16 clubs lined up against one another across the weekend for their first competitive hitouts, while Western Bulldogs and GWS played against themselves.
The games provided the best insight yet into how each team is tracking in 2023. After consuming plenty of the weekend’s action, Kane Cornes gave his 10 key obersevations from the action.
See the Port Adelaide great’s thoughts below.
Umpires are hot on holding the ball
“The one thing I noticed with the umpiring was how hot they were with holding the ball,” Cornes began on SEN’s Sportsday.
“Now I’m okay with it, I don’t groan and grumble… it’s gone (prior opportunity).
“If you grab possession of the ball and you don’t get rid of it, even if there’s no prior, you’re in all sorts of trouble.
“There’s no incentive to go and win the ball would be my concern.”
Saints need to be careful with what they wish for
“When they moved on Brett Ratten they said they thought they were at risk of getting stuck in the 6-10 zone and their list is capable of more than what they’ve delivered.
“I’m telling you, from what I saw on the weekend, they’re at risk of being stuck between 12 and 16.
“They turnover the footy, they butcher the ball… nothing I saw from the weekend has changed in that aspect.”
Sam De Koning could be the swingman of 2023
“I thought I saw him playing a bit forward on Thursday and I reckon he's got the capabilities to do some damage.
“If Esava Ratugolea can hold up as a key defender with Tom Stewart and De Koning goes forward, at least until Tom Hawkins is back and fit and firing, I don’t mind that combination between De Koning and Jeremy Cameron.
“I think that is worth exploring.”
Big fan of Riley Thilthorpe
“I think he might overtake Riley O’Brien as Adelaide’s no.1 ruckman at some stage this year.”
Bevo will spin the magnets
“He’s known for doing it and he’s been innovative… he does some bizarre things.
“Caleb Daniel is going to go on-ball which I like because it gives them a bit of class and he’d done it before and done a pretty good job.
“At one point apparently in the practice game – according to the Herald Sun - (the forward line consisted of) Rory Lobb, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Aaron Naughton and Sam Darcy. They’d all be near 200 centimetres playing in the forward line.
“I don’t think that’s viable for four quarters of footy for 23 rounds, but at some point it's going to really test the opposition.
“The options Luke Beveridge has are amazing and exciting, and if I was a Bulldogs fan I’d be pretty excited about the possibilities of where that can take them this year.”
Lachie Hunter to be the bargain recruit of the year
“For a future third round pick you get a best and fairest winner in and if Melbourne has struggled with anything, it’s that last kick inside 50.
“His ability to gain possession, swing onto the left and find the little angle kick inside, he's one of the better in that in the competition.
“That opens up everything… he looks fit.”
Demons send a message
“Did you see Melbourne running after the game?
“They knock off St Kilda and their fitness man puts them through 30 minutes of running after the game.
“It doesn’t feel like there will be any complacency out of Melbourne and that’s led by the captain, he’s as fit and as hard as any AFL player in the competition.”
Four quarters of match practice followed by 30 mins of running on the outside ground. There’ll be no knocking the Demons’ fitness this year pic.twitter.com/qmzRvpQOBD
— Mitch Cleary (@cleary_mitch) February 24, 2023
Boak on the wrong end of a hospital ball
“If you’re 34 and played 327 games, you don’t want a hospital ball in the middle of the ground.
“That’s the last thing he’ll want, it was awful… Dan Houston owes Travis Boak coffee for the rest of the year or however else players deal with their commodities.”
Travis Boak cops a heavy knock from Jeremy McGovern! 🤕
— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) February 24, 2023
📺 Watch the #AFLPreseason LIVE on Fox Sports or stream via @kayosports: https://t.co/0LIxbDtGdK
✍ BLOG: https://t.co/RhYb2rKcO6 pic.twitter.com/GpSRfoEYuX
There’s life left in Dusty and Nat
“They just look fit (Dustin Martin and Nat Fyfe). I think you can judge a lot by how players turn up… five goals between those two and it will be terrific to see those two firing again, hopefully they both stay sound.”
Rozee is set to soar in 2023
“I couldn’t not do this one. Connor Rozee is going to be a top 10 player in the game by the end of the year, he’s uncanny, he’s a freak, and his agility is as good as I’ve seen… I feel like he’s ready to go.”
Connor Rozee zigs, zags and scores.
— AFL (@AFL) February 24, 2023
Watch now on Kayo and Fox Sports. pic.twitter.com/ZGG0Kf8N2E
