What are the key takeaways and observations relating to your club in Round 4?
We have dissected each of the matches and offered a number of talking points for all 18 clubs.
The following will not apply to each club every week but form the basis of our views.
The Key Takeaway
The Undroppables
The Overreaction
The Positive
The Negative
What no one is talking about
What they need to tweak for next week
The Key Takeaway: Playing the Crows is a scary proposition
We saw it at times in the opening fortnight of the season, and after the last two weeks, we know it for certain.
Taking on the Adelaide Crows (especially at home) is no easy feat and they’ll claim several scalps at Adelaide Oval this year.
Matthew Nicks’ men were relentless with the way they swarmed Fremantle but now they’ve got the polish to match. Such was the quality of the win, David King ranked Adelaide among the sides he’d least like to face next week.
Making sweeping statements about finals is premature, but as it stands the Crows are not a side you want to be playing. A big chance against Carlton this weekend.
The Positive: New faces
Izak Rankine and Max Michalanney are players that will excite Adelaide fans to no end this year.
Again Rankine was involved in everything going forward, finishing with nine score involvements and three goals, handing Adelaide a polish the club could only have dreamed of last year.
Michalanney’s was an equally impressive performance considering what was expected of the 19-year-old.
He finished with a game-high 10 intercept possessions among his 16 touches and was among Adelaide’s very best.
Nathan Buckley labelled him a future star off the back of the performance and it’s not hard to see why.
The Overreaction: Jordan Dawson can win the Brownlow as a full-time midfielder
That’s off the back of Saturday’s performance. Playing midfield for the second consecutive game, Dawson could hardly have been more impressive with his ball use and impact on the game.
27 disposals, 13 contested possessions, five clearances and a goal don’t scream three-vote performance, but the fact he went at 96.3 per cent disposal efficiency – a game-high – is remarkable for a midfielder.
The 26-year-old captain has been thrown around the ground to start his career but his poise and class have him placed to be among the best midfielders in the competition, if that’s where Nicks opts to play him.
Seb Mottram
What no one is talking about: How well Harris Andrews is going
The 2019 and 2020 All Australian defender has had a terrific start to 2023 and is certainly recapturing some of that form that saw him become one of the game's best defenders.
Andrews' courage in the air is what makes him so difficult to play against and he's clearly been given the licence to mark the footy and boy is he delivering!
He's taken the fourth most marks in the competition with 39 at an average of 9.8.
The 26-year-old is often criticised for his lack of concentration and his ability to float in and out of games, he certainly hasn't shown signs of that this year.
The overreaction: The media questioning the Lions' credibility
After losing to the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium in Round 3, many so-called 'experts', including many at SEN (me), questioned the Lions' consistency and where their heading in 2023.
Albeit most of the feedback fair enough, the Lions sent a little reminder to the competition on Thursday night that you shouldn't write them off.
Their forward line looked scary with the likes of Joe Daniher, Charlie Cameron, Cam Rayner and Eric Hipwood getting on the end of some electric ball movement from their midfielders, kicking 14 goals between them.
Having beaten the two favourites for this year's premiership (Melbourne & Collingwood), the Lions now face North Melbourne, Greater Western Sydney and Fremantle in the next three weeks and assuming they make light work of that trio, they'll find themselves with a 5-2 record.
The positive: Charlie Cameron being Charlie Cameron
We put the pressure on Cameron last week and it was as if he read this column and thought 'I'll show you I've still got it'.
When Cameron is up and firing, there's arguably no better player to watch in this game.
His ability to sit on players' heads, step around his defenders and kick a ridiculous goal is ELITE!
Keep doing you, Charlie Cameron.
Hugh Fitzpatrick
The Positive: Charlie Curnow is the king of Marvel Stadium
Since the start of 2022, Charlie Curnow averages 4.9 goals per game under the roof at Marvel Stadium. He is the king of Marvel.
Curnow was monstrous against an undersized Kangaroos backline on Friday night, taking full advantage with his 6.2. He very easily could’ve had an even bigger night too.
He has entered the realms of the games true elite with his consistency from week to week and is rightly the raging favourite for back to back Coleman Medals.
What they need to tweak for next week: Selection headaches
Assuming Harry McKay’s suspension remains upheld, who do the Blues bring in to replace him?
The answer is probably nobody specific. They will get back Sam Walsh, Matthew Kennedy and Blake Acres and that potent midfield injection will allow them to get a bit more creative forward of the ball.
Jack Silvagni and Tom De Koning will need to hit the scoreboard more as key position options and take the pressure off Curnow, who Adelaide will naturally be zeroing in on.
The Blues also need more goals from their midfield as they are not receiving the same level of contribution through there as they did 12 months ago.
Lochie O’Brien and Josh Honey likely lose their spots in the 22, though Ed Curnow could be an unlucky omission for team balance reasons instead of Honey.
The Negative: Clearance game has dropped away
If you asked anyone what Carlton’s clear strength was in 2022, they would tell you the clearance game. However, North Melbourne clearly won the stoppage battle on Friday and the Blues have lost the count in three of four games this season.
Patrick Cripps had nine clearances himself against North Melbourne, but he needs greater help. Zac Fisher had five in a larger on-ball role, but Adam Cerra and George Hewett only had the one each.
With Matthew Kennedy, Sam Walsh and Blake Acres set to return, the Blues will be hoping to turn things around against Adelaide.
Nic Negrepontis
The key takeaway: Ruck dilemma will hurt in the short term
With no Brodie Grundy, Collingwood knew they’d have to rely on their ruck stocks remaining relatively healthy and their worst fears have come to fruition.
As Darcy Cameron, Mason Cox, Aiden Begg and even Nathan Kreuger watched from the sidelines, the Magpies were manhandled by Oscar McInerney in the ruck on Thursday as the Lion tallied 18 disposals, 11 clearances and 43 hitouts.
With that discrepancy leading to a clearance defeat, the Magpies will need to figure some things out before the cavalry returns.
With matchups against St Kilda’s Rowan Marshall and Essendon’s Sam Draper up next before any of their rucks are set to return, Collingwood will hope they can stem the bleeding enough to make sure they don’t drop any games against teams they really should beat if they’re contenders.
We’re sure they’ll be right in the long-term, but they’ll be hoping this period without a ruckman doesn’t cost them dearly in the win-loss column.
The positive: Nick Daicos is him
Nick Daicos has already been anointed as the next superstar of the competition and one of the best players currently in the AFL, but wow is he special.
With 38 disposals and two goals, Daicos was clearly Collingwood’s best player in the loss to Brisbane and may now have Brownlow votes in all four of his games this season.
It’s going to be tough for the second-year gun to topple the likes of Clayton Oliver come Brownlow night, but on current pace, he’s going to be in the running for most of the season and could even have Charlie hanging around his neck.
With some detractors online are making it their hobby to try and to point out any little mistakes Daicos makes, the youngster should take that as a badge of honour that he’s already great enough to garner that kind of attention.
He’s already his side’s best player and he seems to be getting better by the week.
It’s amazing to think what he could become two years down the track.
The overreaction: Collingwood have been ‘found out’
We all know Collingwood live by the sword, and when you do that, you can also die by it.
We saw that on Thursday night with the Lions cutting the Magpies to ribbons on turnover but we’ve got to remember, the Lions are fully fit and one of the best home teams we’ve seen in recent memory.
While there’s no way Collingwood deserved to win that game, they ended up having two more shots on goal than their opponents and it could have easily been a tighter affair.
Opposition clubs know what the Magpies are going to bring at them, but only one so far has been good enough the other way to knock them over.
Don’t expect the Magpies to change anything they do off the back of that loss, and don’t expect other lesser sides to be good enough to handle Collingwood when they’re near their best.
Lachlan Geleit
The Key Takeaway: This won’t be the last game Jake Stringer wins off his own boot
Stringer’s 2023 season is up and running after an 11-shot game and the full 10 coaches votes in Essendon’s win over GWS last Sunday.
While he only kicked four goals from those 11 shots, it’s fair to say he wasn’t the only one without their kicking boots on as Essendon registered the most amount of behinds as a team since 2001.
What Stringer does add to Essendon is unlike anything else they have in their forward line at the moment, highlighted by his torpedo goal from outside 50 in the second half, which left his teammates and commentators in disbelief.
With Peter Wright set to miss most of the season, Harrison Jones struggling to find form and Sam Weideman to miss Gather Round through concussions, the Bombers will be leaning heavily on Stringer for goals in the coming weeks.
Sunday’s win over GWS won’t be the last game this year which he wills his side over the line.
What no one is talking about: Dyson Heppell’s impact as the sub
Brad Scott opted to drop former captain Dyson Heppell from the starting side, news which only became public an hour before the game as the club opted to shield Heppell from the criticism which would’ve followed.
To his credit, the veteran winger was injected into the game early as a result of Sam Weideman’s concussion and played his best game of the season, providing leadership on the field when it was badly needed.
It’ll be interesting to see how the club plays Heppell’s involvement in the team from here – could the sub be the best mode of nursing him through the season?
Laurence Rosen
The Key Takeaway: The Dockers have lost all confidence
The reason the Dockers are 1-3 is not personnel related. The names on paper are as talented as they were last season, but they have lost all confidence in their ability to move the football.
Yes, they don’t have Rory Lobb inside 50. So what? Is that the reason they’ve fallen from one of the best six teams of 2022 to this?
The Dockers have a lot to work out, particularly in transition around the ground, but they cannot blame a lack of talent because on paper their list is still more than good enough.
The Negative: Ball movement going forward
How many times on Saturday did a Fremantle player have the ball at half forward and decide to kick short, rather than deep inside 50? It would have been at least three or four times, and multiple went to a player under pressure that ultimately was turned over.
The Dockers have a serious ball movement issue, but they are doing their forwards no favours with their hesitation going inside 50.
They had the same number of inside 50s as Adelaide on the weekend and yet one team moved the ball with speed and purpose and gave their forwards a chance, while the other was stagnant.
The Overreaction: Brennan Cox should be swung forward
Matt Taberner and Luke Jackson don’t appear to be capable of being the commanding presence inside 50 – do the Dockers swing Brennan Cox forward?
They have the personnel to cover for him in defence and at this stage need someone like Cox that the team trusts forward of the ball to help with their movement and inside 50s.
Cox has had an excellent start to the season in defence and while it’s risky to play with his form by swinging him forward, Justin Longmuir cannot afford to remain conservative for much longer.
Nic Negrepontis
The Key Takeaway: Geelong’s season is not over
Heading into Easter Monday, there was only two outcomes for the Cats. The season was either over with a loss to Hawthorn, or it wasn’t with a win.
Thankfully for Cats fans, the latter eventuated after a 100-point second half. It leaves Chris Scott and his side at 1-3 after the opening month and no one knowing what to expect next week.
Will Geelong’s first half or second half become the norm going forward? That’s the question that could define how the 2023 season plays out across the competition.
The Positive: 100-point second half
It was a half of footy that blew Hawthorn out of the water and one that few saw coming. To have kicked just four first-half goals before booting 10 in a single quarter would have been 10,000-1 at the main break on Easter Monday, yet the dominance that played out was barely believable.
It was off the back of remarkable clearance dominance, particularly in the third term. In a game where clearances were squared at 35 apiece, Geelong won that stat 14-4 in the third quarter.
Given it’s a stat they haven’t dominated all year, perhaps the Cats indeed are back.
What no one is talking about: Brad Close
It’s been a slow start to 2023 for the connector between Geelong’s midfield and forward line, but Close shone in his role on Monday.
The 24-year-old had only booted one goal in the opening three games and hadn’t registered a goal assist. For a player who the Cats internally love, Close had to remind a few on Monday. And remind a few he did.
Two goals and three goal assists later, it’s clear to see how important he is to Chris Scott's system. Close also had 17 disposals, six marks and five inside 50s in a return to 2022 form.
Close often doesn’t get the recognition he deserves, but it was hard to miss his game in Round 4, one which could fire him back to form.
Seb Mottram
The Key Takeaway: How many more chances?
Who genuinely knows what to make of Gold Coast’s performance on Saturday night.
The Suns were as disappointing as could be after quarter time in a game that many in the footy community expected them to stand up and win.
Coming off a win against the reigning premiers, Stuart Dew’s troops regressed and undid all their hard work.
So how many more chances do we give them to do something in 2023 before asking serious questions? The manner in which they lost suggests serious questions (once again) are going to be asked very soon.
What no one is talking about: Noah Anderson cops no coaches votes
When was the last time a player who finished with 38 touches, 17 contested possessions, 10 tackles, seven clearances and a goal went without a coaches vote?
Probably never.
Anderson led the clash in numerous statistics and helped win the midfield battle for the Suns.
But in a 53-point loss, not even his coach Stuart Dew could find room to afford him a coaches vote.
What they need to tweak for next week: Forward line struggles
Of all 18 clubs, Gold Coast has kicked the third-lowest score in the competition in the opening month. For a club whose forward line was supposed to get better with Ben King returning from a knee injury, the Suns have gone the other way and gotten worse.
There’s no clear fix, but King has to find a way to get back to form, for the sake of Stuart Dew’s future.
However, it certainly doesn’t all rest on his shoulders.
Levi Casboult was solid but outside of that, the Suns forwards were largely uncompetitive despite recording only 13 less inside 50s. There’s plenty of work to do.
Seb Mottram
The Key Takeaway: The Giants are a competitive side
Under new coach Adam Kingsley, it is clear that the Giants play a competitive brand of footy and will put themselves in a position to win games on many occasions. The Giants matched Essendon in most of the key stats but were simply unable to sustain it for four quarters.
If the Giants play to the same standard they have done across their first four matches, they should register their second win against Hawthorn during Gather Round and get this season back on track.
The Negative: Jesse Hogan
The highly talented forward had a few efforts that would be a tough watch on review during the week. On two occasions, Hogan pleaded for a free kick from the umpires while the play was still live. Hogan ended with 0.1 from 15 touches and six marks which is decent for a key forward who wasn’t given the best service. However, Kingsley would not be happy with his key forward not putting his complete focus on the game at hand.
The Positive: Adam Kinglsey’s spray at three-quarter time
After surrendering the lead on the cusp of three-quarter time, Adam Kingsley was understandably livid with his team’s effort up until that point and let his players know about it. The broadcaster captured the first true sign of emotion from Kingsley in his time as a senior coach and it tells Giants fans that the poor results to start the season matter to the coaches.
Charles Goodsir
The Undroppable: Cam Mackenzie
Playing only his fourth game, Cam Mackenzie once again showed he will be a star of the future.
Whilst quiet in the second half, he finished with 16 quality touches, 10 contested possessions and four tackles.
He has now established himself in Sam Mitchell’s 22 and should be given the chance to stay in the side to continue his development.
The Positive: The first half
At half-time the Hawks only held a small lead but it should have been a lot more.
They went in at the main break +11 for inside 50s, +12 in contested possession and +14 in clearances. It was a promising start.
If they can play the way they did in the first half for four quarters, they can cause a few upsets this season.
The Negative: The third quarter
After a hopeful first half, it all came crashing down for Hawthorn who conceded 15 goals to the Cats after the main break.
This has become a theme for the Hawks in 2023. In the opening four rounds of the season, they have conceded 24.14.158, whilst only scoring 1.5.11 in third quarters.
It is something Mitchell simply must address.
What they need to tweak for next week: The ruck combo
The Ned Reeves and Lloyd Meek ruck combination is not working.
Max Lynch had a strong game for Box Hill in their win over the Cats, finishing with 34 hit-outs, 19 touches, four marks and two goals and must come in this week against the Giants.
Reeves needs to spend time at VFL level to regain some form and confidence. He’s averaging less than one mark and six disposals a game, which is not quite good enough.
Brad Klibansky
The key takeaway: Yes, it’s West Coast, but Melbourne should be the number one seed again
Heading into the season a lot had Melbourne billed as the competition’s best team, and a month in, that’s looking true.
While Collingwood started the season on fire, their recent loss to Brisbane drops them down the peg and with Melbourne sitting alongside St Kilda, Carlton and Essendon in the top four, there’s no doubt they’re a step ahead of Carlton and they’re at least two … or three above the Saints and Bombers.
Taking away their 11-point Round 2 loss to Brisbane at the Gabba, Melbourne have won each of their three games by 50 or more points, proving how dominant they truly are.
With Essendon, Richmond, North Melbourne, Gold Coast and Hawthorn to come in the next five weeks, there’s every chance they’re considered frontrunners for the flag at the midway point of the home and away season again.
The question simply will be whether they can sustain it this time.
The positive: Trent Rivers has quietly developed into a quality player
He’s already a premiership player, but Trent Rivers has clearly gone to another level in 2023.
In the absence of Christian Salem, the 21-year-old is making a half back flank his own as he averages more than 22 disposals a game.
A player that’s clean with the football and the right size to match up on a variety of forward opponents, Rivers is a player that Melbourne’s coaching staff can rely on week after week.
While there’s no doubt Salem slots back into the team once he’s healthy, Rivers doesn’t appear to be the one that’ll lose his spot in Melbourne’s defensive group.
The overreaction: Brodie Grundy should be the side’s number one ruck
No, Brodie Grundy isn’t as good a player as Max Gawn, but he is flourishing since taking over the number one ruck role.
With Gawn out injured, Grundy has averaged 21.5 disposals, 5.5 clearances and 29 hitouts a game across the last fortnight in his absence.
As his numbers are back to their best, Grundy looks like one of Melbourne’s best players and is proving that he’s clearly suited to playing a role that sees him ruck for the majority of the game.
Given Gawn is clearly the more versatile of the two, perhaps it’s in Melbourne’s best interest to have Grundy shoulder most of the ruck work and have their captain float around the ground more.
It may mean they get less out of Gawn, but could mean they get more out of the duo combined.
It’ll be an interesting watch once the skipper returns.
Lachlan Geleit
The Key Takeaway: Bring your A-game or North will get you
The Kangaroos are more than just a plucky young team enjoying the classic new-coach bounce, they have real systems and enough quality around the park to do some damage when it all clicks.
Harry Sheezel is already an A-grader across half back, Jy Simpkin has had a strong season, Cam Zurhaar is having a career-best year, Todd Goldstein remains evergreen, Nick Larkey is third in the Coleman and Luke Davies-Uniacke is now very clearly in the A+ bracket.
The Roos were down on personnel, but beat the Blues up at stoppages and outnumbered them at contests around the ground. They were the better team in the first half and finished stronger. Carlton’s third quarter avalanche proved the difference in the end.
Throw Griffin Logue and Ben McKay back into this team and they can absolutely scare a few across the remainder of the season.
The Positive: Midfield Bull
North Melbourne’s midfield unit right now is dangerous and causing headaches for opposition teams. They unquestionably won the battle against Carlton’s elite unit on Friday.
Cam Zurhaar attended eight centre bounces and was impactful particularly early on. He had two centre clearances and pushed forward hard, causing havoc. If he’d converted a few of his misses, he could’ve easily had a bag of five or six in the end.
The experiment is working and he is thriving on the inside alongside Davies-Uniacke, Simpkin and Will Phillips.
The Roos will hope that Ben Cunnington being subbed out lights a fire under him because his work at clearance could take them to another level if he finds form.
The Negative: Forwards badly beaten
Nick Larkey copped a knock early on, but even before that Jacob Weitering was winning the battle.
Larkey, who kicked seven on Carlton a few years ago, was soundly beaten by Weitering, who took 12 marks and thwarted the Roos on many occasions early in the game when they were in control.
Charlie Comben is still finding his feet at the level, but couldn’t impact against Lewis Young and the lack of a third marking option allowed Mitch McGovern to run riot – he was arguably the most impactful player outside of the Blues’ key forwards.
The Roos got their scoring from Zurhaar pushing forward and Jaidyn Stephenson bobbing up. But they need more contributors.
Nic Negrepontis
The Key Takeaway: Are the Power back? They might be back.
2023 has been a strange old season for Port Adelaide so far.
They start the year off with an electric win over a pre-season premiership favourite in Brisbane and catch the attention of everyone around the competition.
Then they get beaten comprehensively two weeks in a row, and public opinion shifts drastically on Ken Hinkley’s squad, expecting a similar disappointing season that of 2022.
Yet under the bright lights of the SCG, the Power were able to deliver an impressive win to stabilise their season, proving that this group was more than a Round 1 flash in a pan.
Most impressive was the fashion in which they took down the Swans. Yes, there was the dramatic conclusion, but Port showed vastly more grit in this one game than in their first three combined.
After a goalless opening term, it looked as though that Power were completely lost, applying no pressure through the middle of the ground and falling apart completely in attack.
However, for the rest of the contest, they were able to come back and hang with the Swans through exactly the same means that they’d lost the past two weeks: work rate.
Port was excellent on the defensive side of the footy, fixing many of their array of issues in order to limit the Swans, and grinding out the match without relying so heavily on their potent attack.
And of course, that ending was spectacular.
The Overreaction: Aliir Aliir is Superman
What more could Aliir Aliir have possibly done on Saturday night?
He was absolutely everywhere in the defensive 50, completely neutralising one of the more potent attacks in the competition with his pace and dominant aerial work.
While this still would have been an excellent performance if Aliir was focused on guarding space, the Power defender managed this showing all while playing on a legend of the game in Buddy Franklin.
Aliir made Franklin look completely outmatched in a way that we’ve rarely witnessed, limiting him to just eight touches and one behind.
He then decided that wasn’t enough and went on to win the game for Port, spoiling Ollie Florent’s kick after the siren right on the goal line in true superhero fashion.
If Aliir can stay anywhere near this level going forward, his second All-Australian nod could be on the cards.
The Negative: The first quarter
While the last three quarters of this match may have been fun ride for Port fans, the first term can’t be ignored.
A goalless quarter is something that teams with serious finals aspirations simply can’t allow to happen, especially coming out of the gate.
Port have shown they can be a fast-firing team, they need to make sure they hit the scoreboard early, so they’re not having to spend the rest of the match climbing out of the hole they dug themselves.
What they need to tweak for next week: Blend the two game styles
The Power have won twice this year, once through frenetic ball movement and once through pressure and work rate.
Combine the two, and you’ve got a squad that can compete with the best of them.
Easier said than done, but Port certainly have the talent to make it work.
Jack Makeham
The Key Takeaway: Struggling to close out games
Another Richmond loss by a single figure margin.
That’s 11 games decided by six points or less that the Tigers have failed to win since 2021.
Their three draws (including one this season) and eight defeats is the equal longest winless run in games decided by six points or less in V/AFL history.
The Tigers just need to find ways to win the close ones.
The Overreaction: Season is over
The calls have already been made - Richmond’s season is over.
You could be right in making the case for that statement given they’ve won one of four and now have a growing list of injured key players.
However, the Tigers have been in this position before and rallied. Even with vital players out they’ve picked up points along the way before resetting for the business end.
So it might be a bit early to say they’re in trouble or their season is over.
There are some issues, but Damien Hardwick and co. have been through this before.
The Positive: 2nd quarter
Richmond’s second quarter was simply irresistible. It was some of the best footy we have seen so far in 2023.
The Tigers kicked eight goals from 20 inside 50s to roar back into the contest after a tardy beginning.
But you rarely win games of footy when you kick 60% of your score in one quarter.
The Negative: Lynch and Nankervis injuries
The Tigers will be without key pillars Tom Lynch and Toby Nankervis for some time.
Lynch’s fractured foot and Nankervis’ syndesmosis will deprive the team of two of its most important players
Can veteran Jack Riewoldt step up to fill the Lynch void? And what does Hardwick do in the ruck given Ivan Soldo is also injured?
The report against Lynch should also be mentioned. Lynch’s high contact with Alex Keath highlights where the game is at right now that this action is even being considered for suspension, let alone sent to the Tribunal.
It’s unfortunate, but it’s the way the AFL wants to handle any head high contact, accidental or not, that results in concussion.
What they need to tweak for next week: Kick to handball ratio
The Tigers overused the ball in three of the four quarters on Saturday night.
On a wet and greasy evening, they ended just +44 with their kick to handball ratio. In comparison, the Dogs (who had 16 more inside 50s for the game) were +114.
When the Tigers were up and running in the goal-laden second term, they kicked it 66 times, 11 more than any other quarter. In that quarter, their kick to handball differential was +21 which led to their 20 inside 50s, which resulted in their eight goals.
In the remaining three quarters, the kick to handball ratio differential tallied +23, proving they were handball happy on a wet night which certainly had a detrimental effect.
Get back to kicking against the Swans this Friday night and it should give them a better chance at scoring.
Andrew Slevison
The Overreation: The Saints are already premiership contenders
Yes, the Saints have had a terrific start to the year, but those saying Ross Lyon's side are already genuine premiership contenders need to kick back!
Their biggest test comes this Sunday against a raging hot Collingwood side that plays with dare and speed that is so hard to defend.
If the Saints can knock off the Pies and Carlton in the next fortnight, let's talk September, but for now, let's hold.
The Key Takeaway: St Kilda's young crop is bloody exciting
St Kilda's young bulls ooze class and will be seriously exciting to watch over the next 10 years.
The likes of Mitch Owens, Mattaes Phillipou, Anthony Caminiti and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera all posses strong skill sets that will hold them in great shape for some time.
In what hasn't been a strong area for some time, the Saints look to have nailed it on draft night with this crop of young players.
The negative: Another injury blow
Albeit not a star, the injury to Jack Bytel is another blow to St Kilda's stocks.
Players like Bytel are very important, the young midfielder provides much-needed depth to an already depleted midfield group.
Bytel joins the likes of Jack Steele, Max King, Tim Membrey, Jack Billings, Nick Coffield and many others on an ever-growing St Kilda injury list.
Hugh Fitzpatrick
The Overreaction: Buddy Franklin needs a lengthy spell in the VFL
Franklin had one of the worst games of his career in Round 4 and was beaten badly by former teammate Aliir Aliir who played a match-winning hand. As Aliir began to grow in confidence and stamped his authority on the match, Franklin became visibly frustrated and regularly gave away soft free kicks against his direct opponent.
Franklin spent 92% of the game on the ground and only managed eight touches and a poor set shot miss on the three-quarter time siren. The 36-year-old is becoming a liability on the field and a tough call must be made on Franklin now.
The negative: The Swans’ forward line
The Swans dominated for the majority of the match against Port Adelaide yet somehow never led by more than four goals. The Swans had 19 scoring shots from 67 inside-50’s which equates to 40.3 per cent.
Only four of the nine goals came from forward half players including two from Logan McDonald. The trio of McDonald, Joel Amartey and Lance Franklin combined for 20 touches, four marks, five tackles and 2.1. It is an indictment on a talented Swans team who were unable to run up a score against a sub-par Port Adelaide side.
The positive: Oliver Florent
Oliver Florent’s match will sadly be defined by his final kick of the match but the 24-year-old arguably had the finest game of his young career and was easily the best player on the ground.
Florent racked up 33 possessions off half-back including six marks, two tackles, 890 metres gained and a classy goal in the third term to regain the lead.
Charles Goodsir
The Key Takeaway: Eagles look better when they’re flying
It was going to take a miracle for West Coast to steal a victory on Sunday, and while this ultimately didn’t come to pass, the Eagles certainly didn’t go down wondering.
Despite nearly half of their squad stuck on the shelf with injury, West Coast played with more energy than they have all year, moving the ball freely and riskily as they took the game on with dare.
While they did fall pretty convincingly, they put up much more fight than most were expecting.
If this vigour remains when some of West Coast’s top talent makes their way back into the side, the Eagles could become a real pesky side later in the season.
The Overreaction: Tim Kelly. Superstar.
Is this the best stretch we’ve seen from Tim Kelly?
Through the first four games of 2023, the midfielder is averaging a monster 30 disposals per game, by far the biggest mark of his career.
This was put on display against Melbourne, with Kelly standing up and leading the undermanned Eagles, doing everything he could to achieve the near-impossible.
While West Coast are certainly having another rough season, the play of Kelly stands out as a bright spot.
The Positive: It could have been worse!
Look, it’s certainly not good to lose by over 60 points on your own turf.
Yet considering West Coast were able to put up something of a fight against arguably the best team in the competition while significantly undermanned, this result isn’t anywhere as bad as it may seem.
The Negative: It might be a while before things get better.
West Coast’s current injury list is every club’s nightmare.
So many of the Eagles’ best 22 is stuck on the sidelines, and the nature of their injuries looks set to keep them out for a while, meaning that West Coast are forced to play weeks of footy short-handed.
Reinforcements are a long way off, yet a slate of Geelong, Port Adelaide and Carlton over the next three weeks seems all too close.
Jack Makeham
The Key Takeaway: The Bulldogs have found their footing.
A week is a long time in football. Two weeks feels like an eternity.
At the end of Round 2, the Bulldogs were winless with alarm bells ringing all over the place.
At the end of Round 4, the Bulldogs have won back-to-back games against a pair of supremely talented teams, getting their season back on track.
With the story of the Dogs’ early failures being their inability to effectively implement their changes in personnel and strategy, it’s fitting that their wins over Brisbane and Richmond came via some classic Luke Beveridge football.
With the exception of the second quarter, the Bulldogs dominated possession and territory to completely limit the Tigers, with the Dogs’ backline conceding just four goals outside of the frenetic second term.
The Bulldogs worked hard all night in the contested footy and clearance game, ultimately getting the reward for their efforts and proving that drive to win is still ingrained in the club.
The Overreaction: Is the Bont the best?
Is Marcus Bontempelli the best player in the competition?
Jeremy Cameron and Max Gawn would have plenty to say about that statement, but after that performance against the Tigers it’s hard to look past the Bont.
In a game which the Bulldogs won through their dominance in contests and clearances, Bontempelli took charge in both respects, leading the Dogs with 17 contested possessions and six clearances.
Yet the skipper wasn’t done there, with his 12 tackles being the most of any player on the field.
Simply put, the Bont did Bont things and the Dogs got a win.
What more could you ask for?
What no one is talking about: Tim English
Tim English is quietly putting together a stellar season for the Dogs and is doing it in his own way.
English has never been known for his abilities in the contest, often getting manhandled by other ruckmen who much prefer a crash-and-bash approach.
Instead, he would do his best work around the ground, serving as almost another midfielder as he looked smooth and silky in a way that few ruckmen do.
In the past, facing off against a classic, blue-collar ruck like Toby Nankervis would cause plenty of trouble for English, as he wouldn’t be able to match the physicality.
Yet this season, he has been.
English wasn’t able beat Nankervis at his own game, but he more than held his own in the traditional ruck matchup, which allowed him to impact the rest of the game with is work around the ground.
Finishing with 20 touches, six marks and 23 hitouts, it was a complete performance for English, and one that has become the standard for him in what is already looking like a career year.
Jack Makeham