Reigning premiers Geelong are the one winless workforce left within the AFL, as spherical three delivers one other Showdown to recollect and a Demons efficiency that caught the attention.
Welcome to the AFL Spherical-Up, the place we digest the week that was.
How apprehensive are we about Geelong?
It was a enjoyable Sunday afternoon for the stat-lovers and the historians.
As quickly because it grew to become clear that Gold Coast had been actually going to beat Geelong, they got here flying out — first time since 1976 a premier has began 0-3! Worst Geelong begin since 2004! One thing about Doug Wade most likely!
The little nuggets of historical past go some approach to placing Geelong’s begin to their premiership defence in context, however most likely do not inform the total story of what is going on on on the Cattery.
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Geelong have been off, by some measure that’s tough to completely quantify, all season.
A round-one loss to Collingwood wasn’t trigger for alarm, not least as a result of they had been proper in that sport into the final. The Carlton loss was a lot the identical, as a result of the Blues are a reasonably good workforce too and the Cats had a sniff late.
However this one is a bit totally different. The Suns had been fairly rattling good, showcasing the daring and high-pressure model of themselves we get to see every now and then, however Geelong appeared to let this loss occur.
The final quarter specifically was meek. Led by Matt Rowell, Gold Coast badly confirmed the Geelong midfield up within the second half, dominating contested ball and clearances.
Much more apparent was the unfold from these stoppages, and the ever-lengthening gaps between Suns gamers and their chasing Cats opponents. It is this kind of stuff Geelong would not have stood for final yr, or in nearly any yr for the final 16.
The opening left by Joel Selwood is larger than maybe we anticipated. A lot was made from Selwood’s aura and management, that his precise high quality as a footballer might typically be forgotten. The Cats are lacking each in the meanwhile.
The fixture improves for Geelong in coming weeks — although we stated that final week too — however the harm record is worsening.
Given time, Geelong will almost certainly be nice. However we count on greater than nice of this membership, as do they of themselves. This transitional yr that Chris Scott is preaching wants some tweaking.
Allow them to play each week
The Showdown is simply the very best.
It is one of many few rivalry matches within the AFL through which the “type goes out the window” cliché really rings true. They get to play it on the most lovely stadium within the league, with probably the most splendidly frothing crowds, and by some means they virtually all the time find yourself tight on the finish.
Given their underdog standing, Adelaide most likely loved the impartial’s backing on the evening, and the zeal that constructed as these younger Crows overwhelmed their fancied Port opponents on the finish was charming.
The pre-season Adelaide optimism was justified, and in glimpses towards GWS and Richmond there was a workforce that regarded able to make a sizeable 2023 leap. Possibly that crisp Showdown air was all they wanted to show promise into follow.
Izak Rankine stays one of many 5 most watchable gamers within the league, and he had an evening out. His triple effort on the wing within the final, to by some means cease an opponent, maintain the ball in and slip out the again with it, might need been the second that the Crows actually believed.
Or it might have been any of the game-breaking grabs and objectives from Riley Thilthorpe, who all through his profession has regarded equal components totally misplaced and unstoppable power.
It was a lot wanted reward for effort for Adelaide, and simply one other set of questions for Ken Hinkley and Port Adelaide to ponder.
The primary-round win over Brisbane appeared a turning level, however although there have been optimistic indicators on Saturday, the contested possession numbers over the previous two weeks make for ugly studying.
There is not any leeway for Port this season, largely because of the expectations they’ve placed on themselves. It is Sydney away subsequent week, and issues might quickly worsen earlier than they get higher.
Dees and Swans set the usual
The primary three quarters of Melbourne-Sydney might need been the very best high quality footy we have seen to this point this season. All the things apart from Sydney’s purpose kicking was to absolutely the highest commonplace.
The return of Steven Could appeared to sign the return of Melbourne early, as he and Jake Lever put that acquainted wall again up and largely stifled Sydney’s ball motion.
The Demons scored from counter-attack and stood up within the contest, thanks largely to the exceptional Clayton Oliver. They had been dead-eye in entrance of purpose and threatened to run away from the Swans early.
However as a result of Sydney are a genuinely distinctive workforce, they discovered a means again in with delicate tweaks. The sport ebbed and flowed, however the Swans might by no means fairly get their noses (payments?) in entrance, due virtually totally to missed photographs at purpose.
Then the Dees made them pay, simply as these Dees of 2021 tended to do. Younger Jacob van Rooyen bought his second within the solar, Jake Melksham dobbed a foolish one after the siren. All of it fell neatly into place.
It could have been affordable to count on Melbourne might need had some slight inner doubts after final week’s poor displaying in Brisbane and harm to Max Gawn, however they had been washed away on the MCG on Sunday. After all they’ll win all of it once more, they’ve each weapon required.
The Swans? Ignore the margin and don’t be concerned about them. They’re proper at dwelling in these clashes of titans.
Across the grounds
What a particular evening for St Kilda, and what a spectacular jersey. Ross Lyon’s Saints are prime of the ladder and a pleasure to observe, nicely value their primetime billing. There will likely be bumps alongside the street, many associated to their rising harm record, however Ross has reinvigorated this membership.
Collingwood weren’t at their greatest, however tailored and received handily towards Richmond. The Darcy Cameron harm is a little bit of a fear, however the Pies’ emergence as one of many premier contested ball groups within the comp ought to mitigate the ruck gap a little bit.
Fremantle had been up and about within the final quarter of the derby, and can relish stripping the burden off their shoulders after a winless fortnight. However that it took till the final 10 minutes to beat an virtually comically decimated West Coast ought to power some introspection and fear.
What a cathartic night that should have been for Jamarra Ugle-Hagan. To face such ugliness and overcome it with class, grit and the entire and unwavering assist of those who care about him ought to be a supply of immense pleasure. An evening that noticed his star rise ever greater.
We do not like speaking about umpires right here, however that dissent free towards Stephen Coniglio was a little bit bit foolish. Nonetheless, there was 10 minutes left on the clock when it occurred and ample time for the Giants to make amends. Controversy apart, not a sport to recollect however an essential one for the Blues to financial institution.
Sam Mitchell has full perception in his plan, however there are a handful of video games he can have circled this yr as essential for proof of idea. Any win once you’re ranging from scratch means the world to a membership, as Mitchell’s smile gave away after the sport.
Within the clubhouse
Right here we take inventory of who’s main the race for the season’s particular person awards.
One other respectable week for Harry Sheezel and Will Ashcroft, who’re forward of the chasing pack in Rising Star phrases for now.
However we’re giving this week’s nod to Eagles midfielder Reuben Ginbey, who’s carrying an outsized load of their engine room. Fortunate he is completely large and might clearly deal with it.
Ginbey led the Eagles for contested possessions and clearances towards Freo, and at present leads the complete league for tackles three weeks in. Not your typical first-year participant.
In a reasonably gradual week for hangers, we’ll go along with Ben King for mark of the week. Harry Himmelberg nonetheless trying largely untouchable, fairly actually on prime of the pack within the MOTY race.
And for one thing totally different, we’ll go the Suns double and provides Jack Lukosius purpose of the week for kicking the Sherrin roughly 89 metres to ice the win for the Suns.
Nonetheless like Chad Wingard’s spherical one purpose greatest to this point this yr although.
