The Final Siren for the Home and Away Season 2024
Final Quarter Mark and Overall Season Grade
It’s Okay – There Is Always Next Year
For this series of articles, the season has been broken down into quarters covering approximately a six-week run of fixturing, with a slight anomaly caused by Opening Round. At the end of each quarter each team is given a mark for that quarter and in this article, an overall mark for the season.
Using Hawthorn as the most extreme example, they were given the following gradings up to the end of the third quarter of the season:
1st Quarter grade (1 win) E
2nd Quarter grade (3 wins – should have been 4) B
3rd Quarter grade (5 wins) A
Overall grade at season to date (9 wins) B+
While I have noted percentages, other than by way of passing, percentage and other variables are now irrelevant.
The final quarter is made up of rounds 19 to 24.
Reckon We Should Have a Bit of Fun
The season is over for ten teams is over already and they are already being torn apart by a feral media intent on creating sensational headlines daily. While some teams will be marked harshly in the eyes of some, all comments will be written in the style of schoolteacher.
I normally do this in alphabetical order, but for this exercise I will start from ladder positions ninth down to the bottom before I mention the teams playing finals.
This ain’t no party, this ain’t no Disco, this ain’t no fooling around…
Collingwood – 9th (102.5)
1st Quarter grade (3 wins) B-
2nd Quarter grade (3 wins, 2 draws) B+
3rd Quarter grade (2 wins, 4 losses) D
4th Quarter grade (4 wins, 2 losses) C-
Final Grade (12 wins 2 draws) C-
Collingwood Excuses
It was unfair the Pies played in the Opening Round.
It is hard to back up and win back-to-back Premierships.
It is impossible to win games with so many injuries.
The umpires robbed us, blah, blah, blah…
Remarks
It is hard to backup after winning a Premiership. As Geelong experienced the previous season as the reigning champ, the Pies failed to make the cut.
Pies supporters will blame the Tom McCartin incident as to why they are on the outside looking in, but in all honesty, it is hard to blame a single umpiring decision when they escaped against the Roos in similar circumstances. As the saying goes, “karma is a real bitch”.
Craig McRae should be ruing the winter months, as that is where his team fell apart. While I am mentioning Fly, after spending two years as a smiling assassin as your charges rose to the top, it was refreshing (from an outsider’s point of view) to see how you handled, or didn’t handle, defeat and mediocrity.
Fremantle – 10th (111.9%)
1st Quarter grade (3 wins) C
2nd Quarter grade (3 wins, 1 draw) B+
3rd Quarter grade (4 wins) B+
4th Quarter grade (2 wins) E
Final Grade (12 wins, 1 draw) D+
Until three-quarter time against the Bombers, all was looking grand in Freo-World, but then Josh Treacy got injured and the wheels completely came off. Not just against the Bombers when they overwhelmed the Dockers in a 15-minute blitz, but also for the remaining three matches of the season.
The moment Treacy left the field against the Bombers was the precise moment the Dockers’ season ended.
At three-quarter time in the season, I stated Fremantle were playing Destiny Lotto, and their season was in their own hands. At the end of Round 20 the Dockers were certainties to make the finals, but somehow or another, they managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory and dropped from second to tenth by the end of the season.
Some portion of blame for the Fall of Flagmantle must be levelled at Justin Longmuir who failed to straighten the ship up after the Essendon loss under his stewardship. Josh Traecy is a mighty fine player, but he is not that good that the destiny of the team rests on his shoulders.
A totally wasted season.
Essendon – 11th (93.5%)
1st Quarter grade (4 wins) A
2nd Quarter grade (4 wins, 1 draw) A+
3rd Quarter grade (2 wins) C
4th Quarter grade (1 win) E
Final Grade (11 wins, 1 draw) C-
My expectation for the Bombers at the start of the season was they would win more games than they would lose, but not necessarily make the finals. I was right and I was wrong, as the Bombers managed to end the season with precisely a 50 percent win and a 50 percent loss ratio.
From afar the Bombers frustrate me, and I know diehard supporters who have no hair left after this season. To quote many a schoolteacher from years past, ‘Essendon has potential, but…’, but is that a fair assessment? I think not.
Like Flagmantle, the Bombers rose to great heights in the first half of the season as expectations rose, only to crash back down to earth with a thud, and (like Freo) we have all seen this movie before.
Are we at Rocky VI yet?
St Kilda – 12th (99.4%)
1st Quarter grade (2 wins) D+
2nd Quarter grade (1 win) E
3rd Quarter grade (3 wins) C-
4th Quarter grade (5 wins) A+
Final Grade (11 wins) C
What the hell is happening at Moorabbin?
Eight wins in twelve games to finish the season it just as impressive as it is frustrating. Owen will the Aints (sic) put it together for a whole a season? Owen indeed!
St Kilda reside in their own dystopian reality and for Saints supporter it must feel like they are living in an Orwellian nightmare with images of Barry Breen and 1966 blurred by images of the ball bouncing away from the Steven Milne, Darren Jarman running amok, Heath Shaw shutting down RooBoy, and Gary Ablett jnr being Gary Ablett jnr. The list of near missed St Kilda opportunities is endless, absurd, and very avant-garde.
In Ross They Trust
Ross Lyon is a master of double talk, and in the abyss that is the St Kilda Football Club maybe he is the right master to take the Aints to glory. If Ross does reach the promised land in the next year or two, you can be guaranteed there will be some kind of absurd intervention involved.
All eyes are on the Saints next year as they are the team most likely (a huge statement when it comes to St Kilda) to march up the ladder. Owen the Saints.
Gold Coast Suns – 13th (99.1%)
1st Quarter grade (3 wins) B-
2nd Quarter grade (3 wins) C
3rd Quarter grade (3 wins) C
4th Quarter grade (2 wins) E
Final Grade (11 wins) D
When the Suns are good, they are very good, but when they are bad, they are horrid.
The Saints, the Dockers, the Crows and the Suns are teams which greatly frustrate, especially the Suns and the Crows.
Dimma prophesised at the start of the season he already had eighty percent of the pieces in place for the Suns to be successful, and you know what, he was right, but for all the wrong reasons.
Dimma’s comments meant, psychologically, the Suns had an excuse for mediocrity before the season had even begun. While Dimma has to be admired for his preseason honesty, in hindsight his candour may have been too honest, especially with a team with a team which needs no encouragement to be ordinary.
Yes, the Suns won eleven games this season, a club high, but that win was achieved in 23 games not 22 games as in previous seasons.
Melbourne – 14th (98.5%)
1st Quarter grade (4 wins) B+
2nd Quarter grade (3 wins) B-
3rd Quarter grade (3 wins) C
4th Quarter grade (1 won) E-
Final Grade (11 wins) C-
My Kingdom for a Forward
There has been some very harsh criticism levelled towards the Dees and some of their players, starting from last year’s preseason right through to this very day, but do they deserve it? The answer is not a simple yes or no, as they is a bit of ‘yes’, but there is also a lot of ‘no’.
First piece of advice to the Melbourne hierarchy, sack the person who leaked the Exit Interviews to the media, unless of course the media just made it all up which given the loose standards of AFL journalism, is a possibility.
In 2021, the Demons won the flag with a star-studded midfield, one big Max, a solid back six and a very shaky piecemeal forward line. The Dees forward structure was problematic in 2021 and it remains problematic to this day and is probably the main reason Melbourne are not playing finals this year, coupled with a decline of the centre structure as they have struggled with fitness, other clubs figuring them out, and other issues.
Despite the media barrage, the Dees seem to be sticking fat and if, and that is a huge if, they can improve their forward stocks over the preseason then they are a chance to compete at the pointy end next season.
Adelaide Crows – 15th (99.1%)
1st Quarter grade (1 win) E
2nd Quarter grade (3.5 wins) B-
3rd Quarter grade (2 wins) D-
4th Quarter grade (2 wins) D-
Final Grade (8 wins, 1 draw) D-
Fact of life, the Crows not as good as they claim.
The Crows went into this season as a team that suffered unbelievable bad luck in season 2023 and as such the claims coming out of West Lakes was the public would see the real Adelaide Crows in season 2024. Indeed, they were right, the Crows stunk it up in 2024.
The Crows seem to frustrate everybody, especially their own supporters.
Unless something changes before next season, the Crows will be in the same position as they are right now.
West Coast Eagles – 16th (66.1%)
1st Quarter grade (2 wins) B
2nd Quarter grade (1 win) D
3rd Quarter grade (0 wins) E
4th Quarter grade (2 wins) C-
Final Grade (5 wins) E
Look up a definition for the term ‘coach killer’ and you will see a picture of the West Coast Eagles circa 2023 and 2024.
It is hard to fathom there is still a core group of players who played in the 2018 winning Grand Final team given the lack of fight and spirit the Eagles have shown in the last couple of seasons. There were excuses that could be made for season 2023, however the same cannot be said for season 2024
The award for the worst performing team and most disappointing team of season 2024 goes to the Eagles, but it was a close call with the Crows and the Roos.
North Melbourne – 17th (63.5%)
1st Quarter grade (0 wins) F
2nd Quarter grade (0 wins) F
3rd Quarter grade (2 wins) C (they were stiffed against the Pies)
4th Quarter grade (1 win) E
Final Grade (3 wins) E
A very, very, disappointing season.
The Roos form, under the tutelage of Clarkson this season, varied from honourable losses to complete disappointment, and just three wins.
At times, it looked like the Kangaroos were on the improve, but any improvement was nullified by a run of spiritless defeats. I will offer the excuse of growing pains, but that is really a cop out.
Next year is a crunch year for both Alastair Clarkson and the North Melbourne Football Club as measurable and quantifiable improvement is a MUST.
Richmond – 18th (63.7%)
1st Quarter grade (1 win) C-
2nd Quarter grade (0 wins) E
3rd Quarter grade (1 win) D
4th Quarter grade (0 wins) E
Final Grade (2 wins) E
There should now be very little nostalgia left at Tigerland associated with the dynasty era of 2017 to 2020. Dusty, Jack, Cotch, and a host of other players have all had their emotional farewell tours, and it is time for the club to move forward.
Adam Yze has taken on one of the hardest jobs in the AFL, coaching a team in freefall after a successful era, and after his first year at the helm he would most likely testify that his job was made harder by the retirements of some of the greats at the Richmond Football Club.
Goodbye Dusty, you are one of the all-time GREATS.
It is time to move on now.
The Finalists
Any grades, comments or remarks made about the finalists only relate to the home and away season.
Sydney Swans – 1st (126.7%)
1st Quarter grade (5 wins) B+
2nd Quarter grade (5 wins) A+
3rd Quarter grade (4 wins) A-
4th Quarter grade (3 wins) D+
Final Grade (17 wins) A+
Based purely on the Swans overall season, and not on their last quarter of the year, the Swans rightfully get the top mark by virtue of winning the most matches for the season, having the highest percentage and finishing on top, but the last quarter of the season did reveal more than one chink in the Swans armour.
The Swans are the most intriguing watches of the finals series.
Port Adelaide – 2nd (114.8%)
1st Quarter grade (4 wins) B+
2nd Quarter grade (4 wins) A-
3rd Quarter grade (2 wins) E
4th Quarter grade (6 wins) A+
Final Grade (16 wins) A
There is a lot of talk about how the Hawks and the Doggies finished the season, but for reasons unknown the Power seem to fly under the radar. They won their last six matches of the year, including blowing away the ladder leaders by near 18 goals.
The Power are the silent assassins, who may silently steal the silverware this year.
Geelong – 3rd (112.2%)
1st Quarter grade (6 wins) A+
2nd Quarter grade (1 win) E
3rd Quarter grade (4 wins) B+
4th Quarter grade (5 wins) A
Final Grade (15 wins) A-
There are two near certainties in life – taxes and the Geelong Football Club playing in finals.
Like the Power, the Cats form has been red-hot running into September, yet a lot of media experts are not really rating their chances this year.
Write the Cats off at your own peril.
Greater Western Sydney Giants – 4th (109.8%)
1st Quarter grade (5 wins) A-
2nd Quarter grade (2 wins) C-
3rd Quarter grade (3 wins) C-
4th Quarter grade (5 wins) A
Final Grade (15 wins) A-
After making the Preliminary Final last year and missing out on a chance at the Big Dance by under a kick, securing a top four position was the Giants only concern in season 2024.
The Giants have achieved their home and away ambitions, and the rest is now up to them.
Brisbane Lions – 5th (121.9%)
1st Quarter grade (2 wins) C-
2nd Quarter grade (2.5 wins) D
3rd Quarter grade (6 wins) B+
4th Quarter grade (4 wins) B
Final Grade (14 wins, 1 draw) B
The team that loses the Grand Final generally has a tough time the following season to reach the same heights, and such is the case with the Lions. Chris Fagan must be frustrated that his team fluffed their lines in the closing rounds and just missed out on the coveted double chance top four position.
The Lions have the talent to go all the way, but they will have to survive four games of Russian Roulette to be the Lion Kings.
Western Bulldogs – 6th (125.1%)
1st Quarter grade (3 wins) C
2nd Quarter grade (2 wins) D
3rd Quarter grade (4 wins) B+
4th Quarter grade (5 wins) A-
Final Grade (14 wins) B-
The Doggies have stormed into the finals on the back of an excellent last quarter of the season and many are speculating the Doggies can repeat their 2016 Premiership and 2021 when they made the Big Dance, when they surged from the bottom rungs of the top eight.
Roll the dice Bevo and let’s see.
Maybe one year this team will try and make the top four?
Hawthorn – 7th (118.5%)
1st Quarter grade (1 win) E
2nd Quarter grade (3 wins – should have been 4) B
3rd Quarter grade (5 wins) A
4th Quarter grade (5 wins) A
Final Grade (14 wins) B+
At the end of the first quarter of the season my assessment of the Hawks was scathing, and I wrote:
“Late last year I reviewed quite a few Hawthorn games, and I could see the gradual improvement in the Hawks, even in defeat, but this year I am perplexed as to what their game plan is.”
About the same time, I wrote the above statement there was a meeting between the players and the coaching staff at Waverley to have a crack this season and see just far it could take them, with the proviso they had fun along the way.
In all honesty it is the best turn around I have witnessed in a single season EVER – bravo.
Carlton – 8th (110.2%)
1st Quarter grade (5 wins) A
2nd Quarter grade (2 wins) D
3rd Quarter grade (4 wins) A-
4th Quarter grade (2 wins) D-
Final Grade (13 wins) C
The once mighty, second-placed Blues needed a touch of luck to eventually scrap into September.
Was the St Kilda loss was as gallant as some make out? At the end of day it is hypothetical as the Power bet the Dockers anyway, but I found the St Kilda loss problematic as the Blues had everything to play while the Saints players were getting ready for Bali. Maybe I just don’t buy into all the hype around this club.
Anyway Blues fans, get ready for The Deer Hunter when you travel the Gabbatoir on the weekend – there can only be one team left standing.
