1. The Bombers are no closer to that finals win
In a year that seemed to promise so much, when the whips were cracking the Dons were lacking. Since Round 12, when the Bombers were in second place on the ladder having won eight games, down one and lost just two. Many suggested those numbers were courtesy of favourable draw in the first half of the season that mostly teams occupying lower half positions on the ladder. These types were also suggesting the second half of the season might see them tumble out of the finals race. Sadly for the club and its fans, they were correct.
There may be a few nervous players coming to the end of their contract, and their list manager has already been moved on. The game started brightly for the Bombers. The first half was played mostly on their terms and the Swans found it difficult to score. For all their hard work, they only had a seven point lead to show for it at the main break.
As the Swans have often done this year, after half time they raised the tempo kicking 11 goals to just four, and ran out comfortable winners by 39 points in the end. Heeney, Parker and Hayward shared the goalkicking honours with three each. Callum Mills is somewhere near his best after an injury-interrupted year. He finished with 26 disposals while the consistent Gulden had 25. The Swans have sewn up top spot on the ladder so next week’s game against the Crows won’t really have any effect on their standing.
Essendon will walk away from this year very disappointed. Some of the playing group can hold their heads high, such as Nic Martin who has been a star for a fair chunk of the year. He had another strong game kicking 3 goals from 32 touches. Jye Caldwell is another who made some good progress. He had 31 possessions and kicked a goal. Zac Merrett performed all year but struggled to overcome the tagong of Jordan who kept him to a modest 17 touches. As I said earlier, some players may be feeling nervous about their place on the list and the fans are getting restless. Their season finishes with a tough assignment up at the GABBA against the Lions.
2. The Suns continue to disappoint
The plight of Suns fans would be something like this each year: Wow, we’ve won a few games early in the year! Go Suns. Awesome, we’re 7 and 4 and inside the eight. We might play finals. OK, we’ve lost a few, but we’re still a mathematical chance. So we’re not going to play finals, but we should at least win more than ten games and break our record. Oh fuck…. In what seemed a promising season, we can now see that nothing has changed even with a triple premiership coach at the helm. Not only did they lose to Melbourne at home, they got smashed, especially after half time. There was only a goal in it at the main break, but a ten goal to two second half saw a final result that showed how far they’ve fallen.
Ben King was promising in the first half of the season but he’s fallen away. He finished with two goals from just seven touches and possibly doesn’t impose himself on games often enough. Noah Anderson had 33 touches and was prominent, but he may need to spend his summer working on his field kicking. Sam Flanders has had a big year. He had 28 disposals and two goals. They play the Tigers in Melbourne next week. They win that game they finish with their highest number of wins ever. This is why I think they’ll lose.
In what has been a disappointing season for Melbourne as well, finishing strongly might be important for them, and a win like this might not get them into finals, but it will give them some confidence heading into next year. Turner has emerged as a genuine goal kicker this season. He kicked four and is showing himself to be a very capable small forward. Petty and Van Rooyen both kicked three. Ed Langdon started with 37 touches and a goal. Jack Viney had a great game with 30 touches and two majors. The Demons play the Magpies next week. Collingwood still have a slim chance of playing finals and I’m sure Melbourne would love to end their season.
3. Jesse Hogan could carry the Giants to the promised land
It’s now official that Hogan will be the Coleman medalist on the back of what has been an extraordinary back half of the year. His form has been so good that he would’ve won it even if Charlie Curnow didn’t get injured. And it’s no coincidence that the Giants are now second favourites for the flag. His six goals played a major role in getting his team across the line in right a tight contest with the Dockers. Brent Daniels continued his good form booting three goals. Tom Green’s 40 possessions didn’t hurt either. The form of the Giants has been solid heading to finals. If they’re able to beat the Bulldogs in Ballarat, and with Hogan firing, the dream of the premiership is alive!
You’d think losing three in a row heading into finals would mean the team was playing pretty average. The loss to Essendon by a point was a little disappointing, as was losing to the Cats at home. But the margins weren’t big, and against the Giants they were very good without getting the win. They can count themselves a little unlucky. Brayshaw had 40 touches and did his Brownlow chances no harm at all. Michael Frederick topped the goal scoring with three. It will all come down to next week against the Power at Optus Stadium. It will be a shame after what was a good season if they were to miss out.
4. Very few players can do what Nick Daicos does
The Pies looked gone at quarter time. Daicos decided that he was going to be the spark to get his team going. After a chain of handballs through the middle that ended up in his hands, the manner in which he burned his two chasing Brisbane opponents was nothing short of breathtaking. And then to be able to nail the shot at goal from 40m while running at full pace was exhilarating. He’s a rare talent and one worth the price of entry alone.
So, the Pies won’t play finals despite this stirring come from behind win. And yet, we know their best is good enough to beat anybody. As hard as it may be to follow up a premiership year with missing finals, I imagine they’ll still be a threat when they turn up next season. I’ve already spoken about Nick Daicos. He finished with 25 touches and the two majors. His brother Josh had 26, as did Sidebottom. McCreery booted two including the match winner, while Schultz may have silenced some doubters with the two late goals he scored in the dying minutes to help his side over the line. They’ll be hoping for a strong finish next week against old arch-rivals Melbourne.
Brisbane have blown it, pretty much. A win in this game would have given them the double-chance. Instead, they’ll most likely remain fifth and will play in an elimination final. It’s been a strange year for the Lions who have fluctuated with form to ridiculous levels, and letting a game like this one slip in the manner they did with so much at stake is unforgivable. Daniher topped the goal scoring with four. Young Lohmann looked very dangerous early but failed to add to his two opening term goals. Neale had 22 touches and kicked two great goals but he didn’t have his usual influence on the game. Dunkley, Ashcroft, McLuggage and Zorko all got plenty of the ball, but they’d all love to have their time over again in that last five minutes I’m sure. Expect them to bounce back and beat the Bombers next week, but how far they can go into September is anyone’s guess.
5. Port Adelaide quietly win five in a row
In case you haven’t been paying attention, Port Adelaide have won their last five matches. If they can take the points against the Dockers in Perth next week, they’ll have the double-chance and a home final. Zak Butters had a serious case of leather poisoning after amassing 42 possessions and terrorising the Adelaide midfield. Horne-Francis seems to be making a habit of kicking two goals each week. Port dominated clearances and are in great form heading into the finals. It’s an incredible turnaround from where they were clinging to eighth spot after Round 15 and looking like falling away. They now won seven of their last eight, and the final hurdle in Perth awaits, with a victory that could set up an unlikely premiership. Their only issue surrounds the Houston incident which might see him suspended for a number of weeks.
Adelaide could probably do well to shut Josh Rachele up leading into showdowns. The Crows have hardly had the sort of year that warrants a bit of banter. It was obvious that it would end up with egg on his face. The talented youngster kicked a goal early and taunted the Port fans while celebrating, but by the end of the match he had no more goals and a modest ten possessions. Adelaide need to find a way to make their team more competitive in 2025. Some tough decisions will need to be made. The game coming up this week may bring more pain, although the Swans can’t be toppled from first place and may play a less than full strength team.
6. The Saints have won five of their last seven games
St Kilda could’ve easily been forgiven for putting their cue in the rack for this season and limping across the finish line. Instead, they’ve gone from a very mediocre team, to a side that is literally capable of beating the best in the competition. They’ve won five of their last seven games. Those wins include two top four teams, in the Swans and Geelong. Next week the Blues take them on and they have the formidable challenge of needing to win to play finals. Talk about nuisance value! Marshall was once again among the best. Higgins booted three goals. Skipper Jack Steele had a day out with two goals from 27 touches. It’s all going along very nicely for the Saints who are probably wondering where this form has been all year.
The Cats were 33 points up at half time and seemed to be cruising towards a regulation victory. Nobody could predict that the Saints would score 13 goals after the main break to just 5 from the Cats. It’s a fade-out that will no doubt concern the Geelong coaching team, and they can count their blessings that they’ll be playing a struggling West Coast Eagles next week at home, otherwise they may have let their double-chance slip altogether. Cameron booted three which including two late goals in junk time. Just six Geelong players had 20 or more touches. The Cats have had the odd stinker this year, but they still managed to make the Top 4. It has been a strange old year.
7. Sam Darcy will embarrass the Rising Star Awards
The two front runners in Harley Reid and Sam Darcy being ineligible for the Rising Star has resulted in many suggesting the rule should be changed for this award. Regardless of whether we agree with that or not, the fact is one of these two would’ve probably won it, and I believe Sam Darcy has had a better overall year than Reid. This seven goal effort is a sign of things to come, and it will be a shame he’ll be unable to add Rising Star to his list of achievements. Any thoughts that the Kangaroos might challenge the Bulldogs were put to rest by half time, and after half time the Kangaroos were lamentable. The inside 50 count was 69-34. Zac Fisher had 31 possessions and battled hard while Davies-Uniacke had 30. But they had few winners and were soundly beaten both on the scoreboard and in most contests. They would’ve been hoping to finish the year off in better fashion, but with another game to come against the rampaging Hawks, they might be in for another smashing.
The Bulldogs were relentless and possibly determined to make amends for their poor game last week against the Crows. Had they won that game they would’ve displaced the Cars in fourth place, but now they need both Brisbane to lose to Essendon and Geelong to lose to West Coast next week. The Bulldogs also have a tough game of their own against the Giants at Mars Stadium, so victory isn’t guaranteed there either. As well as Darcy’s seven majors, Ugle-Hagan chimed in with three with a host of players kicking a pair. Bontompelli had 29 touches but might be eclipsed in Brownlow voting by Darcy. Treloar topped that list with 33 touches. As things stand now, there’s every chance the Bulldogs will be playing the Hawks in Week One of the finals.
8. Hawks were merciless against the Tigers
If anybody is thinking that Hawthorn may tire at some point, they’d be wrong it would seem. If anything, it almost looks like their momentum is building. Other than the one bad beating at the hands of the Cats, since those opening season losses, the Hawks have shown enough to suggest they can match it with anybody, so it made sense that the bottom-placed Tigers would not present much of a challenge. By quarter time the Hawks already held a 50 point lead and the game was over. Jack Gunston booted five goals and simply must play on next year. Watson booted three, as did Dear to back up his three from the previous round. The midfield battle was won with Newcombe getting 33 touches and Worpel with 29. Hawthorn look certain to play finals now with their last game to come against North Melbourne.
The Tigers were better after quarter time and the final margin was 63 points in the end. Bolton kicked 3 goals while Balta and Mansell booted two each. Their final game for the year is against the Suns at the MCG. I actually give them every chance of winning that game because, well, the Suns. The question is will they come out trying to win and possibly compromise their access to the best draft picks? Well, they could win narrowly and still finish last I guess, although the Hawks could easily thump the Roos by 100+ points. Time will tell, but surely the fans would love a win.
9. Maybe Voss should’ve played the kids sooner
After sustaining no less than six injuries in last week’s loss to Hawthorn, the Blues went over to Perth to take on the 16th placed Eagles as underdogs according to the betting agencies. It was understandable, considering the Blues entered the game without a recognised key forward. It’s kind of funny what happens when you’re forced to make moves you wouldn’t normally consider. Defender Brodie Kemp was moved to full forward and he finished with four majors and looked very much at home. There were two debutants called in to the side in Lord and Moir. Lord had 15 touches and looked like he could cut it at the level. Moir came on as the sub in the final term and presented well up forward taking a strong mark as well as kicking a goal. Jaxon Binns has been screaming for a spot with strong VFL form and took his chance finishing with 18 touches and a goal. Cripps was dominant with 35 touches and looks set to be awarded 3 Brownlow votes. He’s going to go awfully close to number two, but for now the Blues have a big job to defeat the Saints next week in order to play finals.
10. It’s often amazing what happens when you give the kids a go.
The Blues headed over to Perth with a side that contained nine players 21 or under, including two debutants and another who’d played ten minutes at AFL level as a sub. Carlton’s backline still had a decent enough look about it, with Saad the main absentee. Cripps and Walsh were there, alongside Hewett and Acres in the middle, and we all know Pittonet is no de Koning but can still play. Where the Blues looked vulnerable was down forward with their two big guns out injured. Who were they going to send forward?
Michael Voss has not had his best year. Sometimes, when a side is travelling well, you’ll see the odd player retaining his spot even though they performed below par. People talk about the importance of a settled side, but sometimes it’s glaringly obvious that some players need a spell. The Blues were deemed underdogs due to the side they were fielding despite playing against a team who has been mostly poor this year. The punters never envisaged a Brodie Kemp booting four goals as well as the youngsters’ added pace that could actually spread and move the ball. You could say the that the Eagles played poorly, but the Blues were relentless all day, and there’s nothing like a few kids coming into the team to add enthusiasm and energy into the mix.
Carlton has been horribly flat for six weeks now. This could be the circuit breaker but it may have been needed a fortnight earlier. Michael Voss must acknowledge that what happened on the weekend only happened because his hand was forced. The reality is that you’ll even see senior players lift because they are no longer safe.
Now, that’s how it should be. This lesson must not be ignored.