CBAs, Kick Ins & Reports – 2025 AAMI Community Series

GEELONG v ESSENDON

CBAs

Geelong: SDK 25, Bowes 21, Atkins 19, Knevitt 17, Holmes 13, Stewart 10, Blicavs 8, O’Connor 7, Clark 6, Dangerfield 5, Cameron 1

Essendon: Tsatas 26, Hobbs 24, Draper 17, Bryan 16, Caldwell 13, Zerrett 12, Setterfield 12, McGrath 7, Perkins 5

Kick Ins

Geelong: Z. Guthrie 1, Stewart 1

Essendon: Ridley 5, Reid 3, McGrath 2, Shiel 1

Reports

Pretty low octane outing to kick things off with poor replicability to the season proper. Both sides ran experimental center bounce rotations, gave younger players exposure to key roles and began to rest their stars at the end of the third quarter.

Starting with Geelong, popular pick Holmes began on ball and found a decent amount of the pill early; his use however was as casual as it was errant. He then eased into a blended HB role, allowing for a wide range of CB attendeees as you’ll note above.

Barely left second gear and spent most of the final quarter on the bench. No alarm bells, and he’s had a clean pre-season, but it admittedly would have been nice for him to have carved it up all day on ball.

Stewart played a similar blended role operating as a spare then having double digit CBAs. He was clean off 94% DE with 13 kicks to 5 HBs.

Knevitt notched up the Cats’ second most contested possessions (10) and second most clearances (4), making him an easy rookie selection. Not much else to report on the Cats. Humphries was quiet, although certainly B22, and we didn’t get a look Smith due to a minor knee injury.

To the Dons, Tsatas was given the keys to the castle on ball with team high CBAs and a pure MID role. He found 31 touches, 13 contested and 10 clearances. Mediocre use at 71% and little synergy with the rest of the midfield made for an unimpressive score but he nevertheless presented as energetic and forceful on the contest – finishing as the only Bomber with double digit clearances (10).

Hobbs was given a similar crack with the 24 CBAs; capturing 29 touches and 12 contested. While topping the day for clangers (8) and going at a paltry 55%, Hobbs’ work rate from contest to contest was commendable and he laid a game high 8 tackles.

Both Hobbs and Tsatas appear slated for some degree of midfield time as the Bombers look to ply their high draftees on ball – Parish’s absence should also aid in that cause. The match conditions were, it must be said, very relaxed, particularly with the Cats parking Dangerfield and Holmes, so don’t expect the pair to rip 30 each week.

Merrett played off of a wing to make way for the duo and put in a relaxed shift but was exquisite in his delivery I50. Martin had been touted for an on ball role but found himself at half forward early and later mixed in on the opposite wing to Merrett and attending stoppages.

He top scored with 19 kicks, 11 marks and 2 snags in an Essendon system which was characterized by short kicks, fast handball chains and cutting inboard – resulting in low MG and CPs ratios for most of their ball winners.

Ridley remained in an accountable role and was solid with 17 kicks at 90%, later taking the fourth quarter off. Alongside him Reid overcame an early crisis of confidence in a key defensive role and looks solid enough in his JS for that D8 position, tabling 73 SC at 91% TOG. New recruit Prior joined the pair in a key defensive role and was okay, but probably saw more of the ball than a key defender would given the Cats phoned it in.

The final talking point from the Dons defence was Shiel playing at HB. He found a tonne of it early, finishing up with 26, but did so with poor use 69%, cheap options and very little contested. Being the first one up from the back six to the stoppage meant he was too far out to take kick ins really. Still very midfield minded was my read.

Finally, the Iraqi inspiration Kako was the most notable watch of the game: 4 goals, 97 SC, some honestly great defensive running and a few nice groundball contributions shored up his spot.

RICHMOND v COLLINGWOOD

CBAs

Richmond: Hopper 23, Nankervis 23, Taranto 23, McIntosh 16, Ross 15, Ryan 8, Mansell 6, McAuliffe 5, Campbell 4, Dow 1

Collingwood: Sidebottom 24, Cameron 23, Daicos 22, Perryman 20, Pendlebury 18, McStay 8, Allan 6, McCreery 3

Kick Ins

Richmond: Short 2, Vlastuin 2, Brown 1

Collingwood: Howe 6, Moore 3, McInnes 2, J. Daicos 1, Houston 1

Reports

First thing’s first: Daicos. What in the world, wow. Plantar fasciitis? Pfff, please. Simply his electric on ball, contest to contest best. 153, 32 touches and 8 tackles off 59% TOG. Still a question of fixture and that early bye but no doubts of his presentation and quality.

He had a new colleague on ball in Perryman, who played that tailing and funneling 2nd MID role to a tee. He tabled an easy on the eyes final stat line of 10 kicks, 10 HBs, 10 tackles and 10 CPs. His possession floor will be a little low and tied to the Pies capacity to secure first use and retain the ball but while in possession Perryman, acutely aware of his role, will thrive.

His CBAs will hold into the season proper and at just 417k becomes a very attractive proposition.

Houston put in a real baseline performance as that spitfire HB with 21 touches, a hand-off snag and seamless transition from Port to Collingwood. Didn’t get kick ins owing to him being in that higher up, attacking HB role but will still have plenty of economy.

Not much else for the Pies: doesn’t look like their are any kids ready to break into the side just yet. Circling back to the Tigers, Nankervis was immense and aggressive with 131 and 10 contested and clearly aided by constants in Taranto and Hopper giving the Tigers some stability at stoppage.

That should be a healthy environment for Lalor and Smillie to eventually play in, both of whom were absent. Blight looks to be in the 22 but is probably too expensive, while Trainor played half the game and doesn’t appear there yet.

The only slice of relevancy for the Tigers then was Short. The Pies lethal accuracy obscured the KI picture but safe to say Short will be at HB, tabling 21 kicks from 25 touches on the day. Now, his ceiling is going to be capped with his recurring poor DE (despite it being good on the day) and the Tigers having a poor set up ahead of the ball, but he’ll be serviceable to start – although not Top 6.

HAWTHORN v BULLDOGS

CBAs

Hawthorn: Worpel 16, Nash 16, Meek 13, Day 12, Newcombe 11, Ramsden 11, Ward 8, Mackenzie 7, Chol 3, Moore 3

Bulldogs: English 20, Sanders 20, Harmes 17, Liberatore 16, Kennedy 14, Darcy 4, Garcia 4, Bontempelli 1

Kick Ins

Hawthorn: Scrimshaw 5, Amon 3, Sicily 1, Battle 1

Bulldogs: Bramble 6, Freijah 4, Gallagher 2

Reports

A peppy affair initially but one that had the wind taken out of it immediately with Bontempelli’s exit and ebbed into standard practice match pace.

The Hawks opted for a rotated midfield and simulation style set ups; a system defence, front position forwards leading and half backs playing loosely – all at a relaxed pace.

Day played a subdued game with 20 touches at low DE and TOG, which probably makes sense given the Hawks slated for R0 and Day’s profile. He nor Newcombe played on full CBAs but that’ll be corrected come H&A.

Sicily was the other big premium watch and he lined up with new supporting cast members Barrass and Battle but the relaxed nature of the game obscured the degree of ‘freedupness’ he’ll play with in 2025, if that makes sense? They changed who had Naughton and later rested Barrass and practiced the lever of Sicily going forward. 24 touches, 515 MG and comfort in a proper back six provided no reason to dissuade owners. No kids to speak of.

The Doggies are now besieged by injuries. We’re talking Leningrad levels of besieged: Bont, Treloar, Jones, Richards, Dale, Vandermeer and a few other depth players. There are now opportunities in some lucrative SC positions but the question becomes will it even matter, will the economy be that substantial, with the Doggies decimated? Let’s get to those silver linings.

The first one is Sanders. He was, frankly, poor on the eyes as were his numbers: 79, 22 touches, 17 of them HBs, basically no MG at 77, just 2 clearances and looked a little frazzled and erratic in his positioning at stoppage. 8 tackles was nice but, yeah, not the greatest of performances off of team high CBAs.

The thing is he’s now going to play OB (great!) at what’ll have to be 15+ CBAs with Richards, Libba and then Harmes/Kennedy. Is that enough to paper over his lack of developed attributes at this stage? Your call at 330k.

Freijah enters as a similar proposition at the other end of the ground and his game was much more laudable: 108, 27 touches, 19 kicks, stable use, some KIs and 9 contested. Dale is set for a quicker turn around than Bont and Treloar are, so Freijah’s economy might be fleeting but he’ll stay in that 22 after showing calm and decisive use – a real positive on the day for the Doggies.

Another much needed positive was Davidson. You couldn’t miss that blonde hair and his efforts persisted well outside of the first quarter; finishing with 29 touches, 1 goal and, here’s the most important one, a game high 617 MG. A wing spot is his as Kennedy and Harmes move inside, so lock him in.

Finally, not sure if anyone will go there, but Liberatore was low-key exquisite. 120, 31 touches and 10 tackles for the coal face king.

To the rucks, Meek and English largely matched each other with Meek slightly edging it out in HOs (35-31) and English having 4 more touches. I’ve been avowedly anti-English, an Irish bias if you will, and while he was by no means lighting it up his ground coverage and attack on the contest were good. Can’t help but think that a depletion of their midfield might hurt his economy, I’m not sure.

BRISBANE v ADELAIDE

CBAs

Brisbane: Neale 28, McInerney 23, Dunkley 19, W. Ashcroft 17, McCluggage 13, L. Ashcroft 9, Rayner 6, Smith 5, Day, 3, Bailey 1

Adelaide: O’Brien 25, Rankine 21, Crouch 18, Dawson 16, Peatling 13, Soligo 13, Draper 12, Thilthorpe 6

Kick Ins

Brisbane: Zorko 8, Lester 2, Wilmot 2

Adelaide: Keane 7, Worrell 4, Hinge 2, Bond 1, Murray 1, Nankervis 1

Reports

A bit more in this one and probably the closest to H&A match conditions, with both sides putting optimized B22s forward.

Let’s start with the Lions. News: Zorko is still viable. Might sound trite but think a lot of us, myself included, hadn’t really considered him due to the longevity of both his body at 36 and his role but he’s going to continue to play HB, part of the object of which was to prolong his career.

He was sharp as a tack with 123, 28 touches, 24 kicks, 563 MG and most of the KIs. A strong stat line off of last year’s 110.4 average. He did play 80% TOG and does stay around that mark but with that much economy it’s not that much of a problem.

Same deal for Neale with 112, 30 touches and a 50% CP ratio playing nowhere but OB. If you can get past the bye, the Lions fixture is pretty juicy.

W. Ashcroft had a HIA in the first half but continued playing on the 3rd MID load we’d all hoped/expected he’d get and was really nice with 24 touches and 11 contested. Weaves in and out of traffic well and finished with a modest 93.

L. Ashcroft I also loved the look of: picks his spots, aggressive and tracked from contest to contest well. DE and TOG were understandably low at 56% and 66% but found 23, a goal and 339 MG, which is better than what’d you’d expect for a young playing injected into the midfield early.

Wielded the pill, took it on and didn’t just offload it straight away. Finished with 80 and should have some permanency in the side as McCluggage reprised his role on the outside. In short, the Lions presented an optimal and impactful 22. Plenty to considered.

Their feathered counterparts were also decisive. On ball, it was operation ‘Get Rankine In There As Much As Possible’ at team high, Crouch next as that stable accumulator, Dawson resting forward to when out of CB to open up the mix and then Soligo and Peatling combining for that 4th MID contribution.

Drilling down, Rankine didn’t over-exert himself but was offensively minded with his 90 and 18 touches and read the ball brilliantly both ways, popping up for a team high 9 marks.

Dawson was the stand-out. Most definitely played midfield but got some real purchase when rotated on resting forward. 20 kicks, 2 goals and 570 MG. With Rankine as the focal point on ball and support from Peatling, it allowed Dawson to steady himself, take a second and utilize his best attribute: kicking towards 50.

As mentioned, Peatling was very good cog in a very good machine: 21 touches and a team high 13 CPs. Dragged down by 52% DE and low meterage but knows his role and played their system which looks to be one of uncontested possession advantage and sucking the pressure out of the game.

Curtin is a no. Hasn’t found a role over the summer and just isn’t up to it yet. Draper had some tricks and scored 59 after coming on after HT and playing OB – just a matter of whether they want to unleash him come Round 1, a fine selection if they do given the Crows are stationed at home for a fair bit early. Cumming was ignoble off of HB with just 46 and 17 touches.

GWS v CARLTON

CBAs

GWS: Keeffe 19, Leake 19, Callaghan 18, Greene 13, Gruzewski 12, Kelly 12, Bedford 11, Rowston 8, Daniels 7, Jones 4, Hannaford 1

Carlton: Hewett 24, TDK 20, Cripps 19, Lord, 17, Cerra 15, Young 11, Docherty 8, Motlop 5, Williams 3, Fogarty 1

Kick Ins

GWS: Whitfield 8, Himmelberg 5, Ash 3

Carlton: Saad 5, McGovern 2, Cowan 1, Docherty 1, O. Hollands 1, Silvagni 1

Reports

Bit of a wash this one. Giants weren’t giving a toss, played unoptimized, no Briggs and gave heaps of kids a spin – Carlton then proceeded to act like it was a prelim.

All you could really take away from GWS was, I suppose, that Whitfield looked strapped in still at HB. 28 touches, 512 MG and KIs. Barrels into a nice fixture if you can see past the bye.

It’s hard to make a call on any of their rookies given they didn’t play an optimized B22 and will certainly make some changes but Leake and Stone both nabbed 60s and are ahead of the Rowston, Angove and Hannaford types who were present. GWS tend to reward strong work rates in their kids, which have translated in B22 gigs (think Wehr, Jones, etc.), so we’ll see what happens there.

A few brief but positive talking points for the Blues. TDK was flattered with a capital F by Briggs not playing and imposed his will on the game off a rested 58% TOG day. 138, 17 touches, 20 HOs and 7 CPs – lovely.

Similar deal for Cerra who played the same minutes as TDK and chalked up a tonne, 21 touches, 5 tackles and 10 contested. No signs of sluggishness and opted for expansive football while he was on.

Saad will definitely grab some of Newman’s economy but is fundamentally an unselfish footballer who just doesn’t have it in him to gull out, that said he’ll be on the right side of 90 you’d think.

L. Camporeale had a good one with 65 and 15 kicks as a few of the kids jostle for what would have been Jagga Smith’s spot.

GOLD COAST v SYDNEY

CBAs

Gold Coast: Witts 20, Rowell 19, Anderson 18, Humphrey 12, Graham 9, Weller 8, Read 3, Rogers 3

Sydney: Jordon 16, Rowbottom 16, Ladhams 14, McInerney 13, Sheldrick 13, Green 8, Campbell 5, Adams 3, Kirk 2, Amartey 1, Gulden 1

Kick Ins

Gold Coast: Powell 5, Jeffrey 4, Collins 1, Noble 1, Rioli 1

Sydney: Bice 5, Blakey 3, Roberts 3, Florent 2, Francis 1, McInerney 1

Reports

The Suns provided a better picture of their 22 and optimal positions than the Swans but nothing groundbreaking to conclude from the Sunshine State fellas.

Anderson adumbrated his hunger from the match sim and went hard with 35 touches and 9 clearances for 124. Has some obvious SC profile deficiencies still in his game (tackling, I50 targeting) but clearly raring for a big 2025 and looking to set the agenda having assumed the captain’s armband. As someone who has had him from the go, I’ve been happy with his last fortnight.

Rowell was similar in that sense that he did what he does well but still plays a game that isn’t fully rounded; on the day it was a monstruous 18/31 contested with little regard to DE and clean takes. His score was cut down to size by 5 FAs and 61% DE.

Rioli tonned off of pretty much no KIs, just a moderately clean 24 touches. He finished off the game on the bench for 71% TOG.

Sydney, as you’ll note from personnel and CBAs, very much treated this like a practice game. Bice got a spin at half back. Played 58% TOG and cobbled together 14 clean touches. Potentially we get one or two of him Paton and Hamling, who also scored in the 60s with respectable use.

Sheldrick really relished playing on ball without Heeney, Warner, Mills and then Gulden and of the lot of those who got a spin was already closest to banging on the door. He tabled 22 touches, 7 tackles and team high 14 CPs for a round score of 100. He should be good enough for a stoppage attending role, I’m quite a fan.

The only premium talking point was Roberts, who you’ll recall played his first full year in 2024 for 80.7 season long and a very strong back end. The Swans defence was more replicable to what they’ll line up with come H&A, so Roberts’ performance was comforting. 119, 27 touches, 20 kicks, 11 marks and 88% DE. You’d also assume he gobbles up more KIs come the real deal.

That was it for this one.

ST KILDA v PORT ADELAIDE

CBAs

St Kilda: Macrae 20, Steele 20, Boyd 18, Garcia 18, Boxshall 6, Travaglia 6, NWM 5, Keeler 4, Owens 3

Port: Rozee 19, Drew 18, Wines 17, JHF 16, Sweet 15, Soldo 10, Boak 5

Kick Ins

St Kilda: NWM 5, Byrnes 2, Cordy 1, Wilkie 1

Port: Farrell 3, Finlayson 2, Sinn 2

Reports

This was a painful watch but provided some reads for both sides in spite of some notable absences.

First cab off the rank is Macrae. Led the Saints for CBAs, touches (32), tackles (5), clearances (7) and, critically, CPs (16). Granted the Saints were a combination of uninterested and limp but Macrae tried his guts out in what wasn’t just a cheap performance; real contested numbers and real effort. Lock it in, Eddie.

Steele didn’t really go for it with just 22 touches, 4 tackles and 5 CPs but very much on ball.

Joining them, and this is an interesting one, was Garcia. Got a full CBA role and came in off a highly regarded off-season, however he was a little all hat and no cattle. Particularly early, he was errant, clueless and caught out multiple times. Had a bunch of moments to break out of the contest or dispose to a dangerous, well positioned target but the rubber just did not meet the road. 18 touches, 6 contested and 3 tackles paired with 65%~ TOG and DE.

What’s tricky is objectively his role is/was great, Steele, Macrae and RoMo are good company and, crucially, the Saints are going to be all about nurturing young talent and giving them a spin this year. Good role and plugs a nice hole up forward but, to use my last metaphor, it might be a case of cart before the horse for Garcia.

NWM played a low gear game of just 20 touches but remains deferred to and well regarded. Sprayed it a few times but the Saints more than willing to accept that as he looks to run things off of HB. Reviewing the Saints, it looks like Sinclair will come back to a hybrid role.

Boxshall had a favorable but maybe tenuous outing: 2 goals, time on ball, 15 touches, 8 contested and the Saints second highest score for the day (83). Good kick and some nice moments but not he most sustainable numbers, could nevertheless be nice bench material with a few of the Saints veterans in the VFL.

Hastie had a low touch (14) but modest performance at HB, O’Connell just needed to find more of it (8 touches only) because the young fella was an attractive user at 100% and opening up the ground. Boyd gave it a good crack and probably still keep him at R3 as a free-roll for when/if RoMo goes down but he copped it; managing just 40 and 18 HOs to the bumbling double act of Sweet and Soldo.

There’ll be opportunity at the Saints this year but their weakness as a side overall may limit the scoring capacity of those who do get a gig – I’d be going bench only for any Saints rookies as well as locking in Macrae.

To Port, Rozee went ahead and absolutely ruined his ownership!

He was a nice little POD earlier in the week and is now at 19%. It wasn’t a case of ‘oh, no Butters’ and therefore all the MIDs ball out – that hurts Port – but they had the nine to five OB depth in Wines and Drew and Rozee and JHF bring that high accumulating, damaging use. For Rozee it was a 161 point feast off the back of 39 touches, 17 kicks, 12 CPs and 89% DE. Liked that he sunk his teeth into the Saints, as Port have a string of bum opponents early on.

JHF lined up OB just as planned and popped out 31 touches and 10 clearances. Just 108 on the day, which will happen when he doesn’t also get direct SI and has slightly choppy use. Still essentially a FWD lock.

There was an abundance of defensive economy on the day as a result of Port pressing up very high and St Kilda being pressured into poor use when they got the chance to send the ball forward. Accordingly, HBs Bergman and Evans filled their boots as did Finlayson playing what was technically a key defensive role. Don’t think any of them, or Farrell, will quite monopolize Houston’s economy to make any of them relevant – hence none are bolded.

Berry you’d have thought would have filled his boots but that wasn’t the case: sort of condemned to dead space in the forward pocket as Port went direct. 14 nothing touches, no SIs and just the 48 in what should have been a cementing performance. Little harsh but would’ve been great to see his attributes.

Powell-Pepper had a modest outing with 75, 2.2 and 19 touches. We know the kind of player he is but he’s also in the leadership group this year and Butters’ absence should see Port look to him to offer that grunt at FWD stoppages.

WEST COAST v NORTH MELBOURNE

CBAs

West Coast: Kelly 20, Graham 17, Flynn 16, Duggan 15, H. Reid 13, Hutchison 7, A. Reid 7, B. Williams 2

North: Phillips 19, Powell 19, Xerri 19, LDU 16, Sheezel 16, Darling 5, Zurhaar 2

Kick Ins

West Coast: McGovern 11, Cole 2, Duggan 1, Ginbey 1

North: Daniel 3, Corr 1, Powell 1

Reports

Let’s start with Flynn. According to all recent reports and members emails, he was either chopping with BJ or outright 2nd banana. So what a delightful surprise this was! Now we love BJ but it was pretty clear Flynn’s got the better craft.

Threw up a 98, 23 touches, 10 touches and a goal – as well as actually beating Xerri in HTAs 8-5. Off the back of that he’ll be first choice for us, thus catapulting him into our sides. We’ll get into R2 or FLX in a ruck piece I’ve got coming this week but needless to say a very good performance from him.

Baker probably worth mentioning for us as well – didn’t find that much of it but took distance with his 18 touches. Found himself in no man’s land between the backline and midfield and isn’t privy to KIs by the look of it.

From Bo Allan to bloody No Allan. That was a tough watch for the kid. Just 6 touches, 3 FAs and 16% DE for -12. Yowza.

North were much more appealing for SC. Starting with their topline talent who just went off. If you don’t have Sheezel, pack it in. 36 ultra-clean touches and mass ground coverage for 170. Turning that midfield into a traphouse.

Batting to him was of course Xerri. He contributed an R1 altering 141 and some truly tremendous numbers for a ruck, namely: 14 tackles and 13 CPs. His tackling numbers are just insane. For a big man to that frequently and that cleanly lay tackles gives him excellent stoppage economy. Shot off 14 handballs as well if you don’t mind.

LDU was solid with with 26 touches, 15 contested and 118 and could have some upside with North now possessing a really strong engine room purely off the backs’ of Xerri and Sheezel.

O’Sullivan, who is a high draftee but hasn’t received that much love over the pre-season, put in a shift and rode North’s outside ball generation with 99, 18 touches and a really nice 10 contested. Now he won’t have the luxury of North bussing every week but solidly 22 now and with some real hunger coming off an outside start.

Speaking of outside starts, the magnanimously talented McKercher is currently in this rather ‘bleh’ wing-ish role but with 24 touches for 87. Not an ideal role at this stage but think a desire to integrate him into the action should see him end up somewhere more conducive but for now he’ll have to really work for it.

Finally for the Roos, the deliciously priced and poised Daniel did not disappoint: right at HB where he belongs he commanded 26 touches at strong efficiency and claiming good meterage. Absolutely no reason not to have him.

No real kids to speak of with a few for both sides falling through at selection as well as on the day.

FREMANTLE v MELBOURNE

CBAs

Fremantle: Brayshaw 23, Reidy 16, Serong 16, Jackson 14, O’Driscoll 13, Erasmus 10, Bolton 9, Reid 5

Melbourne: Gawn 28, Viney 21, Langdon 17, Petracca 17, Oliver 15, Rivers 9, Pickett 8, Johnson 2, Sparrow 2, Langford

Kick Ins

Fremantle: Ryan 10, Clark 6, Wagner 4, Chapman 3, Cox 1

Melbourne: Bowey 6, May 6, Salem 1

Reports

Last dance, Dockers Dees. Despite some staggered starts, management and shared roles, this one was pretty illuminating.

Brayshaw didn’t waste any time. Picked up right where he left off from the backend of 2025 on ball and looking exquisite. 22 gloriously disposed of touches at 90% and 13/22 contested delivered him a 133. A goal, 4 tackles and 6 clearances made for a well rounded performance.

Serong was slightly held back with lower TOG (59%) and just cruised, no cause for concern whatsoever. Got his 20 touches and 6 tackles for 93.

Despite Freo’s inexplicable desire to not give Jackson the #1 gig in Darcy’s absence he put work in: 129, 10/18 contested (love that) and 94% DE. He’s a great stoppage presence and blends brute athletic injection with an actually deft touch. Bizarrely, Reidy was bopping around got obliterated by Maxxy 46-17 in the HOs and managed just 3 three touches. Interesting to see if Freo persist with him.

Clark, even with some mediocre use at 67%, feasted with 28 touches, 117 and 485 MG. It’s too soon to call whether Freo’s style in 2025 will favour him or Ryan after we saw that schism late in 2024 but both remain solid as picks. Ryan had 26, 20 of them kicks and all high his trademark high DE and TOG (84;90).

Bolton played an okay game; not killing himself but got to see him settled in that HF then stoppage/CB impact role, exactly as Freo wanted.

O’Driscoll didn’t start but came in, thrust himself into stoppages and spun in a few CBs. The CBs won’t have permanence but his attack on the ball and SI oriented game will, thus earning him a spot. He had 17 strong touches, 8 marks and 2 goals for 72 off 73% TOG.

To potential rookies, the promise of Erasmus continues to be folly – barely played. Reid who has been ahead of him all summer played 75% but couldn’t accumulate much. Tracked well from contest to contest but it was just the 14 touches and 4 tackles for him, resulting in a flat 50.

Not the flashiest performance of any of the rucks over the AAMI Series but Gawn is still money. 46 HOs and 18 touches. His 116 was only so due to a lack of connection in a funky midfield and a bit of relaxed use but expect that to be tuned up in the season proper.

His compatriot Petracca was brilliant with 33 touches, a third contested, 8 marks and a whopping 594 MG. No signs of residual rib issues and went in gusto.

On paper, everyone will froff the performance of Oliver – and rightfully so. He had a real zest for the footy, was smiling, getting into it. That translated to 28 touches, 13 contested, 11 clearances and 3.1 for a game high 134.

What I didn’t love was the weird 15 CBAs and random starts at HF. Probably a paranoid take but would’ve loved to see him ride the whole game OB and score from there as three snags won’t be sustainable. Effort was top notch, body and presentation was okay.

Surprisingly, December favorite Rivers didn’t get much of a MID role and was caught between the high scoring on ballers and stalwarts down back.

In another spot of average news, Langford (43, 11 touches) and Lindsay (53, 14 touches) didn’t set the world on fire. Hard to justify that elevated price of earnest but low total performances – the off-season word about the two of them remains fantastic, so we’ll see.