Opinion
Another big weekend of AFL footy is in the books and the weekly series of AFL stock market is back! Whose stocks are on the rise and who is falling after Round 2?
Adelaide
Rising: Ben Keays
After being delisted by Brisbane and picked up by the Crows, Keays had an outstanding 2020 and is proving it wasn’t a fluke. He had 28 disposals and kicked a goal, showing he is evolving from the lockdown tagger that endeared himself with fans last year.
Falling: Chayce Jones
Jones is in his third year and considering he was a top ten draft pick playing in a bottom four team should be getting a chance, but he still can’t crack the starting 22. Any hopes of a third-year breakout are nearly already out the door.
Brisbane
Rising: Jarryd Lyons
Has never been given the love he deserves by media and even other clubs, but Lyons is a star. He had 20 disposals including a goal but laid six tackles, showing his defensive side. With Lachie Neale down on form, Lyons’ stocks are rising fast.
Falling: Lachie Neale
The Brownlow medallist has not started well. He had three disposals at halftime against the Cats, baffling for a man who averaged 27 last year in a shorter format. Stocks were at an all-time high following a Brownlow, but they are plummeting now.
Carlton
Rising: Sam Walsh
Walsh has taken the title of best Blues midfielder and ran with it, his balance of inside and outside disposal making him hard to defend. We knew the number one pick was going to be good but boy he has started brilliantly.
Falling: Patrick Cripps
We set lofty standards for the Carlton skipper, but he hasn’t been up to them this year. Rumours are circling that he is playing through injury but regardless, his stocks are falling.
(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Collingwood
Rising: Darcy Moore
The definition of rising stocks, Moore was the All Australian centre half-back last season but has taken his game to a new level this year. Some people have claimed he will be the next key defender to win a Brownlow. While I do not agree in the slightest, he has been incredible.
Falling: Brayden Maynard
One of my personal favourite defenders, Maynard was kept quiet against the Blues. He had 13 disposals and only two marks, limiting his ability to rebound with his booming left foot. He is still a gun, but after his elite game last week the stocks were high and have had to drop.
Essendon
Rising: Jordan Ridley
Similar to Darcy Moore, Ridley proved how good he was last year as an intercepting back and isn’t stopping in 2021. In a tough day for the Bombers, Ridley had 32 disposals and took seven marks, playing a lone hand down back.
Falling: Devon Smith
Where has his 2018 best and fairest form gone? He was injured in 2019, but this his second full year back and he isn’t having an impact. Only 13 disposals and three tackles. With injuries in the midfield, he may receive more opportunity, but he is a shell of his former self.
Fremantle
Rising: Andrew Brayshaw
Wow. What a performance. 32 disposals, two goals and six tackles. Brayshaw put on a clinic against the lacklustre Giants and being the star of the Freo young brigade, his stocks are flying upwards.
Falling: Sam Switkowski
It was such a great all-around performance from the Dockers that I had to find a moment causing a player’s stock to fall and Switkowski had a mare. After beating star Nick Haynes in a one-on-one, Switkowski turned and ran into an open goal, dribbling from 15 metres out and missed… come on Sam.
Geelong
Rising: Zach Tuohy
The Irishman played an amazing game against the Lions, having 27 disposals and kicking two goals. Some may have thought Tuohy was on the way out considering his age and recruits coming in, but he showed he still has some amazing footy left in him.
Falling: Gary Rohan
Whether you think he deserved to be suspended or not, you cannot argue that it wasn’t a very silly thing to do. If his stocks were falling last week after six disposals and a goal, five disposals, no goal and a suspension has them at rock bottom.
Gold Coast
Rising: Noah Anderson
Always has and maybe always will be in the shadow of Matt Rowell, but boy can this kid play. 35 disposals for the young gun in what was a comprehensive victory for the Suns. As a Hawks supporter, to know his Dad was two Hawthorn games away from having him hurts.
Falling: Sam Day
This is through no fault of his own but, unfortunately, the injury bug has hit Day again. This time an ankle injury forced him out of the game and the medical sub in. Buying stocks in an injured 200cm player is never the move so inevitably they go down.
Greater Western Sydney
Rising: Isaac Cumming
In a terrible day for the Giants, there was one positive. Isaac Cumming had 24 disposals, with 22 of them by foot. It is obvious they want the ball in his hands and he delivered on the potential he has offered since being on the list.
Falling: Nick Haynes
Last year’s All Australian has been held accountable in 2021. He still had 18 disposals but has not been able to impact in the air like he did last season. He has also been exposed at times in one-on-one situations like above with Switkowski. The Giants need more from Haynes.
Hawthorn
Rising: Changkuoth Jiath
Affectionately known as CJ, the Hawthorn fan favourite showed why he is loved by so many on Sunday. Yes, he made some mistakes but his attack and endeavour on the ball defensively and offensively was a sight to behold. He isn’t furnished yet, but boy the stocks are rising.
Falling: Tim O’Brien
O’Brien finished with nine disposals and a goal but the disappointment for Hawks fans was his work without the ball. The Richmond defence had a picnic intercepting Hawks long balls and O’Brien’s lack of competitiveness in these situations did not help the cause. He has just turned 27 but still looks like a 21-year-old project.
Melbourne
Rising: Kysaiah Pickett
Lucky I bought my stocks in the pre-season edition, because they have skyrocketed after the weekend. Pickett is the talk of the town, his exciting 17 disposal and two goal performance leaving the fans eager for more.
Falling: Jake Lever
After last week fans wanted to jump on board the Lever train but they may have gone to early. Lever only had eight disposals despite playing 117 minutes out of a possible 121. For Melbourne to win despite Lever’s off night is a great sign going forward.
(Photo by Daniel Pockett/AFL Media/Getty Images)
North Melbourne
Rising: Jed Anderson
Another one that hurts as a Hawks fan, Anderson has turned into a very good player. In his first appearance for the season, Anderson had 27 disposals and his trademark tackling pressure was back with a massive 14. It may be another long season for North supporters but this man is a reason to smile.
Falling: Todd Goldstein
Despite the hit outs being fairly even, Goldstein was comprehensively beaten by Gold Coast counterpart Jarrod Witts around the ground. Once his strength, Goldy was a step behind Witts all night.
Port Adelaide
Rising: Dan Houston
Is there any other player you would rather have kicking the ball inside 50 in 2021? Dan Houston has delivered some of the most beautiful passes to leads we have seen this year. His 25 disposals and goal were as clean as you can get and he will be deadly for the fast moving Power
Falling: Robbie Gray
The Port star didn’t play badly but was he at his best? Only three kicks among his 16 disposals and no scoring shots. The stocks have only taken a marginal fall.
Richmond
Rising: Dustin Martin
It has been a while since we have seen Dusty in this kind of home-and-away season form. He toyed with the Hawks on Sunday, passing off countless goals to teammates. His 28 disposals could have easily been beside five goals if not for pure unselfish play. What a legend.
Falling: Daniel Rioli
Rioli got himself into great positions throughout the game but his wayward goalkicking cost him – 0.4 with all of them very gettable. Rioli has to finish better considering his role in the side.
St Kilda
Rising: Jack Steele
Watch out AFL, Jack Steele now has the ability to drift forward and kick three! The contested freak and Saints captain showed the AFL some of his new tricks on Saturday night. Despite the loss, Steele was incredible.
Jack Steele (Photo by Matt Roberts/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)
Falling: Dan Butler
Two weeks in a row for the gun small forward with a measly eight disposals and zero tackles. Melbourne’s defensive structure limited the small forward’s impact.
Sydney
Rising: Braeden Campbell
It was Errol Gulden last week and now Braeden Campbell gets the limelight. The smooth left-footed half-back flanker was brilliant against the Crows with 25 disposals at a very neat 80 per cent efficiency. The Swans’ future is bright.
Falling: Nick Blakey
Playing on a wing, Blakey struggled to have an impact with only ten disposals.
West Coast
Rising: Tim Kelly
In my pre-season edition, I predicted Kelly to finish top five in the Brownlow medal. He has started brilliantly. He had 29 disposals against the Dogs and is back to his best.
Falling: Jeremy McGovern
There are people out there saying that Tom Barrass is more important to West Coast than McGovern. While I don’t agree, McGovern was quiet against the Dogs with only 11 disposals and five marks. We all know how good he is but can he show it?
Western Bulldogs
Rising: Josh Dunkley
People weren’t quite sure what to make of Dunkley this year after asking for a trade to Essendon last off-season. He proved how good he is with a 25 disposal and one goal performance, but it was his game high nine tackles that separated him from the pack.
Falling: Lachie Hunter
He had 21 disposals but seven of those were turnovers and he only had 190 metres gained from those 21 disposals. I know I am nitpicking here but the stocks have slightly decreased.
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