It’s that time of the week. A time for reflection. A time to ponder. A time to name the real winners and losers of the latest round of AFL Footy.
Here are the winners and losers of Round Seven
THE WINNERS
MAX GAWN
Remember earlier this season where Gawn was struggling with ‘personal issues’, as alluded to by his coach? Well, it seems that Max has put them behind him, with a third-straight game of at least 20 disposals and 20 hit outs. That’s four for the year, now.
He also recorded his eighth game of 20+ disposals, 20+ hit outs, and 10+ clearances this week. He is the all-time leader in this stat.
STEELE SIDEBOTTOM
Steele is taking the piss at the moment.
Nick Daicos is considered by many as the most damaging midfield force in the comp, and right next to him at the top of the coaches votes, is old mate, Steele.
He was best on ground in the ANZAC Day clash, with a monster 35 disposal, 22 contested possession, and 15 clearance game.
ANDREW BRAYSHAW
Caleb Serong gets a lot of the love, but Brayshaw is no slouch, and does his work on both ends, with a fierce defensive side to his game, as well.
His 37 disposals were great, but every one of his five tackles were momentum-stoppers for the Crows, as they desperately tried to work back into the game.
LACHIE NEALE
What can you say about Lachie Neale that hasn’t already been said? He has fourteen toes? He has a nipple of his back? Pretty sure those things haven’t been said before.
In relation to footy, the man is a maestro, and his 31 touches and three goals against the Saints would likely put him in the frame for three votes in this round, come Brownlow night.
DARCY BYRNE-JONES
Once a running half-back, DBJ re-invented himself as a forward over the last couple of years, and Port continue to reap the rewards of his fearless attack on the footy.
Paired inside 50 with Sam Powell-Pepper, the Power have a potent proliferation of pressuring players to punish perpetrators of poor possessions.
Sorry… got a bit carried away with the alliteration, there.
JAMES HARMES
I had this bloke pegged as the best bargain pickup of the year in 2024. It didn’t quite turn out that way, but he is now making good on the Dogs’ faith in him.
Drifting between the wing and half-forward, he snagged four goals as his continual movement, and strength over the footy were too much to handle for the Giants. Great to see Harmesy making the most of his second lease on footy life.
JARROD WITTS
Left the Pies for more opportunity, indeed on the Gold Coast, became captain, and is now one of the more steady hands in the ruck in the league.
Clearly outpointed Brodie Grundy in their clash, with Witts’ influence covered more in detail in our game review, found HERE.
THE TWIN TOWERS
Guess who’s back… back again?
The Blues, and it is largely because their twin towers of Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow were both on-song against the Cats.
With eight contested grabs, and just as many goals between them, this duo remains the key to Carlton’s fortunes in 2025.
ROSS LYON
I don’t know about you, but when reporters ask questions that they have no understanding of, particularly around team tactics and player roles, and the coach asks how much knowledge they have on the subject, that’s not disrespect – that is a man trying to find out whether he is going to be wasting his time giving details to someone who is incapable of understanding the answer.
Sadly, most in the footy media ARE incapable of understanding, so they get sad when he turns a question around on them.
The Saints may have lost, but Lyon making sure the media, who are paid well to understand the game, actually do a decent job, makes him a winner in my book.
JOSH BATTLE
Has been a brilliant pickup for the Hawks this season, with his best performance coming against Charlie Curnow several weeks ago… but this one was right up there, too.
Battle collected 29 touches and ten intercepts, as he controlled the defensive fifty against the Eagles, and is a genuine contender fo recruit of the year honours.
THE LOSERS
MAURICE RIOLI
A complete non-factor in the Tigers’ loss to the Dees.
Managed one kick per quarter, and laid two tackles in the type of output that would usually warrant a run in the twos. A massive head-dropper when things don’t go his way, as well.
HARRISON JONES
I’m a bit tired of waiting for Harrison to become a player.
Drops marks, cannot find a position to make his own (part of that might fall to Brad Scott, too), and plays like a man with no confidence. He is no longer a kid – time to start playing footy like a man and take some bloody big grabs, H!
MITCH HINGE
Had a hard time getting involved in the game, and got reported for giving Andrew Brayshaw a bit of a whack. The Crows are appealing his one-game suspension, but if they could also get his poor game overturned and replaced with a good one, they may have had a chance.
HUGO GARCIA
Dragged by Ross Lyon early in the second quarter, Hugo was not in the coach’s good books, at all.
He will get a shot at redemption, but he has to be more attentive to the role assigned him. No free rides at St Kilda, and that is a good thing.
MICK LARKEY
Yeah, that’s right – Mick Larkey, because I feel like the bloke out there at the moment is a complete imposter when it comes to top-tier forwards.
Has had stinkers this season, and has copped little of the blame. Kicked 1.2 from four shots for the Roos, and it is about time he started standing up and playing like a leader.
KIEREN BRIGGS
Is being convincingly beaten by different types of rucks, now.
Was smashed by Reilly O’Brien last week, and then followed up by being beaten by Tim English. His clash against Brodie Grundy this coming weekend will be pivotal.
WILL HAYWARD
How much are they paying this bloke?
Spat the dummy a couple of times, refused to chase on another occasion – played like a petulant child, and was one of the Swans’ worst on a pretty poor day.
CONNOR BUDARICK
Poor bugger sat on the bench for over 100 minutes of game time, they stuffed up the paperwork to get him on, and he picked up three touches in the last nine minutes before having to do a heap of run-throughs to get his GPS numbers up. I felt for the bloke – he just wanted to play footy!
Also, the sub rule sucks arse.
THE SECOND TOWER OF KARDINIA PARK
The Blues had two big forwards running riot.
The Cats had Jeremy Cameron, and some bloke named Shannon Neale, who had a lot of trouble getting near it. Neale is obviously going to take time, but in big games, the Cats cannot afford to carry him while he does.
TYRELL DEWAR
I don’t dislike this bloke, but I hate him as a wingman. Caught under the footy too often, in the wrong spot to be an outlet player, he is often in no man’s land out there. The Eagles need to find a role he is better-suited to, as he is not able to influence the game in his current role.
Andrew McQualter, this is on you, mate. Fix this before his confidence is shot.
Of course, you may have seen stuff I didn’t, so by all means, if you have others to add, you know what to do.
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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