Some teams came from the clouds to record upset wins and shake up the top eight mix.
Others have been dealt a reality check as we near the halfway point of the season.
Every team’s performance analysed and graded in foxfooty.com.au’s Round 10 Report Card.
ADELAIDE CROWS
Adelaide went into the match ranked 14th for tackles inside forward 50 but right from the opening bounce, the Crows’ intensity lifted. They had nine inside 50s before the Saints could get forward, but just couldn’t make it count on the scoreboard. After three big defeats in three weeks, Adelaide showed plenty of improvement against a red-hot St Kilda outfit. The Crows ended up +2 for inside 50s, +7 for clearances and spent more than 88 minutes in front before a eight-goal final term sealed victory for St Kilda.
In the votes
Jordan Dawson was able to play the role of spare man in defence, collecting 22 disposals. But his ability to hit the scoreboard with two goals made him one of the Crows’ best. He finished with seven intercept marks and more than 500m gained for his side. Jackson Hateley’s hot form continued with eight tackles to go with his 18 disposals.
Room for improvement
The inaccuracy really hurt the Crows. They had all the run and territory in the opening half but couldn’t put St Kilda away. Simple errors also cost them dearly, with Kieran Strachan coughing up a simple goal when he missed his target coming out of defence. A six to seven minute burst in the third term also cost the Crows dearly.
Grade
B
BRISBANE LIONS
The Lions likely won’t be too concerned by the loss even though it puts them level on points with Carlton for a top-two spot. Still, the absence of Marcus Adams was definitely felt in defence, while a hamstring injury to Hugh McCluggage in the last quarter will hurt in the weeks ahead. They probably weren’t helped by the sheer efficiency with which Hawthorn kicked in front of goal. It’s not alarm bells for the Lions as long as they respond next week at the Gabba against the Giants.
In the votes
Lachie Neale had a good start to the game before he was paid closer attention in the second half. Charlie Cameron made the most of limited opportunity with three goals along with Jaxon Prior. Lincoln McCarthy and Jarrod Berry had flashes of brilliance, while Cam Rayner continues to build.
Room for improvement
Giving up healthy leads twice in the game isn’t ideal, with the absence of Marcus Adams costly. They were well-beaten at stoppage, giving more weight to the assumption hit-outs aren’t all they’re hyped up to be given the Lions won the stat 71-27.
Grade
D+
CARLTON
No team barring perhaps Melbourne beats you in the engine room as comprehensively as the Blues and it was on full display on Friday night against the Swans. A stunning nine-goal second term proved the difference in the end as the Blues were tested significantly in the second half. They continue to cough up significant leads but the rapid pace with which they build those leads is something to behold. Each week the side looks more and more confident in its game plan under Michael Voss. The top four is well and truly on the cards come season’s end.
In the votes
Charlie Curnow was astounding with six goals, five of which came in the opening half. He is well and truly back to his best and may be even better than we thought. George Hewett was huge against his former side, which ironically could use a player just like Hewett right now. Sam Walsh was great yet again, but it was the Blues’ defence that shone brightest in the second half, repelling attack after attack.
Room for improvement
Yet again the Blues let a healthy lead get reigned in. It’s as much of a concern as building those leads is a delight. Inaccuracy in the opening term meant they trialled at the first change despite dominating the match. Everything would be absolutely perfect at Ikon Park if not for those costly lapses.
Grade
A
COLLINGWOOD
The Magpies got their 2022 season back on track with a stunning 36-point win over Fremantle in the wet at Optus Stadium. Collingwood’s intensity was on from the opening bounce, as they kicked for territory and made best use of the slippery ball. Despite losing the possession and hitout counts, the Magpies were the dominant teams across the ground, and now head into the clash with Carlton full of confidence
In the votes
Jack Crisp was everywhere for the Magpies, with 29 disposals, eight clearances and four score involvements. Oliver Henry kicked 4.1 from 13 disposals after only coming into the game at quarter time as the medical sub. Will Hoskin-Elliott took marks inside 50 despite the wet conditions and made the Docker pay on both occasions. Young Jack Ginnivan showed his usual flair with two goals from 12 disposals.
Room for improvement
The Magpies were well beaten in the ruck and at the contests. When Mason Cox was subbed out with a finger injury, it left Darcy Cameron to ruck solo and he was dominated by Docker Sean Darcy. Scott Pendlebury was quiet by his lofty standards with 16 disposals while Jordan De Goey couldn’t make the most of his chances, with 0.2 from his 19 disposals.
Grade
A+
ESSENDON
It isn’t a stretch to say the eyes of the AFL world were on Essendon this week and the Bombers probably got away relatively unscathed on Saturday night, showing far more effort despite the loss to Richmond. There was a marked desire to get physical with the opposition when one of their own was given rough treatment, but there are still considerable issues with the side’s system and the ease with which teams transition the ball against them.
In the votes
Darcy Parish finished with 43 disposals and loves a marquee fixture (more on those disposals later though), while Zach Merrett looked to gain metreage with several of his 33 disposals. Mason Redman flew the flag for his side on more than one occasion and was comfortably the most influential Bomber on the ground, gaining 950 metres with his 29 disposals - 25 of which were kicks - and taking 10 marks. Ben Hobbs continues to show promising signs of a great career.
Room for improvement
It’s still way too easy to score against Essendon and Richmond dined out, finding space repeatedly through the middle of the ground and having too much time and space inside the forward 50. Darcy Parish had 43 disposals, but he continues to too often lack genuine damage in his game - he finished with just four score involvements. Mason Redman was fired up, but went over the line in striking Dion Prestia and will face sanctioning as a result.
Grade
C+
FREMANTLE
The Dockers have now suffered back-to-back defeats in the wet, with critics questioning their ability to play in those conditions. Coach Justin Longmuir believes it’s a “mental” battle for his players, who had more disposals and more hit-outs, but just couldn’t make it count on the scoreboard. Fremantle managed just two goals to half time – taking them to just six goals in six quarters of football.
In the votes
Will Brodie was the best on ground for Fremantle, with 36 disposals, 11 clearances and one goal. David Mundy never gave up with 34 disposals and a big goal from outside 50 when the Dockers began their charge. Sean Darcy dominated when opponent Mason Cox was subbed out and finished with 44 hit-outs, 21 disposals and 11 clearances.
Room for improvement
The Dockers forward line has not fired for a second week in a row. Rory Lobb missed an easy set shot when it was pouring rain, while the small forwards just couldn’t capitalise on the ground ball. Michael Frederick finished goalless from his nine disposals. Bailey Banfield managed just eight touches and didn’t trouble the scorers.
Grade
D+
GEELONG CATS
An impressive, workmanlike Geelong outfit found an extra gear when challenged and unique avenues to goal on Saturday to end Port Adelaide’s four-game winning streak. The Cats trailed by seven points at the start of the third term, but then got tougher around the contest — both in the midfield and up forward. They booted seven of the last eight goals of the game to run out 35-point winners
In the votes
Jeremy Cameron’s epic torpedo goal after the three quarter-time siren was clearly the highlight of the match, but the star goalkicker’s contribution went well beyond that. Cameron finished with 3.1 from 24 disposals, 12 contested possessions, 12 score involvements and 499m gained. Tyson Stengle was also lively close to goal, booting three majors from 12 touches. At the other end of the field, the Cats’ defence was awesome, led superbly by Tom Stewart (27 disposals, 95% kicking efficiency, 13 intercepts, eight marks and eight score involvements), while Sam De Koning and Zach Guthrie were also excellent. Cam Guthrie had a season-high 38 touches, 16 contested possessions and 10 clearances, while Brandan Parfitt and Brad Close also starred.
Room for improvement
Few at halftime would’ve predicted Geelong to run away with a 35-point win after its sloppy first-half outing. Despite the Cats being on top around the ball, the Power were more polished on the outside, going at 83 per cent by foot in the second term – compared to Geelong’s 67 per cent – as it booted 3.2 to 1.2. And by halftime, Geelong had taken just 32 marks – it’d averaged 102 from its previous four games – while the Power had 60 as they changed angles and moved the ball shrewdly down the wing. The lack of control meant Geelong didn’t take a mark inside its own forward 50 for the entire first half – a remarkable stat considering it entered Round 10 ranked No. 1 for marks inside 50. Luckily for the Cats, fortunes flipped in the second half.
Grade
A
GOLD COAST SUNS
The Suns came up short against the Dogs, but not through a lack of effort. Gold Coast didn’t give up all day, even sending a late scare through the Dogs camp after getting within a kick in the dying minutes. Alas, the result snapped a two-game win streak for Gold Coast after impressive wins over Sydney and Fremantle in evidence that the club is indeed making strides under Stuart Dew. For now, the Dogs simply proved a task to difficult for the rising Suns.
In the votes
Joel Jeffrey exploded in a five-goal breakout performance including one of the highlight goals of the round over his head in the second quarter. David Swallow also played one of his best games for the season with 25 disposals, 17 contested, and 664 metres gained, while Jarrod Witts racked up a season-best 55 hit-outs.
Room for improvement
The Suns were smashed in contested possessions (152-133) and clearances (49-35) as they were taught a lesson by the Dogs’ star-studded midfield. It came as Touk Miller and Matt Rowell were below their best form inside the contest in decisive area of the game.
Grade
C+
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
The Giants got off to the perfect start to life under Mark McVeigh in an emphatic 52-point win over the Eagles. It came behind a 14-goal first half as GWS essentially put the game to bed by the main break. As is the case with most caretaker coaches, McVeigh showed he wasn’t afraid to move the magnets around, with Stephen Coniglio’s return to the midfield the most inspired of those in a best-on-ground performance from the co-captain. It marked the Giants’ third win of the season and snapped a two-game losing streak.
In the votes
Coniglio was enormous for the Giants, racking up a game-high and season-best 36 disposals, 14 contested, with 419 metres gained and seven clearances. Josh Kelly was also phenomenal in the midfield with 29 disposals, and nine tackles, while James Peatling booted an equal game-high three goals and Harry Perryman (30 touches, one goal) and Matthew Flynn (18 disposals, 41 disposals) were also busy.
Room for improvement
The Giants didn’t do a lot wrong on the day, but all the key metrics and stats suggest it should’ve been a more one-sided result. It was heading that way too at the main break and threatened to get ugly in the second half until the Eagles fought back to keep the scoreboard respectful.
Grade
A
HAWTHORN
Trailing by 22 points midway through the third term, the Hawks looked shot after a spirited opening half. That they managed to reign in the margin and then ultimately win the match is a huge show of grit and confidence in the game plan Sam Mitchell is trying to teach. As Dermott Brereton said during the Fox Footy coverage, the hardest thing to teach is ball movement and they’re doing it with ease. They desperately needed a win after going winless since Easter Monday and this is the perfect way to get it.
In the votes
Tom Mitchell had an enthralling battle with Lachie Neale and came out on top in the end, finishing with 36 disposals, one goal and five score involvements. Mitch Lewis is having an outstanding season and kicked four goals, while Chad Wingard chimed in with three. Jai Newcombe is a revelation in the middle and James Sicily offered plenty of rebound along with Changkouth Jiath.
Room for improvement
They couldn’t buy a clearance in the opening stages of the match as the Lions got out to a solid lead early in the game and then they were on the brink of collapse again midway through the third term. They have plenty of rebound out of defence but they still get scored against too easily, conceding 112 points even in a win.
Grade
A+
NARRM (MELBOURNE)
Another game, another win. The Dees were pushed early on by North Melbourne but yet again proved their mettle and ran over the top of their opponents. Next week’s game against Fremantle will be a fascinating test given the improvement of the Dockers in 2022, but it’s hard to tip any side against Narrm at the moment, such is its consistency and ability to explode at any given moment.
In the votes
Clayton Oliver certainly wasn’t taking it easy against a lesser-fancied opponent, finishing with 45 disposals (22 contested) and 13 inside 50s. Christian Petracca finished with 30 disposals, while Bayley Fritsch and Tom McDonald kicked three goals each. Kysaiah Pickett looked very dangerous at stages, kicking two goals from seven touches.
Room for improvement
They had 74 inside 50s to 34 but just weren’t clean going inside, which is unusual for a side as potent as this one. North Melbourne definitely tested them throughout the first three quarters before the Dees finally kicked clear. Still, none of this is all that concerning as long as they’re doing what they’re doing: Winning.
Grade
A
NORTH MELBOURNE
The Roos were pretty gallant for the first two-and-a-half quarters before ultimately being overrun by the Dees, but they won’t be the first or last team to suffer that fate. The experience will be invaluable for them and they weren’t humiliated, which could’ve easily been the case. As has been the case for the season so far, it’s about finding some positives that go beyond the win-loss column.
In the votes
Cam Zurhaar gave the opposition defence plenty of problems and finished with three goals. Luke McDonald has slotted back into the rebound defender role in the absence of Aaron Hall and finished with 31 disposals. Aidan Corr, Luke Davies-Uniacke and Bailey Scott were all prolific, while Jason Horne-Francis looked dangerous up forward early before fading in the second half.
Room for improvement
As always, the Roos can be scored against with alarming ease and that was the case in the back-end of the match as the game rapidly fell away from them. Conceding the last six goals of the match is not ideal and follows a pattern of fade-outs this year. It needs to be addressed. They were given a lesson at stoppage.
Grade
B-
PORT ADELAIDE
The Power’s winning streak ended on Saturday, going down to a hardened Geelong outfit by 35 points. Port had a tremendous start to the game, playing with a positive mindset that led to slick ball movement and scoreboard advantage, holding a seven-point lead during the early stages of the third term. But the Cats found their edge and rhythm in the second half - and the Power had no answers, conceding seven of the last eight goals of the match.
In the votes
Kane Farrell was involved in so many Power scores at the start of the match, booting two telling, long-range goals and setting up another for Robbie Gray. He finished with 18 disposals, eight inside 50s, seven marks and 585m gained while going at 86 per cent by foot. Gray had 14 disposals himself, with six leading to Power scores. Dan Houston was his side’s leading ball-winner with 30 touches across halfback, while he also had eight intercepts, five intercept marks and five rebound 50s.
Room for improvement
The Power’s 7.5 (47) was the second-lowest score of the round and their 43 inside 50s was their lowest count for the season. Their lack of scoring opportunities came about because of their lack of intensity at the coalface, getting thumped in the contested possession (-29) and clearance (-11) counts. Five of the top six contested ball winners were Geelong players, with Ollie Wines, Connor Rozee, Willem Drew and Trent Dumont winning plenty of the ball but very few at the coalface. As Ken Hinkley said post-match: “Geelong were just way better around the ball and willing enough to be a bit stronger in the contest than we were today.”
Grade
C-
RICHMOND
Barring a couple of injuries, Saturday night’s game against Essendon was full of reasons to be bullish once again about the Tigers’ hopes in 2022. The side has put together four straight wins for the first time since 2020, but more impressive is the manner in which they’re playing, with the manic pressure and turnover game firing on all cylinders against an Essendon side that threw everything at them throughout the match but ultimately came up short against a team that has given unconditional effort for years. Next up? Sydney on Friday night.
In the votes
The Tigers have desperately missed Dion Prestia when he’s been out of the side and performances like Saturday night’s illustrate why. Prestia was huge in the middle with an equal game-high number of clearances to go with eight score involvements. Liam Baker was another who thrived, as did Jayden Short, while up forward Jack Riewoldt booted four goals and looked impressively agile. Maurice Rioli and Shai Bolton both thrived under Dreamtime lights.
Room for improvement
The Tigers never really put Essendon away until late in the game, leaving the door open for some comeback bids throughout the match. Tom Lynch could’ve made the final margin far more convincing if not for his four behinds but he once again dominated in the air and looms as a key loss depending on the extent of his hamstring injury, as does Kane Lambert with hip soreness.
Grade
A-
ST KILDA
The Saints found another gear in the final quarter of their match against Adelaide, and put the Crows to the sword. An eight-goal last term ensured the Saints took home the four points from a tough contest away from home. A massive +23 hit-outs helped the Saints midfield get first hands on the ball, while big Max King clunked a handful of marks inside 50, to take the Saints total to 14 for the match.
In the votes
Bradley Hill was the man to break the game apart in the final term. He finished with 30 disposals at 90% efficiency, five intercepts and almost 590 metres gained. Max King continued his stellar 2022 season with six goals. Remarkably, the big man kicked six straight on a night where inaccuracy plagued the opposition. The ruck combo of Paddy Ryder and Rowan Marshall stepped up with 45 hit-outs between them to dominate young Crow Kieran Strachan.
Room for improvement
The Saints struggled to find a way forward early in the contest, and when they did, it was picked off by Crows duo Jordan Dawson and Tom Doedee. Allowing Adelaide to have a spare man in defence hurt King’s ability to run and jump at the footy.
Grade
B+
SYDNEY SWANS
The Swans are well and truly under the pump now, just one game separating them from the Bulldogs in ninth. Their 5-1 start to the year papered over some of the cracks in the side given their supreme accuracy early on. Plenty of work needs to be done in the midfield and, while they won three quarters against Carlton, the ease with which the Blues tore through them in the second term would be cause for significant alarm.
In the votes
There were some really impressive signs from Logan McDonald, who kicked three goals and three behinds, while Tom Papley also hit the scoreboard with three majors. Callum Mills was good again in the centre and applied plenty of pressure around the ball, while Nick Blakey provided bounce out of defence.
Room for improvement
That second quarter was alarming, but even in the first term the post-clearance contested possession differential was the biggest in any quarter this year, with the Swans saved only by the Blues’ inaccuracy in front of goal. It’s not the first time the Swans have been outworked or hunted at the coalface and it’s fast becoming a considerable issue with no simple fix.
Grade
C+
WEST COAST EAGLES
West Coast’s 2022 woes continued at the hands of the Giants in more tough viewing for Eagles fans. Adam Simpson’s team was at large put away in the first half, conceding 14 goals, before showing more fight in the third and fourth quarters. But the damage had already been done in a disappointing outcome given it was a winnable game for the Eagles as they fell to 1-9 on the season including six-straight losses.
In the votes
Fourth-gamer Isiah Winder was a rare bright spot for the Eagles on the day with an equal game-high three goals, providing a much-needed spark up forward. Tim Kelly (23 disposals) and Jack Redden (20 touches, seven tackles) battled hard all day in the midfield, but it was an uphill battle against the Giants’ in-form on-ballers.
Room for improvement
Although starting the game better would’ve also clearly helped, the Eagles were smashed in contested 141-113. Critically, it consistently led to Giants scores in the first half, with 56 of their 81 points coming from stoppage just before the main break in a devastating rate for West Coast — creating a deficit too much for the visitors to come back from. Further to this, GWS too often was able to transition the ball into its attack as the Eagles lacked a defensive presence around the ground.
Grade
D
WESTERN BULLDOGS
The Dogs fought off a brave Suns outfit in Ballarat to win by 19 points and pick up their third victory from their last four games. It came behind a typical dominant performance from the Dogs midfield, although they were made to earn it against an in-form Gold Coast side that never gave up. The result edges the Dogs closer to the top eight, sitting a game clear in ninth position
In the votes
As mentioned, the Dogs’ midfield was sublime, with Bailey Smith (34 disposals, one goal, 722 metres gained) sublime, Marcus Bontempelli (24 touches, three goals) back to his best form and Adam Treloar (26 disposals, one goal) and Jack Macrae (32 touches) also busy. Aaron Naughton was dominant in the first half with three goals before Sam Collins kept him quiet in the third and fourth terms.
Room for improvement
The Dogs’ goalkicking accuracy continues to let them down, kicking 15.16 in this one, including 10.15 to three-quarter time before storming home late. As impressive as the Suns were, the key metrics suggested Luke Beveridge’s side should’ve won by more, and it’ll need to be more efficient against the better sides.
Grade
B+
