The Giants need new ways to score: The things we learnt

Round 13 has come and gone, it's safe to say this round has been well below par as the cold weather starts to set in.

A wet weekend across the country has hosted a range of low scoring affairs, with all 16 teams combining for an average of just over 60 points scored across the round so far.

From a Hawthorn resurgence to a blunder in Bunbury and a wonderful King's Birthday spectacle, here are things we learnt in Round 13!

The Blues do not make things easy

Carlton eventually got the job done against a gallant Essendon outfit, but it was anything but easy, as captain Patrick Cripps said after the game.

The Blues almost shot themselves in the foot after leading by as much as 38 points. It was so close to being a ‘Carltony’ result.

They won just one quarter for the night and finished with eight more scoring shots in a weird and wonderful King’s Birthday eve spectacle.

But the most important thing is four points and that’s what Michael Voss and his men delivered. It wasn’t easy, it wasn’t pretty but a win’s a win and they now move on to West Coast in Perth next Sunday.

Brad Scott’s Bombers are playing some very impressive footy without several key first-team players out of the team.

They’re blooding youngsters who are coming along for the ride. The Dons are developing nicely in front of our eyes.

We also learnt that both Sam Durham and Adam Cerra are very lucky boys.

That bump from the Bomber was so oh close to hitting the Blue in the top of the head. If that was the case, well, we could be having a very different conversation today.

Durham will likely cop a week given Cerra wasn’t concussed. But that is the exact action the AFL hates and he’s very fortunate, for both parties, that contact slipped and Cerra’s shoulder bore the full brunt.

Honest assessments produce honest results

Entering Round 13, the Hawks were in all sorts of trouble.

Three losses in a row, failing to compete with the best of the competition and looking a shell of their 2024 selves, Hawthorn needed to hit reset – a hard-hitting player-led meeting mid-week opened the door for hard-hitting admissions throughout the group.

Approaching the meeting with honesty, the players reportedly spoke openly about what’s working, and most importantly, what is not.

Off the back of said meeting, the Hawks got to work, taking on a strong Bulldogs side without the likes of James Sicily and Nick Watson, and didn’t they deliver.

Strong on all fronts, the Hawks waltzed home to hold their place in the eight and return their season back on track.

If Sam Mitchell’s side can build on such a performance, the Hawks could very well be a threat once again.

Adelaide are no flat-track bullies

Having only beaten one top eight side up to this point, the Crows needed a big win to cement their status as a true competitor, and they did just that.

A top-shelf final term saw Adelaide pile on five goals to none, charging back from three goals down at the final break to knock off the reigning premiers at a soggy Adelaide Oval.

Crucially, not a single Crows midfielder managed 20 disposals. Jordan Dawson was excellent despite copping a strong Josh Dunkley tag, however the Crows midfield lost the midfield battle rather overwhelmingly.

Josh Worrell and Mark Keane carried through their form in the defensive half as the Crows sent a strong message out to the competition – they are here to compete.

Next week’s Tassie clash with Hawthorn is not one you want to miss.

The Giants need new ways to score

Suffocated by a Kenny masterclass.

GWS’ identity seems to have been figured out, with the Orange Tsunami appearing less threatening than ever before.

Known for their swift ball movement off the back flank and elite ball users, Adam Kingsley nailed on a brand of football that is undoubtedly as exciting as it gets.

With the likes of Lachie Ash and Lachie Whitfield, the Giants’ free-flowing play is electric, however it appears as though after a number of years of competing amongst the best, sides may have determined how to stifle the dashing transitional football.

Port Adelaide suffocated the football in their forward half, defending high up the ground to enforce excessive turnovers in dangerous areas.

Only conceding 14 points from their defensive half, the Power set up perfectly.

The Giants may need to locate an alternate game plan or work on new ways to score if they want to live up to expectations in 2025.

From Swan dive to season revive?

From back-to-back defeats of a combined 143 points to a 44-point win. It's not easy to do, but some recognition should be reserved for the Swans.

Yes, they were playing a rebuilding Richmond side, and they trailed at quarter-time, but Dean Cox was able to turn things around on the run. There is some semblance of life.

The Swans have been a shell of the side that won the minor premiership and played in last year's Grand Final. You could blame injuries, or a new coach.

Whatever the reason, they now get the chance to atone for a pedestrian first half of the season.

Now the Swans enter the bye with the knowledge that they can play the brand that wins games of footy. After the break they get five teams currently outside the eight in their next seven, stating with Port Adelaide.

Could this spark their season? From a Swan dive to a potential revival?

Inside 50s are good… goals are better

A game so poor… it was actually good?

So much can be said about the Eagles’ contest with North Melbourne in Bunbury. North Melbourne were poor beyond expectations, hardly competing against an undermanned Eagles.

With that being said, they won the game.

Despite their overwhelming control, the Eagles simply could not kick a goal.

For reference, the inside 50 count for each quarter tells a story; 21-10 inside 50s in the Eagles favour in the first term, Kangaroos led 20-5 at the first break.

18-7 inside 50s in the Eagles favour in the second term, Kangaroos remain ahead 21-14 at half-time.

It wasn’t until the third term that West Coast finally managed multiple goals, however their poor accuracy left the Roos with just enough of a sniff to run over the top in the dying moments.

It wouldn’t take a genius to determine where these two sides reside on the table, however the game, albeit poor, was certainly entertaining.

It’ll be a big week ahead for both of these sides, but particularly for the Eagles, losing a game that no side should be losing.