We all know who won and lost this week, but within each game there are real winners and real losers.
Time for The Mongrel to name names.
THE WINNERS
ZACH MERRETT
The difference between the Bombers holding on, and the Bombers falling to North Melbourne.
If Essendon ever lose this guy, it will not be pretty
CALLUM WILKIE
I’m a big Josh Treacy fan, so when a defender is able to really get hold of him, I sit up and take notice.
Cal Wilkie did just that for the Saints, picking up 24 touches and eight intercepts, as he woned D50.
TIM ENGLISH
That‘s the version of Tim English the Dogs have been missing.
27 touches, 30 hit outs, and three goals is a mighty day out.
JOSH WORRELL
People are starting to wake up – this bloke is reading the footy as well as anyone in the league, and could be the key to the deep Adelaide defence in 2025.
MAX GAWN
Monstered the West Coast Eagles, racking up a career-high 35 touches.
Gawn’s last four weeks have seen him average 25.7 disposals, 40.25 hit outs, and 8.25 clearances.
All-Australian number eight incoming.
PATRICK DANGERFIELD
Played the game as it should be played.
If you want to see a master at work, whack on the replay of the last quarter and watch an all-time great puit every other player on teh field to shame with his attack on the contest.
DANE RAMPE
The old fella stood up and took down Toby Greene, leading the Swans’ back six in one of their best outings of the season.
JACK GUNSTON
500 goals… what a career.
Continues to produce two years after many thought he was cooked.
JOSH DUNKLEY
Played a magnificent game that’ll be unsung by most, completely nullifying the inside game of the Suns midfielders, particularly Matt Rowell.
Also managed 26 touches of his own in another tough performance.
THE LOSERS
JY SIMPKIN
Get the finger away from your lips, put your head over the footy, and try to play with the same intensity you did when you were best on ground in the Indigenous All-Stars game
JUSTIN LONGMUIR
He’s up a certain creek without a paddle when it comes to getting the best out of a highly-talented group.
Watching him in the coaches’ box was like watching a deer in the headlights.
THE AFL
Whoever made the deal to play the Dogs versus Port in Ballarat while the capacity was reduced by half should get the arse.
Both teams, and the game, deserve better.
BLAKE ACRES
Nowhere neater the player he has been for the Blues on the wing. Already spent time in the VFL, and may be headed back there soon enough.
BO ALLAN
Poor bugger. First game in, goes for a spoil with the flight, clocks Jack Viney in the head, and cops a week suspension.
Probably lucky he didn’t break his hand on Viney’s hard head.
JORDAN DE GOEY
Was this guy considered a superstar, at one stage?
As one bull dominated the last quarter of the game, the bull in the other paddock may as well have been castrated, given his impotency.
JACK BUCKLEY
Got sucked in and taken out of his game by antagonistic defender-cum-forward, Joel Hamling, and let both himself, and his team down by focusing more on the physical side than the footy side of the game.
TOM LYNCH
Look, I’m only really adding the big fella because he can take it. The Tigers are a young team, played a good side, and rely on players like Lynch to perform.
He didn’t, returning 0.3 for the game.
BEN KING
Speaking of not delivering, King played from behind all night – it worked once.
He was well beaten by Jack Payne, and finished with two disposals. Say what you want about the conditions, but other big fellas were able to get their hands on the footy. Why not Ben?
Got your own winners and losers? Feel free to add ‘em, as always.
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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