Round 8 Review

Collingwood (15.3.93) drew with Hawthorn (13.15.93)

1. Dan Houston (135). Best score of the night came from Houston who compiled 32 touches with 7 marks, just 1 clanger and a game best 698 metres gained.
2. Connor MacDonald (125). The Hawks best thanks to his 28 touch, 3 goal game that also included 7 marks and 11 contested touches. Classy game.
3. Brayden Maynard/Lachie Schultz (114). Maynard was super to finish with 23 touches, 8 marks, 1 goal and 95% DE while at the other end, Schultz worked hard as per usual with 20 touches, 5 marks and 1 goal.
4. Karl Amon (113). Provided plenty of drive as per usual, this week having 490 metres gained from his 30 touches @ 83% DE with just 1 clanger.
5. Jai Newcombe (111). Another fine game from the Hawks skipper to round out the top five. Had 28 touches (11 contested) with 9 clearances, 5 tackles and 1 goal.

Other 100+ scores: Nick Daicos/Jack Crisp (103), Jarman Impey (102)

Disappointment: A quiet second half for Jordan De Goey (73) got the weekend off to a rough start for some coaches.

Rookies: No rookies for the Hawks and bad news if you had anyone Collingwood rookies as their best was Steele (56) followed by Steene (47), then Hayes (35), Parker (30) and Anderson (20).

Injuries: Plenty of injuries here. The Pues will have concerns for Sidebottom (hand), Cameron (ankle) and Perryman (hamstring) to work through across the week, while the Hawks have listed skipper Sicily (ankle).

 

Western Bulldogs (15.12.102) defeated by Fremantle (17.12.114)

1. Luke Jackson (143). Slowish first half but steered the Dockers on Friday night to this win, finishing with 18 touches, 8 tackles, 36 hitouts and 1 major.
2. Bailey Dale (141). Does this every year for a period before pumping out 70s and 80s, unless 2026 is different? Had 32 touches @ 84% DE plus 7 marks, 2 goal assists and 529 metres gained.
3. Shai Bolton (134). Another big score for Bolton, his 30 touches (15 contested) and 1 major also included 9 clearances, nearly 500 metres gained and 16 score involvements.
4. Luke Ryan (119). Solid as rock down back, Ryan had 22 touches at his standard 96% DE as well as 8 marks.
5. Marcus Bontempelli (118). 33 touches and 2 goals for the Bont to round out the top 5, also added 6 clearances and 630 metres gained.

Other 100+ scores: Ed Richards (117), Josh Treacy (105), Hayden Young (104), Rhylee West (101)

Disappointment: Being an owner of either Serong (63) or Brayshaw (81) has been such a pain this year.

Rookies: No rookies for Fremantle so straight to the Dogs. Sellwood (59) was the leader ahead of Jones (58), Lewis (55), Gallagher (51) and Emmett (1).

Injuries: A hamstring injury for Vandermeer here, feel like I’ve written that sentence several times now. No other injuries to report.

 

Adelaide (11.10.76) defeated Port Adelaide (11.9.75)

1. Sam Berry (171). Insane effort in the showdown and took home BOG honours for his 29 touches (17 contested), 19 tackles, 1 goal, 5 clearances and 704 metres gained.
2. Ollie Wines (126). Another solid game from the previous Brownlow winner. Had 30 touches (18 contested) plus 1 goal, 6 marks, 7 tackles and 7 clearances.
3. Wayne Milera (122). Keeps producing at a high rate and was one of the Crows best with 29 possessions (11 contested) but elite DE of 93%.
4. Jordon Sweet (116). Another ton for Sweet even with the ruck split, this week having 17 disposals (13 contested) to add to 36 hitouts and 5 clearances.
5. Zak Butters (113). Rounds out the top five with 30 disposals, 1 goal and 6 tackles.

Other 100+ scores: Ben Keays (111), Aliir Aliir (103)

Disappointment: Rachele (70) mad it three shockers in a row, while Horne-Francis (75) was a popular pick up this week and returned a pretty average score.

Rookies: Lai (67) led the Power rookies ahead of Whitlock (64) and swingman Marshall (41). Cook (94) was the hero as he kicked the match while McAndrew (91) was not far behind. Others included debutant Murray (72), Borlase (55) and Bond (17).

Injuries: Couple of concerns for the Crows in the win, with Walker (hamstring) and Butts (groin) pulling up with injuries.

 

Essendon (11.13.79) defeated by Brisbane (22.11.143)

1. Peter Wright (147). A role in the ruck really boosted Wright, as finished with 26 touches @ 77% DE plus 2 majors, 5 marks and 27 hitouts.
2. Darcy Wilmot (144). Led the Lions scoring off half back, finding 32 touches and 12 marks to pair with 1 goal, 88% DE and 572 metres gained.
3. Zac Bailey (122). One of the premium forwards of the comp now, Bailey put together another fine display of 4 goals, 21 touches and 7 marks.
4. Dayne Zorko (108). Returned in fine fashion, having 27 touches with 13 marks plus 517 metres gained.
5. Ryan Lester (105). Another Lions defender to finish off the top five, Lester had 23 touches, 10 marks and 91% DE.

Other 100+ scores: Lance Morris (103), Sam Durham (102), Archie Roberts (100)

Disappointment: Another struggle of a game for Josh Dunkley (70).

Rookies: Gallop (57) was the best for the Lions before being concussed, coming in ahead of McCarthy (45) and McKenna (45) as well as debutant Curtin (29). Robey (69) was the best of the Bombers with Sharp (65) and Farrow (53) the next best. Nguyen (48), Cox (42), Kondogiannis (39), Edwards (37) and Day-Wicks (33) rounded out the rest.

Injuries: Issues for the Bombers with El-Hawli (collarbone) and Caldwell (ankle), while the Lions had Gallop (concussion).

 

West Coast (13.10.88) defeated by Richmond (15.9.99)

1. Noah Balta (152). Monstered the Eagles in a variety of roles, overall finishing with 20 touches (18 contested) plus 6 marks, 3 goals, 6 clearances and 20 hitouts.
2. Jack Ross (129). Was super in tight, gathering 29 touches (19 contested) while running @ 90% DE as well as having 11 clearances and 5 tackles.
3. Tim Kelly (121). The only Eagle to make the top five, Kelly was super as they fought back, finishing with 30 touches (16 contested) plus 1 goal, 7 clearances and nearly 500 metres gained.
4. Seth Campbell (119). Super involved in the front half, having 9 score involvements from his 17 touches as well as 5 tackles and 3 majors.
5. Kane McAuliffe (115). Another ton for KM, this one on the back of 28 touches and 1 goal plus a massive 625 metres gained.

Other 100+ scores: Tom Brown (112), Tom McCarthy (108), Jake Waterman (105), Elliot Yeo (104), Harley Reid (101)

Disappointment: Nothing really of note here, just going to have to give it to Short (90).

Rookies: Cumming (80) looks like the pick of the bunch next week, he led the Tigers ahead of Burton (64), Retschsko (56), Lefau (41), Grlj (34) and Hayes-Brown (33). Duursma (93) keeps kicking on and once again led the Eagles ahead of Lindsay (68), Murdock (61), Duff-Tytler (49), Champion (39) and Schoenberg (29).

Injuries: Just a calf issue here for Dion Prestia, clean cards bar that.

 

Geelong (21.9.135) defeated North Melbourne (13.8.86)

1. Tristan Xerri (162). Was tipped to dominate and did just that, if you owned Xerri, congrats. 30 touches (26 contested) with 7 tackles, 14 clearances, 23 hitouts and 8 frees for.
2. Max Holmes (149). A clear best on for the Cats with his super ball use, going @ 90% from his 29 touches as well as having 802 metres gained and 2 goals.
3. Shaun Mannagh/Luke Davies-Uniacke (112). Mannagh was super busy with 18 touches, 7 inside 50s and 4 goals, while LDU had 24 touches (11 contested) with 9 inside 50s, 6 clearances and 5 tackles.
4. Shannon Neale/Bailey Smith (97). 10 touches, 5 marks and 3 goals for Neale, while Smith had 26 touches and 6 clearances.
5. Jeremy Cameron (96). Rounds out a slim top five thanks to 19 disposals, 8 marks and 3 goals.

Other 100+ scores: Zilch

Disappointment: In no particular order, Bruhn (72), Sheezel (81), Stewart (53), Parker (66) and McKercher (85).

Rookies: Just Edwards (34) for the Cats. North had Duursma (71), Blamires (59) and Dovaston (30).

Injuries: Nothing on the match report but Geelong lost Henry as a late out.

 

Carlton (9.15.69) defeated by St Kilda (16.12.108)

1. Cooper Sharman (132). Super important in the Saints comeback, finishing with 17 touches, 2 goals, 9 marks, 3 goal assists and 13 score involvements.
2. Rowan Marshall (121). Another dominant performance from Marshall but I’m still skeptics about selecting him. 3 goals, 22 touches, 9 marks and 10 hitouts.
3. Nic Newman (116). 28 disposals and 13 marks for Newman who ran @ 89% DE and a massive 627 metres gained.
4. Ben Ainsworth (109). Solid game from Ainsworth as the linkman, finding 22 touches, 2 goals, 6 marks and 5 inside 50s.
5. Ollie Florent (107). The Blues other recruit rounds out the five thanks to a team best 30 touches, 9 marks and 572 metres gained.

Other 100+ scores: Brad Hill (103)

Disappointment: Flanders (69) and Walsh (71) were horrid. Wilkie (83) and his ton run came to an end.

Rookies: Liam Henry (88) was the best Saint rookie on his season debut, while Phillipou (80) wasn’t far behind. Carroll (57), O’Connell (48) and Butler (13) round out the others. Kemp (89) was again really good while Smith (70) hit his BE. Dean (41) and the popular Reidy (25) the others.

Injuries: Dean (groin) and Cowan (head) the issues for the Blues, while the Saints listed Butler (hamstring). They also had late withdrawals in Higgins and Wilson.

 

Sydney (19.17.131) defeated Melbourne (17.12.114)

1. Brodie Grundy (130). Super game from Grundy, his form is wild at the moment. Had 26 touches (15 contested) plus 11 clearances, 1 goal and 45 hitouts.
2. Isaac Heeney (129). A week off and a massive score from Heeney as he found 33 touches (15 contested) plus 520 metres gained, 2 goal assists and 5 tackles.
3. Malcolm Rosas (127). Been a sneaky good rookie pick, this week getting a massive boost score thanks to 14 touches and a super 7 goals straight.
4. Nick Blakey (115). 29 touches and you guessed it, a massive amount of metres gained with 545 of them off half-back.
5. Kysaiah Pickett (113). The only Demon to make it, and despite Jordan following him, was fantastic thanks to 22 touches (11 contested) plus 2 goals, 8 clearances, 6 tackles and 569 metres gained.

Other 100+ scores: Justin McInerney (110), Tom Sparrow (105), Callum Mills/Max Gawn (104)

Disappointment: Steele (72) couldn’t get involved here.

Rookies: Sharp (84) co timers to score strongly up forward, this week having 2 goals and 18 touches. Heath (75) came in ahead of Laurie (54), Jefferson (51), Pickett (46) and Cross (37). After Rosas, McDonald (60) led Sydney ahead of Edwards (54), Serong (39) and Cootee (36).

Injuries: Just Mihocek listed here for the Demons, a hamstring ending his day early.

 

Gold Coast (11.17.83) defeated GWS (8.15.63)

1. Christian Petracca (136). Another insane game from Trac, his 29 touches (13 contested), 8 clearances were paired with 6 clearances and 2 goals.
2. John Noble (132). Provided plenty of drive off half back with 35 touches (30 kicks), 12 marks, 1 goal and 827 metres gained.
3. Lachie Whitfield (117). Seems to have distributor role locked in now as Ash moves into the midfield. This week he finished with 30 touches, 636 metres gained and 80% DE.
4. Clayton Oliver (113). Another ton from Clarry, his 32 touches went @ 78% DE while adding 9 clearances.
5. Finn Callaghan (110). Bounce back game from Callaghan, his 28 touches were paired with 7 clearances, 6 tackles and 496 metres gained.

Other 100+ scores: Bodhi Uwland (108), Joel Jeffrey/Connor Idun (106), Mac Andrew (105), Touk Miller (104)

Disappointment: Anderson (85) couldn’t really get involved. If you’re still holding mid pricer Coniglio (41) it’s been a struggle.

Rookies: Just Gothard (57) and Leake (28) for GWS, while the Suns had Lombard (66), Adams (65) and Gulbin (45).

Injuries: Angwin (concussion) the only