It’s that time of the week again – time to run down the Winners and Losers of the round.
Here are the lists for Round Three
THE WINNERS
JACK MARTIN
I have to eat a bit of humble pie, here. I was one of the people who screwed my nose up when the Cats picked Martin up. He’s been inconsistent at Gold Coast, and flat out lazy at Carlton, at times.
But the Cats took the chance, and they reaped the reward in this one, as he collected the wet footy like he was the only player out there playing with a dry ball. He finished with three goals in a match-winning performance.
OSCAR STEENE
Perfectly timed hit outs, a big clunk in the goal square, and the AFL commentary box wetting their seats every time he touched the footy.
I wrote about his leap and timing in the pre-season (it’s why I watch pre-season games, people), so seeing him perform like this was no surprise. He, and a fair few like him, will be ecstatic with the changes to the ruck rules.
JARROD BERRY
Had the role on Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera in the first half, and despite NWM having 17 touches, his impact was minimal. Meanwhile, Berry worked off Nas, who has forgotten how to run defensively, and picked up plenty of the footy, himself.
He then moved back to his usual wing role and finished the game as one of the best on the park.
NICK DAICOS
Plenty of the footy in the first half, but took the game over in the third quarter, as the Pies put distance on the Giants. Slotted two goals from his eight touches in that quarter, as everything he did stung the Giants.
Make no mistake, even those who don’t like him simply have to respect him as the weapon that he is.
KEIDEAN COLEMAN
Class.
Some of his delivery by foot was a timely reminder as to why he was viewed as the heir apparent at half-back for the Lions before his ACL injury.
His ability to change his kick at the last moment and lace it out to a teammate, give the Lions another potent weapon as they notched their first win of the season.
LIAM RYAN
Flyin’ Ryan looks like he is all-in at the Saints. Not only did he snag three goals, but he laid the perfect bump to send Darcy Gardiner to the bench and out of the game.
Ryan’s impact will always be in fits and starts, as he plays the small forward role, but his impact is undeniable. If he stays fit, he will make a massive difference for the Saints before all is said and done in 2026.
JOBE SHANAHAN
Sometimes, you find a moment that makes a young player. We may have seen a moment such as this for Jobe Shanahan over the weekend.
With the Eagles clinging to the narrow lead and the Power desperately attempting to eke out a win at home, Shanahan soared (like an Eagle?) to clunk a huge grab in the defensive 50, relieving the pressure and drawing comparisons to a man who had the words “you star” closely associated with him.
West Coast fans had already talked up the young star prior to this game. Now, everyone knows who he is. He had the moment that made him. Now… to build on it.
JOSH TREACY
I have been on the Josh Treacy bandwagon for a couple of years – nobody attacks the footy like him, and no big forward applies himself as well, defensively.
He treated the Richmond defence as though they were children on the weekend, clunking 12 marks in the wet, including four in the contest, as he proved to be the biggest difference between the teams.
LUKE PARKER
Now do you realise why North Melbourne wanted veterans to come in and play a role?
Parker was immense for the Roos, working in defence to clean up the mess, and to generate plenty of run for the team. He finished with 33 touches and six intercepts as he controlled the tempo of the game.
His best outing in blue and white.
FINN O’SULLIVAN
We saw something special in this one – a symbolic changing of the midfield guard, as Finn O’Sullivan was allocated the role of shutting down Zach Merrett.
Four quarters later, FOS finished the game with 24 touches, and Merrett ended with just ten.
It was a brilliant showing from O’Sullivan, who has made the step up this season, and should give North fans plenty of hope that he will be one of the pillars they build around. When they release him from tagging duties, look the hell out!
KYSAIAH PICKETT
Dominant!
Completely dominant. The most imposing force on the park as the Dees reeled in the Blues and laid them to waste in the final quarter.
People questioned the length of his contract, but after watching Kozzie dismantle Carlton, maybe they should have offered him more for longer?
THE LOSERS
DARCY FOGARTY
What is the expectation on Fog these days? He should be neck and neck with Riley Thilthorpe as the number one forward in the Adelaide front half.
But he is nowhere near it. Can barely jump over a piece of paper, and is slow off the mark. Would have been an excellent 1980s/90s player, but I am losing faith at the moment.
KIEREN BRIGGS
In the preseason, he got a taste of Oscar Steene, and after Jake Riccardi got a schooling, Briggs was able to settle things down.
Not this time. He was soundly beaten by the combination of Steene and Darcy Cameron, and failed to give his mids the same level of quality ruck taps.
DAN BUTLER
Needed to impact in a team already possessing Liam Ryan and Jack Higgins inside 50.
He didn’t.
Butler played just six games last season, and should have been cherry ripe to make a difference in this game. Zero tackles inside 50 tells a story.
HARRY ARMSTRONG
Don’t much like listing a young fella, but he did have a bit of a stinker. He played under a half a game, so in reality, he had another half where he could have had a stat…
Didn’t have a touch, and whilst I do like what he is capable of, when the chips are down, he needs to find a way to impact the contest. That was not the case in this one. No need to panic, but there is definitely a watch on him next time the conditions are not ideal.
NOAH BALTA
He was responsible for Josh Treacy for long periods of this game, and was led a dance. I don’t know where Balta is at, but the more I watch him, the more I think he needs to start in another role.
Why the Tigers didn’t trial as him as a mobile ruck to run with Luke Jackson, I’ll never know. It’s not like they were going to win this one after halftime – why not try?
ZACH MERRETT
He’s seen the future, and he is not a fan. He had Finn O’Sullivan for company all game, and was beaten soundly.
Merrett could have netted three first round picks for the Bombers – yes, not really high first rounders, but first round picks nonetheless. Instead, they got ten touches from him.
CALLUM COLEMAN-JONES
He’s a big boy… and his talents appear to begin and end with that statement.
With Tristan Xerri likely to find himself in a bit of strife, Coleman-Jones will get another shot at making good, but based on his output in Round Three, he probably shouldn’t.
ZAK JOHNSON
Zak… mate… when your big forward collects the footy and wheels around to kick for goal, here’s a bit of advice.
Get out of the bloody way!
For whatever reason, Johnson thought it was a good idea to run right into his path, interrupting Nate Caddy’s momentum and causing him to falter at a point where the Bombers desperately needed something.
BRODIE KEMP
With the Blues desperately needing someone to fill the void left behind by the loss of Charlie Curnow. They needed Harry to play a big role, but they also needed another.
Kemp was supposed to be that man, but he was unable to impact the contest. His return of seven touches and no scoreboard impact was one of the many low points for the Blues.
As always, massive thanks to those who support this work. You can see the amount of care that goes into it. I love footy, I love writing about it, and I hope you enjoy reading it. Without you, this whole thing falls over. Sincerely… thank you – HB
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