Early Tackle: Every key talking point from round 7 of the AFL season
The Dockers claimed a 10-year player in one of the biggest deals in last year’s trade period. But they didn’t think they’d be giving up this much to this Victorian club.
From Will Ashcroft’s stunner to Toby Greene magic, round 7 has delivered in spades.
It started with Ken Hinkley silencing the critics again and Jason Horne-Francis making the boo boys look silly.
And there has been no shortage of other highlights — and lowlights — set to dominate the weekend agenda.
Glenn McFarlane names his likes and dislikes.
DISLIKES
CRUEL FOR CHARLIE, SICKENING FOR CLARKO AND ROOS
It was the first quarter from hell for Alastair Clarkson’s North Melbourne – and it came with a sickening injury to young Kangaroos forward Charlie Comben.
Midway through the opening term the Demons had piled on five goals straight without the Kangaroos even scoring.
Then it got even worse.
Comben, who has endured a terrible run with injuries in his short career, crashed to the ground with a badly broken leg.
The footage was so gruesome that Channel 7 wisely chose not to show it, as he was taken from the ground into the rooms and ultimately to hospital.
By quarter-time, Melbourne was absolutely dominant with the Kangaroos only hitting the scoreboard at the 29-minute-mark.
The score was 1.0 to 8.2 at quarter-time and it could have been worse if a Max Gawn long bomb hadn’t hit Jacob Van Rooyen on the head.
At one stage during the first term, North’s forward 50m efficiency was 6.7%.
Clarko tried to keep his frustration in check, but it was hard when Jaidyn Stephenson gave away a 100m penalty goal for dissent to umpire Ray Chamberlain in the second term.
After winning the first two matches this year, the harsh reality of five straight losses would be of huge concern to Clarkson.
At least they averted a 100-point loss with the margin being 90, while the Eagles ended up losing to the Blues by 108 points.
SWANS COUGH UP ANOTHER SCG LEAD
It’s far from panic stations, but Sydney coach John Longmire would be a little concerned about his team’s inability to close out its past two matches on their SCG home turf.
It happened against Port Adelaide in Round 4 when a few late lapses and a game Power side turned an extraordinary game on its head in the dying moments.
The same thing happened against their cross-town rivals GWS in what proved to be a compelling contest on Saturday afternoon.
The Swans led by 24 points in the last term, but coughed up the lead with less than a minute remaining with Toby Greene’s match winning goal.
“Our intent was good, we stuffed up a few things that cost us the game,” Longmire said. “We’re disappointed about that, and the players are disappointed.”
The loss leaves the Swans at 3-4, with a big game against Collingwood coming up next week at the MCG before returning to the SCG to take on Fremantle.
WHY THE OTHER CORONATION CAN’T COME QUICK ENOUGH
King Charles III’s coronation takes place next Saturday; St Kilda’s version of it – the return of injured forward Max King – might come a week or two later but for Saints fans and for coach Ross Lyon, it can’t come soon enough.
The Saints have done a great job without King in attack to get to 5-2 after seven rounds, but if they want to make an impact in the second half of the season – and potentially in the finals – they desperately need the structure that King will provide in attack.
Friday night’s loss to Port Adelaide highlighted this as the Saints too often bombed long without direction into attack, with Jeremy Finlayson taking two strong marks in defence to save the day late.
Even before that, the Saints have been remarkably resilient against forward injuries, but even though they had been winning, their inefficiency going into attack has been an ongoing issue.
Before this round, St Kilda had scored from 39.4% of their inside 50s in wins this season – the lowest percentage in the competition.
Lyon addressed that in his post-match press conference, hinting that it would be an issue that needed to be addressed in the coming weeks.
King won’t solve that completely, but he will seriously help.
As Lyon said on 3AW: “He (King) will start to join in full training next week. He has been at full speed. He is fit. His nickname is ‘Winx’, he is running that well.”
That would be music to Saints’ fans’ ears.
NOVEMBER DREAMING OR NOVEMBER NIGHTMARE?
Fremantle knows Luke Jackson will be a 10-year-plus player who will play a big role in the club’s future fortunes.
But the Dockers would never have dreamed they might end up giving up so much to claim the 2021 premiership player.
And that’s something which is keeping Melbourne fans watching the down-and-almost-out Dockers as much as they are their own team.
Freo played finals last year and would have expected to do the same this year. That’s why they were content trading last year’s pick 13 as well as a future first and future second to the Demons.
But after a 2-5 start to the 2023 season – and with their confidence looking shot at times against Brisbane – the Dockers look to have no chance of playing finals this year.
If things stay the same, and the Dockers remain in a similar ladder position, the Demons might be getting a pick 5 or 6 or 7 this November, as well as a mid 20s pick as well.
That’s not Jackson’s fault, and the Dockers are more than happy with him. But you can also understand why Simon Goodwin and Demons fans are watching the Dockers so closely.
BOOS DROWNED OUT BY BEAST MODE
When Saints assistant Brendon Goddard was asked about the booing of Jason Horne-Francis last weekend, he was emphatic in his messaging.
“I find it very odd and disturbing … I’d be very disappointed if I was to hear St Kilda supporters boo,” Goddard said on ABC Grandstand.
Fair to say that BJ would have been disappointed on two fronts – firstly, that the Saints fans heckled and booed Horne-Francis throughout the game for no good reason and secondly, for the ease with which the damaging Port Adelaide midfielder imposed himself on the contest.
Goddard was right. It’s embarrassing that this boo-fest is going on each week. Sure, Kangaroos fans have every right to be disappointed that JHF packed his bags after his first season at Arden St to return home.
But why other clubs’ fans – and the Saints weren’t the only ones – feel the need to boo defies all logic.
Sure people have the right to express their views (within reason of course when they pay their admission fees), but this one just makes no sense.
Matthew Johnson was penalised for this tackle on Dayne Zorko in the second term.#AFLLionsFreopic.twitter.com/FmlMBhUX0i
— AFL (@AFL) April 29, 2023
TACKLE UNHAPPY
Fremantle’s Matt Johnson is lucky Lion Dayne Zorko wasn’t seriously hurt when he threw him to the ground during Saturday’s clash at the Gabba.
Johnson will likely get a penalty from the MRO for throwing Zorko into the Gabba turf. The former Lions skipper was shaken, but got back to his feet and carried on, but not even that won’t save Johnson for his dangerous tackle.
Fox Footy’s David King said: “He had given away the free kick for high (contact) already and he thought ‘I haven’t got enough out of giving this away’, so he slung him to the ground.
“That’s an absolute no-no. That’s the one action we are stamping out of the game and I don’t think Johnson has read the memo or been watching too much footy in the last few weeks.”
LET’S JUST NAME 23 PLAYERS
The AFL has plenty of serious things to worry about right now – concussion class actions, the CBA ambit claims and countless other things.
But here’s one simple thing they can do to make its coaches – and the fans – happy with the stroke of a pen.
Let the clubs pick their sub as part of the side named every Thursday night. It’s just a matter of naming 23 instead of 22.
Carlton coach Michael Voss was the latest coach to urge the change, which has been a bugbear for coaches since round 1.
He didn’t want to announce Matt Kennedy had been omitted from the team to play West Coast on Saturday night when the side went in on Thursday. He wanted him to be named as the sub.
C’mon AFL, let’s just fix this thing.
LIKES
CHARLIE’S NINE TURNS UP COLEMAN HEAT AND ‘TON TALK’
Carlton forward Charlie Curnow isn’t about to give up Coleman Medal defence without a fight after booting a bag of nine goals in one of the best individual performances of the season.
Curnow’s masterclass came as the Blues turned on the afterburners – putting extra speed on their game – to bounce back to form against an undermanned but disappointing West Coast.
All the recent talk has been on Jeremy Cameron’s outstanding start to the season and whether the Cat can push towards the 100-goal mark this year.
Some sniggered when this column suggested a few weeks ago that Curnow – if he kept on the same trajectory – could become the first player to kick 100 goals since Buddy Franklin 15 years ago, given the extra game on offer this season – and the possibility of the Blues playing finals.
Yes, there is a long, long way to go. But his career-high nine goals on Saturday night has taken him to 30 goals from seven games.
Conceivably he has got 16 games to go, as well as potentially finals.
As Lloyd Christmas once said: ‘So you’re telling me there’s a chance.’”
The one thing that is certain is that this Coleman Medal race is starting to heat up. Cameron has 27 goals from six games and takes on the Bombers on Sunday. Over to you, Jezza!
It was Carlton’s biggest win in 11 years.
Former Australian Test and one-day star Adam Gilchrist – a noted Blues fan – spoke to the group at the team hotel in the lead-up to the game. Gilchrist was in the rooms after the game.
BONT GETS THE ‘W’ IN HIS 200TH
Marcus Bontempelli described his own performance in his 200th game as “just”, but it was fitting that one of the Bulldogs’ greatest players enjoyed a milestone win.
Bontempelli became the first player from his draft class of 2013 to reach the 200-game mark.
It wasn’t an easy day as he was shadowed by Conor Nash and the Bulldogs took some time to eventually shrug off a determined Hawthorn.
But the Bont still had 20 disposals (with 10 contested), six clearances, five scoring involvements in the Bulldogs’ 29-point victory.
Full marks to the Hawks for showing plenty of spirit and system before the Dogs closed it out to start celebrating with their skipper as Aaron Naughton and Jack Macrae chaired him off.
GREENE MACHINE
Take a bow, Toby Greene and the Giants!
This was some sort of performance in a grudge match that adds more fuel to one of the most intriguing cross-town rivalries in AFL football.
Sydney looked to have this game well and truly in their grasp, but Green and the never-say-die Giants refused to take no for an answer.
The GWS kicked the last four goals of the game to storm home and take the points – and the state bragging rights until at least round 21 – in the 25th ‘Battle of the Bridge’.
And it was that man Greene who nailed the result with a late goal to give his team the lead. It was his fourth major from his 22 disposals, with 11 scoring involvements, including four in the final term.
It showed why he is one of the most inspirational captains in the AFL and it was little wonder some of his teammates pretended to put a mock crown on his head as he prepared to do his after-the-game interview with Fox Footy.
He was the King when it mattered.
‘The Battle of the Bridge’ had all the hallmarks of marketing spin when it was first devised. Not anymore. This game was a cracker and the two teams don’t like one another, as evidenced by mini-melee at halftime.
Can’t wait for the next instalment!
WILL ASHCROFT, YOU ARE KIDDING! A goal of the year contender!
— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) April 29, 2023
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DID ASHCROFT STEAL GOAL OF THE YEAR OFF CHARLIE?
Lachie Neale has declared ‘game over’ on this season’s goal of the year, saying Brisbane young gun Will Ashcroft’s freakish mid-air kick for goal against Fremantle has wrested the award from teammate Charlie Cameron.
Ashcroft left the Gabba crowd in disbelief in the second term when he roved the ball off hands in the pocket, tapping the ball to his own advantage before jumping and kicking it out of mid-air from the boundary line in the same motion.
A week earlier Cameron produced a miracle goal as one of his seven majors with a right foot deflection that had some wondering if he had meant it or not.
When asked on Fox Footy if Ashcroft’s goal would win mark of the year honours, Neale said: “Has to be, I think. (It’s) game over. He has just stolen it off Charlie from last week.”
“Well done Ashy, that was next level.”
KEN’S COACHING STOCKS
There is zero chance this is Ken Hinkley’s last season as an AFL coach.
That’s not to say he will be coaching Port Adelaide next year (although the odds of that happening are shortening after four successive wins), but even if David Koch and the Port board decide to look for a fresh start, Hinkley seems certain to be in demand for another senior gig.
What’s going to be available? Who knows?
But he would be in the mix if Gold Coast’s 2023 happens to go into free fall, even though Stuart Dew – who is used to dealing with the pressure – is contracted until the end of 2024.
On a weekend when former Saints coach Grant Thomas gave Hinkley a backhander on Twitter by saying he was too “soft” with his players, the man himself gave another reminder of just how connected he is to the talented but sometimes inconsistent Port Adelaide side.
Ken is used to the criticism.
It was only a month ago that Power great Warren Tredrea claimed his position was “untenable” after successive losses to Collingwood and Adelaide.
How much has changed since then!
As Hinkley and his players picked their way through the Ross Lyon maze – one of only two clubs to do that this year – it showed his coaching stocks remain strong, even though he is in the fight of his coaching life to remain as Port’s coach.
Hinkley is still without a flag after 11 seasons of coaching the Power, but on face value he looks as close and as invested in his players as he has ever been.
Take a look at how he has managed Jason Horne-Francis this season. Take a look at how Zak Butters and co embraced him as the final siren sounded at Marvel Stadium after they had overcome St Kilda on Friday night. Take a look at how he defends his players at every opportunity.
Kochie and Kenny have maintained they won’t talk contracts until at least August, which makes perfect sense.
Historically coaches don’t last for more than a decade without winning a flag at a club, but that doesn’t mean they can’t emerge elsewhere.
This year has shown that with Lyon back with the Saints and Brad Scott turning the Bombers into a more competitive team which makes Kenny’s future fascinating on so many levels.
WELCOME TASSIE … AS LETHAL PONDERS A 20TH TEAM?
When Tassie football enjoyed one of its greatest moments by defeating Victoria in a 1990 state game, then AFL executive Alan Schwab said of the state’s hopes of joining the national competition: “1995 is a date by which we’d be realistically looking at Tasmania joining”.
That date came and went without success almost three decades ago, and a conga-line of other deadlines, feasibility studies and reports all amounted to nothing in the years since.
Thankfully now, it’s all systems go, after the federal government ticked off one of the last required boxes – a $240 million commitment to help fund a new stadium at Macquarie Point – and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it would never be a true AFL without including Tasmania.
The money is manna from the gods for the AFL, who will now take the proposal for a 19th franchise from Tasmania to its clubs. Despite some reservations from some clubs, the vote will almost certainly be a formality.
There will be more hurdles and challenges ahead. But sometimes decisions have to be made because they are not easy, but hard, and this decision has been made because it is the right one.
And it is long overdue!
A Tasmanian team is likely to be up and running at least by the 2027 season. Now the challenge is to get the right people setting it up.
Could former premier Peter Gutwein be coaxed into being the president of the club, given how hard he fought to secure a stand-alone team?
Could the AFL somehow convince Brendon Gale – a proud Tasmanian – to put aside his disappointment at missing out on Gill McLachlan’s job to come on board with the league and help provide the platforms to make it a success?
Is there a coach who could be appeased by the challenge ahead?
The 19th franchise will mean a bye each round, which begged the question from AFL Legend Leigh Matthews … how long before we get a 20th franchise and where will it come from.
As Matthews said on 3AW: “We’re not going to have a bye for the rest of the competition’s existence. We will be looking for a 20th team, won’t we?”
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