Round 22 Review

Hawthorn (17.8.110) defeated Collingwood (6.10.46)

1. Lloyd Meek (148). The big ruckman was a menace on Thursday, slotting 3 goals from 10 touches and 7 marks as well as giving his midfield first use with 32 hitouts.
2. Jai Newcombe (126). A beneficiary of Meek, the former mid season draftee had 28 disposals (13 contested) plus 1 goal, 5 marks and 7 clearances.
3. Darcy Cameron (112). Admittedly wasn’t far off Meek anyway as Cameron continued a strong season. 16 disposals, 24 hitouts and 6 marks for the game.
4. Jarman Impey (111). Plenty of drive from Impey with nearly 500 metres gained from his 25 disposals. Also had 8 marks and 3 goal assists.
5. Dylan Moore (110). Rounds out this games top five thanks to 25 touches, 1 goal, 2 goal assists and 6 marks.

Other 100+ scores: Karl Amon (107), Nick Watson (101)

Disappointment: Josh Daicos (70) not great as a sub premium here.

Rookies: Just the subbed Long (30) who is still in 5% of teams. Hardly anyone for the Hawks either with just Lewis (79) being in their rookie range, he’s making some solid late season coin.

Injuries: The Pies poor night was hampered with Howe (concussion) not making it deep into the game. Dear was the tactical sub for the Hawks.

 

Geelong (15.19.109) defeated Essendon (10.5.65)

1. Bailey Smith (141). Found a game best 31 touches on Friday evening, which included 9 clearances, 738 metres gained and 3 goal assists for the game.
2. Zach Merrett (123). Didn’t stop trying for the Dons, ultimately collecting 27 disposals, 1 goal, 586 metres gained and a game best 10 tackles.
3. Jack Bowes (118). 24 touches (10 contested) for Bowes but it was the DE of 81% and 3 goal assists that boosted him.
4. Gryan Miers (112). Useful as always, finding 22 touches with 6 marks plus 1 major and 11 score involvements across Friday night.
5. Shaun Mannagh (109). Gets it done week after week quietly and here he had 20 touches and 3 majors plus 6 inside 50s to be one of the Cats best.

Other 100+ scores: Mark Blicavs (107), Jeremy Cameron (106), Zach Guthrie (104)

Disappointment: Not a disappointing score but I saw enough VCs on Holmes (99) that would’ve been wanting much more on Friday evening.

Rookies: O’Sullivan (86) led the returning Knevitt (76), who is still in 10% of teams. Moving onto Essendon, McMahon (85) led them thanks to 4 goals, then being followed by Prior (70) and Kako (65). After that, we have Nguyen/Clarke (46), May/Blakiston (29), Lual (26) and the subbed on Menzie (5).

Injuries: Henry (hamstring tightness) is listed for the Cats and was subbed at half time. The Dons listed young forward May (ankle) but initially subbed Lual.

 

Richmond (7.10.52) defeated by St Kilda (8.8.56)

1. Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (149). Was super as the Saints scrapped over the line. 33 touches, 1 goal, 3 goal assists with 7 marks, 656 metres gained and solid DE of 79%.
2. Callum Wilkie (145). Was wildly good especially late, finishing the game with 16 marks, 29 touches @ 97% DE plus 5 rebounds from 50.
3. Jack Sinclair (135). Also super solid, gathering 30 touches plus 11 marks, 1 goal and 541 metres gained.
4. Marcus Windhager (121). Keeps standing up and improving as the season goes on. 32 touches, 9 marks and 6 tackles for the game.
5. Jack Ross (120). Avoided an all saints top five on the back of 26 touches (10 contested) @ 81% DE plus 5 clearances and 6 marks.

Other 100+ scores: Rowan Marshall (109), Jack Steele (108), Jack Macrae (104), Rhyan Mansell (102)

Disappointment: Throwing it out to Jayden Short (57) as that under priced D6/7 option.

Rookies: The returning Lynch (82) was the best of the Tigers, coming in ahead of Hotton (49) and Armstrong (32). Hall (90) was really solid again for the Saints and has been a great rookie pick, but ahead of him was Boxshall (92). Tauru (65) and the subbed out Heath (8) round it out.

Injuries: No sub at all for the Tigers, Green sitting on the bench all game for nothing. Max Heath subbed at half time for Saints tactically.

 

Brisbane (13.12.90) defeated by Sydney (13.14.92)

1. Josh Dunkley (167). Best score of the weekend went to Dunkley. His 31 disposals (17 contested) as well as 1 goal, 5 marks, 6 clearances and 7 tackles.
2. Isaac Heeney (136). Heeney was the difference with 5 majors to his name as well as 23 disposals and 6 marks in the Swans tight win.
3. Nick Blakey (128). Kept his fine form going with 20 disposals but plenty of drive with 674 metres and 11 rebounds from 50.
4. Hugh McCluggage (123). The standard for Hugh. 30 disposals (14 contested) with 7 marks, 7 clearances and 8 inside 50sz
5. Angus Sheldrick (121). Really stepping up as the season goes on. Rounds out the top five here after finding 26 disposals, 1 goal, 591 metres gained and 3 goal assists in an important role.

Other 100+ scores: Darcy Wilmot/Harris Andrews (120), Levi Ashcroft (113), Will Ashcroft (107), Chad Warner (106)

Disappointment: Unsure how Zorko only scored 71 from a pretty decent statline. Gulden (73) not great here either.

Rookies: Shoutout to Levi Ashcroft (113) for his score thanks to 27 touches (14 contested) with 1 goal and 6 marks. Fort (86) also very solid, with Marshall (38), McLachlan (26), Smith (16) and Robertson (14) being the rest. After Sheldrick, nothing good for the Swans with Buller (41), Dattoli (27) and Cleary (21) rounding it out.

Injuries: Clean sheet for Brisbane with McLachlan being the tactical sub. McInerney (knee) listed for the Swans but it was Dattoli who was subbed out. Grundy did come off late after a big hit but wasn’t on the injury report.

 

Carlton (11.8.74) defeated by Gold Coast (13.15.93)

1. Touk Miller/Matt Rowell (146). Miller has been so good and so under the radar this season. Another fine performance of 25 touches (14 contested), 7 marks and 7 tackles. Rowell just keeps smashing it, this week having 30 touches (16 contested) plus 13 score involvements, 519 metres gained, 9 clearances, 8 tackles and 8 inside 50sz
2. Jarrod Witts (124). So good as per usual. 15 touches, 1 goal and a massive 49 hitouts.
3. Ben King (122). The difference with 6 majors off his boot, not much else though with 9 touches and 7 marks.
4. Cooper Lord (121). The one Blue to crack the top five. Had a two way role which he won easily, holding Anderson to virtually nothing and himself finding 24 touches, 7 clearances and a game best 12 tackles.
5. Brayden Fiorini (111). Is playing in integral role in the Suns midfield at the moment and keeps ticking over the numbers with 2 goals and 22 touches @ 96% DE.

Other 100+ scores: Lachie Cowan (110), Francis Evans (106), Adam Saad (103)

Disappointment: Anderson (59) was so well held by Lord. The Blues had some popular picks in Hewett (82), Cripps (81) and De Koning (75) all struggling.

Rookies: Read (57) was impressive at times here, leading the Suns rookies ahead of Farrar (37) and Adams (34). Wilson (54) and Motlop (51) the best of a bad bunch of the Blues ahead of Moir (42), Young (34), O’Keefe (32) and White (25).

Injuries: Clean cards here on Saturday night. White and Holman the tactical subs.

 

Port Adelaide (13.8.86) defeated by Fremantle (13.14.92)

1. Aliir Aliir (146). Did everything right with 22 touches, 17 marks (5 contested) plus 12 intercepts, 1 goal, 96% DE and 9 one percenters.
2. Neil Erasmus (138). One of this season hit rookie picks hasn’t really taken off but showed his potential here with 26 disposals, 6 marks, 85% DE and 6 clearances.
3. Caleb Serong (131). 28 disposals (16 contested) for Serong plus 7 clearances, 7 inside 50s, 1 goal and 617 metres gained in one of his better games for the year.
4. Zak Butters (130). Drove his team alone at times, finishing up with 29 disposals, 8 marks, 660 metres gained and 7 inside 50s.
5. Connor Rozee (112). Despite a broken hand, Rozee was super important with 19 touches, 2 goals, 7 marks and 6 tackles to round out the top five.

Other 100+ scores: Ollie Wines (111), Andrew Brayshaw (110), Kane Farrell (106), Travis Boak (100)

Disappointment: A pair of 82s for premium defenders Clark and Ryan.

Rookies: Bar Erasmus, Worner (66) was good and then it was Reid (59) ahead of O’Driscoll (42) and the poor score of Dudley (-4). Berry (76) the best for Port ahead of some solid scores from Lorenz (73) and Liddy (70). McEntee (58) comes after that, then Whitlock (49), Lord (37) and Moraes (11).

Injuries: Port subbed out Lukosuis with a leg concern while Fremantle tactically used Dudley during the third term.

 

GWS (20.13.133) defeated North Melbourne (12.7.79)

1. Finn Callaghan (137). Another elite game from Callaghan to keep the season going strong. 31 touches (15 contested) plus 8 clearances, 8 tackles and 1 major all up.
2. Toby Greene (126). Back in the team and back in the good books. 3 goals from 23 touches and 10 marks.
3. Tom Green (120). The other Green was just as good, finishing up with 25 touches (15 contested) and 1 goal plus 10’clearances.
4. Colby McKercher (118). The sole Roo in the top five, Colby had 27 touches @ 93% DE plus 1 goal and a massive 625 metres gained.
5. Harry Himmelberg (116). Rounds out the top five with a clean game of 24 touches @ 79% plus 13 marks (3 contested).

Other 100+ scores: George Wardlaw (114), Harry Sheezel (112), Luke Parker (110), Xavier O’Halloran (103), Aaron Cadman/Tristan Xerri/Luke Davies-Uniacke (102), Stephen Coniglio (100)

Disappointment: One and only option here and that’s Lachlan Ash (43) who was sat on all day for just 13 touches.

Rookies: Just Fonti (42), Gruzewski (34) and Rowston (27) for the experienced Giants. Couple of debuts for the Kangaroos with Trembath (59) and Payne (34) getting the first mention. After that there was O’Sullivan (78), Harvey (68), Duursma (41), Konstanty (31) and Hardeman (13).

Injuries: The Roos lost Hardeman (concussion) during the first which saw him subbed. All sweet for the Giants with Stringer the tactical.

 

Melbourne (15.9.99) defeated by Western Bulldogs (15.15.105)

1. Ed Richards (148). Huge in the final quarter as the Dogs got over the line. 2 goals plus 31 touches (17 contested) @ 84% DE, 14 clearances and 15 score involvements.
2. Max Gawn (142). The best of the Demons. The skipper had 23 touches (14 contested), 5 marks (3 contested) with 1 goal and 42 hitouts.
3. Marcus Bontempelli (125). Bont was Bont as he found 33 touches, 5 marks, 685 metres gained, 7 clearances and 7 inside 50s.
4. Tom Liberatore (121). 24 disposals for Libba, his 12 tackles being a game best.
5. Bailey Dale (104). Dominated the first half but then faded slightly. Still good enough with 30 disposals @ 87% DE and 537 metres gained.

Other 100+ scores: Aaron Naughton (103), Tim English (100)

Disappointment: Just one option here and that’s Christian Petracca for his score of 65.

Rookies: Cleary (64) led the subbed Busslinger (28) and that was all. Culley (78) was great again coming in ahead of Langford (73) and the debuting Adams (36).

Injuries: Busslinger and Sparrow were the tactical subs but the injury report has Vandermeer (concussion) and Windsor (hamstring) on there.

 

West Coast (12.6.78) defeated by Adelaide (13.9.87)

1. Jordan Dawson (146). Led from the front with 26 touches and a massive 14 tackles to go with it. Also slotted 1 goal, had 11 inside 50s and 638 metres gained.
2. Riley Thilthorpe (126). Had an injury concerned but powered on and was massive in the last to finish with 3 goals and 15 touches all up.
3. Izak Rankine (121). First half was just 3 touches but went wild after that with some midfield time, finishing with 23 touches, 1 goal, 5 marks, 6 clearances and 539 metres gained.
4. Rory Laird (120). Standard sort of desk game. 25 touches, pretty clean @ 84% with 7 marks.
5. Zac Taylor (117). Massive in the last term as the game was there to be won. 20 disposals (11 contested) with 1 goal and 5 tackles.

Other 100+ scores: Reilly O’Brien (103), Jake Soligo/Tim Kelly (102)

Disappointment: I try to not give this to rookies but two of the best of 2025 struggled here for different reasons. McCarthy had 29 touches for a score of 80, while Curtin (44) only had 8 touches for the game.

Rookies: Well bar the previously mentioned Curtin there was only Pedlar (63) who snagged 3 goals. The Eagles had some solid scores with Brock (84) coming in ahead of Hall (80) and Davis (72). Hewett (67) came next ahead of the 3 goal Shanahan (59), then it was rounded out by Reid (49), Bazzo (47) and Gross (9).

Injuries: Peatling (corked thigh) was the sub for the Crows while Gross got the tactical treatment for the Eagles.