Round 2 of the 2024 AFL season is over and we're beginning to shape our beliefs on season 2024.
Former Collingwood coach and superstar Nathan Buckley has put together his takeaways in The Buck Stops Here.
On his mind this week were Tom Stewart, the Bombers, Luke Jackson and more.
Read his thoughts below:
Tom Stewart’s amazing story
“That performance and the career that this guy is building is off the charts,” Buckley said on SEN Breakfast.
“He’s a phenomenal footballer.
“It’s actually worth throwing it out there whether he could be the best player in the game.”
Kane Cornes said: “I’m not offended by that.”
Buckley continued: “Even the fact that you're not offended by it says that that's giving him his flowers, isn't it?
“Because he's so powerful in the air, so difficult to stop. I just think he's been an amazing story.
“I reckon if you're a midfielder playing against Geelong, you look up and Tom Stewart's probably the first player that you're going to see in your vision because he gets to that spot before any forward does, before anyone else does.
“So that makes him a great defender. He defends the space.
“It was a great celebration of his career to date. It’s 150 games old.
“If he does this for another 100, it'll be really interesting to see where he finishes because amongst general defenders that have ever played the game, he's got to be having as much impact as anyone.”
Essendon on the improve and response to Papley comments
“I don't think there was a lot of premeditated stuff in what Essendon were doing there.
“If you want to carry yourself with a little bit of niggle, niggling your direct opponent and trying to make it more difficult to play the game and to have it on your terms.
“That's a pretty good place to start because you want to disrupt the opposition as much as you want to.
“But I thought across the board, I was impressed by Essendon.
“I think they were beaten by a really good opponent and I think Sydney will show up a lot of teams.
“They were still able to score 100 points. Jake Stringer and Jade Gresham in that front half with Kyle Langford and their talls. Jye Menzie I don't mind as a small player.
“I think Sam Durham, Ben Hobbs and Archie Perkins are three young players who are going to come through really well. Zach Merrett's performance was next level, I think he's just getting better and better.
“When an opponent like Tom Papley is going to question that they've got to do it for four quarters and yeah, they do, but they had some young boys that really stood up and it's just good stuff both ways.
“The other thing is they've had some experienced players that I believe haven't been physical enough or haven't stood up in the big moments enough.
“I actually wasn't disappointed with what I saw.”
Luke Jackson’s impact
“It’s the little things that he's doing, that follow-up ruck work that he does so well.
“Follow-up ruckmen and their ability to clear the ball, as a percentage of scores from clearances at the moment, they are having more impact on stoppage scores than any of the midfielders.
“Don't be looking for hit-outs from your ruckman, be looking for the ability to be able to follow up and clear the ball because you naturally create an outnumber because your other ruckman is probably on his arse. The outnumber is what starts the chain for stoppage.
“His performance was next level. He had 21 hit-outs, five tackles and 24 disposals.
“He really is a prototype tall.”
BUCKLEY THROWS DOWN CHALLENGE TO DAICOS AFTER QUESTIONS ON DEFENSIVE EFFORTS
Chatter around best 22s
“Let's not get carried away with best 22s or talking about ‘in the best 22’.
“So Jackson Macrae went and got 47 touches in the twos. If he's going to help the Bulldogs be their best, he'll be there when the whips are cracking and it's all about finding out.
“Mitch Duncan and Tom Atkins - Duncan comes out late, Atkins isn't in the middle. Jhye Clark stands up and you've got different players that get it done for Geelong through the middle.
“The team that we hear a lot about best 22 is Taylor Adams going to be best 22 for Sydney? They've got Luke Parker out, they’ve got Callum Mills out, where are they going to fit in? Is Isaac Heeney going to lead the midfield?
“What a great position for a coach to be in.
“Jordan Ridley and Mason Redman go back into Essendon. Sean Darcy and Luke Jackson, they're all there.
“If you don't have depth, if you don't have players outside the 22 that are playing this week that aren't injured, that can't come in and you're questioning whether they could actually make you better, then you've got a skinny list.
“So the fact that you have players outside of the 22 on that week - we sort of go to, ‘oh, are they going to get back in or what's going on there?’
“Hey, don't worry about it. Having that depth of talent is crucial and important and it's definitely a problem that you want to have as a coach.”
