Eight talking points from AFL Round 5

Five rounds into the 2019 AFL season and 11 teams have won at least three games. Every team has at least one, and all but two have also lost twice. What a start! And speaking of starts, let’s make one on today’s talking points.

Clubs and fans are winning the fight against racism in footy
A small but noticeable change has taken place off the field in footy this year. More and more often we see that when individuals use social media to make racist comments towards players, swift action sees them called out and punished.

The latest example came after Port Adelaide’s euphoric upset win over the West Coast Eagles on Saturday night. A photo of Paddy Ryder celebrating the victory attracted banana emojis from two different posters.

The first one turned out to be an Adelaide Crows member and within 24 hours, the Crows had terminated his membership. The second was a Gold Coast Suns supporter (yes, they apparently do exist), but not a member – that left the Suns with few options, but they issued a statement supporting Ryder all the same.

Does taking this action have value? Perhaps not always, but sometimes definitely. The Crows member in question apologised to Ryder afterwards and said: “I will be leaving Facebook and keeping my drunken stupid opinions to myself.” That’s a win.

This isn’t a one-off incident in 2019, but something that off the top of my head we’ve seen half a dozen times already.

In each incidence we’ve seen individual fans call the behaviour out on social media, enough so to garner the attention of clubs, who then take quick and effective action where possible.

Why? The pessimistic angle could perhaps be that we’re just attracting more racist social media behaviour than usual for some reason. Without a clear metric to study this it’s hard to say, but personally I don’t think that’s the case.

Instead I reckon that the commitment of clubs to make a strong response to incidents like these is empowering fans to know that if they call this behaviour out, the AFL industry will have their backs and will take action – creating a positive and strengthening cycle.

This isn’t to suggest that we’ve ‘fixed’ racism in the AFL or that the league doesn’t still have some ways to go in actively supporting other marginalised groups of people – but it’s heartening to see compared to just five years ago when Adam Goodes copped racially-fuelled abused on a weekly basis while the AFL failed to take action.

In a week where Eddie Betts blew us away with a bag of six (including a goal of the year contender) in his 300th game, we are left more aware than usual of just how much the better footy is for having indigenous players be a part of it – and yet it seems like an indigenous player cannot hope to enjoy their AFL career without being personally attacked on the basis of race at some point along the way.

This image of Paddy Ryder shows a moment of ecstasy, the kind that we follow, watch or play football to experience, and the kind that should never be soiled by racism. It’s footy as it should and can be, and if clubs continue to take action and empower fans to call this behaviour out, hopefully will be for years to come.

(Photo by Will Russell/AFL Photos/Getty Images)

Blues break two streaks with one stone
Speaking about moments of pure ecstasy, Carlton fans had one on Sunday when after a long wait their side not only got their first win on the board since Round 19, 2018 but also put a triple-figures score on the board for the first time in 1051 days.

Those are both great monkeys to get off the back if only for the fact that footy’s opinion prattlers (like me) will no longer be able to drag them out to criticise the Blues, but I imagine that as much as fans would’ve taken a win in any form they must be thrilled to see one that was delivered by strong performances from developing players.

Sam Walsh will be enjoying plaudits all year long and deserves a particular nod here. He had 26 disposals, nine marks and put in 21 pressure acts on Sunday, but most symbolically kicked the final goal of the match, putting Carlton above the three-figure threshold.

Only injury could prevent him from winning the Rising Star Award at this point. Not since Jaeger O’Meara have we seen a player make such a strong impact on such a consistent basis in their first year in the AFL, and in 17 games’ time Walsh may even have Jaeger beaten.

Shout-outs also go to Sam Petreveski-Seton and Zac Fisher in particular who went from showing flashes of quality to putting in dominant four-quarter perfomrances. Samo had 35 touches, six score involvements and kicked a goal, Fisher had 28 disposals, eight score involvements and a goal.

But perhaps the biggest story out of the match – figuratively and literally – was a breakout game from 200cm key forward Harry McKay. His dangerous form has maybe flown a little under the radar this year but will do so no longer, bringing down 11 marks, five of the contested, and ultimately a little unlucky to only kick a career-best four goals.

The end result sees the Blues off the bottom of the ladder and perhaps fires a warning off to those who (again, like me) have seen fit to question the club’s overall direction. Unlike many of the previous wins during Brendon Bolton’s tenure, this was not the tale of some scrappy band of blue-collar rejects getting lucky, but of a young team with plenty of untapped talent showing what a force they could become.

(Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)

Things are going south at North Melbourne
Any credits Brad Scott was able to put in the bank after getting his club’s first win of the season last Saturday evaporated in a half of footy at Marvel Stadium on Good Friday.

The North Melbourne side that succeeded despite an inaccurate start last week could not do the same again, allowing Essendon to build confidence early by spraying just about every chance on goal they had.

Then the Bombers blew them away with six goals to two in the second quarter and there was really no need to continue the game any further than that.

Any hopes North could address their deficiencies by making a few canny changes at the selection table were quickly put to bed when the Roos copped a 94-point beating at VFL level, also at the hands of Essendon.

The VFL season is already only a few weeks old but North are already 0-3 and have conceded more than twice as many points as they’ve scored.

It doesn’t paint a pretty picture overall. Maybe this is the overly dramatic melancholy of a longterm supporter talking, but it feels as if the club is lethargic at every level.

The coach is under pressure. The captain, after getting just six touches on Friday, is under pressure. The club is on the bottom of the ladder with an abysmal percentage.

A solution of kind is clearly needed – but what? That’s much harder to articulate.

(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Fremantle show off forward-line firepower
There are many positive things that could be said about Fremantle’s remarkable upset win over GWS on Saturday, but the big takeaway for mine is that it showed just how effective their forward line could be as a unit once they find the right balance.

In just five weeks the Dockers have tried a few different setups with their tall players. They went Hogan-less in Round 1, dumped Sean Darcy from the ruck to play Rory Lobb there more permanently in Round 3, and then this week lost Cam McCarthy as a late out to be replaced by Brennan Cox.

Coach Ross Lyon even mused before the game about the possibility of playing Jesse Hogan as a backman in search of a way to shut down the red-hot Jeremy Cameron, a notion that either went out the window as soon McCarthy became unavailable or perhaps was always a red herring.

While their Round 1 total of 141 against North Melbourne will take some catching, this week’s win was probably a better demonstration of just how much talent they can now boast in the area.

Hogan and Matt Taberner each booted a trio of goals their good work in the forward line also created more opportunity for the smalls, and the Dockers found a further three goals through Michael Walters and four from Brandon Matera.

Does bringing back McCarthy next week risk making them too tall? He’s been their best so far this year with ten goals from five games, but at some point the Dockers may need to make a difficult decision in order to ensure the effectiveness of the forward unit as a whole.

(Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

It’s time St Kilda got the recognition they’ve earned
It has taken us a bit longer than perhaps it really should have to take notice of St Kilda’s altogether impressive start to the season.

I say perhaps because I’m really not sure. The Saints’ Round 1 win over Gold Coast, for example, was hardly inspiring, and while beating Essendon the following week was more impressive, we were all more focused on how badly out of form the Bombers were.

Scraping past a wounded Hawthorn last weekend is where we really should have started to take notice and if we didn’t then the Saints made sure nobody was left not paying attention with a rousing win over Melbourne on Saturday.

Whether you call those earlier wins good scalps or not, it feels as if having perhaps just a bit of luck go their way has given St Kilda the confidence and momentum to all of a sudden become a side that demands some respect.

After often being far too much a meat-and-potatoes football team in recent years, the more classy and dangerous players on St Kilda’s list have stood up this year.

Jack Billings is the obvious example – he would be in the All Australian team if you picked it right now. But players like Shane Savage, Blake Acres and the Jacks Newnes and Lonie were all in fine form on Saturday.

I must all so say that their decision to target mature age players in the draft has been more effective than I thought it would be. Matthew Parker and Callum Wilkie have stepped confidently into AFL level.

Lastly, some love has to go to Dean Kent, who played against his old club for the first time on Saturday and put on a show, kicking three goals to go with his 20 disposals.

When he asked for his trade to the Saints at the end of the year, he would have known he was looking at a significant downgrade in the likelihood of team success. Five rounds in, the results are anything but.

(Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos/Getty Images)

Is Braydon Preuss proving the doubters wrong?
Braydon Preuss’ decision to seek a trade to the Melbourne Demons was one of the more bewildering moves of the 2018 trade period, with fans and commentators largely seeing it as a case of ‘career suicide’ for the budding ruckman to join a club already boasting one of the best big men in the comp.

That skepticism seemed well founded when the Dees released their team for Round 1 and Preuss wasn’t in it, and after describing himself as ‘pissed off’ to be stuck in the VFL at the Kangaroos, Preuss found himself in no different a situation despite having changed his colours.

Simon Goodwin obviously felt a shakeup of some kind was needed after an 0-3 start to the season and handled Preuss his Demon debut ahead of last week’s win against Sydney, and in the two matches that have followed Preuss’ form has been enough to perhaps make us start to think differently.

Sure, he has provided a solid ruck chop out for Max Gawn, but more importantly he’s been able to boot four goals from two appearances. That’s twice as many as Tom McDonald has managed in five matches, and only one less than Sam Weideman’s total for the season so far.

Maybe it’s just a purple patch but Preuss has shown before that he can kick goals at AFL level. Perhaps most important is the kind of chaotic energy he brings to the table – even if not picking up stats he usually has a presence on the field.

All things considered it remains something of a head scratcher that so little of an attempt was made to carve out a similar role for him at North. The past is the past I know, you’ll have to excuse this mopey Kangaroos fan.

Right now, amidst many less positive story lines in progress at the Melbourne football club, it appears Preuss has a future.

(Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

Anzac Day looks like a belter
As both Collingwood and Essendon enter the match at 3-2, this year’s Anzac Day match looks to be just as anticipated as any that has ever taken place.

Sure, under ordinary circumstances a 3-2 record is not especially impressive, but in the unpredictable mess that is 2019 if you’re on that benchmark then you are as deeply in the race as anyone.

Essendon have recovered well from a shockingly poor opening fortnight to now be firmly again in the mix for finals or even top four. They’ll want a nice scalp before they get too excited, and this is a good a chance as any.

With Cale Hooker back and combining well with Michael Hurley in defence, plus Joe Daniher back at the other end – late change shenanigans notwithstanding – the Dons look like they have a lot of puzzle pieces in place.

Even against my own club it was great to see Daniher back this week. He plays footy with the infectious enthusiasm of a golden retriever and the surprising grace of a baby giraffe.

As for Collingwood, the Pies haven’t put it all together yet but you get the feeling when they do they might have enough muscle to blow away any other side in the comp.

This is the clash of titans we expect a marquee game to be and I can’t wait.

(Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos)

Adelaide Crows (2-3) – Already mentioned him above but surely we must all just spend this next week in awe of Eddie Betts. Yes it was against a largely uncompetitive team, and sure his teammates were probably looking for him a little, but that was, regardless, a masterful display.

Brisbane Lions (3-2) – Two big losses in as many weeks will have some pumping the brakes on Brisbane and fair enough, but I still have them playing finals. Easy fixture will help: Gold Coast, Sydney, Western Bulldogs, Adelaide, Fremantle, Hawthorn and Carlton coming before the bye. Every game winnable.

Carlton Blues (1-4) – Another Carlton shoutout this week should be for Michael Gibbons who has done enough to hold his spot in the team and then had a real breakthrough game on Sunday with 21 touches and his first AFL goal.

Collingwood Magpies (3-2) – No doubt can be had that Collingwood won the first Dayne Beams trade – getting Jordan De Goey alone would be enough to render that verdict, but also Levi Greenwood and Jack Crisp, and now Beams back at the club too. Will they win the second?

Essendon Bombers (3-2) – It was a strong performance from Dylan Shiel on Good Friday, but one play sticks in my mind – seeing him burst away with the ball and seem set to either nail a goal of his own or set up a teammate, only to send the ball sideways with a shocking kick. His one big flaw.

Fremantle Dockers (3-2) – I reckon the race for best footy hashtag of the year is already sewn up by Fremantle with #Mundy3Hundy. Looking forward to seeing the great man make the milestone next week.

Geelong Cats (4-1) – Wouldn’t be surprised if Tim Kelly is leading the Brownlow at this point in the evening. His start to the season, like Geelong’s, has been first class.

Gold Coast Suns (3-2) – This is more the kind of result we expected to see from the Gold Coast Suns at the start of the year. In both seasons he’s been at the helm Stuart Dew has gotten them off to a hot start – will they flare out again or was this week a glimpse of the real Gold Coast?

GWS Giants (3-2) – On a generally disappointing day for the Giants, the biggest positive would have to be the impressive debut of Jackson Hately. You wouldn’t blame him for being a bit anonymous given that the Giants did poorly, but he picked up 22 disposals.

Hawthorn Hawks (2-3) – Five weeks in and the Hawks are a win short of that big pack on 3-2. Didn’t have the muscle to match the Cats today.

Melbourne Demons (1-4) – The Dees are playing Tom McDonald, Sam Weideman and Braydon Preuss in the same forward line, while their defence is currently lynchpinned by chewing gum and prayer. It’s not working – McDonald has kicked two goals in five games. Move him back.

North Melbourne Kangaroos (1-4) – No real positives to take out of such a diabolical performance from North on the weekend, but a crowd of 48,000 was easily the best we’ve seen at Good Friday so far and suggests this wouldn’t be a bad fixture pairing to make regular.

Port Adelaide Power (3-2) – This will be one of if not the best win for them this season and provides plenty of positive momentum going forward. How good might they be when Charlie Dixon comes back? There’s no set timeframe on that but it could be huge if he is in good form.

Richmond Tigers (3-2) – A week on the sidelines seems to have helped Dustin Martin get back into the right mindset, putting in the kind of superstar performance we expect from him on Saturday night with 25 disposals, nine score involvements, eight inside 50s and three goals.

Sydney Swans (1-4) – Footy media love to run away with the spoon sometimes and the talk about Lance Franklin moving to a third AFL club this week was as good an example as any. No chance of happening and four goals from him this week a reminder that he’s still a force.

St Kilda Saints (4-1) – On top of all the other positives about the Saints’ performance this week, keep in mind that Jack Steven is still finding his feet, and they will – even if not any time soon – eventually get back big talents in Jake Carlisle and Dan Hannebery.

West Coast Eagles (3-2) – In an otherwise disappointing performance by the Eagles, Jack Petruccelle was the obvious positive. A bag of five goals in just his eighth career game should earn him a Rising Star nomination this week after a promising start to the year.

Western Bulldogs (2-3) – After copping a brutal beatdown from Brodie Grundy this week it was great to see Tim English hold his own in the ruck against Matt Kreuzer as well as continuing his strong around-the-ground form with 13 touches and seven tackles. He might never dominate the hitouts but will go far.