Round 2 Review

Hawthorn (14.15.99) defeated Sydney (13.4.82)

1. Brodie Grundy (135). Really nice bounce back game from Grundy who was super in this contest. Finished with 19 touches (18 contested) plus 7 clearances, 29 hitouts and 1 goal.
2. Callum Mills (107). Played quarterback for most of the game, finishing with 29 touches, 8 marks and just 1 clanger.
3. Jack Gunston (106). Still keeping on, Gunston kicked important goals including the sealer, ultimately finishing with 4 goals from 13 disposals and 6 marks.
4. Dylan Moore (104). Played that linkman role to perfection again, this week also hitting the scoreboard with 3 majors to go along with his 22 touches.
5. Jai Newcombe (103). The Hawks co captain rounds out the top five thanks to 31 disposals (12 contested) plus 9 clearances and 1 major.

Other 100+ scores: Connor Nash (102)

Disappointment: Connor MacDonald (76) solid but not what we’re after from a mid pricer here.

Rookies: Just Sam Butler (72) for the Hawks who kept himself involved. Popular rookie pick Serong (48) had too many turnovers while Rosas (43) wasn’t overly busy.

Injuries: Clean injury cards to start the round.

 

Adelaide (13.10.88) defeated by Western Bulldogs (14.10.94)

1. Marcus Bontempelli (141). Another Bont masterclass as this game got tight. 30 touches (14 contested) plus 7 clearances, 6 tackles, 1 goal and nearly 500 metres gained.
2. Josh Worrell (123). Looks to have taken that next step as a surprise premium in 2026. 25 touches with 9 marks @ 92% DE and a team best 443 metres gained.
3. Joel Freijah (121). Started on fire with 3 goals in the first half which was pair with his overall game of 24 touches and 3 tackles.
4. Tim English (114). Slowed down after half time but produced another solid score thanks to 15 touches (10 contested) with 5 clearances and 32 hitouts.
5. Bailey Williams (112). Played a wing to perfection again, finishing up with 23 touches plus 10 marks, 5 tackles, 2 goals and 484 metres gained.

Other 100+ scores: Nick Murray (109), Sam Berry (107), Tom Liberatore (105), Jordan Dawson (103), Jordon Butts (100)

Disappointment: In the same boat as the game above, Budarick (67) won’t last long in our teams with those sort of scores for a mid pricer, same for Rachele (50). Darcy (57) also really well held.

Rookies: Just McAndrew (79) and Cook (62) for the Crows, both more than serviceable. The Dogs also had Jaques (70) and Sellwood (61) in that boat, while Hynes (25) struggled.

Injuries: New recruit Ah Chee (hamstring) the only recorded injury from this contest.

 

Richmond (9.6.60) defeated by Gold Coast (19.14.128)

1. Bodhi Uwland (122). Played seagull out on the MCG with 29 touches and 16 marks across the backline in Saturdays win, adding 490 metres gained @ 82% DE.
2. Toby Nankervis (117). Was super for the Tigers before being hamstrung. 13 disposals with 6 tackles, 4 clearances and 18 hitouts.
3. Touk Miller (116). Another fine performance from Touk. His 31 touches with 8 marks and 1 goal enough for another ton.
4. Ethan Read (108). King was the focal point but Read also had the best game of his career with 12 disposals, 11 marks and 4 goals.
5. Joel Jeffrey (107). Rounds out the top five with a seagull performance as well, grabbing 23 disposals and 13 marks plus a team best 590 metres gained.

Other 100+ scores: Ben King (106), Jayden Short (104), Tim Taranto (103)

Disappointment: Sam Lalor (74) once again was solid but not what our mid pricer are picked for. Anderson (96) was quiet in a game he was expected to go large in.

Rookies: Lefau (72) returned successfully from an ACL injury and was one of the better Tigers. Grlj (43) wasn’t as active as last week while Armstrong (25) rounded out the Tigers. Rogers (70) led the Suns and makes him an interesting prospect having missed opening round. Uwland (55) was good while Lombard (20) had turnovers galore.

Injuries: Hamstring x 3 here, with Lynch, Nankervis and the issue for SuperCoach, Petracca, all finishing iced up.

 

GWS (10.14.74) defeated by St Kilda (11.12.78

1. Lachie Ash (130). Another awesome game from Ash, collecting 39 touches with 774 metres gained plus 9 marks. Will be the Rozee replacement you’d say, even with a bye on the horizon.
2. Callum Wilkie (129). Gallant down back as usual, his 28 touches and 11 marks @ 89% very telling in slippery conditions.
3. Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (122). Was always going to bounce back soon. 27 touches plus 5 clearances and a team best 694 metres gained. Also a valid Rozee replacement.
4. Jack Sinclair (118). Another week and another fine performance. Had 31 touches with 9 marks, just 1 clanger and 90% DE.
5. Clayton Oliver (117). In suitable conditions, Oliver did plenty at the coalface with 33 touches (15 contested) plus 5 clearances and 1 goal.

Other 100+ scores: Mason Wood (112), Harvey Thomas (109), Ryan Angwin (103), Stephen Coniglio/Darcy Wilson (102)

Disappointment: Tom De Koning (45) takes the cake here. 21 touches with 19% DE.

Rookies: Gothard (84) was really busy for the Giants to lead their scoring, coming in ahead of other forward options Delana (46) and Gruzewski (44). Just Carroll (44) and Phillipou (42) for the Saints, both unders.

Injuries: The hamstrings kept coming on Saturday with Caminiti being iced up only 10 minutes in.

 

Fremantle (17.16.118) defeated Melbourne (10.10.70)

1. Shai Bolton (142). Stared on Saturday, finishing with 32 touches (15 contested) plus 9 clearances, 2 goals and a team best 638 metres gained.
2. Max Gawn (141). Maybe we over thought the rucks as Gawn (and later on Xerri) has started on fire. 23 touches (15 contested) plus 11 marks, 7 clearances and 23 hitouts against the dual pair from Freo.
3. Josh Treacy (125). Focal point up front, slotting 4 goals from 17 touches and 10 marks.
4. Andrew Brayshaw (122). Bounced back from a horrid round 1 game with a monster 39 touches with 6 marks, 4 tackles, 503 metres gained and 1 goal.
5. Jordan Clark (119). Drove plenty of ball forward, gaining 613 metres from his 25 touches while recording just 1 clanger and 92% DE.

Other 100+ scores: Luke Jackson (113), Jack Steele (110), Ed Langdon (103), Matt Johnson (102)

Disappointment: Grim from Windsor (53) who seems another failed mid pricer. Serong (68) was sat on all night.

Rookies: Sharp (44) led Tholstrup (29) and Latrelle Pickett (13) but overall nothing great here. Just Scerri (73) for the Dockers who was electric and presents as another great 99K option.

Injuries: The Demons lost Turner to a hand injury in the 2nd quarter.

 

Port Adelaide (20.13.133) defeated Essendon (10.10.70)

1. Jason Horne-Francis (147). Was the best for Port especially early when they essentially won the game. 26 touches with 10 marks and 3 goals here.
2. Zak Butters (135). A popular C option and didn’t disappoint thanks to 36 touches (10 contested) plus 7 marks, 6 tackles, 7 clearances and 771 metres gained.
3. Joe Richards (122).  Played the linkman to perfection, gathering 21 touches with 5 marks, 6 tackles, 2 goals, 4 clearances and no clangers for the game.
4. Jordon Sweet (121). Back in the lineup and showed off vs the makeshift Bombers rucks. Had 12 touches with 1 goal and 25 hitouts.
5. Jye Caldwell (116). Saves an all Port top five thanks to 27 touches with 6 tackles and 1 goal to be the best of the Bombers.

Other 100+ scores: Jack Lukosius (110), Aliir Aliir (109), Zach Merrett (107), Williem Drew (106), Jase Burgoyne (105), Archie Roberts (102)

Disappointment: Parish (67) and Blakiston (65) were grim.

Rookies: Kondogiannis (49) the best of the Bombers, coming in ahead of Nguyen (44), El Achkar (24) and the injured Sharp (14). Watkins (74) led Port and is another fine option, just ahead of Marshall (73) and forward Whitlock (47).

Injuries: Injuries galore in this one and the big SuperCoach news was Rozee (leg) who looks like a forced trade, the same as Sharp (ankle). The others to finish in the bench were Redman (knee) and Bergman (ankle).

 

West Coast (17.9.111) defeated North Melbourne (15.4.94)

1. Tristan Xerri (199). Well, once again maybe it was just Gawn and Xerri all along. Incredible performance with 25 touches (23 contested) plus 7 clearances, 4 marks, 9 tackles and 43 hitouts. Late C option would’ve seen those fly up the rankings.
2. Caleb Daniel (127). Had a switch of roles after halftime and found plenty of the pill, finishing with 25 disposals, no clangers and a game high 11 tackles.
3. Harry Sheezel (124). Found a mountain of it with 40 touches (14 contested) plus 8 clearances and 612 metres gained.
4. Luke Davies-Uniacke (118). Started on fire and kept up a solid statline throughout, finishing with 32 disposals (15 contested) plus 6 clearances.
5. Nick Larkey (114). Rounds out an all North top five despite the loss, being a focal point up forward with 6 goals from 10 disposals and 6 marks.

Other 100+ scores: Cooper Duff-Tytler (100)

Disappointment: Once again some mid price fails here, with McKercher (78) and Reid (76) not really setting the world alight.

Rookies: The Eagles only ton was from high draft pick Duff-Tytler (100) who had 12 touches (9 contested) with 2 goals. Robertson (95) was great again as was Murdock (92) as was Duursma (88). After that, Allen (58) and Newton (21) also played their roles in the Eagles win. Blamires (79) led the Kangaroos ahead of twin 45’s from Duursma and Dovaston.

Injuries: Early injuries to key backman for both clubs here. Edwards (concussion), Logue (thigh) the casualties.