Key factor separating Giants, Swans, and Cats from the rest of the competition

The Cats, Giants and Swans have set themselves apart from the rest of the competition, but not just on the ladder. JOSH BARNES unveils how they’ve made the gap.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 25: Harvey Thomas of the Giants celebrates kicking a goal during the round seven AFL match between Greater Western Sydney Giants and Brisbane Lions at Manuka Oval, on April 25, 2024, in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/AFL Photos/via Getty Images )

The top three clubs have opened a gap between them and the rest of the competition, not just on the ladder but in their style of play.

Geelong, Sydney and GWS have all pulled ahead of the rest of the league after seven rounds, with Herald Sun reporter Josh Barnes saying they’re the “top three seeds” in the race for the 2024 premiership.

Speaking on the Herald Sun Footy Podcast, Barnes echoed Ross Lyon’s comments that “the ladder doesn’t lie”.

“I think they’re our top three seeds, they’re all tracking so well and we’re going to learn a lot about them this weekend,” Barnes said.

“We’ve got a Sydney derby in not an ideal timeslot at 1.45 on a Saturday afternoon and Geelong faces Melbourne that night.”

But more than the trio’s ladder positions, Barnes said the style of football played by Geelong, GWS and Sydney was setting them apart.

Chad Warner’s outside game has helped the Swans tear sides up on the outside. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images.

“A lot of footy in recent years has been about how you can get the ball from one end to the other,” he said.

“At the moment, we’re seeing outside footy is winning games more than inside footy from what we’ve seen, teams like Carlton are smashing it on the inside but it’s not translating as greatly outside to what we’ve seen in the past.

“On the weekend Sam Mitchell was reasonably pleased after the game and said we cracked in and had a good effort, they won clearances and won contested possessions by 18, so normally if you do that you’re doing pretty good but they got nowhere near Sydney on the outside.”

“Geelong was similar against Carlton, Carton beat them up on the inside, Cats won that count by 19 and the Blues won the clearances, inside 50s, but Geelong was just so slick getting the ball to the outside to Jeremy Cameron and Gryan Miers.”

Gryan Miers has been sublime for Geelong this Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

The Giants, in contrast, won basically every statistical category in what turned into a “belting”, but their style of play was even more evident than the Cats’ and Swans’.

“The way they moved the ball on the outside as the orange Tsunami – Darcy Jones coming in wearing a helmet running from end to end, they just looked fantastic,” Barnes said.

“You do have to be reasonable inside to be a chance but if you get it outside and you’re able to get it from end to end you’re going to win a lot of games.”

Barnes said the next three sides on the ladder would all have chances to stake their claims over the next few weeks, with Melbourne playing Geelong and then Carlton in a bumper fortnight.

Port Adelaide plays Adelaide in the Showdown before hosting Geelong, while the Blues play the Pies and then the Demons.

Herald Sun Footy Podcast host Andy Bellairs labelled the Pies the “sleeping giant” in the premiership race.

“Collingwood’s the sleeping giant, they’re half a game out of the eight plus percentage, but we’re seven rounds in,” he said.

“They’re ready to make their move.

“What a couple of weeks of footy we’re about to see.”

RALPH NAMES HIS TOP FIVE ‘GETTABLE’ TARGETS

Herald Sun journalist Jon Ralph has named the top five targets he believes are “gettable” from a bumper crop of free agents who become available this season.

On the Herald Sun Footy Podcast, released on Tuesday, Ralph said there was a clear top five in terms of who could actually be extracted from their clubs, with several other names who could be of interest to a struggling club in the bottom four or six to add some experience and depth.

Despite comments about loyalty in the wake of Jason Horne-Francis’ departure from North Melbourne, Ralph believes Zurhaar is one of the more achievable free agency targets for clubs looking to top up their lists.

Cameron Zurhaar is someone Jon Ralph believes could be dragged out of North Melbourne. Picture: Michael Klein

“His form has been modest, but it’s becoming much more apparent he’s more likely to leave than not,” Ralph said.

Likewise, Richmond workhorse Jack Graham is another one who clubs might be able to wrest from the Tigers’ list with a strong enough offer.

“He’s a fascinating one,” Ralph said.

“He’s a bit down on form, has dealt with injuries, and there’ll be clubs who see him as a hard runner, a modern player for the transition game.”

“I can’t see Richmond paying him big dollars and they might get a second-rounder for him if he decides to leave, depending on the deal.”

Demons utility Adam Tomlinson is another one who Ralph believes could be a low-cost, high-reward play for smart list managers.

Tomlinson played in opening round, but has since made way for Tom McDonald’s return to the backline despite a “really solid performance”.

“He hasn’t got a look-in,” Ralph said.

“His form at VFL has been incredible, he had 17 intercept marks and 34 possessions, he was dominant in the VFL last week.

“There are enough clubs around who want a third back, he can play second back if he has to but can also go onto a wing and play there.”

Adam Tomlinson could be a plug and play option for most clubs. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images.

Ralph said clubs were circling Swan Will Hayward, who was “pushed back in the pecking order” in Sydney’s priority order of re-signing.

He said Port Adelaide had joined Adelaide in their hunt for the forward, while there was also Victorian interest.

Clubs were also believing Elliot Yeo may be someone they can extract from the Eagles after the club delayed talks on a contract extension.

Ralph said Yeo’s camp was left waiting for a counteroffer that never came after early discussions over a two-year deal in February, “so they’re testing the market”.

Ralph said offers of three years for up to $700,000 a season weren’t unreasonable considering his form in the past month.

“What would St Kilda pay for him?” Ralph said.

“If you have 3 million or 4 million cap space, what does it matter if you pay Elliot Yeo $800,000 a year?”

However, Yeo’s love of West Coast and want to play alongside Harley Reid were significant factors in any decision he’d make.

Ralph also said Nick Haynes was someone who could find a new lease on life as he exits his five-year contract this year.

“He’s 32, he’s too good to play VFL or roll around as a rookie pick for the Giants,” he said.

As for Dustin Martin, Ralph said the Richmond champion should “do whatever makes you happy”.

“The one thing we shouldn’t do is lecture Dusty. He’s got nothing left to prove,” he said.

“You’ve given Richmond fans three Norms and three flags, and people are saying he owes us this or that – he owes Richmond absolutely nothing. If it’s him getting 500k for a year on the Gold Coast, go and do whatever you want.”

Originally published as Key factor separating Giants, Swans, and Cats from the rest of the competition