Every week, in every game, there are winners and losers. Not from the sense of team, but on an individual basis.
And here at The Mongrel, we just point them out for you. It’s a simple concept by a very simple man.
I pick the winners and losers of the round – roughly one per team – and you disagree with me and tell me I’m full of it. That’s the way it normally goes.
So, here are the Winners and Losers of Round One
THE WINNERS
THOMSON DOW
Plenty of winners in the Tiger team of Thursday night, but this bloke flew under the radar of many. He was huge in the last quarter, as his work around stoppages helped propel Richmond past Carlton and to one more win than some “experts” believed they’d get.
Loved his quick change of direction and ability to lose his direct opponent. It was like watching a player grow up in real time.
KARL AMON
Loving life running off half-back for the Hawks, and his precise kicking was one of the factors that saw Hawthorn setup their lead over the Bombers.
Amon is making the most on his second lease on AFL life. At one point, he was the best wingman in the game. Now, he has embraced the role of rebounding runner in brown and gold, and can tear a game open with two or three touches.
BAILEY SMITH
I have to admit, I didn’t expect this from Smith. I expected him to ease into his new role with the Cats, maybe pick up 20 touches, and take time to fully recover from his ACL.
Hell, he might take time, but he started this new phase of his career with a bang, collecting 32 touches, seven clearances, and 12 score involvements, with his speed and repeat efforts a highlight.
JAMES JORDON
A rare winner from the losing team, but James Jordon’s job on Lachie Neale is absolutely worthy of the highest praise.
The last time Neale was held to ten touches was back in 2017, and that was only due to injury. This time, there was no injury – there was only James Jordon, who is looking increasingly like the best stopper in the game.
DAYNE ZORKO
The old fella does it again.
Swung forward at the end of the third quarter, the former captain had a huge impact, kicking a goal, and setting up another, to send the Lions to the last break with all the momentum.
He added another snag in the last quarter as his team made their first successful defence of their 2024 title.
BAILEY DALE
Remember when Luke Beveridge made him sub last year? It was a clear warning shot across the bow of Dale, who responded in exactly the way you would have wanted him to. Since then, his commitment to the Dogs has been top notch.
Powerful run and ability to roost a goal tore the Kangaroos apart. 29 touches, two goals and nine score involvements from your half-back is a great result.
TIM MEMBREY
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
The Pies picked him up for nothing, and his work in the first quarter, kicking three of hi four goals, helped setup the massive win for his new club.
Finding room all around the 50-metre arc, Membrey revelled having other quality forwards around him.
JORDAN DAWSON
He is on the fast track to being the best captain in the game, right now.
Leads by example, pushes hard forward to punish anyone with the temerity to try to tag him, and if he gets the footy out in space, say your bloody prayers – he is either going to put it down the throat of a teammate, or slam home a goal from 65 out. He can do it all, and he did it all against the Saints in Round One.
BEN KING
I am obliged to put him on this list, because I have been harsh on him over the journey, and I have wanted him to play like this.
Now, he has! Six goals, but it was the way he started to attack the aerial contest that I as most satisfied with. Didn’t get outmarked, took a couple of contested grabs, and the only knock I’d be able to find is that he did it against poor opposition. If he can pull off a game like this against one of the big boys, colour me impressed.
FINN CALLAGHAN AGAIN
Second week in a row – the boy can play!
31 touches again this week, but his nine in the final quarter were pivotal to the Giants getting over the line. Lachie Keeffe may have kicked the winner, but if you rewind just five seconds, take a look at the work of Callaghan to win the footy in the middle.
If you’re not on board this bandwagon, don’t hesitate – it is filling up fast. GWS have got another gem, people.
LOSERS
HARRY MCKAY
Remember when Harry McKay was a bit of a monster?
Pepperidge Farm sure remembers, but I reckon Blues fans might be forgetting. What is he now? He’s gone from Coleman Medallist to someone who can’t take over a contest against a bloke who’s played three bloody games.
How the mighty have fallen.
BRAD SCOTT
Hi, I’m Brad Scott. You may remember me from games such as the back half of 2024, and the way I got rid of North’s experienced players to have the team bottom out.
These days, I am pretending that Mason Redman is a midfielder, Dylan Shiel is a defender, and Ben McKay is good at playing on small forwards, despite being one of the better big defenders in the league.
And, I just got my contract extended. Failing upwards.
JYE AMISS
Did you buy the pre-season hype? Bigger and stronger, right?
Look, he could break world weightlifting records for all I care, but unless Jye Amiss starts attacking the contest like he means it, it won’t amount to shit. A very disappointing day at the office from a player who should be offering a heap more.
TOM PAPLEY
Owned by Brandon Starcevich.
Again.
Spent equal time trying to win the footy and feigning for free kicks, which just makes me screw my nose up in disgust. Plays footy like he is a pantomime villain, at times. If he just played the bloody game, he’d be one of the best in the game.
ALASTAIR CLARKSON
I don’t want to downplay this – it was a massive missed opportunity for the Kangaroos. George Wardlaw aside, they fielded close to a full-strength side, and STILL couldn’t topple a depleted Western Bulldogs team.
Clarkson must be tearing what is left of his hair out when the Roos continually cock up the last disposal running forward. I lost count of how many times they did this – an extra handball into trouble, a mis-kick, a fumble… it just seems to be what they do whenever there is a chance to score, and Clarko cannot coach that. It must drive him nuts.
JEREMY FINLAYSON
Oh, I’ve been waiting for this one. I used to watch this bloke cook teammates and give them dirty looks for their delivery, when he played as a forward. Now, the shoe is on the other foot, and Jeremy Finlayson is the one cocking up simple 30 metre passes to open teammates.
Add to that the fact he got completely lost on several Collingwood forward forays, including one where he inexplicably had his back turned on the incoming ball, and this fella is starting to realise that he might not be the player he thinks he is.
BRAD HILL
At least look like you give a crap, Brad.
That’s all I have to say about the worst first half I have ever seen from this bloke.
HARLEY REID
Uh oh… West Coast fans are going to be angry at me. Hear me out.
Harley doesn’t run defensively, cannot play midfield full-time, and once his first effort is done in a contest, he jogs along. This is a bloke that has ridiculous numbers being thrown around when it comes to his next deal, and he looks to me like someone who is cruising along. This may be due to a reduced pre-season, but far out, if I am gonna fork out the big bucks, I want a bloke making the effort on every play, not one out of five. He was completely burnt at stoppage several times by Matt Rowell and Touk Miller – you can’t have these blokes blowing you away like that.
When he is good, he’s great. When he isn’t… well, he isn’t. And in this game, he wasn’t, far too often.
THE ESTABLISHED MELBOURNE FORWARDS
Can’t trust them to kick a score. Can’t trust them to get creative for others, either
Look at the players that generated the most scoring chances for the Dees in this contest. Gawn, Petracca, Rivers, Viney… where are the forwards?
Of the forwards, Harry Sharp had the most score involvements, with four. Four!?!?
Yep, can’t trust them – a bloke like Bayley Fritsch should be having 6-8 per week at this stage of his career. They miss Kysaiah Pickett terribly.
There we go. Agree? Disgaree? Wanna start a fight?
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
Like this content? You could buy me a coffee – I do like coffee, but there is no guarantee I won’t use it to buy a doughnut… I like them more. And I am not brought to you by Sportsbet or Ladbrokes… or Bet365, or any of them.
