At the conclusion of each round, we will dissect the five key issues that eventuated from the weekend’s games of footy.
Here is what we learned from Round 17...
Patrick Dangerfield…
What more can you say?
Chris Scott was hesitant to call it the legend of Dangerfield after the game, but let’s not beat around the bush here. What the 2016 Brownlow Medallist produced on Saturday was one of the all-time great individual performances in the modern era.
Dangerfield’s day, and potentially season, looked done when he succumbed to a foot injury in the first quarter. He instantly called for trainers, failing to stand up without assistance. It loomed as a season-defining moment, but instead, it eventuated into the launching point for one of the great games.
Dangerfield finished with five goals, which should have been seven or eight if he kicked straight. Moved to full forward, Dangerfield presented as a natural forward and took strong marks. It showcased the abilities that make the Cat a dangerous weapon in the attacking zone, proving to be a match-up nightmare for defenders.
Playing Dangerfield in the forward line permanently isn’t a wise move, as it robs Geelong of their best midfielder. However, it now gives Chris Scott another weapon that he can unleash.
…And Lance Franklin
To Dangerfield to Franklin, the superstars came out to play on Saturday.
The Sydney spearhead showcased his game-changing potential against the Giants, two of his four goals coming in the final quarter. Seeing Franklin boot majors from outside 50 metres on the boundary is one of football’s most beautiful sights and it’ll never get old.
While it could be argued the Swans rely on Franklin too much, it was hard not to get lost in the moment on Saturday. Franklin’s presence creates a sense of danger for the opposing defence, causing them to always be on their guard, which creates a flow-on effect.
The likes of Tom Papley, who displayed his immense forward pressure, is allowed to buzz around the attacking area due to the attention occupied by Franklin. Playing with a superstar of that magnitude makes everyone’s job easier, and when the 30-year-old is kicking goals like he did on the weekend, Sydney look as threatening as anyone.
The next Buddy?
The night before Franklin tore it apart, we might have seen the next forward who has the scope to take over games like the Swan does.
Joe Daniher is coming into his own and not a moment too soon. Daniher’s blend of joy, talent, newfound accuracy, strong marking and athleticism makes him the quintessential modern day key forward target.
He possesses Franklin attributes. The Bomber can use his pace and quickness to break away from his direct opponent and finds a way to kicks goals in positions that nobody else could. One area where Daniher probably has the edge on Franklin is marking, as the young Don is one of the leagues best at grabbing the footy overheard.
Daniher recently re-signed with the Bombers, which will turn out to be one of the most underrated deals of the season. Even if he was never going to leave, it is surprising to see Daniher didn’t attract the amount of public attention he deserves.
De Goey rejuvenated
Nathan Buckley has been criticised heavily throughout his coaching tenure, but one of his best moves has been one of his most recent ones.
Putting Jordan De Goey into the midfield has increased the output of the Magpie, while adding another dimension to an already impressive engine room.
The 21-year-old has been able to win plenty of the footy, adding 27 disposals in the weekend’s victory over Gold Coast. Furthermore, De Goey has been able to use the ball with effectiveness and inject some speed from the clearances, two areas that Collingwood’s midfield isn’t that used to having.
De Goey also has forward craft that he developed over the past few seasons, which he can take into the middle. The Pies’ midfield struggles to kick goals, but now that De Goey has been transitioned as a permanent midfielder, that could change.
Freo’s forward line
The stats from the final ever derby at Subiaco makes for strange reading.
Fremantle had 57 inside 50s – 11 more than West Coast – and finished with 19 scoring shots, the same amount as their crosstown rivals. With the volume of attacking forays, the law of averages would assume the Dockers would prevail.
Those calculations were thrown out the window, though, due to Fremantle’s inept forward line. Ross Lyon’s men kicked 5.14, after booting 2.8 in the first half and 3.13 up to three quarter time. Those numbers represent the Dockers’ wastefulness, as numerous easy opportunities in front of goal went begging.
Just four Fremantle players kicked a major, compared to the nine that added a minor score. Simple misses aside; the Dockers had no targets when going inside their forward arc.
Cam McCarthy’s suspension proved more costly than some expected. Shane Kersten and Brennan Cox were non-existent, while Mark Hutchings nullified the dangerous Michael Walters for most of the contest and Hayden Ballantyne had no impact. With no direction, the Eagles constantly chopped off Freo attacks with intercept marks.
Matthew Pavlich must have been shaking his head in the commentary box at the dysfunctional Docker forward line – and boy, how much they would have loved for him to be out there.