You know the deal – every week we name the winners and losers of the round.
Here are the lists for Round Four.
THE WINNERS
WILL ASHCROFT
I cannot help but think that if Ashcroft were playing in Victoria, he’d be getting Daicos-levels of press time. He has been exceptional since landing at the Lions, and continues to get better.
Clean hands, great decision-making, and everything he does cuts like a knife.
KEIDEAN COLEMAN
We’re really starting to see what was lost when he went down with his knee injury. Not just the class with the footy, but the willingness to mix it up and beat his opponents with skill, but the ability to beat them physically, as well.
His win over Dan McStay on the boundary line was sublime, but the topper came when he folded up Steele Sidebottom like a paper plane, nailing him with a perfect tackle.
Gimme more.
GEORGE WARDLAW
If you get the chance, watch the last few minutes of the North versus Carlton game again, and look for what George Wardlaw does in this contest. He is off-the-charts good.
And it isn’t run and carry, or a great mark that makes him standout, either. It is the will of the man, the determination to make a difference, and the ridiculous, at-any-cost defensive acts that draw the eye.
Wardlaw’s injuries have been the story of his career to date, but this performance was like a beacon in the darkness, imploring his team to follow his lead.
He is special. North knew it. Their supporters knew it. Now, everyone can see why.
JAMES JORDON
So, I either stick Jordon in the winners, or Harley Reid in the losers… I opt to praise the guy doing his job over than chastising the man he beats.
Jordon has been one of the AFL’s best taggers for a couple of years, and showed no signs of letting up, as he blanketed and frustrated Reid through the first three quarters. Harley picked up seven in the last quarter, but by that time, JJ had done his job, and was cruising about the field.
CALEB SERONG
He is a workhorse, and in a game where others started to slow, Sarong continued to lift. He was everywhere in the last quarter, racking up 11 touches as he just worked harder than everyone else.
If I am coaching against the Dockers, I tag this bloke in second halves if we’re still in the hunt, and I rotate two or three to stay fresh on him – he kills teams.
JAMES BORLASE
A strange one, but hear me out.
Josh Treacy has dominated teams this season, and Borlase was thrown into the mix with Jordon Butts out. Most expected Treacy to murder him, but the big fella stood tall, with only one of Treacy’s marks inside 50 (a bullet pass nobody could have stopped) coming opposed to Borlase.
He has struggled to get a game for the Crows, but with 15 one-percenters, he did what a defender is supposed to do.
ALEX PEARCE
What a finish to this one, and what an effort from Alex Pearce, throwing himself on the boot of James Peatling in a potential game-saving smother.
It’s funny – I have heard people debate whether he is the right person to lead Freo… I reckon those people are having a quiet cup of STFU right about now.
ALIIR ALIIR
Dominated the air. Just completely owned the airspace against the Tigers, racking up intercept marks on pace to break the record, at one stage.
Finished with 18 overall intercepts for the game, as he feasted on an inexperienced Richmond forward line.
DARCY BYRNE-JONES
Back in defence, and picking up right where he left off before he was switched to the role of pressure forward.
DBJ relished the freedom of running through lines, collecting 26 touches and six score involvements from the back half.
BRODIE GRUNDY
A monster game from the Swans’ big man. Remember when they told you the ruck rules would hamper players like him?
LOL. Always wait until you see a rule change in action.
Grundy finished with 28 touches, 33 hit outs, and nine clearances, as he completely oblisterated his opposition… who will be mentioned a bit further down.
JAI SERONG
What an inspired pickup from the Swans. Unable to get a game for the Hawks, Sarong has made the wing role his own at Sydney, and this was his best outing to date.
He finished with 27 touches, 13 score involvements, and eight intercepts as he controlled the footy, and formed part of a very effective Sydney wall across the middle.
ISAAC HEENEY
The third Swan… when you win by 20 goals, you get that.
Heeney was a cut above, seemingly doing as he pleased against the Eagles. Too big, too strong… too bloody good! Four goals, 26 touches… three Brownlow votes?
JACK STEELE
His best outing for the Dees, and one that was pivotal in the result of this one.
He was strong in the contest, standing in tackles and allowing them to fall off him. 18 of his 26 touches came in the contest, as he added 11 clearances to his stat line.
He cost a third-round pick.
LACHIE GULBIN
A shining light for the Suns, as he collected a heap of the footy playing across half-forward and up through the wings.
With 22 touches and a goal, it will be interesting to see how they assess the Rising Star nomination this week, as there is a bloke below, in another losing side, that may have a claim, as well.
MAX GAWN
The standard by which any other ruckman in the competition is assessed.
The Dees are 3-1, and in those games, Gawn has notched 20+ disposals and 20+ hit outs in every single contest.
The record for All-Australian selections falls this year, my friends. Hail Gawn.
JACOB FARROW
Cool, calm and collected in defence for the Bombers, Farrow played the role of sweeper beautifully, and seemed to get better as the game progressed.
He was one of the architects of the Essendon fightback in the second half, with a very strong finish to the game.
RYLEY SANDERS
Signed on for another two years and is starting to shape into the player many thought he’d be right off the bat.
A career-high 34 touches to go with his five clearances, as he put together a very solid four-quarter game.
JARMAN IMPEY
Charged with covering the loss of Karl Amon, as well as maintaining his own form, Impey took the game on from half-back and provided the Hawks with a potent weapon.
His run and carry, combined with some powerhouse defensive efforts, gave the Hawks the drive from defence they required.
JACK GINNIVAN
Defensive maestro, Jack Ginnivan, made several game changing plays in this one, and whilst some will gravitate to his two goals, including one after the halftime siren, it was his efforts getting back in defence that were the standouts for me.
On both occasions, he won the contest and started a chain to provide the Hawks with scoring chances.
SHANNON NEALE
A very Ben King-ish game from Neale, who kicked four goals from five kicks, but it was the quality of opposition that made his work all the better.
With Jeremy Cameron woefully out of form, Neale became the number one guy, and shook the reputation that he cannot convert against a good opponent, as he kicked his goals opposed to Tom Barrass.
MITCH LEWIS
The pay off!
Lewis’ recent injury history was a huge worry for Hawks fans, but there is a reason you persist with big blokes, and Mitch proved why with a big second half, including the clunk and goal to tie the scores and open the door for a Hawks win.
THE LOSERS
BEAU MCCREERY
The Pies needed something from the their young speed and tackling machine.
But they only got it in dribs and drabs. Pies fans have been calling out for him to get more midfield time. He got it in this game, and managed just one clearance and 12 touches. Played like a forward in an area of the ground that demands more.
PATRICK LIPINSKI
What a letdown. Another who needed to step up, and instead, stepped aside.
Lipinski strikes me as a decent player when he is in a supporting role, but ask him to do anything more… and this is the result.
MICHAEL VOSS
No explanation required.
Contract year, Blues collapsing, and Voss has no answers.
WILL HAYWARD
Played the tough guy and forgot about winning the footy.
Ended the game with just three effective touches, and gave away two downfield free kicks. They may have been soft-ish, but he evidently didn’t learn his lesson the first time.
CHAYCE JONES
A late in, was thrown into defence, and looked like a fish out of water.
Jones has not lived up to expectations, and is now a depth player at Adelaide.
REILLY O’BRIEN
I’m not sure he has had a worse game, or a worse moment. Turned the ball over at half-forward with one of the worst kicks of the footy since the time he almost missed his foot last year. The ball went forward for Freo, Josh Treacy kicked the go-ahead goal.
Amazingly, his combination with Lachie McAndrew was termed a success after the game. The bar for success must be pretty bloody low.
MATT FLYNN
Dominated.
Matt Flynn is 28 years old and 202cm. This should be his prime. He is the same size as Brodie Grundy.
Then how does he get so comprehensively trounced in their battle in the ruck?
This game demonstrated that this Eagles team is going nowhere with Flynn as their main ruckman. Time to go shopping, West Coast. Matt Flynn just drew a line through himself as an ongoing ruck option.
MATT OWIES
Speaking of ineffective Matts, Mr Owies joins the conversation.
Brought in to hit the scoreboard and apply pressure, Owies gets a pass for the pressure, but provided zero threat when it came to winning the footy, collecting just four touches for the game.
The Eagles must have their fingers crossed that Malakai Champion becomes something, because between Owies and Tyler Brockman, the Eagles have two do-nothing small forwards.
JARROD WITTS
I have not seen Witts beaten like this before. Usually, he parks under the footy and denied his opposition the space to work in the ruck, but Gawn worked him out, and in the process, worked him over.
It’s a bit harsh to have Witts in this section when he is up against an all-time great, but he is no Matt Flynn – he needs to do better when he runs into Big Max next time.
ARCHIE PERKINS
Where is he at?
Just three of his eight touches hit the mark, as Perkins looked totally disinterested and frustrated against the Dogs.
He has not come on the way the Bombers have hoped, and remains a player with a lot of potential, and no runs on the board.
BRAD CLOSE
Sorry Brad, but your form hasn’t warranted you retaining a place in this Geelong side. On a day when a couple of others were down, as well, your form continued to tank.
His presence kept Mark O’Connor and Jhye Clark out of the side. I reckon Chris Scott would like that decision over again.
BAD MABS
I love Good Mabs, but Bad Mabs showed up and squandered two set shots in this game that should have sealed it for the Hawks.
He was also hanging around in the first quarter, when he missed another set shot. He did so much right, but those set shot misses could have been very costly.
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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