We’re 15 weeks through the AFL season as all 18 clubs returned across the weekend.
With the bye rounds finally behind us we had a full suite of football and were treated to one of the weekends of the season as ladder-shaping battles took place.
With that in mind, here’s what we learned from the nine games:
The AFL needs to consider a send-off rule
The AFL has surely got to be considering a send-off rule after Tom Stewart’s bump on Dion Prestia on Saturday.
With Prestia taking no further part after being knocked out, Richmond was significantly disadvantaged as one of their stars took no further part in the game while the Cats effectively got off scot-free.
With the end margin being just three points, it’s an easy argument to suggest the Tigers would’ve won if Prestia played.
As Stewart went on to dominate down back for Geelong with 29 disposals and 17 intercepts, Richmond would feel short-changed that the man who took out their best player was able to effectively prove the difference in the game’s result.
While a send-off rule hasn’t existed as long as the code has been around, we can’t have teams being so significantly disadvantaged by no fault of their own doing.
As Kane Cornes said, any send-off rule would only be used in extreme circumstances and may only be used once a year if that.
It’s something the competition simply must look at.
We can’t have such significant results swayed as a result of such actions.
Melbourne is still a tier above
After three-straight losses, many thought the Demons were falling away, but Thursday’s win over Brisbane proved they're still at the top of the pack.
Coming back refreshed off the bye, Melbourne stamped their authority in the top of the table clash, swatting away the Lions by an impressive 64 points.
While the gap to the next best wasn’t what it was at the end of Round 10, Thursday’s result means you still have to have the Demons as your number one seed with eight games remaining in 2022.
Sitting atop the ladder, Simon Goodwin’s side looks best placed to lift the cup in 2022, with Geelong’s run home probably sitting them just behind them in second.
If Thursday is a sign of things to come, Melbourne could just be timing their run ideally as they’ll hope to peak in September.
Expect this form to continue to build over the next two months.
Sam Walsh is the game’s best young mid
Carlton’s Sam Walsh is the best young midfielder in the competition.
Coming off 30 Brownlow votes in 2021, that’s not an outlandish call and following his 40-disposal game against Fremantle, there’s probably no other ball-winner you’d rather have in your side.
The 21-year-old has no weaknesses, with his game having a perfect blend of inside and outside, while his ball-use stacks up alongside the sheer amount of footy he can collect.
While Fremantle’s Andrew Brayshaw could win the Brownlow in 2022 aged one year older than his Carlton counterpart, Saturday’s head-to-head clash showed that Walsh is probably a touch ahead at this stage.
So early into his career, it’s scary to think what the future Blues skipper could become.
It’s going to be a seriously fun watch for Carlton fans across the next decade.
McRae was right, Collingwood weren’t affected by the De Goey saga
Collingwood was without star midfielder Jordan De Goey on Sunday against GWS but it didn’t show with how they played.
With the 26-year-old missing due to personal reasons in the fallout of his behaviour during the bye week in Bali, coach Craig McRae said he didn’t feel the gun’s absence would affect his team on SEN’s The Run Home.
While De Goey has been one of Collingwood’s best in 2022, McRae boldly claimed the side's performance wouldn’t be affected by the entire saga.
“To all of our Collingwood supporters and fans, there’s not one piece of evidence right now to suggest it is going to affect our performance on the weekend,” McRae said midweek.
“Our players have seen a huge correlation with training form and how they play on the weekend, and last week was as good as we have this year.”
While the margin was close, Collingwood was dominant against GWS without the soon-to-be free agent, having 33 scoring shots to 17.
Even without his power through the stoppage, Collingwood was able to get on top in clearance, again proving that they don’t rely solely on individuals.
There’s no doubt they’re better with their superstar in the 22, but it wasn’t a bad sign for the Pies if De Goey does test free agency this off-season.
It’s a long road from here for the Saints
Just as they looked set for a finals finish, three straight losses have cast serious doubt over St Kilda’s September hopes.
With disappointing defeats in the last fortnight against the Bombers and now Swans, the 8-6 Saints look outside odds to play finals, particularly as their percentage at 107.3 isn’t strong.
While their fate is still in their own hands, their run home sees them face top eight sides Carlton, Fremantle, Western Bulldogs, Geelong, Brisbane and Sydney.
They can’t lose more than three of those if they want to play finals, and that’s hard to see happening on current form.
They’d want to turn it around quickly, or else we may have seen the Saints’ charge go out with a whimper in 2022.
It’s a big week for the Western Bulldogs
The Bulldogs have done what they’ve needed to do in the last fortnight against GWS and Hawthorn and now find themselves inside the top eight with an 8-6 record.
While their list and form-line looks like one of a finals side, it’s now that they’ll truly be tested with a tough run of fixtures ahead.
That all starts on Thursday against Brisbane at the Gabba, with games against Sydney, St Kilda, Melbourne, Geelong and Fremantle coming immediately after.
With their walk through the fire about to kick-off, they’d be desperate to win against the Lions and get themselves out to 9-6 before a couple of losses look set to naturally follow.
Lose, and it could just be the blow that sees them drop back in the finals race.
Win, and they’re in it up to their eyeballs.