.
The lesson derived from a loss like this on the road will stand their good stead for the future.
SENIOR HAWKS ALARMING DROP OFF
This time last year Sam Mitchell barely had a smile off his face at press conferences; but the coaching scowl was justifiably back on display when he arrived for his Friday night press conference at 11.16pm – more than an hour after the Hawks’ 51-point loss to the Magpies.
You could understand why.
The Hawks are three games into a five-week block that will define their season and it has resulted in a brave effort against the Suns and then embarrassing losses to Brisbane and Collingwood.
So much of the external focus has centred on skipper James Sicily’s alarming form, but the issues go much deeper than that.
So many of the senior Hawks who were dominant when Hokball was at its electric best last year look devoid of confidence, with their impact seriously dulled.
Sicily’s vice-captain Dylan Moore was intoxicating last year, winning All-Australian honours with 36 goals and almost 500 disposals as the leader of the small forward brigade.
After kicking multiple goals in his first two games, Moore hasn’t been able to score more than a game in the 10 games since. In that time, he’s had four games – including Friday night – when he hasn’t scored a major.
His work rate hasn’t dipped, but his impact has. He’s a pro and will get to work to change it.
Could a few more midfield cameos get him going again?
Massimo D’Ambrosio is another who was so good last season, but hasn’t been able to have the same influence this year.
Perhaps that has something to do with Hawthorn’s slower ball movement and the stark lack of spark. He too needs to lift.
Jack Scrimshaw and Blake Hardwick are important players, but couldn’t get going on Friday night.
The defence that was meant to be better this year looked vulnerable, the midfield is desperately missing Will Day and the forwards – barring Jack Ginnivan and his three goals – just couldn’t get on the end of it.
A six-day turnaround to the fresh-off-the-bye Bulldogs looms on Thursday night.
Shai making life hard for his former coach 🫢#AFLSunsFreopic.twitter.com/XF8usZ74p6
— AFL (@AFL) May 31, 2025
LION LAPSES
Brisbane, at its best, is on track for what could be a third successive grand final after nine wins, a draw and only two losses in the first three months of its title defence.
We saw that best against the Hawks last week and against Gold Coast a few weeks earlier.
But if there was one nitpicking criticism – and Chris Fagan would be all over this – it is that these Lions can get a little comfortable in games against teams they should be putting away.
Think back to the Kangaroos’ draw in round 9. They could have, and arguably should have, lost that game.
We caught a glimpse of that against an injury-riddled but brave Essendon, getting out to a big lead early before losing it in the last term then ultimately kicking the last three goals to avert a boilover.
You can’t pick and choose in games, and the Lions have been doing it a little too often this year, leaving percentage on the table.
Yes, the Lions were coming off a short break on Thursday, but they need to be careful of leaving doors open against lesser sides.
They cannot afford any in-game lapses against Adelaide, GWS and Geelong in the coming three matches.
ZACH DOWN BACK?
Jye Caldwell’s 16-disposal (11 contested) third term showed why the Bombers are far from a one-man midfield band.
But we would have loved to see Zach Merrett into the heart of the contest when Essendon had a chance of pulling off what could have been one of its best recent wins against the Lions.
Merrett was stationed in defence for 90% of the match on Friday night as Brad Scott has been looking to get one of his best ball users in footy’s 2025 “it” position, distributing off half back.
You can see the reasoning behind it, but Merrett might have made a real difference as the Bombers threatened late.
The skipper had 28 disposals but his kicking efficiency was at 59%. He had five score involvements, but it might have been double that if he had played in the midfield.
We understand the rationale behind the move as it is great to see more responsibility handed to Caldwell, Nic Martin and co.
But we’d love to see him at the coalface against the Blues’ mids on King’s Birthday Eve.
LIKES
CAN THE CROWS WIN IT?
When do stop talking about Adelaide playing its first finals series since 2017’s ‘Power Stance’ season and start discussing whether Matthew Nicks’ Crows can actually win the whole thing?
From what we’ve seen so far this season, they can … and if they can overcome Brisbane at Adelaide Oval then Hawthorn in Launceston before they have the bye, the belief will rise even further.
Nicks’ team pushed Collingwood every step of the way at the ‘G a few weeks ago, and their overall profile reeks of class and a team commitment which makes them look decidedly scary for rivals.
We’ve always known these Crows can score, but the fact is they can now also defend well.
The obliteration of the Swans was the seventh time in 12 games this year that the Crows have scored more than 100 points. Tellingly, it was the fourth time they have exceeded 120 points.
Good luck trying to stop them in attack when they have a bevy of players capable of scoring, ranging from three key forwards to enterprising types such as Josh Rachele and Izak Rankine.
But what Nicks and his coaches have done with the defensive operation of this team – a team defence that is standing up – has been the most significant change for the 2025 Crows.
Only twice this year has Adelaide’s defence conceded 100 points, and they actually won one of those games. Three times this year they have kept a team to 50 points or fewer.
The Crows have leapt into the top three on the ladder, chasing Collingwood and Brisbane, and they get the chance to take on the Lions at home on Friday night.
Can’t wait for it!
DOCKERS’ JACK ATTACK
This was one of the grittiest wins of Justin Longmuir’s coaching tenure – given the conditions and the travel factor – as Fremantle locked away a third straight win to head to the bye with a solid 7-5 platform.
After all the debate and criticism of Longmuir’s two-ruck strategy, it wasn’t an issue after Luke Jackson turned in an imposing 27-disposal performance in the Dockers’ victory over the Suns.
Never mind the fact that returning big man Sean Darcy only had three disposals for the game, it was Jackson’s performance as an extra athletic mid, and at times in the ruck, that played a huge part in Fremantle’s win.
Who knows if the two-ruck strategy is sustainable?
But it wasn’t an issue this time around.
The midfield efforts of Caleb Serong and Andrew Brayshaw were crucial, a three-goal haul to Shai Bolton came back to haunt his former coach Damien Hardwick, Jordan Clark was creative in defence again, Patrick Voss kicked three goals and the Dockers’ pressure forwards were inspiring with their second and third efforts.
Having opened up a 20-point lead at one stage, the Dockers had to contend with a fast-finishing Suns but were up to the challenge.
When Jye Amiss snuffed out that challenge with a late goal, Longmuir was elated in the coaches’ box, and deservedly so.
MAGPIE ‘RIFLEMEN’ – FOOTY’S BIGGEST WEAPON
Carlton’s players didn’t need to think about spending their bye weekend bonding around former Blue Ed Curnow’s campfire; they should have been at the MCG doing reconnaissance of Collingwood’s ‘Riflemen’ delivering the ball inside 50 with bullet-like efficiency.
It’s the biggest weapon in footy right now and it has the Magpies premiership favourites after dismantling another of last year’s finalists, Hawthorn, on Friday night.
The Blues can’t buy a ‘money kick’ inside 50 and it might cost them a spot in September; the Magpie forwards are “licking” their lips at the sweet delivery into attack which is at the heart of this clinically efficient, exceptionally well-drilled side.
It’s largely coming from Collingwood’s rebound defenders but also from the mids, and in lowering their eyes and putting the ball out into space to the leading forwards, it is stunningly effective.
Take Dan Houston’s laser-sharp drill into Jamie Elliott early in the third term, which resulted in a Patrick Lipinski goal. It might be in the conversation for the ‘field kick of the year’.
As four-goal Magpie Brody Mihocek said: “We’ve got some weapons off half back, and us forwards lick our lips (at the delivery).”
“It is not only half backs, it’s also the mids and our rucks can hit a good kick too. We are all on the same page.
“We were a tall down with Coxy (Mason Cox) going out, so we all knew we had to lower the eyes and use the fat side of the ground, and it worked.
“Our ball movement from the back half is so quick … on turnover, we just want to get it out the back and we knew the Hawks didn’t like that. They wanted everything in front of them.”
Nine of the Magpies went at +80% efficiency with the ball, compared to a side that fumbled and bumbled its way through Friday night.
While the Hawks went at 42.2% inside 50 efficiency, in comparison, the Magpies went at 63.6% – 10% more than their 2025 season average.
Collingwood kicked 6.4 (39) to Hawthorn’s 1.2 (8) from forward half turnovers, and 5.2 (32) to 3.3 (21) from defensive half-turnovers.
Now the Magpies’ ‘riflemen’ have Melbourne in their sights for King’s Birthday.
IS THIS BLOKE ONE THE MOST UNDERRATED MAGPIES OF THE MODERN ERA?
Imagine using a second-round pick in the 2017 rookie draft on a defensive back-up player and having him transform into one of the club’s most important forwards this century?
Take a bow, Brody Mihocek, and the man who picked him, Derek Hine, who is now heading up the Tasmania Devils inaugural list search.
Mihocek isn’t flashy, doesn’t garner the headlines of other forwards including star teammate Jamie Elliott, and never seeks the limelight.
But what the 32-year-old has done in eight seasons – having played almost exclusively forward – has been nothing short of sensational.
He kicked four goals on Friday, including his 250th for the club, which currently puts him in 23rd overall on the Pies’ goalkicking tally.
And only six players – Travis Cloke, Anthony Rocca, Elliott, Chris Tarrant, Alan Didak and Leon Davis – have kicked more goals for the club this century than the reliable, durable guy in the No. 41 jumper.
He is on track to his 150th game in round 16 against West Coast – not bad for a player who had to wait until he was 25 to make his debut.
“I did know it was my 250th (goal), the boys were telling me,” said Mihocek, who has won five Collingwood goalkicking awards.
“I am not one to get too caught up in that. I’ve got my 150th game coming up – three more games – so that will be nice.”
HUGH BEAUTY, THE COULD-A-BEEN BOMBER
If Brisbane’s Hugh McCluggage misses out on an All-Australian blazer this year, we might need to call for a Royal Commission.
The panel met for the first time this year last week and after his 41-disposal performance against the brave Bombers on Thursday night – a club he almost joined nine years ago – they might as well give his chest and shoulder measurements to the tailors right now.
The 27-year-old has made four All-Australian extended squads, but his name has been missing from the main team.
Surely that changes in 2025, as he is arguably in the top five players of the competition right now.
It was probably a bitter pill for Bombers fans with long memories.
Essendon loved a teenage McCluggage so much leading into the 2016 national draft when it held the No. 1 draft pick that even then CEO Xavier Campbell sat in his interview.
But the Bombers loved Andrew McGrath just that little bit more.
They picked McGrath with the prized selection and the Lions were delighted when McCluggage was still there at pick three after the Giants went for Tim Taranto.
McGrath has been a very good servant of the Essendon Football Club and one of the club leaders, but McCluggage is bordering on being a superstar.
Would he have got the same development at the Hangar as he had in Brisbane? Who knows.
But the one certainty is that he has made a big down payment on a 2025 AA blazer.
COULD THIS NEXT WAVE OF BABY BOMBERS BE THE REAL DEAL?
There have been countless false new dawns for Essendon over the past two decades.
But if this latest incarnation of the ‘Baby Bombers’ goes on to win that elusive finals victory – or maybe more – in the future, we might look back to last Thursday’s Gabba game as a significant tipping point.
Given the sheer number of senior players out injured and the “exuberance” of youth, as Brad Scott called it, this loss was the closest thing you could get to a win.
Yes, that sounds strange, but it’s true.
As stats guru @sirswampthing noted on Thursday night, this was only the fourth time in 50 years that Essendon had fielded a side with six or more teenagers.
Four of the six from a game in 1977 – Tim Watson, Simon Madden, Paul Vander Haar and Shane Heard – tasted premiership success the following decade.
Five of the six from a game in 1992 – James Hird, Mark Mercuri, Gavin Wanganeen, David Calthorpe and Paul Hills – went on to win a flag the following year. The other one, Glenn Manton, ended up playing in a premiership with the Blues.
The six teenagers who played in a game in 2005 missed out.
It remains to be seen what might happen with this current Essendon crop of teenagers who showed plenty of spirit and composure under pressure against the reigning premiers with close to a full side.
Nate Caddy played the best game of his career, Isaac Kako is a livewire who lights up a forward line, Archie Roberts deservedly remains in the hunt for the Rising Star, while Angus Clarke, Archer Day-Wicks and Zak Johnson are all looking to have good futures.
It remains to be seen if these six can graduate like the teenagers of ‘77 and ‘92, but they are giving long-suffering Bombers fans hope.
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