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- Rory Sloane
The captain has come out in 2021 and dominated. His 34 touches against the Suns his best performance so far! Couldn’t be happier for him after a rough 2020.
Falling- Billy Frampton
They went with him over the hyped Darcy Fogarty to start this year but isn’t really delivering. Five disposals with one behind and three marks isn’t enough.
Brisbane
Rising- Zac Bailey
It is the obvious choice, but what a kick it was. His stocks were rising at the start of the season in my Round 1 edition, but they are at an all-time high after his game winning goal.
Falling- Dan McStay
Was an important ingredient during the last few finals runs for the Lions but with the inclusion of Joe Daniher, McStay’s stocks are falling as the third preferred tall.
Carlton
Rising- Harry McKay
The big man put on a show against the short-handed Freo. He kicked seven goals and five behinds, dominating under the roof. A close mate of mine tipped him for the Coleman and while I’m not there yet, he was brilliant.
Falling- Paddy Dow
In a day where the Blues did as they liked, Dow was poor. He had 11 disposals but used the ball terribly by foot and only recorded one mark. A lot of fans saw this as his last chance, and he is struggling to take it.
Collingwood
Rising- Brodie Grundy
After a quiet start to 2021, Grundy exploded with 28 disposals and 54 hit outs in a performance that can only be described as dominant. Yes, Collingwood lost the game, but he was a man among boys.
(Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Falling- Will Hoskin-Elliot
Not only is the offensive part of his game lacking at the moment with six disposals and two marks, but his defensive game is non-existent. Damning behind the goal footage caught Hoskin-Elliot flat footed as Brisbane ran the ball down the field for the match winning goal. Not acceptable.
Essendon
Rising- Darcy Parish
34 disposals and nine marks in clearly his best game at AFL level. Parish did as he pleased in the 75-point smashing of the Saints. With Shiel and Caldwell out with significant injuries, Parish can assert himself as midfielder #2 behind Merrett.
Falling- Dylan Clarke
Came in as a young gun tagger but has seemingly fallen out of favour. No Shiel, Caldwell or Heppell and he still can’t get a crack at it? A concern.
Fremantle
Rising- Nathan Wilson
Was a fairly big recruit after some good footy at GWS. He hasn’t quite delivered but in a tough loss he was a bright spot. 20 disposals at 85 per cent efficiency is exactly what the Dockers wanted.
Falling- James Aish
He doesn’t really stand out; he struggles to find any impact on the game and the new style of footy doesn’t suit him.
Geelong
Rising- Mark O’Connor
He has gone from a dour back pocket role player to a superstar stopper in the space of two games. Last week it was Lachie Neale and then Tom Mitchell. He is not only shutting stars out of games but impacting on them himself
Falling- Rhys Stanley
Any sole ruckman who has eight hit outs in an entire game drops in stocks. Despite Stanley being handy around the ground, that is not up to standard.
Gold Coast
Rising- Brandon Ellis
25 disposals and a goal is outstanding production from a wingman, he was maligned among the fan-base when at Richmond but has been consistently great at the Suns.
Falling- Will Brodie
Did a massive pre-season and was one of the hyped names but eight disposals as an inside mid isn’t ideal.
GWS
Rising- Tim Taranto
Injuries have smashed the Giants midfield depth and Taranto is the big dog in tow. He had 32 disposals and six tackles and will continue to dominate.
Falling- Lachlan Keeffe
Not sure if five disposals and two marks is enough of a contribution from a tall forward. This experiement looked to be the last roll of the dice for Keeffe and it’s not going well.
Hawthorn
Rising- Jaeger O’Meara
34 disposals, eight marks and 13 clearances going at 75 per cent efficiency. O’Meara has been mocked in the past, but he is showing the class he has always had with his best start to a season ever.
Jaeger O’Meara of the Hawthorn Hawks. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
Falling- Dan Howe
Yes, he had 19 disposals but had two of the most egregious turnovers that directly resulted in scores during the last quarter. His ball use has always been the issue and it cost his team on Monday.
Melbourne
Rising- Ed Langdon
27 disposals and nine marks for Langdon with ten inside 50s. With some high-profile wingman struggling early, Langdon is the wingman in a rolling All Australian side.
Falling- Jake Melksham
Melksham was an integral part of the Melbourne side during their finals run but as the unused injury sub, Melksham’s stocks are falling.
North Melbourne
Rising- Jack Ziebell
The only bright spot on what was a dismal day, the captain had 33 disposals at 94 per cent efficiency. The defensive aspect of his game may not be his strength, but he is one of the only North players who showed heart until the end.
Falling- Lachie Young
It wasn’t a good Friday for Young who had some rough moments under the Marvel roof, including numerous dropped marks and egregious turnovers.
Port Adelaide
Rising- Karl Amon
One of the smoothest moving players in the AFL, Amon and his devastating left foot took eight marks and 510 metres gained from his 23 disposals.
Falling- Peter Ladhams
The big man didn’t take a mark in his time on ground which is disappointed considering his height and role in the side. He shows promise but his inconsistency hurts him.
Richmond
Rising- Liam Baker
Is one of those players who seems to improve every week. Baker was the leading disposal getter for the Tigers off half back.
Falling- Shai Bolton
7 disposals at 43 per cent efficiency is not what you want out of one of your prime movers. After an outstanding 2020, Bolton hasn’t lit the world on fire in 2021, this performance being his worst.
St Kilda
Rising- Jack Steele
The captain looked to be the only one who cared on Saturday afternoon, having 35 disposals and kicking a goal. Don’t be surprised if he didn’t train this week due to sore shoulders due to carrying his team.
Falling- Dan Butler
From one of the top small forwards in the AFL to a complete afterthought, Butlers fall from grace has been astronomical. He was a complete non-factor against the Bombers and like some of his teammates, needs to look in the mirror.
Sydney
Rising- Callum Mills
His move into the midfield has been hyped up for so long and he is finally delivering when given the opportunity. His mix of hardness and class suits the Swans midfield perfectly.
Falling- George Hewett
It was hard to find a loser for the Swans on the weekend or in fact all season, but Hewett’s ten disposals were irrelevant. It may be clutching at straws, but every club has both.
West Coast
Rising- Andrew Gaff
He is back! Gaff had 36 disposals, 25 of them kicks and took 13 marks. His 36 disposals were at an incredible 89per cent efficiency and the ball magnet was back at his best.
Andrew Gaff of the Eagles. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Falling- Luke Shuey
Nothing about his on-field performance but another soft tissue injury has struck Shuey. It is terrible to see the Norm Smith Medallist off the field.
Western Bulldogs
Rising- Josh Bruce
A bag of ten! He has bullied North Melbourne over his career, but this was the worst beating he has dealt. His stocks are at an all-time high after his career night.
Falling- Mitch Wallis
The vice-captain was squeezed out of the side for Good Friday and will struggle to get it back after the 128-point smashing against the Kangaroos.
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