Weekly wrap: Round 9 studs, duds, injuries

I love watching footy more than most, but the AFL certainly makes it difficult sometimes. Not the greatest slate of games this week, with the Sunday selection of Suns v Dockers, GWS v Carlton and Melbourne v West Coast maybe the worst we’ll see in quite some time.

On the plus-side, it was another exciting week in the SuperCoach realm! Eddie’s Eagles knocked up 2,281, which appears to have been almost exactly par for the top 1,000 given I moved up just 93 spots to 1,107th overall.

It was great to see PODs like Callum Mills and Jarrod Witts continue their fine starts to the season and even better to see Zak Butters finally notch up another ton, albeit against the struggling Kangaroos.

Captain selection was a minefield, with Clayton Oliver, Jack Macrae and Lachie Neale all battling their way to small 100+ scores.

Coaches carrying Lachie Whitfield, Stephen Coniglio and Dylan Moore have some serious headaches, while Jack Steele’s potential two-month absence with a shoulder injury has thrown the cat amongst the pigeons in a big way.

Heaps to talk about as usual – let’s get stuck in to it!

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Port Adelaide v Western Bulldogs

The Dogs aren’t at their best, but it’s still a scary proposition coming up against them at full strength as the Pies found out on Friday night.

Adam Treloar (149 SC) was magnificent and a deserving winner of the Best on Ground honours. He wasn’t alone in the midfield though, with Bailey Smith (144 SC), Tom Liberatore (128 SC), Marcus Bontempelli (125 SC), Josh Dunkley (118 SC) and Jack Macrae (117 SC) all contributing in a big way.

In total 9 Dogs made their way to 100+ scores, with Bailey Dale (114 SC) and Caleb Daniel (1111 SC) also getting the job done.

Luke Cleary (61 SC) looked great in his first game at AFL level, while Robbie McComb (41 SC) struggled.

For the Pies, Jack Crisp (100 SC) continued his excellent move to the midfield and Darcy Cameron (90 SC) was again serviceable in the absence of Brodie Grundy. 

Jordan De Goey (77 SC) couldn’t get in to the game and now needs to be on the trade table after four straight sub-80 outings. Nick Daicos (69 SC) did play a bit more forward, but did just enough to ensure he’s still a viable on-field option.

Injuries

Aaron Naughton’s knee looks sore but he continues to play on it.

Jack Madgen dislocated his shoulder and was subbed out.

Reports

N/A

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Hawthorn v Richmond

They mightn’t be the force they once were, but a Tigers outfit with their stars firing is still good enough to take down nearly anyone.

Tom Lynch (125 SC, 4.1) has been in a ridiculous run of form and continued it today – he’s now averaging 159 points in his last three games and is on track to crack the $600k price mark in a couple of weeks.

Dustin Martin (119 SC) looked right at home and is arguably the number one priority for coaches seeking a premium forward option. Unfortunately for owners, Nick Vlastuin (95 SC) and Jayden Short (88 SC) appeared to share a bit of defensive ball off halfback, but both still put up handy scores.

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In terrible news for the swathe of coaches who brought him in this week, Maurice Rioli jnr (7 SC) was absolutely horrendous and may need a week in the twos to recover. Bigoa Nyuon (39 SC) was solid in his first game but job security is a huge issue.

James Sicily (141 SC) was easily Hawthorn’s best and with a five-round average of 120, it’s nearly at the stage where he needs to be in 100% of teams. Jaeger O’Meara (97 SC) was solid again, Will Day (92 SC) did enough, but Dylan Moore (56 SC) was awful and is making those who brought him in two weeks ago (i.e. me) look quite foolish.

Injuries

Noah Balta did a hammy and was subbed off.

Jack Gunston was subbed off with an ankle injury.

Reports

Marlion Pickett has been offered a week for a hit on Dylan Moore.

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North Melbourne v Port Adelaide

Not a great slate of fixtures this weekend for the neutral fan and this arguably could’ve been the worst of them. Ultimately, Port are a way better team than their record suggests and were able to make short work of shambolic Kangaroos side.

Encouragingly for Ken Hinkley, it was Port’s young guns who really stepped up. Ollie Wines (155 SC), Sam Powell-Pepper (131), the much-maligned Karl Amon (117 SC) and Connor Rozee (116 SC) were all fantastic.

It was also great to see Zak Butters (104 SC) bounce-back from a rough trot of form, although a headclash in the last quarter is one to keep an eye on to make sure he gets up this week.

Travis Boak (36 SC) was ice-cold, while Dan Houston (86) also failed to cash in.

For North Melbourne it was the usual suspects who stood up. Luke Davies-Uniacke (113 SC) was excellent and Todd Goldstein (103 SC) also did well. With a three-round average of 123 in Tristan Xerri’s absence, he’s one to keep an eye on.

Not a lot of other positives for the Roos unfortunately. Paul Curtis (40 SC) struggled again; hopefully he’s able to hold his spot.

Injuries

Connor Rozee was sore after a big Cameron Zurhaar tackle but played on. The aforementioned Butters also continued despite looking a little groggy. Todd Marshall, Mitch Georgiades and Lachie Jones all looked sore at points with various ailments but all managed to stay on the field.

Reports

N/A

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St Kilda v Geelong

Well then, we have a legit contender on our hands with the Saints! Seriously impressive win under the lid at Marvel.

St Kilda’s midfield got things started for them all day, with Brad Crouch (140 SC), Jade Gresham (115 SC) and Jack Sinclair (107 SC) looking dynamic in there. Sinclair in particular is one to watch in recent weeks, for reasons I’ll outline below.

Paddy Ryder (94 SC) turned back the clock with a vintage BOG display, while the two-ruck setup clearly isn’t working for Rowan Marshall (82 SC).

Unfortunately, Jack Steele hurt his shoulder early doors and despite playing out the game, will be out for the next 6 weeks. Come on down, Sinclair?…

For the Cats, Tom Stewart (113 SC) was back to his best after a down week, with Mitch Duncan (77 SC) back to his usual wing/half-forward role after pushing back in defense last week. Patrick Dangerfield (69 SC) couldn’t stop handballing, and his score suffered as a result.

Sam De Koning (69 SC) continues to produce as a D/F bench option and looks a safe bet to hold there through the byes, with his aerial ability making him a key cog in Geelong’s back six. 

Second-gamer Mitch Knevitt (24 SC) struggled and may make way for Cooper Stephens next week, who was the medical sub.

Injuries

Jack Higgins copped another nasty concussion and was subbed off. Steele is out for six weeks after subluxing his shoulder.

Reports

Jake Kolodjashnij will attract some attention for the hit that concussed Higgins.

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Sydney v Essendon

Another dispiriting, abject failure from the Dons, successfully playing an under-performing Swans outfit back in to form.

Callum Mills (167 SC) is a true SuperCoach jet and trails only Lachie Neale for total points and average points so far this season. He is as well-rounded as they come, with 13 (THIRTEEN!) tackles, 29 disposals and 7 marks a real indicator of how complete his game is currently.

The young brigade of Errol Gulden (130 SC), Chad Warner (118 SC) and Nick Blakey (106 SC) were all fantastic, while experienced heads Lance Franklin (117 SC, 2.4), Tom Papley (108 SC) and Luke Parker (105 SC) chipped in as well. 

Isaac Heeney (92 SC) failed to cash in, while Jake Lloyd (98 SC) was helped by a stack of junk-time possession. Paddy McCartin (75 SC) looks completely at home in Sydney’s defense and shapes as a key part of their plans moving forward.

For the Dons, Jordan Ridley (113 SC) and Darcy Parish (109 SC) were as solid as ever, but outside of those two it was grim viewing.

Ben Hobbs (75 SC) backed up his breakout game from the week prior, but Nick Martin (59 SC) had arguably the first average game of his career, so we’ll cut him some slack. Sam Draper (6 SC) was abysmal.

Injuries

Blakey got rocked by Draper early but recovered.

Jye Caldwell (43 SC) showed supreme courage going back with the flight and knocked himself out in a collision with McCartin. See if he gets up for this week.

Reports

James Rowbottom made contact with Zach Merrett’s head in a bump and consequently will miss a week.

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Adelaide v Brisbane

Not much pretty about it, but another solid win for the Lions as they move to 8-1 for the season.

Oscar McInerney (142 SC) absolutely destroyed Kieran Strachan (52 SC) after what was an absolutely bizarre decision by the Crows to drop Reilly O’Brien. Consistent first-use in the middle meant Jarryd Lyons (118 SC), Lachie Neale (115 SC) and Zac Bailey (106 SC) feasted on an outmatched Adelaide outfit.

Dayne Zorko (103 SC) kicked two from the midfield – his role is getting better by the week. Daniel Rich (93 SC) and Keidean Coleman (88 SC) were both serviceable out of the backline, but it would be a concern for Rich owners to see Coleman look as comfortable as he does.

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Cam Rayner (59 SC) and Jarrod Berry (43 SC) need to be traded out of your team as soon as practicable.

No surprises who the Crows’ main contributors were – Rory Laird (142 SC) is in the Callum Mills mould of all-round contributors, with his 10 tackles and 33 touches a perfect display from an inside mid. His score could’ve been higher had it not been for three frees against as well.

Ben Keays (106 SC) just cannot stop finding the footy, while Jordan Dawson (107 SC) did well despite some close attention from Berry. Jackson Hately (110 SC) was brilliant, which is a major positive for the Crows as well as the 1% of SuperCoachers who own him.

Injuries

Clean bill of health for both sides!

Reports

N/A

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Gold Coast v Fremantle

Well, well, well! Is this finally the year we see the Suns play finals? Their current form suggests a big chance, with back-to-back wins over two of the top sides in Sydney and Fremantle.

It’s really not a complicated formula for the Gold Coast; Jarrod Witts (113 SC) puts it down the throat of Touk Miller (130 SC) in the guts and everything unfolds from there. An added bonus is when the likes of Mabior Chol (113 SC, 4.2) and Izak Rankine (93 SC) get dangerous forward of centre, and their dynamic forward-line structure makes the Suns very tricky to play against.

Noah Anderson (88 SC) and Matt Rowell (78 SC) were also solid through the midfield, with Anderson courageously playing through a nasty looking corky.

It’s official – Will Brodie (121 SC) is a mudder. His game is built for the wet and it was exciting to see him thrive against the club that cut him loose. Andrew Brayshaw (94 SC) and Caleb Serong (111 SC) tried hard through the middle, but it was the bottom 10 for Freo who didn’t perform.

Luke Ryan (63 SC) went at just 68% efficiency, which is less than optimal for a guy as talented as he is. Sean Darcy (51 SC) got a complete bubble bath from Witts, which would have been very hard to watch for the 3% of coaches who own him.

Injuries

Anderson should be fine.

Alex Pearce hurt an ankle and was subbed off in the last quarter. Rory Lobb had a sore hip and tried to play through it, fairly ineffectively.

Reports

N/A

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GWS v Carlton

Valiant effort from the Giants in Leon Cameron’s last game as coach, but ultimately the star power of the Blues (WTF?) proved too much for them to handle.

Sam Walsh (149 SC) was superb, kicking 2.1 in a clear BOG performance. George Hewett (121 SC) showed no ill-effects from his two week layoff and would be giving those who sold him last week some serious FOMO.

Sam Docherty (108 SC) kicked a big goal and went at 96% efficiency, which is about as elite as it gets given he had 10 marks and 20 kicks. It wasn’t Patrick Cripps’ (83 SC) best day, but that’s still not a bad effort against the notoriously stingy Matt De Boer.

Corey Durdin (76 SC) was excellent in his small forward role and Charlie Curnow (64 SC) kicked a couple of big goals.

Jesse Motlop (34 SC) started well but faded, while Jack Carroll (28 SC) looked awful and will be lucky to hold his spot.

Josh Kelly (156 SC) was the Giants’ best by so much it wasn’t funny, while Brayden Preuss (120 SC) monstered Tom De Koning in the ruck and all round the ground.

Isaac Cumming (89 SC) was okay, while Finn Callaghan (57 SC) and Cooper Hamilton (59 SC) both showed enough to suggest they’ll be in the side long-term.

Lachie Whitfield (43 SC) and Stephen Coniglio (37 SC) were awful and we can only hope the change in coach unlocks something for them. Toby Green (27 SC) also struggled.

Injuries

Zac Williams looked to ping an Achilles early – it didn’t seem great, but there is some hope it was “only” a calf instead.

Conor Stone did a hammy and was subbed out. Callahan’s left shoulder looked very sore, so wait and see what news comes out of that.

Reports

N/A

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West Coast v Melbourne

If you’re not a fan of either of these teams and still sat down Sunday night to watch this game in full, I think you may have a SuperCoach addiction. Join me at the SuperCoach Anonymous group meeting this Thursday night.

There’s not a lot to take out of this match; Melbourne = good, West Coast = bad. Christian Petracca (136 SC) and Jack Viney (129 SC) thrive when the game gets scrappy and did so again. 

Kysaiah Pickett (107 SC) smelt blood early and duly cashed in with three snags and 20 possessions. Clayton Oliver (99 SC) was a popular captain option, but understandably wasn’t as dialed in as he normally would be.

Luke Jackson (99 SC) was excellent, which was not good news for Max Gawn (73 SC). Gawn now has back-to-back sub-85 scores, which is becoming a worry for owners. It’s also time to go for Jake Bowey (77 SC), who now has a three-round average of 63.

Connor West (123 SC) top-scored for the Eagles, while Jeremy McGovern (115 SC) and Alex Witherden (104 SC) performed solidly as defensive options.

Greg Clark (62 SC) wasn’t fantastic, but appeared to be tagging Petracca which may explain his drop-off from the week prior. Hugh Dixon (48 SC) was a late in and did just enough.

Injuries

James Harmes was subbed out with a hamstring injury.

Liam Ryan was subbed out with an ankle injury. Luke Foley was knocked out in the last quarter after a heavy tackle.

Reports

N/A