After another two weeks of season 2015 it’s time for another edition of the stock watch. If you’re unfamiliar with the concept it is explained here.
It’s still a little early to make any definitive judgments about where this season is heading, but we can try nonetheless. Let’s get on to the stock watch.
Rising
Jesse Hogan
The excitement surrounding Hogan’s long awaited debut was so much that expectations needed to be tempered for the 20-yearold with the hopes of an entire fan-base resting squarely on his shoulders.
Forget all that, through four games Hogan has shown that he is ready to make an impact at AFL level, kicking two goals in each game, while providing a target inside the forward 50. His work rate is exceptional and his ability to win one-on-one contests with bodywork that belies his inexperience is remarkable.
Before Friday night’s game, Richmond defender Alex Rance hadn’t been beaten in a one-on-one contest, let alone given up a goal, but Hogan repeatedly made Rance look ordinary on his way to an influential role in a spirited win for the Demons.
It would be unreasonable to expect this to continue all season, but in only four games, Hogan has clearly demonstrated that he is an important part of the Melbourne revival, both now and in the future.
The holding the ball rule
Every year we see rule changes, and during the early part of the season, umpires tend to be a little overzealous in establishing these new rules. Not this year though. After a few years in the wilderness, holding the ball is being interpreted perfectly.
The rule is actually predictable now, which makes the game easier for the players and more enjoyable for the fans. It’s nice to be able to yell out “ball!” and be confident that you’ll be right, instead of sheepishly sitting back down when the opposition player is allowed to take on half your team and the umpire calls play on.
In 2015, when the ball carrier takes on the tackler and is either tackled or doesn’t dispose of the ball properly, he is penalised. Just the way it should be. Let’s hope it stays this way.
Nathan Buckley
The amount of conjecture about Buckley’s future before the season would indicate that it is a surprise to see the Pies sitting at 3-1 after four rounds. Since being taught a lesson by the Crows in Round 2, Collingwood has responded with a resounding win over the previously in-form Saints and a gritty victory over the Bombers.
It has not been pretty – the Pies rank 16th in terms of disposal efficiency, but the effort is clearly there, as they rank first in one percenters and fifth in tackles. If that doesn’t indicate that the young Magpies are playing for their coach, then nothing does.
Combine the effort level with the improvement of youngsters such as Jack Crisp, Tim Broomhead, Brodie Grundy and Taylor Adams, and Buckley’s vision is clearly starting to take shape.
Port Adelaide
No one was jumping off the bandwagon after losses to Freo and Sydney, but the last two weeks against North Melbourne and Hawthorn have reminded us that this is still one of the best teams in the league, with the best home ground advantage.
The first quarter against the Hawks was the most electrifying quarter we’ve seen any team produce all season. Yes, Hawthorn almost stole it at the end, but Port was so dominant early that it didn’t matter. The return of Matthew Lobbe cannot be underestimated, and as he and Paddy Ryder learn to work together teams are going to have a hard time stopping the Power, especially if Travis Boak keeps up his recent form.
Falling
Footy in Queensland
Not many would have predicted that both the Lions and Suns would be winless after four weeks of footy. What’s even more concerning is that neither team has been particularly competitive over four quarters, apart from the Suns last week in Geelong.
As you would expect, attendances for the Queensland teams have also dropped off, with the Suns getting 13,649 people for their only home game so far this season, down from last season’s home average of 16,000, while the Lions have only been able to attract 22,441 and 16,632 people to home games against Richmond and West Coast repsectively over the last two weeks. The AFL has to be concerned.
The good news, however, is that one of these teams will no longer be winless after Round 5, as they play against each other, potentially in an empty stadium.
The New Zealand experiment
It originally seemed like a good idea to have New Zealand recognised in the AFL’s celebration of Anzac Day, but two consecutive years of underwhelming crowds must be worrying those in AFL House.
An encouraging crowd of 22,546 people watched the first game in Wellington, but over the last two years attendance has averaged only 12,705 people. Although it must be acknowledged that the teams that have played in Wellington the last two years – St Kilda, Brisbane and Carlton – don’t attract a huge crowd at the best of times, the numbers are still substandard.
If the AFL is serious about giving the game more exposure to our Kiwi neighbours, it may have to consider sending over a proven crowd generator to try and create some buzz.
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