Plenty of winners, and plenty of losers to get through in Round Two.
Let’s not beat around the bush. We’ll jump right on in.
THE WINNERS
JOSH BATTLE
How do you think Josh is feeling about his decision to move to Hawthorn? He is sitting in a back six with James Sickly and Tom Barrass as his supports, and this allows him to concentrate on what he does best.
And what was he doing best in this contest?
Shutting down Charlie Curnow. Battle had his number right from the start, and refused to let up, restricting the champion forward to just five touches and a big, fat zero in the goals column.
STEELE SIDEBOTTOM
Had a moment that would make some players shrink, but it only seemed to inspire the 300-gamer to dig in and make amends for it.
Had a monster last quarter, won the footy all over the place, and kicked the winner to all but erase any thoughts of the short step he took in the middle earlier. That’s how you respond when you make an error – many could learn from this man.
JOSH RACHELE
He’s been whacked when things go wrong, so on an Adelaide team where plenty went right, it is probably correct that he is singled out as a big part of it.
Rachele is a talent – that is undeniable – but many questioned where his head was at in 2024. Where is it in 2025?
With four goals in his second game, he is averaging 18.5 touches and three goals per game. His head is in the right place.
TRAVIS BOAK
Broke the record of a legend. That should be enough.
But it wasn’t.
With his team out to prove a point, Boak immediately asserted his influence on the contest, picking up ten of his 28 touches in the first quarter, as Port put the Tigers to the sword.
Carried off the ground in front of the Port faithful, it was a fitting way for the former captain to surpass the greatest ever Port player, Russell Ebert.
JACK MACRAE
Kane Cornes said he shouldn’t be playing midfield.
Good old Kane…
Macrae has been incredible in his first two outings as a Saint, and was perilously close to notching a Quadruple Double, with 17 kicks, 18 handballs, ten tackles, and eight marks. Throw in nine clearances and ten score involvements… there is no bloody question that he should be playing midfield!
DAYNE ZORKO… AGAIN
The Eagles gave it to the old fella a fair bit. He was down in the first quarter, was unhappy with the way he and his fellow back six members were playing, and let them know about it.
And from that point onwards, started to rally the troops.
It’s funny – Zorko has got so much negative press over the years, but this season, he is demonstrating just why the Lions love this bloke. West Coast went after him, he stood up, and like a good leader does, helped drive them home.
TRISTAN XERRI
Last year, Xerri and Gawn engaged in a tough battle, with Gawn just escaping with the win in their contest.
Not this year.
Xerri was all business, and notched 20 disposals, 20 hit outs, and 12 clearances to knock the crown off Max’s head. A great day at the office for Tristan.
JAMES JORDON … AGAIN
Okay opposition coaches, time to wake up. This bloke is coming for your best midfield, and not only is he going to restrict him, he is going to hurt your team going the other way.
With 24 touches and ten clearances (AS A TAGGER!!!), Jordan took control of stoppages and made his highly-touted opposition look like they were being bullied.
I have to admit, I did not see this coming when he moved from the Dees to the Swans. I am about to start calculating our Defensive Player of the Year rankings after Round Two. If Doule-J is not ranked first, I will be very surprised…
THE LOSERS
WHOEVER SAID CHARLIE CURNOW WAS FIT TO PLAY
He clearly wasn’t.
Taking nothing at all away from the game of Josh Battle, but Curnow was a shell of the player that has been the best key forward in the caper over the past three seasons.
He lacked speed of the mark, he lacked the ability to explode toward the footy in terms of his leap, and he was unable to display the recovery at ground level that has made him such a weapon. Sad to say, but the Blues may have been better off without him in this one.
AARON NAUGHTON
He was once compared to Wayne Carey. Can you believe that?
Whilst Sam Darcy was clunking marks for fun, Naughton was unable to wrap his mitts around anything. I’ve been a bit of a believer in him over the journey. I think he plays a selfless game, at times, but he needs to be better than what we saw in the Dogs’ celebratory game.
He takes a few grabs, the Dogs likely win.
ZACH REID
Damn, he has a heap of work to do, doesn’t he?
The Bombers have been patient with him as he has battled injury, but it quickly became obvious that Reid was not going to be the answer for at least a couple of years in defence
He was rag-dolled by Darcy Fogarty on several occasions – pushed around like a child trying to stand up to a bully. Hit the gym, Zach.
OLLIE HENRY
This hurts, as I am a fan of this bloke, but he is not giving the Cats anywhere near enough as the now-second marking target inside 50. I know they have Shannon Neale, but Henry is the one that can blow a game open alongside Jeremy Cameron.
He was nowhere near it against the Saints, blowing his lines, and having just two effective disposals for the game. He is better than that.
TIM TARANTO
After Jack Macrae made Kane Cornes looked bad, Taranto came out and made him look correct. Nobody likes that. You let the league, and sane people, down, Tim.
The young Tigers need more from you.
Fear not, though. Richmond has your back!
SIMON GOODWIN
From the penthouse to the outhouse in four years.
Know what I hated most about his Sunday? The lines he uttered about Max Gawn following the game. It detracted from an excellent performance from Tristan Xerri, and if Gawn wasn’t talking about it, maybe Goodwin shouldn’t be, either.
JYE AMISS
At the start of last season, I fell for the hype.
You did too, I’m guessing?
Jye Amiss was the next big thing, up forward, right? Only, teams worked him out pretty quickly. They worked out that he needs great delivery on the lead. They worked out that he is not a fan of contact. And they worked out that he doesn’t work hard enough.
He slotted one goal in the Freo loss, and added one more score involvement.
Be part of it, son. Don’t be a spectator.
WEST COAST RUCKS
You know who the winner was in the ruck for West Coast?
Matt Flynn.
Without him, Bailey Williams couldn’t go, Archer Reid couldn’t go, and the team had to throw Reuben Ginbey in there against Oscar McInerney down the stretch.
At least Ginbey can go, I guess.
AND ONE MORE…
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, where the hell were you on Friday night?
The entire club, including past greats, gathered to celebrate the Dogs having 100 years in the league, and he was “allegedly” at a pub, posting pics on social media?
I get he’s a young bloke. I get that he’s out there trying to have fun and live his life. But he has a gift, and he’s pissing it up against the wall.
You ever watched a bloke do this? It’s heartbreaking, but I am at the point where I am not sure I want him at my club next season. I wonder if anyone else is feeling the same? Massive red flags, waving all over the place.
And that’ll do. Maybe you have a few of your own to add? Maybe, you can be original, like the two people last week, and add my name to the list of losers. It’s okay, I can take it… specially when I consider the source, haha. Anyway, see how you go.
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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