Round 20 Review

Hawthorn (13.7.85) defeated Carlton (9.7.61)

1. James Sicily (130). The best from Thursday night. Sicily had 25 touches and 11 marks but importantly 88% DE to really boost his score. Affordable too.
2. George Hewett (109). For a poor Blues season, Hewett deserves credit, been super. Another 25 touches and 8 tackles to lead their scoring.
3. Jarman Impey (108). Solid again in a variety of roles. 1 clanger from his 25 touches and 8 marks.
4. Josh Ward (107). Improving by the week is Ward. 22 touches (10 contested) plus 1 goal and 4 tackles for him.
5. Dylan Moore (105). Rounds out the top five thanks to 27 touches, 6 marks and 4 tackles in his usual hybrid role.

Other 100+ scores: Adam Saad (103), Harry O’Farrell (102), Jack Gunston (101)

Disappointment: Carlton midfield duo Cerra (84) and Cripps (75) not fantastic here.

Rookies: Mitch Lewis (87) might be an option after a solid game of 14 touches, 6 marks and 2 goals. Just him and MacDonald (13) for the Hawks. O’Farrell (102) gets a shoutout for his game of 19 touches, 13 marks and no clangers. Other Blues included White (82), Moir (43), Motlop (42) and Carroll (39).

Injuries: Clean cards to start the round, the tactical subs being Pittonet and Newcombe.

Essendon (7.8.50) defeated by Western Bulldogs (22.11.143)

1. Marcus Bontempelli (169). Way too good for anyone the Bombers could throw at him. Bont had 35 touches (14 contested) plus 10 marks, 7 clearances, 2 goals, 649 metres gained and just 1 clanger.
2. Aaron Naughton (153). Part of such a formidable attack, Naughton kicked a career best 7 goals from 15 touches and 6 marks.
3. Sam Darcy (150). Just as good, Darcy was elite with 16 touches, 8 marks and 6 goals for the evening.
4. Ed Richards (117). Kept the solid scores rolling with another great midfield performance of 24 touches, 2 goals and 510 metres gained.
5. Mason Redman (105). Snuck the Bombers into the last spit thanks to 23 touches, 6 marks and 512 metres gained.

Other 100+ scores: Zilch

Disappointment: Tough one to give, probably going to English (88) if he was your replacement for Xerri. Merrett (92) solid enough with 30 touches but a 93 point loss never helps.

Rookies: Cleary (89) was very solid for the Bulldogs, while Busslinger (64) returned to the senior side nicely. The baby Bombers were led by Prior (78) then Kako (58) and El-Hawli (54). Past that there was Blakiston (53), Lual (52), McMahon (42), Clarke/Johnson (41) and Smartt (18).

Injuries: Ridley (hamstring) was subbed for the Bombers, while the Bulldogs subbed Liberatore tactically.

GWS (15.12.102) defeated Sydney (8.10.58)

1. Finn Callaghan (145). Took home best on ground honours thanks to 21 touches, 6 marks, 5 tackles, 1 goal, 667 metres gained and elite DE of 95%.
2. Brodie Grundy (137). Kept his wild form rolling here. 22 touches, 7 marks, 5 tackles, 29 hitouts and 1 goal. Viable VC score.
3. Harry Himmelberg (133). 23 touches and 11 marks for Himmelberg as well as 1 goal, but it was the 91% DE and no clangers that boosted him.
4. Callum Mills (125). Did what he could down back, this week finding 22 touches and 7 marks plus 1 goal with 95% DE.
5. Aaron Cadman (118). Rounds out the top five thanks to 11 touches (10 contested) plus 7 marks and 3 goals.

Other 100+ scores: Lachie Whitfield (110), Chad Warner (106), Sam Taylor (105), Jake Lloyd (100)

Disappointment: Heeney (89) well down on last week, while Roberts (73) has struggled lately. Ash (84) with his first sub ton since round 8.

Rookies: Just Fonti (70) for the Giants. Swans only had Buller (48) and Hamling (44). Quick one here.

Injuries: Carnage here with McLean concussed early and then Sydney losing Hamling to a hamstring injury later on. Kelly was the sub for GWS with a calf concern.

Gold Coast (20.10.130) defeated Brisbane (9.10.64)

1. Matt Rowell (143). Massive numbers here. 37 touches (23 contested) plus 12 tackles, 15 clearances and a game best 730 metres gained. Form is wildly good.
2. Alex Davies (136). First game for the year was a ripper for Davies. 30 touches (16 contested) plus 10 tackles and 6 clearances.
3. Noah Anderson/Joel Jeffrey (128). The Suns skipper kept powering on, finding 33 touches, 5 clearances and 1 goal, while Jeffrey keeps improving and this week had 32 touches, 8 marks, 718 metres gained, no clangers and 90% DE.
4. Brayden Fiorini (126). Rounds out a dominate midfield performance with 32 touches, 6 marks, 5 tackles and 1 goal.
5. Lachie Neale (119). Saves the Lions from a non-represented top five thanks to 36 touches (18 contested) plus 5 tackles and 1 goal.

Other 100+ scores: Hugh McCluggage (116), Ben Ainsworth (111), Jarrod Witts (105), Bailey Humphrey (104).

Disappointment: Zorko (65) is running out of steam.

Rookies: Fort (50) and Ashcroft (33) struggled for the Lions while Marshall (25) was subbed on. The returning Farrar (80) was the best for the Suns, he is a 119K backman. The others included Read (22), Adam’s (13) and Lombard (3).

Injuries: Just McKenna (hamstring) for the Lions. Collins the tactical sub for the Suns.

Fremantle (18.18.126) defeated West Coast (12.5.77)

1. Liam Baker (137). Led this game and led the Eagles well, finding 24 touches (11 contested) plus 2 goals, 10 tackles and 5 clearances.
2. Luke Jackson (123). 21 touches for the Fremantle big man, solid DE of 90% plus 1 goal, 5 marks and 12 hitouts.
3. Tim Kelly/Murphy Reid (121). Kelly returned one of his best games of the season with 26 touches (16 contested) plus 2 goals and 8 clearances while Reid kept his awesome rookie year going thanks to 23 touches, 1 goal, 3 goal assists, 15 score involvements and 6 inside 50s.
4. Hayden Young (120). Subbed off but in just 57% TOG was dominant with 23 touches, 3 goals, 559’metres gained and 7 clearances.
5. Andrew Brayshaw/Michael Frederick (112). Brayshaw accumulated 32 touches, 8 clearances and 7 inside 50s, while Frederick had 4 goals from 10 touches to be the best forward on the ground.

Other 100+ scores: Caleb Serong (105), Sean Darcy (102), Ryan Maric/Shai Bolton (100)

Disappointment: Fremantle defenders Ryan (65) and Clark (71) were not great here.

Rookies: After Reid, the Dockers had Dudley (81) lead their scoring, ahead of Worner (67), McDonald (49) and the subbed on Erasmus (12). McCarthy (96) is still going strong for the Eagles while Hall (81) has made some solid late season cash. Bazzo (75) was next and then Hewett (65) but it drops off after that with Brock (41), Shanahan (15), Reid (13) and Dewar (10).

Injuries: No injuries from this derby, just the tactical subs of Young and Owies.

North Melbourne (7.7.49) defeated by Geelong (22.18.150)

1. Jeremy Cameron (167). Did as he pleased on Saturday night with 22 touches, 9 marks and 11 majors to his name as the race to 100 begins.
2. Bailey Smith (156). Best in well over a month for Smith, his 43 touches included 23 contested possessions, 655 metres gained, 1 goal and 13 clearances.
3. Shannon Neale (132). Super up forward as well, slotting 4 goals from 15 touches and 8 marks (3 contested).
4. Max Holmes (130). 654 metres gained for Holmes from 29 touches with plenty of drive including 9 inside 50s and 7 clearances.
5. Tom Atkins (121). Rounds out an all Cats top five thanks to 25 touches (11 contested) with 88% DE, 8 tackles, 8 inside 50s and 3 goal assists.

Other 100+ scores: Colby McKercher (106)

Disappointment: Didn’t have much to do down back but Stewart (67) was very quiet. Daniel (66) and Davies-Uniacke (64) also grim.

Rookies: Hardeman (64) and O’Sullivan (60) the best for the Roos but it slides after that. Dawson (37), Banch (27), Maley (26), Konstanty (21) and Hansen Jnr (5) round out the rest. Just Martin (66) and O’Sullivan (65) for Geelong.

Injuries: Once again no injuries here, Dangerfield and Konstanty the subs.

Adelaide (20.13.133) defeated Port Adelaide (5.5.35)

1. Riley Thilthorpe (164). Took home tigers showdown medal for his 19 touch, 3 goal, 6 clearance game.
2. Jordon Sweet (125). Backing up a 200 is never easy but Sweet was solid again, this week having 11 touches, 1 goal and 45 hitouts in the Showdown.
3. Zak Butters (124). A solid VC choice of you went him before knowing some other scores that came through. 34 touches (19 contested) plus 11 clearances, 8 inside 50s and 667 metres gained.
4. Wayne Milera (119). Pretty solid from Milera with 18 touches, 6 marks and 8 tackles across the game to finish on this score.
5. Alex Neale-Bullen (117). 18 touches plus 1 goal and 2 goals assists for ANB. Game best 12 tackles too.

Other 100+ scores: Jake Soligo (116), Kane Farrell (114), James Peatling (110), Jordan Dawson/Ben Keays (109), Rory Laird (106), Taylor Walker (103), Daniel Curtin (100)

Disappointment: Despite his team dominating the contest, Izak Rankine (59) had no involvement.

Rookies: McEntee (45) returned for Port as did Berry (28). Twin scores of 6 for Jackson and Lord too. Curtin (100) is now over 500K, and the only other Crow was Pedlar (18).

Injuries: Two subs via injuries here in the third term. Michalanney (hamstring) and Jones (corked leg) the casualties from the Showdown.

Richmond (8.9.57) defeated by Collingwood (13.15.93)

1. Nick Daicos (177). Best score of the weekend went to Daicos for this 43 disposal, 3 goal game on Sunday afternoon. 910 metres gained, 8 inside 50s and 14 score involvements too.
2. Nick Vlastuin (143). A wall down back for the Tigers, Vlastuin overall had 25 touches (14 contested) plus 17 intercepts, 7 marks and 8 rebounds from 50.
3. Darcy Cameron (111). Another ton for Cameron, who only has two sub tons since round 8. 20 touches with 5 tackles and 19 hitouts in this contest.
4. Isaac Qauynor (107). 17 disposals and 9 marks for Qauynor across the Pies backline. Throw in 10 intercepts as well.
5. Josh Daicos (106). Rounds out this games top five thanks to 30 disposals, 6 marks, 6 inside 50s and 6 rebounds from 50 plus 697 metres gained.

Other 100+ scores: Zilch

Disappointment: For what it worth, bar Daicos there’s no super relevant players here. It’ll go to Houston (68) though.

Rookies: Just the usuals of Long (86) and Allan (70). The baby Tigers were led by

Green (83) and then the third gamer Hotton (75). Post that there was Sims (63), Trainor (57), Faull (46) and Alger (7).

Injuries: The Pies lost Sullivan (knee) in the win, while the Tigers tactically subbed Trainor.

St Kilda (15.6.96) defeated Melbourne (13.12.90)

1. Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (162). In one of the all time finishes, NWM was the man for St Kilda. Kicked the tying and go ahead goal but was awesome all day, finishing with 4 goals, 34 touches, 6 clearances and 749 metres gained.
2. Max Gawn (146). Was dominant in the ruck, finishing with 17 disposals (13 contested) plus 8 marks (4 contested), 7 clearances and 45 hitouts.
3. Jack Sinclair (132). 32 clean touches for Sinclair, running at 88% DE while adding 7 marks and 450 metres gained.
4. Jack Viney (115). One of Melbournes best, Viney was busy in the midfield with 23 touches (15 contested) plus 1 goal, 8 clearances and a massive 16 tackles.
5. Christian Petracca (108). First Tom since round 16 for Christian, his 21 touches, 10 inside 50s, 1 goal and 508 metres gained finishing off the round 20 scores.

Other 100+ scores: Mason Wood (106), Clayton Oliver/Trent Rivers (105), Kade Chandler/Max Hall (102), Jack Macrae (101)

Disappointment: I’ve seen Jack Steele (44) make his way into a few teams, but this was atrocious.

Rookies: Hall (102) was once again a standout for the Saints, still above 450K in price. Boxshall (54) next best, then Hastie (46) followed by Tauru (34) and Collard (12). Lindsay and Langford had twin 57s then it was just Spargo (34).

Injuries: The Saints subbed out Collard (foot) during the second quarter, while the Demons tactically used Windsor.