What a weekend to be a footy fan!
Unless, of course, your team sucks… in that case, what a weekend to ignore the footy results!
Anyway, here are the five winners and five losers from Round 19 so you can put it all behind you and prep for Round 20.
THE WINNERS
JACK GINNIVAN
Does Jack Ginnivan have bad body odour?
Because Collingwood players were doing their utmost to steer clear of him, as he ran riot against his old team.
Ginni notched a career-high 31 disposals, added two goals, and 11 score involvements, as he ran his own race and made the Magpies look very bloody ordinary in the process.
He saw the writing on the wall at Collingwood when they brought in both Bobby Hill and Lachie Schultz in consecutive years, but he is now averaging 1.2 goals per game at Hawthorn and looks like he is loving his time there.
And whilst a few didn’t like it, I LOVED seeing him have a bit of fun with the Collingwood fans as he put this game to sleep.
Keep being you, Jack.
BEN KEAYS
Last year, Ben Keays could have been the hero against the Sydney Swans, as he slotted a goal that was called a point, and the Crows went on to lose the game.
Whilst Adelaide haven’t waited for umpires to cost them a place in finals this season (this season, they cocked things up without their help!), Ben Keays has made another significant step to being a player many didn’t think he could be.
He kicked a career-high five goals on Friday night to carry his Crows over the Bombers in a huge boilover, and is making the most of his move out of the midfield and into the half-forward line. Some would see this as a demotion, but I reckon Keays sees it as an opportunity, and he plans on making the most of it.
CHARLIE DIXON
Coming into the Power’s game against the Tigers, I was eager to see how Big Charlie would go against Noah Balta – one of the very few defenders who can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Dixon and break even for strength.
I expected Balta to run off Charlie at every occasion, but Dixon was up to the task, and not only competed well enough to prevent Balta from having much of a rebounding influence, but he also took five big contested grabs, snagged four goals, and battled hard in the ruck.
There are times when I watch Dixon, and he looks like he is just hanging on to the end of his AFL career by the skin of his teeth, such are the injuries he battles, but he looked good in this one, opening up opportunities for others simply by being the best version of himself.
RORY LOBB
I have to put my hand up, here.
I have been one of the people who have openly expressed my dislike for the way Rory Lobb has handled himself during his time in the AFL. I mean, what he does alone, in the privacy of his own home, is his own business, damn it!
Seriously though, his exits from GWS and Freo were not exactly smooth, and with him floating an exit from the Kennel as well, I was looking at him and thinking he was not worth the trouble.
But maybe he is?
Another solid game in defence from The Lobbster, shutting down Jeremy Cameron and collecting 21 possessions and 14 intercepts, whilst holding JC to just one snag for the day is providing a career renaissance for the maligned three-club player.
Oh, and apologies to Buku Khamis for going with Rory in this section. Khamis was equally deserving of a pat on the back in an undermanned defence.
JOSH TREACY
I could not be more complimentary to a young player than I have been to Josh Treacy this season. He has far surpassed any and all expectations I have had of him, and when the game was there to be won this week against the Dees, it was Treacy standing up and dragging in nine marks in the first half to set the table for Freo.
His work over the entire season has been phenomenal, kicking a goal in every game, and imposing himself on the contest. He kicked 3.2 in this one, and dished off a couple of goal assists, as he continues to grow into the best young power forward in the game. Yep, THE best of the lot.
He is 21, and has an enormous few years ahead of him. By proxy, so do Freo
LOSERS
BOBBY HILL
I’m going Collingwood-heavy, here. Be warned.
Hill finished the game with the standard two goals from nine touches… clap, clap, clap… did his job and hit the scoreboard as a small forward.
But what else did Bobby do?
At one point of the game, and this was in the first half, so the game was alive, Jack Scrimshaw ran out of defence and Hill jogged along for a few steps before letting him go.
Just didnt bother to chase.
It was Collingwood in a nutshell, as Hill seemed content to try to do the fancy shit, but when the hard work was there to be done, he left it for someone else.
Pity so many of his teammates also left the hard work to someone else.
Hill is at 1.3 goals per game. I genuinely thought he could take a big step this year off the back of his Grand Final performance, but sometimes players are fine with resting on their laurels, and right about now, Bobby is guilty of being far more sizzle than he is steak.
JACOB KOSCHITZKE
Whoever thought it was a good idea to sign Jacob Koschitzke to a three year deal at Punt Road must be feeling pretty self-conscious at the moment. Kosi looks completely lost as a forward, and to be honest, had the scouts done their homework, they would have realised that outside a couple of games back in 2021/22, he really struggles to remain involved if he is not getting perfect delivery.
Koschitzke finished with eight touches and a goal as he competed like someone who didn’t want to be out there against the Power. His only goal was a Joe-The-Goose feed over the top In the first quarter.
And… you only have him locked in for two more years after this one, Tiger fans! Get excited…
JOEL AMARTEY
Here is the big man’s record since he kicked nine goals back in Round 14.
Zero goals against the Giants
One goal against the Dockers
Zero goals against the Saints
Two goals against North
And one goal against the Lions
That’s a 0.8 goals per game average since he hammered the Crows and got everyone excited.
Whilst there is a number of reasons the Swans have fallen overain’t the last month, the disappearing act by Amartey since he had his statement game has been a big one. Less than a goal per game since snagging nine… he needs to lift.
DARCY MOORE
This is Darcy Moore’s weekend in pictures.
And it was followed up with this from an X-user.
High quality work from one of them, and it isn’t the Collingwood captain – the Kirk Van Houten of the AFL.
Some may say his private life is his own. That’s fair. I agree. Right up until you give interviews talking about your sleeping arrangements, like anyone bloody cares!
Still, a pretty good way to ensure you get plenty of the doona… maybe he’s onto something?
STEVEN MAY
Crowds don’t chant “wanker” at a bloke for nothing.
Has been one for years, continues to be one to this day.
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