Round 24 Review

Essendon (8.8.56) defeated by Carlton (13.12.90)

1. Zach Merrett/George Hewett (123). Merretts 250th ended with 24 touches at his usual high DE as well as a game best, 9 tackles. Hewett finished his elite season with 36 touches (14 contested) plus 10 clearances and 1 major.
2. Mason Redman (120). Another solid game from Redman, his 34 touches and 655 metres gained were a team best. Also had 9 marks.
3. Francis Evans (116). A hit finish to the season for Evans wound up thanks to this 19 touch, 5 mark, 5 tackle, 3 goal game.
4. Patrick Cripps (112). The Carlton skipper was at the coalface as usual, collecting 28 touches and having 5 tackles.
5. Dylan Shiel/Angus Clarke (106). Shiel returned to the side to find 30 disposals, 8 marks and 448 metres gained, while Clarke provided a nice rookie score to finish, his 27 touches and 9 marks also had 560 metres gained attached to them.

Other 100+ scores: Sam Walsh (105), Archie Roberts (101)

Disappointment: It’s been a disappointing second half of the season for Tom De Koning (76).

Rookies: Wilson (82) the best for the Blues as their season came to a winning end. Young (75), Motlop (70) and Carroll (66) decent too. O’Keefe (61), Moir (55), White (18) and the returning Camporeale (15) the rest. Clarke got his love but Kako (98) also deserves it, played all games in his debut season so at least there was always a score. Prior (61) the same with the rest being Blakiston (52), El-Hawli (49), Lual (42), Nguyen (28), Johnson (24), Unwin (15), Menzie (14) and McMahon (10).

Injuries: We’ve got clean cards from Thursday night, just McMahon and Walsh the tactical subs.

 

Collingwood (11.16.82) defeated Melbourne (11.10.76)

1. Max Gawn (137). A popular VC pick and not a score you’d pass up with any great confidence. 23 touches (14 contested) as well as 7 marks and 25 hitouts.
2. Christian Salem (125). One of his better scores for the season, Salem found 27 disposals off half-back @ 96% DE plus 8 marks and nearly 500 metres gained.
3. Harvey Langford (124). The first year gun finished of his debut year in style, collecting 26 touches and 7 marks @ 92% DE, 665 metres gained and 1 major.
4. Steven May (114). Solid down back, taking a game best 12 marks to pair with 23 touches and 10 rebounds from 50.
5. Scott Pendlebury (106). The most experienced player on the league rounds out the five for the winning Pies. 22 constructive touches @ 90% DE plus 2 goal assists.

Other 100+ scores: Christian Petracca (104), Dan Houston (100)

Disappointment: Going to give this to Darcy Cameron (77), his worst score since round 11.

Rookies: Just Long (77) and the returning mid season rookie Steele (38) for the Pies. After Langford, just Culley (43) and Sharp (-3) for the Demons.

Injuries: Howe (groin) was unfortunately subbed out again, his fourth consecutive sub out. No issues for the Demons, Culley the tactical.

 

Port Adelaide (10.11.71) defeated Gold Coast (9.13.67)

1. Zak Butters (191). Super in a special game for Port. 35 disposals (14 contested) plus 8 marks, 8 tackles, 5 clearances and 564 metres gained. Just 1 clanger too which really boosted his score in a tight game.
2. Mitch Georgiades (133). The most important forward on the night, Georgiades kicked 4 majors from 15 touches and 6 marks to be super important in the win.
3. Brayden Fiorini (128). The best of the Suns thanks to 27 disposals, 7 marks, 7 tackles and 5 inside 50s.
4. Connor Rozee (124). The Port skipper was fantastic, gathering 34 touches plus 7 tackles, 5 marks and 1 important major.
5. John Noble/Jarrod Witts (120). Nothing could split these two Suns to round out this game. 27 disposals, 8 rebounds from 50 and 643 metres gained for Noble, while Witts had 10 disposals, 5 tackles and 42 hitouts.

Other 100+ scores: Darcy Byrne-Jones (117), Touk Miller (109), Kane Farrell (106), Will Powell (104)

Disappointment: Sick game to end the year from Matt Rowell (67). Had had 6 frees against and 10 clangers overall.

Rookies: Debutant galore here. The Suns had Gulbin (49) debut and he was solid, the others being Farrar (57), Adams (55) and Read (48). Debutants for Port included Mackinlay (80) who was solid with 16 touches and 1 goal, as well as Ramm (28). Moraes (61), Liddy (60), McEntee (57), Berry (44), Whitlock (40) and Lord (37) the rest of the rookie crop.

Injuries: Got two tactical here with Mead and Jeffrey seeing the red vests. Lord is listed on the injury report though under TBC.

 

North Melbourne (15.10.100) defeated by Adelaide (17.11.113)

1. Tristan Xerri (186). Another wild score to finish the season for Xerri, dominated the ruck duel to finish his season with 25 disposals (19 contested), 12 tackles, 7 clearances and 35 hitouts.
2. Rory Laird (141). All school Laird game, his 23 disposals went @ 96% DE while also having 5 tackles and 1 major.
3. Ben Keays (131). Busy as per usual up forward, having 19 disposals, 6 tackles and 3 goals to be integral to the win.
4. Luke Parker (127). The Kangaroos recruit finished his season on a high, collecting 27 touches (14 contested) plus 10 clearances, 5 tackles and 1 major.
5. Luke Davies-Uniacke (119). Led the matchup with 31 disposals (17 contested) next to his name, 1 major, 2 goal assists and 12 clearances.

Other 100+ scores: James Peatling (118), Riley Thilthorpe (115), Reilly O’Brien (114), Jy Simpkin (109), Jordan Dawson (105), Sam Berry (102)

Disappointment: A poor finish from Daniel (75) in what has otherwise been a respectable season. McKercher (78) not much better.

Rookies: Trembath (95) has been super since making his debut, snagging another 3 goals from 11 touches here. Other North rookies were O’Sullivan (59), Banch (52), Konstanty (42), Harvey (29) and Payne (16). Just Curtin (42) and the returning but subbed off Draper (0) for the Crows.

Injuries: Clean sheets with Payne and Draper the tactical subs.

 

Richmond (9.10.64) defeated by Geelong (14.19.103)

1. Jeremy Cameron/Bailey Smith/Max Holmes (129). Three popular Cats tied up here. Cameron had 4 goals from 20 touches, Smith gathered 34 disposals with 594 metres gained while Holmes had 26 touches and 677 metres gained.
2. Tom Stewart (126). Patrolled the backline to perfection, having 23 touches, 9 marks, 510 metres gained, 9 intercept possessions and 96% DE.
3. Tom Atkins (120). Broke the all time season tackle record here with one of his 9 tackles. Overall a great 150th game, finishing with 27 touches, 12 score involvements and 6 marks as well.
4. Sam Banks (110). Has had a fantastic season and it finished with a 30 disposal, 10 mark, 590 metres gained performance.
5. Jayden Short (103). Frustrating season for Short overall but he rounds out the top five here thanks to 26 touches @ 92% DE with 10 marks.

Other 100+ scores: Dion Prestia (100)

Disappointment: Tough to give but if you traded into Miers (76) for the matchup, the score wasn’t great.

Rookies: Martin (57) came in ahead of O’Sullivan (50) and the subbed on Knevitt (10) for Geelong. The Tigers were led by Lynch (57), then Armstrong (48), the returning Gibcus (43), Hotton (41) and finally, Trainor (33).

Injuries: Clean sheets again, Blicavs and Gibcus the tactical subs.

 

West Coast (7.9.51) defeated by Sydney (18.10.118)

1. Tom Papley (156). Got involved in just about everything for the Swans as they ran away with the win. Had 27 touches, 3 goals, 8 marks, 3 goal assists, 7 inside 50s and 628 metres gained.
2. Tom McCartin (128). 22 disposals (13 contested) for the key back man to pair with 7 marks, while going at 91% DE plus a massive 14 intercept possessions.
3. Matt Flynn (125). The best of the Eagles, Flynn had 14 disposals and 20 hitouts as well as 1 goal and 5 marks (3 contested).
4. Isaac Heeney/Callum Mills (118). A pair of star Swans tied up here. 26 disposals and 1 goal for Heeney, 29 disposals and 9 marks for Mills.
5. Nick Blakey (115). Rounds out this games top five thanks to 20 disposals, 7 marks and 2 goals across a variety of roles.

Other 100+ scores: Tom Cole (114), Errol Gulden (105), Brodie Grundy (104), James Rowbottom/Jake Lloyd (103)

Disappointment: Despite the smashing, there was no real involvement from Chad Warner (71).

Rookies: A couple of Swans rookies in Buller and Corey Warner tied up on 71, with the others being the subbed off Sheldrick (20) and subbed on Bice (34). Debuts for the Eagles with Grego (59) and mid season pick Newton (48). Others included Brock (83), McCarthy (83), Hall (58), Hewett/Davis (55), Shanahan (44) and Dewar (26).

Injuries: Ginbey had a big fall and came off second best with a leg injury, while the Swans ended the year unscathed, subbing out Sheldrick.

 

GWS (15.14.104) defeated St Kilda (14.19.93)

1. Lachie Whitfield (176). Sensational game from Whitfield, especially when it was up for grabs. Had 31 touches @ 90% DE plus 7 marks, 544 metres gained, 8 rebounds from 50 and 6 tackles.
2. Jack Sinclair (136). Down the other end, Sinclair was also super, finding 34 disposals @ 91% DE plus 12 rebounds from 50 and a massive 757 metres gained.
3. Darcy Wilson (128). Best game of the season for Wilson which had come with mixed results. Kicked 5 goals straight here from 23 touches of the football.
4. Toby Greene (124). Stood up when his team needed the win, finishing with 4 majors from his 17 touches and 5 marks.
5. Rowan Marshall (122). Worked his way into the contest nicely, finishing up with 21 disposals (13 contested), 9 clearances, 6 tackles and 34 hitouts.

Other 100+ scores: Kieren Briggs (116), Finn Callaghan (106), Lachy Ash (105), Tom Green (104), Darcy Jones (102)

Disappointment: Has to go the Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (83) to finish off the season.

Rookies: A nice finish to the regular season from Rowston (77) who came in ahead of Fonti (54) and Gruzewski (54). The Saints had Boxshall (75) lead the super rookie Hall (73) plus Keeler (57), Tauru (43), Travaglia (38) and Collard (33).

Injuries: The subs here were Coniglio (concussion) and Philipou (calf).

 

Western Bulldogs (14.13.97) defeated by Fremantle (17.10.112)

1. Marcus Bontempelli (144). I think teams have given up trying to stop him. Another monster game of 33 touches (18 contested) with 2 goals, 7 marks, 11 clearances, 6 tackles, 9 inside 50s and 680 metres gained to add to it all.
2. Tim English (120). English kept busy with a nice statline of 15 touches, 6 marks, 7 tackles and 40 hitouts, more than the Freo duo combined.
3. Shai Bolton (113). Bolton was super in the Dockers win, snagging 2 goals from 19 touches plus another 7 score involvements.
4. Bailey Banfield (109). One of the Dockers best with his 20 touches and 8 marks in an important role down back. Also had & rebounds from 50.
5. Josh Treacy (108). Rounds out the top five with a solid outing that included 3 goals from 11 touches and 8 marks (2 contested).

Other 100+ scores: Luke Ryan (107), Rhylee West (106), Joel Freijah (100)

Disappointment: So so so many here. Richards (90), Clark (88), Jackson (84), Kennedy/Serong (82), Brayshaw (80), Dale (71), Liberatore (66) and finally, Darcy (55) all well below expectations.

Rookies: Croft (60) seems a solid player up forward as he led the Dogs rookie crop ahead of Davidson (57), Cleary (52), Busslinger (43) and Jones (33). The Dockers had Reid (84), Erasmus (81) and Worner (55).

Injuries: The Dockers lost Wagner (pectoral) and Switkowski (ankle) with the former being the sub. The Bulldogs subbed out Busslinger tactically.

 

Brisbane (11.23.89) defeated Hawthorn (11.13.79)

1. Josh Dunkley (140). Finishing the season on a high note was Dunkley, as he gathered 33 touches (16 contested) plus 9 marks, 5 clearances and 8 tackles.
2. Hugh McCluggage (129). Another super game for Hugh. 32 disposals, 7 marks, 2 goals, 5 inside 50s and over 450 metres gained.
3. Cam Rayner (125). Was dangerous as always, finding 22 touches as well as kicking 2 goals and setting up two more. Also had 579 metres gained and 7 inside 50s.
4. Darcy Wilmot (119). Keeps improving and had another fine performance, gathering 27 touches and 7 marks plus 8 rebounds from 50 and 526 metres gained.
5. Lloyd Meek (118). And to round out the season, Meek made sure it wasn’t an all Lions top five thanks to 1 goal, 15 disposals and 31 hitouts.

Other 100+ scores: Harris Andrews (117), Will Ashcroft (106), Darcy Fort (100)

Disappointment: A quieter last round for Dayne Zorko (79).

Rookies: Darcy Fort (100) added another ton to his 2025 year while next best was the impressive Sam Marshall (71), who tied up with Levi Ashcroft (71). Gallop (39) and the subbed on Tunstill (11) were the rest. Just the subbed off Lewis (11) for the Hawks.

Injuries: Clean injury reports to finish off the round, just Gallop and Lewis the tactical subs.