The Tackle: Likes and dislikes from round four of the AFL season

Surely opposition clubs are catching on to this Bomber’s simple move by now. Could it cost your team next? See the likes and dislikes from round four.

Richmond bolstered its midfield in the trade period, but alarm bells are ringing for their on-ball brigade.

Collingwood has an area it needs to address — and it isn’t in the ruck.

Port Adelaide and Ken Hinkley responded to the critics, while an under-the-radar young Crow has made an impressive start to his career.

Plus, a maligned Blue is showing the patience may be rewarded in 2023.

Here are Jay Clark’s likes and dislikes from round four.

DISLIKES

1. TIGERS IN TROUBLE

Richmond has never been a super stoppage side, even throughout the glorious premiership campaigns.

But the set up needs a strong health check this week.

The Tigers were belted in the centre clearances 16-8 and overall for clearances 41-26 to leave the team on six points from four games.

If they cannot win one of their next two games against Sydney Swans and Melbourne, their finals hopes could be cooked without injured forward Tom Lynch for the next two months. And the centre square will warrant plenty of Damien Hardwick’s attention this week, following a grumpy press conference on Saturday night.

Damien Hardwick was not a happy camper on Saturday night. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

But beneath the surface Hardwick clearly already has an eye on the future, despite the bold moves for Jacob Hopper and Tim Taranto in the trade period.

The Tigers played seven players on Saturday with 25 or less games of experience.

They were Samson Ryan, Tylar Young, Rhyan Mansell, Tyler Sonsie, Hugo Ralphsmith, Judson Clarke and Noah Cumberland.

Hawthorn might have fallen off a cliff after its premiership era but the Tigers don’t want to end up in the same situation.

2. LACK OF RESPECT

Opposition teams need to catch on to Bomber Mason Redman booting long goals from easy handball receives.

Redman kicked an easy one in the Round 1 win over Hawthorn from outside 50m, with former Swans and Giants’ assistant coach Steve Johnson calling him one of the best long-range goal kickers in the competition.

No wonder GWS coach Adam Kingsley went spare at his troops at the final change after Redman ran on to an easy handball to land another running goal from 50m with no GWS player near him.

Surely, opposition clubs are on to Redman by now.

Redman is out of contract and a free agent at season’s end and the South Australian is clearly looking at a bumper pay rise.

The Bombers have plenty of salary cap room to offer him a deal he won’t knock back.

One of the new emerging leaders at Essendon likes what he has seen from new coach Brad Scott.

3. MAGPIES WOES

Craig McRae’s biggest headache was not the ruck problem.

The issue which will top his whiteboard this week was Collingwood’s turnover woes from Thursday night’s loss to Brisbane.

The Lions slayed the Magpies in the turnover game at the Gabba, scoring 43 more points than McRae’s men in this area.

That is the worst turnover differential Collingwood has recorded under McRae since he took over from Nathan Buckley last year.

It will be the focus this week as the Magpies attempt to get back on the winner’s list against a much-improved St Kilda in Adelaide.

The Magpies used Dan McStay and Billy Frampton in the ruck and won the centre clearances 15-12.

But it wasn’t the hit-outs that was the problem, it was what happened on the turnover.

Collingwood was torched on turnover. Picture: Chris Hyde/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

4. LEAVE KEN ALONE

The hysteria surrounding Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley’s job in South Australia seems over the top.

Club legend Warren Tredrea said his position was “untenable”.

But what we saw on Saturday night was something very different as the Port Adelaide players showed they clearly still play for the man from Camperdown in western Victoria, upsetting last year’s Grand Finalists in their own backyard.

Clearly there was a slice of luck involved as the McCartin brothers went down to concussion for Sydney and Aliir Aliir spoiled Oli Florent’s after-the-siren shot on goal, but the Power players made a big statement on Saturday night that they have no intention of raising a white flag on their season ahead of another tough task against Western Bulldogs on Saturday night at Adelaide Oval.

The Dogs thrashed Port Adelaide in the 2021 preliminary final by 71 points and that hurt may help provide another little spur this weekend.

LIKES

1. THE STRINGER SHOW

There are few acts in football as exciting and entertaining as the Jake Stringer Show.

And as much as Essendon coach Brad Scott will try to play it down, ‘The Package’ delivered an enthralling reminder about what he is capable of as he snagged four goals in the win over GWS Giants on Sunday.

It has been a tough start to the year for Stringer, dealing with a back and hamstring issue over pre-season which sidelined him for the opening two games.

But after a quiet one against St Kilda last week, Stringer took over on Sunday, flushing a 60m torpedo on the run which will be one of the goals of the season.

It is something few players would be bold enough to even try, but Stringer hit it sweetly from outside the arc, playing with a freedom and confidence that makes him one of a kind.

Plenty of people have criticised Stringer for his flaws — his conditioning included — but he remains a joy to watch at his best and an absolute handful for the opposition in the forward half.

2. ROOS MIDS ROARING

North Melbourne’s one-wood is its engine room.

And it is about to get even better with explosive onballer George Wardlaw pushing for a senior game in the next week or two.

The man who has been likened to Patrick Dangerfield for his powerful burst has been building nicely in the VFL, adding to the Kangaroos’ midfield riches.

Alastair Clarkson benched club great and fan favourite Ben Cunnington on Friday after a quiet first half, but it shows how much the standards are rising at Arden St.

Luke Davies-Uniacke is an All-Australian contender and Jy Simpkin was excellent against Carlton with 16 contested possessions from 29 disposals.

North has won the stoppage game in three of its first four matches, shading West Coast in clearance differential in Round 1 by +15, Fremantle (+15) in Round 2, and Carlton (+11) in Round 4.

And they have been hitting the scoreboard hard out of the middle. But wait for Wardlaw.

George Wardlaw is closing in on a debut. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

3. UNDER THE RADAR CROW

Nineteen-year-old Max Michalanney could walk down Chapel St without being recognised. But the Adelaide Crows’ defender is currently one of the most unsung heroes in the competition and will step into the spotlight against the might of the Carlton forward line to kickstart Gather Round on Thursday night.

In a low-profile Adelaide back line, Michalanney kept veteran Fremantle star Michael Walters goalless from five possessions in their 67-minute match-up, after shutting down Richmond pair Shai Bolton and Maurice Rioli a fortnight ago.

Adelaide smashed the Dockers at ground level on Saturday, and Josh Rachelle and Izak Rankine are lighting up the competition with their party tricks.

But it’s the unwavering efforts of the 190cm Michalanney along with stopper Nick Murray, Mitchell Hinge and Jordon Butts who have got the job done in no-fuss fashion.

Max Michalanney has made a hot start to life as a Crow. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

4. SAINTS’ BIG MOVE

St Kilda president Andrew Bassat says he thinks about Brett Ratten every day.

It was a cold-hearted move to cut ties with its former coach.

But the anguish has faded into the background for Saints fans following an incredibly successful takeover from Ross Lyon.

Suddenly, mid-tier players such as Mason Wood, Jack Higgins and Seb Ross are having a huge impact, helping guide the club to its best start (4-0) since 2010.

The Saints smashed a highly-rated Gold Coast midfield brigade on Saturday night, racking up 120 more disposals than the Suns.

It is St Kilda’s best result in this area in eight years.

Plus, they had 108 more uncontested possessions and 42 more uncontested marks than the Suns.

Considering the Saints’ huge injury list and all the talent at Gold Coast, those numbers are an annihilation.

They take on Collingwood in the biggest test of the Saints’ season in Adelaide, but there is no doubt the bold changes over summer have been the right ones, putting the club back on the right track for its 150th year.

Ross Lyon has notched four-straight wins. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

5. MITCH FINALLY FIRING

Mitch McGovern might have tested Carlton’s patience in recent years, but one of the most maligned players in the competition could yet reward the Blues in a major way this season.

The man who is fighting to extend his career beyond this season after a nightmare run of injuries was outstanding despite copping a corked leg in the win over North Melbourne, gathering 27 touches, 11 intercept possessions and seven score involvements.

Carlton is juggling a tight salary cap and needs to make some room to keep Tom De Koning on the books.

But if McGovern continues Friday’s form he will certainly deserve an extension at Carlton, albeit on a reduced wicket.

Hopefully, he can stay on the park.

6. DEES DEPTH

Melbourne is the deserved premiership favourite one month into the new season after flexing its midfield muscle against a depleted West Coast.

And the Demons’ depth looks downright scary as Simon Goodwin must somehow work out who goes from the structure when Max Gawn and Ben Brown return.

Tom McDonald and Jacob Van Rooyen shone against West Coast as Clayton Oliver and Brodie Grundy dominated the middle.

And they have found another one in young half back Judd McVee, whose run and precision ball use looks a real weapon.

Lachie Hunter is one of the trade recruits of the year, having hardly missed a beat on the wing, and Kysaiah Pickett had some breathtaking moments in the forward half.

The Demons weren’t as mentally sharp or as well connected in the forward half as they would have liked to have been last year, frequently coughing up halftime leads.

But the Demons appear to be back in a nice groove to start 2023 and look the team to beat.

Originally published as The Tackle: Likes and dislikes from round four of the AFL season