It would be stupid to overreact to anything we saw in Round 1 of the AFL (hence no Round 1 stock watch), but that doesn’t mean we can’t overreact now that the season is two weeks old, right?
The stock watch is where I highlight people, teams or ideas that appear to be gaining momentum and those that appear to be sliding.
These will change each time obviously, depending on who is in form and who isn’t. Also, it is inevitable that at some stage you will see someone mentioned here in the ‘rising’ section before never hearing of them again (even Warren Buffett must have incorrectly evaluated stock once or twice).
Rising
Western Bulldogs
Well, who saw that coming? Two wins out of two for the Doggies after losing their coach and captain in such controversial circumstances over the offseason.
The attacking flair that Luke Beveridge encourages could not be more of a contrast to the dour style of seasons past, and it appears to play to the strengths of the Dogs’ youngsters such as Jackson Macrae, Jake Stringer and Lin Jong.
They won’t stay in the eight all season, but this season was never about playing finals. What they will do however, is win more games than anyone could have predicted and turn into one of the most watchable teams in the league.
Not bad for a club that seemed to be in turmoil a few months ago. A true feel-good story.
Phil Walsh
He spent so many years as an assistant coach because he never wanted to be a senior coach. If he knew he’d have this much success early on, surely he would’ve sought out a senior position sooner!
Finally, it looks as though the serial underachievers that have been the Adelaide Crows in recent years will live up to their full potential. All it took was a work rate that matched their talent level, and Walsh has coaxed that out of his players. No team has run harder both ways through these first two weeks and it’s a joy to watch.
Walsh looks to be an inspired choice by the Adelaide hierarchy.
The NAB Challenge
If there was ever a positive endorsement for the pre-season competition, this is it.
Yes, Essendon found a way to win on Sunday, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that the players have looked lifeless in both of the fourth quarters they’ve played so far.
They should be 2-0 but given the circumstances and their tough draw (last year’s grand finalists), 1-1 isn’t so bad. The Bombers have shown they’re good enough to match it with the best. They’ll win their fair share of games this season, but if their match fitness doesn’t catch up to their talent soon, they may be watching on in September.
Tall targets in the forward line
With the offseason recruitment of Dayne Beams and Allen Christensen to add to an already impressive stock of young midfielders, optimism around the Lions was at an all-time high before the season.
Two losses later, and the need for established key forwards has never been more glaring.
If it wasn’t before, it is now painfully obvious that it is borderline impossible to win in the AFL without at least one established and consistent marking threat inside forward 50. Even Tom Boyd is providing enough of a contest right now to get the ball to ground for his crumbers.
Opposition defenders are having no trouble repelling the supply of Brisbane’s star-studded midfield and we simply cannot expect the midfielders to kick a winning score on a weekly basis.
Until Daniel McStay, Jonathan Freeman and Michael Close develop, the Lions will be no more than a middling team.
Marcus Bontempelli
He could’ve been mentioned in the Western Bulldogs section but his otherworldly play is worthy of its own recognition. This precociously talented youngster has been the Dogs’ best player in both wins and looks set to make ‘the leap’ this season, well ahead of schedule.
The only thing progressing faster than Bontempelli’s play is the bandwagon bearing his name.
Just remember, this is a 19-year-old who is taller than Nick Riewoldt and is winning clearances and possessions like a midfielder 10 centimetres shorter than himself. We are witnessing something special.
Falling
Geelong Cats
Many predicted that this would be the year the Cats finally fell out of premiership contention, but no one could have foreseen the lack of competitiveness displayed over the first two weeks.
To be fair, the competition has been of the highest standard. The Cats are clearly a rung below the genuine contenders but they will probably beat up on the teams below them, giving themselves a chance to play finals.
Regardless, Geelong find themselves on the bottom of the ladder and their saving grace may be the fact that the only team more disappointing than them will pay a visit to Simonds Stadium this Sunday.
Speaking of which…
Gold Coast Suns
By far the biggest disappointment of 2015 so far, and it isn’t even close. The Suns were gifted two highly winnable games against two of last season’s bottom four to ease into the season, but they failed to show up to either contest.
Maybe the players bought their own hype. Maybe they’re still too reliant on a gimpy Gary Ablett. Or maybe they just aren’t ready to deal with expectations.
Whatever the reason, Rodney Eade must be wondering why he got back into the caper. The man’s record at Sydney and the Bulldogs speaks for itself, so he can turn it around, but maybe the Suns aren’t the lock for finals many thought they were.
Ryan Griffen
The Giants are 2-0 so we can’t be too harsh, but more must have been expected of Griffen after the sensational manner in which he forced his way out of the Bulldogs late last year.
When such a big name player turns his back on his old club in that fashion, a pedestrian average of 19 possessions a game isn’t good enough.
Chances are, things will turn around and Griffen will become a vital cog in the Giants’ scary midfield group sooner rather than later, but for the moment, given the pressure facing him at GWS as a big name recruit, he is under-performing.
Carlton players not named Chris Judd
It is truly an indictment on your footy club when a 31-year-old who wouldn’t even be playing this season if it weren’t for a last-minute change of mind is still your best player.
After Judd racked up 12 possessions in the first quarter on Friday night, the Eagles sent Matt Rosa to tag him. Rosa did a fantastic job – Judd ended the game with 19 touches – but as this was happening, not one Carlton player stepped up and took control of the game, allowing the Eagles to pile on 16 goals to three after quarter time en route to a 69-point loss.
The Blues led at quarter time with Judd doing as he pleased, but once he was taken out of the game, Carlton were powerless to stop the Eagles.
It’s going to be a long season for Chris Judd.
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