The ladder is starting to take shape.
Geelong, Sydney, North Melbourne, Brisbane, Richmond, Western Bulldogs, Essendon, Melbourne and West Coast all recorded wins in Round 9.
The Demons remain the only undefeated side with the Bulldogs, Cats, Lions, Port Adelaide, Swans, Eagles and Tigers all sitting inside the top eight.
We have selected one positive and one negative from every club’s Round 9 performance.
See our thoughts below:
Positive: Forward line solid without Tex
Resting Taylor Walker was going to happen at some stage and it was good to see the Adelaide forward line cope without him.
It was always going to be a massive task to beat the Eagles in Perth, so the focus must be placed on positives from a loss they were expected to have.
Without Tex, the attack looked solid with Shane McAdam, Riley Thilthorpe and Darcy Fogarty the main focal points.
They combined for 6.5 of the side’s 11.10, and conjured 11 shots between them without their main man in attendance.
The Crows had eight more inside 50s than West Coast so they are definitely getting enough looks.
Negative: Coughing up seven second-quarter goals
The Crows were decent for large periods but it was their second quarter which really hurt.
They coughed up seven goals as the Eagles momentarily flexed their muscle.
Apart from that, Matthew Nicks’ side was more than competitive, particularly around the ball where they almost matched the West Coast midfield.
Jack Darling got off the chain with five goals in that term while Josh Kennedy and Oscar Allen also contributed in a period of less than 20 minutes which ruined the day for the visitors.
Andrew Slevison
Positive: The three-headed monster is real
There was plenty of talk about Geelong’s ‘three-headed monster’ of Tom Hawkins, Jeremy Cameron and Gary Rohan after they combined to dominate Richmond, and Brisbane may have their own answer in Joe Daniher, Eric Hipwood and Daniel McStay.
Add All-Australian small forward Charlie Cameron into that mix, and you may just have the most potent forward line in the competition.
The Brisbane trio combined for eight goals against the Suns on their way to a 73-point win, with each target getting their bite of the cherry.
It’s a truly scary proposition for opposition defences if Chris Fagan has found they key to unlock his dangerous forward line.
Negative: More injury concerns
The only downside for Brisbane in their win over the Suns were injuries to both Darcy Gardiner and Ryan Lester.
Gardiner (shoulder) and Lester (hamstring) join an injury list at the Gabba which includes Jarrod Berry, Lachie Neale and Cam Rayner.
The experienced duo are the unsung heroes of the side, and their losses would be felt more inside the four walls of the club than is perceived on the outside.
Luckily, they have plenty of depth in the reserves after five senior players returned through the state league last week.
They’ll need to test their stocks when they host Richmond in a mouth-watering clash on Friday night to kick off Round 10.
Lachlan Geleit
Positive: Liam Stocker is worth persisting with on-ball
It was borderline shocking when Liam Stocker ran into the midfield on Sunday afternoon. Carlton playing a highly-drafted on-baller in the guts is a rare sight.
While he didn’t set the house on fire, Stocker did not look out of place in what was his first true shot in the role at AFL level.
The former first-round pick found 15 disposals and kicked a goal after spending the first portion of his career in defence.
Negative: The Blues carry too many poor decision makers
Carlton dropped Jack Newnes for this game who was one of the chief offenders, but the Blues still have far too many players you cannot trust with the ball in their hands.
Whether it’s Liam Jones and Lachie Plowman in defence or Will Setterfield, Ed Curnow or Levi Casboult elsewhere, Carlton hacked the ball forward on the weekend to Melbourne defenders standing in acres of space.
Lachie Fogarty had a subpar afternoon in that regard as well, while poor Harry McKay did his best with one arm to bring the ball to ground.
Losing a crafty midfielder with speed and creative touch like David Cuningham to what looks like a serious knee injury is a huge blow.
Nic Negrepontis
Stay up to date with all the latest news from SEN. Sign up HERE.
Positive: Hoskin-Elliott's wing move
The ex-Giant has had his troubles up forward since his breakout 2018 season, but he may have found a new home on the wing.
Hoskin-Elliott had his best game of the season against Sydney - with 23 disposals, 10 marks and a goal - and looked like he regained a bit of spark that’s gone missing in recent years.
The move makes sense as he has good hands, a quick turn of foot, a strong aerobic capacity, and loves to operate in open space – the wing could be home for him going forward.
There’s been talk about his future at the club beyond this season, but if he can continue his current form, he’ll be well and truly in Collingwood’s plans for 2022 and onward.
Negative: Inability to score
It’s stating the obvious, but Collingwood’s lack of scoring ability is seriously painful to watch.
After opening the game on fire with four first-term goals, the Magpies managed just one for the remainder of the match.
It’s becoming a constant issue for Nathan Buckley’s side, who often start the game well before letting the opposition gain the upper hand.
Things could get even harder at the MCG on Sunday against Port Adelaide.
Lachlan Geleit
Positive: Winning a close game
The blue-collar Bombers finally won a close game after three losses by less than a goal, even if wasn’t the most aesthetically pleasing contest against the Dockers on Sunday.
Ben Rutten’s side started well, but Fremantle slowly turned it into a contested scrap and successfully succeeded in cutting off Essendon’s speed which dominated the early parts of the match.
The Bombers have wanted to become a more contested and hard-nosed side this year and even if it wasn’t a pretty watch at times, the manner in which they were able to close out victory on the back of a strong final term was positive.
Tougher tests lie ahead, but the Bombers would’ve been pleased both with the victory and the manner in which they were able to ground out what proved to be a tricky encounter
Negative: Injuries continue to mount
Essendon has been smashed with injury so far this season, with Devon Smith becoming the latest player to be added to the list.
The Dons forward picked up a hamstring injury in the second half of Sunday game, which saw Nik Cox subbed in for the final quarter.
The likes of Jake Stringer and Sam Draper – who are important players for the structure of the side – will return soon but Jye Caldwell, Dylan Shiel and Michael Hurley still face extended time on the sidelines.
They’ll be hoping for a few weeks of good news on the injury front.
Laurence Rosen
Positive: The young midfield unit
It ended up being a tough loss for Fremantle, but the midfield unit that will carry them for a decade got the job done.
Andrew Brayshaw finished with 33 disposals, Adam Cerra 28 and a goal and Caleb Serong tagged Zach Merrett to a mostly quiet game.
It would have been a great learning experience for Serong, who also found 19 disposals himself.
Sean Darcy dominated in the ruck, winning 38 hit-outs and picking up 22 touches.
Negative: Goal kicking spread
Once again for Fremantle, it was Matt Taberner or bust.
The key forward kicked 4.3 and was enormous in the Essendon game, but only Rory Lobb, Michael Walters, Adam Cerra and David Mundy also troubled the scorers.
The Dockers will continue to struggle to kick winning scores, particularly on the road, unless they find other avenues to goal.
Nic Negrepontis
Positive: Cam Guthrie stakes All-Australian claim again
The important Cats midfielder’s breakthrough season came last year, and he’s only improved from there to become one of the his side’s genuine stars.
He backed up his 36-disposal game last week up with another 36-touch effort against the Saints on Friday night, and why there was plenty of uncontested footy in his game, he also kicked a goal and laid a season-high seven tackles.
As the Cats continue to notch up wins and find their best mix in the midfield, Guthrie’s form continues to be a real highlight.
Negative: Narrowly escape again
Geelong were irresistible in the third quarter against Geelong last week, however, they were anything but clinical against St Kilda in Round 9.
If not for the Saints’ errant kicking in front of goal, the game could have been over at half-time and the circumstances which led to Brett Ratten’s side taking control of the contest leaves the Cats with a lot to review.
While it was undoubtedly positive that they won another game despite being outplayed, they still have plenty to work on.
Laurence Rosen
Positive: David Swallow
Positives for Gold Coast were few and far between after their dismal Q- Clash loss to Brisbane.
But co-captain David Swallow performed admirably and was his side's best on what was a grim night for the club.
Swallow collected a team-high 29 disposals and five clearances as the Suns fell away after a competitive opening quarter.
Negative: Conceding 14 consecutive goals
Trailing by 29 points at the main break, the Suns certainly weren’t out of the match despite being outplayed in the second quarter.
Gold Coast shipped eight unanswered goals in the third quarter and 14 in total as the Lions embarrassed their Queensland rivals by 73 points.
The Suns were well beaten in almost every department with 11 players laying just one tackle or less.
Coach Stuart Dew labelled the third quarter as “unacceptable” and said his side have lost trust within the competition.
They should not be tolerating performances like this.
Alex Zaia
Positive: Hogan and Hopper fire
Jesse Hogan was battling a calf problem during the week but got himself up and played a pivotal role for the Giants.
He kicked four goals in the second term, including three in a row, and was a constant threat in the first half.
Jacob Hopper was also a shining light for the Giants with a mammoth midfield performance.
He racked up 35 touches, 11 clearances, seven tackles, seven score involvements, six inside 50s, two goal assists and a goal. It was a colossal display.
Hopper is out of contract this year. GWS must lock him away.
Negative: More injuries, giving up lead
It’s not getting any better for the Giants.
They’re already dealing with a lengthy injury list which only grew on Saturday night.
Harry Perryman did his hamstring and stand-in captain Toby Greene suffered a fractured shoulder. Just as the Giants were building some steam, they cop this.
Also, giving up a 28-point third-quarter lead must also be seen as a massive negative.
The Giants were terrific for most of the game but were unable to see it out when perhaps they really should have.
Andrew Slevison
Positive: Chad Wingard back to his best
Losing to a winless team doesn’t leave too much to be positive about, but at least Chad Wingard has found form.
After an injury-interrupted year, Wingard was everywhere for the Hawks against North.
He kicked two goals and had 13 score involvements from 21 disposals.
Negative: They lost to an 0-8 team
As the great Sandy Roberts once said, what more can you say?
The Hawks led North Melbourne by as much as 32 points and fell apart in the second half.
Their big-name midfield group was found wanting and their captain was beaten comfortably in the ruck.
Nic Negrepontis
Positive: Rock sold defence stands tall again
Sunday’s game against Carlton was largely played in drizzly and gloomy conditions at the MCG, but Melbourne’s defence held up well once more in a contest they never really looked like losing.
Steven May and Jake Lever were solid again, while Harrison Petty continues to impress in the absence of Adam Tomlinson.
The best bit about the Dees right now is their form feels like it’s sustainable, and while they’ll have tough tests to come as the season unfolds, their back half forms the backbone of their nine-game undefeated streak.
Negative: How does their best forward line look?
If the defence at Melbourne is humming right now, there’s still plenty of questions about what their best forward line up looks like.
Sam Weideman played his first game of the season as a result of Luke Jackson’s injury and while the inclement weather made it hard for tall forwards, he still went goalless alongside Ben Brown, who also failed to trouble the scorers in his third game for the club.
Tom McDonald kicked another three goals and is cemented in the side, but whether both Brown and Weideman can play in the same forward line remains to be seen.
Laurence Rosen
Positive: A sign of things to come
As a young team at the start of the rebuild, all you want to see is young players showing signs of what they could be. If you’re lucky, you get that from the team as a whole.
Cam Zurhaar and Taylor Garner combining for seven goals and Tarryn Thomas starring through the midfield would have North fans incredibly excited.
Jy Simpkin finished with a career-high 38 disposals, Luke Davies-Uniacke picked up 24 and kicked a goal and Ben McKay is developing into a legitimate full-back.
Oh, and they won … that’s also nice.
Negative: N/A
There’s nothing negative to report at Arden Street today.
Nic Negrepontis
Positive: Ollie Wines
Ollie Wines’ ultra-consistent campaign continued against the Western Bulldogs.
Port Adelaide’s vice-captain racked up another 32 disposals and was the key instigator behind the Power’s resurgence after a slow start.
Wines won four of his five clearances in the second quarter and kicked a goal to edge Port in front as he and Travis Boak (30 disposals and eight clearances) shouldered most of the midfield workload.
The 26-year-old is averaging 31 touches per match and could be leading Port Adelaide’s best and fairest after nine rounds.
Negative: Midfield depth
Port Adelaide’s midfield depth looked skinny compared to the Bulldogs’ embarrassment of riches.
Wines and Boak weren’t given enough support as the Dogs edged the clearances 44-38 and dominated the uncontested possession count 232-185.
Power champion Kane Cornes feels there is a “sameness” about Ken Hinkley’s midfield with emerging star Zak Butters currently sidelined through injury.
“(Ollie) Wines and (Travis) Boak, you know what you’re going to get. Who are the next ones to go in there?” Cornes told SEN Breakfast.
Port Adelaide’s premiership credentials took a hit with another loss to a top eight side. They are 1-3 against sides inside the eight this season.
Alex Zaia
Positive: Baker boy a joy
Liam Baker must be a joy to coach.
He has played well as a small forward, excelled as both a lockdown and rebounding defender and can now add midfielder to his bulging CV of roles he has expertly executed for Damien Hardwick.
In the absence of Trent Cotchin, Dion Prestia, Shane Edwards, Kane Lambert and Shai Bolton, the Tigers turned to the underrated Baker and he certainly delivered.
He was solid all night but immense after half-time with 21 of his 33 touches and six of his eight clearances coinciding with Richmond’s second-half comeback. He also had nine inside 50s, seven score involvements and six tackles.
Dustin Martin with 28 touches and four goals was handy but for Baker to perform so well in a position he has little experience in was outstanding.
Negative: Commentary surrounding Marvel
It started during the week with CEO Brendon Gale before fuel was added to the fire by Hardwick at his post-match press conference.
Still there was chatter surrounding it on the talkbacks on Monday.
The Tigers might not like playing at Marvel but should have just copped it on the chin, played the game and moved on.
The club still enjoys one of the highest home crowd attendance averages in the competition and will no doubt be looking forward to getting back to the MCG in Round 11.
Andrew Slevison
Positive: Pressure and intensity
You cannot fault the pressure and intensity St Kilda brought to Friday night’s match against Geelong.
The Saints laid 87 tackles with Jack Steele (11), Josh Battle (9), Brad Crouch (9) and Hunter Clark (8) all bringing great energy around the ball.
It was as good as St Kilda has played all season without getting the desired result.
Coach Brett Ratten didn’t hide his frustration with the umpiring after his side was awarded just three holding the ball decisions.
“To think you'd have 85 tackles, I thought we out-tackled them, and you get three free kicks for the day?" Ratten told reporters post-game.
“I don't know if it's worth tackling. Don't think we got reward for our effort in the tackling component of the game.”
Negative: King’s goalkicking yips
Wayward goalkicking ultimately cost St Kilda on the Friday night stage.
Max King was the main culprit finishing with 1.5, taking his season tally to 13.18. King also fumbled at a crucial stage during the third quarter which cost his side a likely goal.
Experienced forward Tim Membrey also missed two gettable opportunities. The Saints had nine behinds on the board before registering their first goal.
St Kilda kicked 5.17 and butchered a golden chance to take a major scalp. To kick that poorly is simply unforgivable.
To make matters worse, key ruckman Rowan Marshall will miss four weeks with another foot injury.
Alex Zaia
Positive: Hayden McLean’s emergence
Sydney forward Hayden McLean is going from strength to strength this season.
After starting the year behind both Logan McDonald and Sam Reid on the depth chart, McLean has made a key forward spot his own in recent weeks.
He stood up in the big win against Geelong in Round 7 with four goals, but his best performance of the season was clearly on Saturday against the Magpies.
While he only booted one major, he had 18 disposals, nine marks, six tackles and a crucial goal assist.
Once Lance Franklin calls time on his career, a combination of McDonald and McLean should see the Swans through for the better part of the decade.
Negative: Beaten at the source
Sydney lost the clearance count 40-28 in their win against Collingwood.
Ultimately, it didn’t affect the end result, but it’ll be harder to control the rest of the ground against a better team if they give up a similar clearance deficit.
The Swans’ midfield is having an up and down campaign, and they’ll be hoping to find their best form before facing Fremantle on Saturday night.
There’s a fair chance that they’ll be 7-3 and with one foot firmly in the top eight if their midfield gets on top at Optus Stadium.
Lachlan Geleit
Positive: Key forwards in form
The Eagles did enough to come away with a win over the Crows.
They did require a seven-goal onslaught in the second term to help with the win which shows they have the ability to put their foot down and score quickly.
West Coast’s key forward trio of Jack Darling (five goals), Josh Kennedy (three) and Oscar Allen (three) combined for 11 majors between them, as well as eight contested marks, which is a scary proposition for opposition sides.
They were fairly efficient in attack, returning a score of 16.10 from 48 entries at 56% efficiency.
Negative: Lack of polish
On the flip side of that, the Eagles conceded 56 entries to the Crows.
That shows that at times they gave up the ball around the contest, allowing the opposition to provide their forwards with chances.
The Eagles were unable to fully capitalise on Nic Naitanui’s hit-out dominance, sharing centre clearances 13-13 with Adelaide and only edging them 32-30 overall.
It’s nothing major to worry about as they have the defence - especially with Jeremy McGovern and Tom Barrass back - to cover, but they may want to clean that up for when they take on the big boys.
The Eagles were behind in some key stat categories at half-time and also lost the final term to the Crows, so it was far from a polished performance.
Andrew Slevison
Positive: Cody pulling his weight, man
Luke Beveridge has been creative when it comes to small forwards over past seasons, with the legitimate crumbers in Ben Cavarra and Mitch Hannan outnumbered by multi-position players like Ed Richards, Toby McLean, Rhylee West and Lachie McNeil.
Anthony Scott, after spending time in defence, is building a strong case to be considered among the former. He’s neat, courageous and has a nose for goal. On Saturday night however, we got a look at the pest of whom Beveridge would have dreamed.
Cody Weightman teased with two spectacular goals in his first game, but his first appearance of 2021 promised much more: three goals, three contested marks, five tackles and an overhead sealer that sent Power fans scurrying for the exits.
He looks ready to give the competition’s most prolific offence another dimension.
Negative: The second term
For the second time in three weeks, the Dogs have had their weapon taken away from them. Just as the stoppage dominance vanished in the third quarter of the loss to Richmond, so too did they relinquish their grip in the second term against Port.
Led by Ollie Wines and Willem Drew, the Power won four of the first five clearances of the term and kicked five unanswered goals from five forward entries. The visitors were pinned back, with four of Port Adelaide’s goals coming from forward half chains.
The Dogs’ defence is perceived as their weakness, but even Matthew Scarlett and Alex Rance needed their midfielders to screen for them. It was a sign of growth that the Dogs wrested the game back after half-time, and these games aren’t supposed to be easy to win, but an awful lot of damage was done in half an hour.
Nathan John