Round 17 Review

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North Melbourne (13.7.85) defeated by Western Bulldogs (20.14.134)

  1. Tom Liberatore (171). Career game for Libba in his 250th. Had 27 touches (16 contested) plus 2 goals, 10 tackles, 7 inside 50s and nearly 500 metres gained.
  2. Marcus Bontempelli (133). Bont was also super here. 25 touches with 84% DE plus 2 goals, 10 tackles and 11 score involvements.
  3. Tristan Xerri (126). Seemed like a concussion late in the game, but got cleared I believe? Just keep an eye on any news for this one. Anyway, solid game nonetheless, Xerri had 17 touches (14 contested), 5 tackles and 30 hitouts.
  4. Colby McKercher (123). Had a game best 32 touches with 9 marks plus 1 goal and 555 metres gained to provide a great score.
  5. Aaron Naughton (113). Biggest scoreboard impact on anyone from this Thursday night fixture, Naughton kicked 5.2 from 14 touches and 9 marks (3 contested).

Other 100+ scores: Tim English (109), Matt Kennedy/Nick Larkey (104)

Disappointment: Dale (65) was super quiet with just 13 touches.

Rookies: Just Hynes (54) here for the Dogs, while the Roos were led by Cooper Harvey (74), a solid game after being out for over a year. Maley (66) was next, then Will Dawson (64), Hardeman (62), Konstanty (61), Hansen Jnr (43), O’Sullivan (37) and finally, Duursma (24).

Injuries: Xerri has been covered but the Kangaroos unfortunately lost Davies-Uniacke early with concussion. The Bulldogs didn’t use their sub.

 

Carlton (8.11.59) defeated by Collingwood (17.13.115)

  1. Nick Daicos (127). Had a half tag at times but just ran around to gather 36 touches, take 7 marks (2 contested), have 7 clearances, gain 615 metres and snag 1 goal.
  2. Braydan Maynard (114). 21 touches and 9 marks for Maynard with 90% DE next to his name. Also had near on 500 metres gained.
  3. Scott Pendlebury (110). Another fine game of 22 touches for the champ, this week adding 7 clearances and 7 tackles to it.
  4. Darcy Cameron (108). Another ton for Cameron. Played well against the fuel setup to finish with 20 touches, 8 marks (3 contested) and 31 hitouts.
  5. Zac Williams (107). The best of the Blues. Williams kicked 3 goals from 19 touches before being subbed out of the game.

Other 100+ scores: Zilch

Disappointment: Quiet game from Tom De Koning, stuck forward at times for just 66.

Rookies: A debut here for Roan Steele (44) who found enough of it along the wing. Just Long (67) and Parker (14) bar that for the Pies. The Blues were led by Carroll (57), the Motlop (50), Moir (49), O’Farrell (33) and finally, Young (10).

Injuries: Williams (knee) was subbed at 3QT for the Blues, while Howe was tactically subbed for the Pies.

 

West Coast (8.4.52) defeated by GWS (16.15.111)

  1. Finn Callaghan (144). Just did whatever he pleased on Friday evening with 37 touches and 854 metres gained. Also added 6 clearances, 8 inside 50s and 1 goal.
  2. Kieran Briggs (141). Massive effort from Briggs. 10 touches but it was the 38 hitouts with plenty to advantage that boosted him.
  3. Josh Kelly (129). A very well rounded game from Kelly. 27 touches with 2 majors and 5 tackles contributing all around the ground.
  4. Xavier O’Halloran (122). Very similar state line to the guy above him. X found 27 touches (13 contested) and 2 goals plus 6 clearances and 645 metres gained.
  5. Lachlan Ash (110). Rounds out an all Giants top five thanks to 29 touches, 5 marks and 515 metres gained across the backline.

Other 100+ scores: Harry Himmelberg/Tom Green (105)

Disappointment: If anyone was running Liam Baker (39) as a POD, well this wasn’t great. Solid year all up though.

Rookies: The Giants were led by Fonti (63) who came in ahead of the returning Leake (40), the semi-popular pickup Rowston (39) and third gamer Gruzewski (15. The watch on McCarthy to break the highest price rise ever fell short but 82 was still welcome. The best of the Eagles though was Shanahan (94) who will be a popular downgrade. After that, Brock (75) was solid as were Hewett (66) and Hall (61). Allan (41) and the debuting Champion (5) round out the rest.

Injuries: Jack Williams was subbed tactically for the Eagles at half time, while Jack Buckley (ankle) was subbed out at 3QT for the Giants.

 

Essendon (11.8.74) defeated by Gold Coast (18.7.115)

  1. Zach Merrett (159). Awesome effort from Merrett in the loss. 40 touches (17 contested) of the footy with 12 clearances, 8 inside 50s and 5 tackles to round it all out.
  2. Noah Anderson (127). Stepped up in the second half, ultimately finishing with 30 touches, 2 goals, 7 clearances and 581 metres gained.
  3. Joel Jeffrey (126). Great power game from Jeffrey. 30 touches with 7 inside 50s, 8 rebounds from 50, 1 goal, 10 marks and 740 metres gained all up.
  4. Touk Miller (119). Miller keeps churning out tons and this one came from 25 disposals (12 contested) with 1 goal and 7 tackles attached to it.
  5. John Noble (106). Another fine, running game to add to his 2025 season. 29 touches, 5 tackles and 549 metres gained.

Other 100+ scores: Brayden Fiorini (105), Sam Durham (104), Bodhi Uwland (100)

Disappointment: Have to give this one to Nic Martin (68).

Rookies: Debut for the Suns here goes to Oscar Adams (42) in the Suns win. Read (50) and Walter (39) the only other two. The Essendon rookies were led by Kako (98) who brought his best score of the year, then Johnson (79), May (65), Clarke (61), Blakiston (42), Lual (34) and finally Prior (18), who had his worst return of the season.

Injuries: Perkins and Long were the subs for their respective teams but Caldwell (ankle) is listed on the injury report.

 

Geelong (18.16.124) defeated Richmond (7.10.52)

  1. Gryan Miers (135). Was his constructive self the whole game, amassing 29 touches and 5 marks with 12 score involvements and solid 83% DE.
  2. Zach Guthrie (133). Super game down back from Guthrie. 25 touches with a massive 14 marks and elite DE of 92% with over 500 metres gained.
  3. Jeremy Cameron (131). Kicked goal 700 of his career with one of his 4 majors. Overall had 4.5 from 19 touches and 11 marks.
  4. Tom Atkins (106). Atkins was his usual self, having as many tackles and touches, with both equally finishing on 17.
  5. Maurice Rioli Jnr (102). The best of the Tigers and sneaks into the top five thanks to 19 touches, 9 marks, 1 goal and 6 inside 50s.

Other 100+ scores: Rhys Stanley/Max Holmes (100)

Disappointment: Despite a good run of form, Tom Stewart (72) didn’t really get involved here.

Rookies: Super debut here for George Stevens (90) who found 21 touches and 1 goal. Martin (84) was also very solid and will make good coin, and after that it was just O’Sullivan (62). The best for the Tigers was Trainor (53) ahead of Faull (33), Sims (32), Alger (12) and the returning Lalor (4).

Injuries: A double hamstring blow to the Tigers, with both Lalor and Ralphsmith ending up in the pine. Geelong didn’t use their sub but Smith was a late out for those that missed it.

 

Brisbane (18.12.120) defeated Port Adelaide (14.8.92)

  1. Zac Bailey (141). Was best on ground for his 5 goals and 26 touches in a hybrid between up front and the middle. Also had 594 metres gained and 7 inside 50s.
  2. Connor Rozee (131). The Power skipper keeps finding the ball at half-back, this week collecting 31 touches and 5 marks plus 680 metres gained.
  3. Lachie Neale (126). Well rounded game form the Brownlow medalist, his 29 touches, 1 goal, 2 goal assists and 5 clearances for his scores back on track.
  4. Hugh McCluggage (122). Kept his immense scoring season going with 29 touches (13 contested) plus 1 goal, 7 clearances and 577 metres gained.
  5. Zak Butters (113). Rounds out this games top five with 31 disposals, 6 tackles, 7 inside 50s and 584 metres gained.

Other 100+ scores: Miles Bergman (112), Travis Boak (101), Dayne Zorko (100)

Disappointment: Jason Horne-Francis seemingly can’t stop butchering his disposal, another poor score of 78 this week.

Rookies: Powell-Pepper (66) was solid again before going down injured, while Jackson (40) was the only other rookie. Only rookie to speak of for Brisbane was Levi Ashcroft (81) who continues to perform.

Injuries: Rough night for Port with the loss of Visentini (ankle) and Ratugolea (hamstring) both very early, and then Powell-Pepper (knee) later in the game. The Lions came out unscathed with Day the tactical sub.

 

St Kilda (10.14.74) defeated Hawthorn (14.10.94)

  1. Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (155). Wild game from this man. 43 touches with 1010 metres gained from those disposals all across the ground. His stocks keep rising.
  2. Max Hall (144). Massive game from Hall, such an unheralded rookie pick. 27 touches (13 contested) plus 3 goals and 587 metres gained.
  3. Lloyd Meek (140). 20 touches (14 contested) plus 10 score involvements and a massive 59 hitouts for Meek on Saturday night.
  4. Rowan Marshall (135). Not far behind in the ruck battle. 21 touches, 7 marks, 8 tackles, 1 goal and 29 hitouts for the Saints big man.
  5. Josh Battle (124). Rounds out the top five against his former team with a 23 touch game that went @ 91% DE.

Other 100+ scores: Jarman Impey (122), Jack Macrae (116), Jack Steele (114)

Disappointment: Another week and another poor score from Sinclair (70).

Rookies: Just two Hawks here, being Ramsden (46) and Mitchell (3), who were subbed for one another. After Hall, the Saints rookies were led by Tauru (81) was was flying for everything again, then the returning Hastie (50) and to round it all out, Keeler (15).

Injuries: Webster succumbed to a calf injury in the second term and was subbed, while Ramsden was subbed tactically for the Hawks.

Sydney (14.10.94) defeated Fremantle (12.11.83)

  1. Brodie Grundy (127). Another round and another big score from Brodie. 20 touches, 1 goal, 5 tackles and 33 hitouts this time around.
  2. Errol Gulden (122). If the trades allow it, Errol is a target to finish off the season. This week it was 25 touches, 7 marks, 8 tackles and 1 major.
  3. Jake Lloyd (115). Dropped a few weeks back but has returned in fine fashion, this week finding 20 touches, 2 goals and 9 marks for the game.
  4. Will Hayward (111). Dislocated finger didn’t stop him as 12 touches (11 contested), 1 goal and 8 tackles got him into 4th.
  5. Callum Mills/Corey Wagner (107). Mills led the game with 26 touches @ 92% DE with 10 rebounds from 50, while Wagner was the only Docker represented thanks to 22 touches, 5 marks, 6 tackles and 1 goal.

Other 100+ scores: Nick Blakey (106), Andrew Brayshaw (103)

Disappointment: Well, not like it wasn’t expected, but Serong (63) was held well by Jordan, just 11 touches.

Rookies: The Dockers were led by Reid (96) who was crafty all game long, then followed by the underrated Worner (71), Dudley (60) and Erasmus (40). The Swans were led by Hamling (69), Sheldrick (63) and Buller (20).

Injuries: Papley hurt his hamstring just before half time and was subbed. Voss the tactical for the Dockers.

 

Adelaide (13.12.90) defeated Melbourne (11.11.77)

  1. Izak Rankine (131). Best on in this contest with 5 goals to his name from 16 touches. Throw in 4 tackles and solid DE of 88%.
  2. Jack Viney (111). The best of the Demons, Viney tried all game long to finish with 30 touches and 9 tackles.
  3. Trent Rivers (110). 23 disposals for Rivers out of the backline. Kicked 1 goal and had nearly 500 metres gained.
  4. Sam Berry (106). 16 touches (11 contested) for Berry in a solid outing, his 9 tackles were a team best.
  5. Steven May (104). Rounds out the round with a 23 touch, 12 marks game in defence with 9 rebounds from 50.

Other 100+ scores: Mark Keane/Jake Soligo (102), Ben Keays (101), Reilly O’Brien (100)

Disappointment: A late C on Gawn (79) really ruined my weekend. Petracca (79) also added to that.

Rookies: Just the usual Curtin (71) for the Crows, once again serviceable. The Demons also had the usual Langford (82), Lindsay (45), Jefferson (26) and Sharp (9).

Injuries: Only casualty on the day was Rachelle and a nasty looming knee injury. Tholstrup was the tactical for Melbourne.

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