Early Tackle: Glenn McFarlane’s likes and dislikes from round 4
Jeremy Finlayson fought back tears as he spoke about his ill wife Kellie after the Power’s heroic Saturday night win. See all the early likes and dislikes.
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Good Friday footy proved itself a raging success, some brotherly love between the McKay boys and Nick Daicos’ faultless game.
Meanwhile, could Charlie Curnow be the first century goal kicker since Lance Franklin for the Hawks in 2008?
Glenn McFarlane details his likes and dislikes from round 4.
LIKES
ROSS ‘DELIVER’ FEVER
It’s the stat that has long-suffering Saints fans quivering in optimism — St Kilda is 4-0 to start a season for only the eighth time in its VFL-AFL history.
In six of those seven other occasions, the Saints went on to play finals, and in four of them they made it through to a grand final.
We’re not bold enough to suggest they can make this year’s premiership playoff. But given their flying start to this season, and the impact Ross Lyon has already had, a finals berth is starting to look like a realistic aim.
Lyon has implemented a defensive system that works as he did back in the 2009-2010 years, but with an added layer of attacking footy.
We’ll know more about St Kilda next week when they take on Collingwood.
But the fact that the Saints are on top of the ladder right now goes a long way to justifying the club’s brutal call to replace Brett Ratten late last year and bring Lyon back to the club.
The Saints have found some players too.
Injuries to key players only presented opportunities for the next wave of young St Kilda players to take the next step, and they’ve done so!
Mitch Owens looks like an NGA steal right now, having been taken as pick 33 in the 2021 draft. He kicked two goals against the Suns and has a serious X-factor about him.
Clubs must be scratching their heads as to why Anthony Caminiti was overlooked before the Saints took with their SSP selection last month.
Marcus Windhager and Mattaes Phillipou have big futures.
Liam Stocker is already giving good service and fitting well into the Lyon system after being offloaded by the Blues last year. That might even be enough to bring a smile to new Saints list manager Stephen Silvagni’s face.
FOR KELLIE … AND KENNY
This was a Power stance of the finest order.
Criticised all week after a substandard Showdown performance, and with their out of contract coach Ken Hinkley under pressure, Port Adelaide twice stared down the barrel of defeat against Sydney before recording one of the most emotional recent wins in the club’s history.
It might yet prove the Power’s launching pad for 2023.
Sydney kicked the first four goals before Port booted their first and started a comeback. Then just as the Power clung to a lead late in the game, a 50m penalty against Charlie Dixon helped to give Nick Blakey enough metres to put the Swans in front again.
But there were a few more twists to come.
Fittingly, it was Jeremy Finlayson who changed the game’s fortunes again. Finlayson, whose wife Kellie is fighting stage four lung cancer, dragged down a mark and kicked the goal that put the Power in front.
Still, it wasn’t yet game over as a coast-to-coast Swans ball landed in the hands of Ollie Florent as time ran down on the clock.
As the siren sounded, Florent’s kick looked to be home, so much so that Callum Mills left the goal-square in premature jubilation.
"I hope she's watching. I love her so much."
— 7AFL (@7AFL) April 8, 2023
Jeremy Finlayson paid tribute to his wife Kellie, who is fighting cancer â¤ï¸#AFLSwansPortpic.twitter.com/yotn2vtYZC
The ball looked home … until Aliir Aliir thumped the ball back into play just before the goal-line. The Power had won in a game of inches.
As Finlayson said on Channel 7: “It’s a reward for sticking tough … and I’m doing it for Kel(lie). I’m just happy to be out there playing footy and doing something I love.”
And on a bizarre note, the Channel 7 camera footage of Florent’s shot at goal was blurred by an over-enthusiastic fan who blocked part of the vision — as was the case when Buddy Franklin kicked his 1000th goal last year.
SOMETHING TO CROW ABOUT ...
Take a bow, Jordan Dawson … Tom Doedee … Izak Rankine … and the ever improving Adelaide Crows.
That was some sort of performance.
Let’s start with Dawson, who was controversially awarded the Showdown Medal last week, even though the coaches didn’t rate him quite as highly.
Well, there was no medal on offer against the Dockers on Saturday, but if there had been, this time there wouldn’t have been a debate.
Dawson was brilliant and almost unstoppable as he went into the midfield and ended up with 28 disposals (14 contested), five clearances and a goal in the Crows’ impressive win.
Doedee gets a nomination for ‘ingenuity of the week’ as he launched a back-kick in the goal which prevented a certain Dockers’ goal. You won’t see a better rushed behind this season.
Remember when some said the Crows had paid overs to secure Rankine last summer … not anymore. Rankine is one of the best small forwards in the competition right now, having kicked three goals on Saturday to take his season tally to 11 so far. He was exactly what the Crows needed.
And Adelaide’s list build is looking good at this stage. Their older players are still doing their job, while some of the young guns including Josh Rachele, Jake Soligo, Riley Thilthorpe, Ned McHenry, Max Michalanney and co, are showing plenty.
A tough month looms — Carlton, Hawthorn, Collingwood and Geelong - but coach Matthew Nicks is building a nice side at his disposal.
COULD CHARLIE TOP THE TON?
We never thought it might happen again, but maybe … just maybe … it could be possible.
This year marks 15 years since an athletic, sharpshooting superstar called Buddy Franklin kicked the last century of goals in an extraordinary 2008 premiership season for the Hawks.
In that same year a prolific Carlton forward – Brendan Fevola – was left one goal short of the magical three figures.
In the years since, no one has gone close. In fact, in the past five seasons, no one has even edged past 70 goals.
Another Blues goalkicking star Charlie Curnow might be the man to defy recent history and do what many thought might never be done again.
Hear me out before you slap me down … Curnow is in rare form coming off his 64-goal 2022 Coleman Medal-winning season, and he looks in even better shape than he was last year.
He showed that again on Good Friday when he kicked 6.2 to take his yearly tally after four rounds to 16.7. That means he is averaging four goals per game so far in 2023.
If he can (touch wood) stay injury free and maintain that average, he would be headed towards 100, especially given we have an extra round this season (23 games, thanks to Gather Round), and the Blues most likely will be playing finals footy this year after a decade of watching on during September.
Yes, we know everything has to go right for Curnow to get close to reaching a century of goals, but if he can maintain his fitness and his form, he is one of the few modern-day players who could.
When my colleague Mark Robinson chose Curnow as the No. 1 player in his top 50 before the start of the season, a few people questioned the selection. But Charlie is right in the conversation now and it looks like a good call from Robbo.
Can Charlie get to 100? It’s a tough ask, and I’m sure he would prefer to play finals than anything else. But you wouldn’t put it past him.
As Lloyd Christmas said to Mary Swanson in Dumb and Dumber, “So you’re telling me (he’s) a chance!”
HARRY’S MESSAGE TO BEN
You’ve gotta love the ongoing banter between the McKay twins – Harry and Ben – as the sibling rivalry rolled on following the Good Friday clash.
Shortly after booting four goals in a return to form for the Blues, Harry gave Ben a bit of a lighthearted cook. For the eighth season in a row, the long-anticipated match-up of the McKay twins failed to eventuate, this time because Ben is recovering from injury.
Harry couldn’t resist himself when he was asked on Fox Footy about whether he would ever get the chance to line up against his brother.
“I don’t think it will ever happen,” Harry said. “I bet he plays next week (though).
“Charlie (Curnow) and I might have kicked 15 (instead of 10) if he (Ben) had played.”
It’s good-natured humour and we love it. Now we have to wait again until next season. Or given what’s happened in the past, maybe even longer!
GOOD FRIDAY FOOTY IS GREAT
We don’t yet know if Travis Auld will still be the AFL’s fixture guru for 2024, so we think he should just get in early and make a start on next year’s schedule.
Pencil in North Melbourne and Carlton for Good Friday – and while you’re at it, lock it in for the next five years.
As tough as that might be for the Western Bulldogs, who also crave being a part of Good Friday again, what the Kangaroos and Blues dished up on and off the field this week was the template for what Good Friday footy should look like.
It was a special week for the Royal Children’s Hospital and the Good Friday Appeal and the two clubs put on a show that was befitting the occasion in terms of respect and entertainment.
The crowd of 49,062 was not only a record for Good Friday football ) — which has been a part of the AFL fixture since 2017 — but it was the best Home And Away crowd at Marvel Stadium in a decade.
The image of young Ollie rushing to embrace Alastair Clarkson post-game and Chiara on the shoulders of Patrick Cripps during the Blues’ theme song will last for a long, long time.
Kudos to the AFL, both clubs and their coaches, as well as the players, for the manner in which they played the game, as well as paying tribute to the real heroes in all this )_ the kids and their families, and the staff working at the Royal Children’s Hospital.
GABBA-TTOIR MARK II
Reminder to self … DO NOT tip against the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba!
The Lions have won 31 of their past 36 games at the ground that was once referred to as the Gabba-ttoir, having found a chinks in the previously impregnable Collingwood armour.
It’s hard to know what to make of the Lions. They were poor against the Bulldogs a week earlier, but when their system works, particularly at home, they are bloody hard to beat.
Joe Daniher hit back against the critics who whacked his efforts against the Dogs, as he had 20 disposals for only the sixth time in his career, and kicked two goals.
The ‘Cam Rayner down back’ experiment is surely over after he started forward against the Magpies and provided the X-factor Chris Fagan needed with four goals as he vied with Charlie Cameron (six goals) for best on ground honours.
The next three weeks looked good for the Lions with North Melbourne (Adelaide Hills), GWS (Manuka Oval) and Fremantle (Gabba) looking very winnable games, which could potentially push Fagan’s team to 5-2 before a big clash with Carlton at Marvel Stadium in round 8.
THE 2022 DRAFT CROP
It’s not quite the ‘Super Draft’ but a month into the 2023 season the names called out on that November night are already lighting up the AFL.
Harry Sheezel is doing remarkable things for North Melbourne, having more disposals in his first four games than any other draftee on record. He had another 37 touches on Good Friday and has edged slightly ahead of Brisbane’s Will Ashcroft in Rising Star odds.
Ashcroft, himself, has been outstanding, settling into the Brisbane midfield like a seasoned pro. He showed class and courage against the Magpies in a super display last Thursday.
We are yet to see Aaron Cadman (GWS), George Wardlaw (North Melbourne), Elijah Tsatas (Essendon) and Jhye Clark (Geelong) for injury and opportunity reasons, while Bailey Humphrey (Gold Coast) was selected for the Suns this week.
Cam Mackenzie looks to be a special talent for the Hawks; Reuben Ginbey is giving the Eagles fans something to cheer for and looks a future skipper; Mattaes Phillipou is bringing a smile to Ross Lyon’s face; Alwyn Davey is showing great signs at the Bombers; Ollie Hollands and Lachie Cowan have slotted in seamlessly for the Blues and Max Michalanney looks a ripper for the Crows.
It’s been some sort of start for the class of 2022.
BLUE-COLLAR CLEARANCE DOGS
It was the last-minute clearance that the Bulldogs had to make and it was no surprise that Marcus Bontempelli was the man who nailed it.
There was almost a sense of inevitability, given what had transpired in the lead-up to the last serious passage of play.
The Tigers had clawed their way back to five points after a Shai Bolton snap and they sensed an opportunity with just a tick over 30 seconds left on the clock.
Bontempelli had already had 10 clearances to that stage, but despite being exhausted, he willed himself for one last final effort … and it meant so much to the Bulldogs.
Adam Treloar said after the Bulldogs’ gritty five-point win that they had put a huge emphasis on clearances leading in the game, and it showed.
The Dogs led the clearances 43-25, centre clearances 16-8 and stoppage clearances 27-17.
Bontempelli and Treloar led the way with 10 and 11 total clearances.
Treloar said of Bontempelli’s efforts: “It’s not just at that moment (in the last 30 seconds), he just puts a lot of his teammates on his back … Not only does he win the footy, but he puts his body on the line and goes back with the flight and as you saw in that last (bit of) play, he is an inspirational player to play with.”
The Dogs have now squared the ledger 2-2 after a slow start and now have a very winnable month ahead with games against Port Adelaide, Fremantle, Hawthorn and GWS.
DISLIKES
SUN STROKE
This was meant to be the season that Gold Coast finally came of age and pushed to play finals for the first time in its AFL history.
Two slip-ups in the first two weeks of the season were washed away by a strong win over Geelong in round 3.
But the Suns misfired again at Marvel Stadium. The unbeaten Saints feasted on the fumbling visitors with a 44-point drubbing leaving Gold Coast at 1-3 after the first month of footy.
Coach Stuart Dew was left lamenting mistakes that shouldn’t have happened, seated in the coaches’ box for a period of time after the final siren.
Their task was made difficult with the late withdrawal of important ruckman Jarrod Witts, but in fairness they were a long way short of the better-drilled Saints.
Gold Coast’s next month will determine if they can overcome their stuttering start to 2023, with games against Fremantle, North Melbourne, Richmond and Melbourne. It’s time the Suns finally made a stand.
CRUEL FOR THE McCARTINS
Footy is a great game, but it can be unbelievably cruel sometimes.
One of the footy’s best comeback stories is on hold again — perhaps even over — after Sydney’s Paddy McCartin was subbed out of Saturday night’s game against Port Adelaide.
It was the 10th concussion he has suffered in his AFL career and came about in the most innocuous of circumstances, which made it even more concerning.
He was wrestling for the ball at ground level when his head hit the turf. In sickening scenes for those who know his backstory, he struggled to keep his feet when he got up and was taken from the ground in the hands of the trainers.
McCartin was immediately subbed out of the game.
Swans footy boss Charlie Gardiner told Channel 7 the defender was “feeling OK … (But) we will take every precaution with him, and look it is very early but hopefully he recovers from it, and gets back out there.”
In a cruel twist of fate, McCartin’s brother Tom was also subbed out of the game due to concussion, leaving the Swans one player short.
DID TIGERS CONTRIBUTE TO OWN DEMISE?
It’s hard to believe a team can kick eight goals in a quarter and only four in the other three terms.
But that’s what the Tigers did against the Bulldogs on a waterlogged MCG on Saturday in a gripping arm wrestle that went down to the wire after Bolton’s late goal brought the margin back to under a goal.
Damien Hardwick would have been pleased with aspects of the game, yet less than impressed with others.
But as a learning curve, it will be massive for the young Tigers who went into the game with seven players who had played less than 25 games.
The Tigers found a new break-neck speed approach, taking the game on at all costs, which worked superbly in an intoxicating second term as they wrested control of the game.
But they failed to adjust accordingly when the heavens opened and heavy rain fell after half-time, meaning a more measured approach might have helped them.
These two contrasting styles between the Tigers and Dogs made for compelling viewing, but Richmond will be rueing some missed opportunities as well as some errant field kicking and overuse of handball that cost them possession on more than a few occasions.
They had 50 more handballs than their opponents, and more than 40 more than their 2023 season average before this round.
It was a bold, brash, ballistic style that will likely serve the young Tigers well deep into the future, but it hurt them when it mattered in tough conditions against the Dogs.
Life for the Tigers doesn’t get any easier with last year’s grand finalist Sydney and premiership favourite Melbourne next in line.
SLOW, STAGNANT, SO PREDICTABLE
Fremantle’s 2023 season is teetering on the brink and is fast reaching the point of no return.
A first month that looked a relatively kind one — St Kilda, North Melbourne, West Coast and Adelaide — has proven anything but. Three losses and a less than impressive win over a depleted Eagles has put the acid right on the Dockers and Justin Longmuir.
The coach could barely explain what went wrong in the first half against Adelaide, telling Fox Footy it was “pretty unacceptable … some of the stuff we are doing.” It sure was.
A team that played finals last season and looked well placed to do the same this season now looks a million miles off its best.
Their ball movement is slow and stagnant and desperately needs an injection of creativity. The flair cupboard is bare, and the next two months sees them take on some serious teams including the Lions, the Swans, the Blues, the Demons and the Tigers.
Longmuir needs to start taking some risks - at the selection table, on the magnet board and in game plan because at the moment they are dull to watch and predictable to play against.
Over to you, Dockers!
‘DISSING’ DAICOS
How could anyone find fault with Nick Daicos’ game against the Lions on Thursday night?
The armchair experts on social media and elsewhere were quick to point out a few fumbles from last year’s Rising Star winner in their critical post-game assessment.
The comments were laughable. Some were even embarrassing.
The 19-year-old was the most influential player in black and white on Thursday night and if it hadn’t been for his extraordinary third term, the Magpies would have lost by considerably more than they did.
His 16 disposals in the third quarter was more than 25 other players in the game had for the whole match. His 38 for the game included an equal game high 16 contested possession.
He won’t get the top Brownlow votes, which should go to Cam Rayner or Charlie Cameron, but he’s likely to get one vote, which would put him right in the medal mix four weeks in.
PIES’ RUCK WOES
Hindsight is one of the most useless things in footy. You can’t change what’s been done, but you can learn from it, which is what Collingwood would be thinking right now.
The Magpie aren’t lamenting the fact that they traded Brodie Grundy to Melbourne in the summer. If they hadn’t, Tom Mitchell and co wouldn’t be wearing black and white right now.
But given the perfect storm (it’s actually been more like a twister and tornado rolled into one) that has hit their ruck stocks, they might be wishing they had somehow added an extra ‘cheap’ senior ruckman.
The Magpies will be without Darcy Cameron for the next six weeks, Mason Cox will miss the next two weeks (and maybe longer) with a scan to soon determine how long until he returns, while three-gamer Aiden Begg is still weeks away from playing.
The only other permanent ruckman on their list is a very raw Oscar Steene, who is playing in the VFL and is still a long way short of his AFL debut after being picked up in February as an SSP selection.
It’s going to be a very delicate balancing act – at least for the next fortnight and possibly more – with Dan McStay, Billy Frampton and Ash Johnson to pinch hit in the coming weeks.
Oscar McInerny torched the Magpies on Thursday night. Next stop is Rowan Marshall for the Saints in Gather Round and then it will be Sam Draper on Anzac Day.
Craig McRae and his coaching staff will need to work some wonders in the coming weeks – though as he said, there is no magic fix.
The one thing he would be buoyed about is that the Magpies never gave up against the Lions. They will need to bring that intent against the Saints next round, and try to limit Marshall’s output.
Originally published as Early Tackle: Glenn McFarlane’s likes and dislikes from round 4
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