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Opinion

AFL stock market Round 4

Roar Rookie
11th April, 2021
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(Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Roar Rookie
11th April, 2021
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1208 Reads

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 whose are falling after Round 4?

Adelaide

Rising: Reilly O’Brien
He’s back! The Adelaide big man was back to his best with a 24-disposal, eight-mark and one-goal performance. He was the shining light for Adelaide last year but couldn’t get back to that form in 2021 until now.

Falling: David Mackay
The veteran wingman was chosen as the injury sub for this game and was not used. With the young kids coming through and playing a big part in their three wins so far this year, has Mackay seen the last of his footy with the Crows?

Brisbane

Rising: Hugh McCluggage
The talented Lions wingman was back to his best form, having 25 disposals and kicking a goal. The wingman position has been tricky with the new rule changes, but with his 12 marks and disposal efficiency at 75 per cent, he is back on the rise.

Falling: Callum Ah Chee
After starting the year in the best 22, Ah Chee was used as the medical sub in Ballarat. With young players like Tom Berry and Deven Robertson in front of him at the moment, it’s a fall for Ah Chee.

Hugh McCluggage

Hugh McCluggage (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/AFL Photos via Getty Images )

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Carlton

Rising: Sam Docherty
The co-captain is back. We all know his injury history, so to see him collect 28 disposals (25 of them kicks) at 79 per cent efficiency was beautiful to watch. He is the type of player in the current climate you want to see firing.

Falling: Will Setterfield
I held on him during the preseason, but 15 disposals (four kicks, 11 handballs) without a tackle isn’t quite enough. There were high hopes for him this season, but he isn’t quite taking the opportunity.

Collingwood

Rising: Jack Madgen
With names like Darcy Moore, Brayden Maynard, Jack Crisp and Jeremy Howe to contend with, Madgen never gets any credit, but his 25-disposal game, including a goal, overshadowed his big-name teammates.

Falling: Brayden Maynard
This one hurts because I was high on Maynard in the preseason edition, but he hasn’t lived up to expectations. He had 18 disposals, but six of those were turnovers, which isn’t ideal from your designated kicker.

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Essendon

Rising: Nik Cox
A great friend of mine is this bloke’s biggest fan, and he repaid the favour on Thursday. Cox had 18 disposals and took seven marks, but his one-handed pick-up and opposite foot goal oozed class. He is getting better by the week, hence the rise.

Falling: Peter Wright
With Sam Draper out, they have trusted the recruit with the ruck duties. He had 22 hitouts but was bullied in numerous amounts of marking contests around the ground. This could be his last chance to secure a roll, so he needs to take it.

Fremantle

Rising: Adam Cerra
Between this man, Andy Brayshaw and Caleb Serong it’s a pick your poison set-up for opposition clubs. With Brayshaw quiet, Cerra was great against the Hawks, with 23 disposals, seven marks and six tackles. This young Fremantle midfield is scary.

Falling: Michael Walters
He’s a very skilled and fun player to watch when he is up, but this wasn’t his best. He kicked a goal with his 13 disposals but didn’t have a massive impact, and he spent a lot of his time arguing with umpires or playing for free kicks. We need to see Sonny in full flight because he is a joy to watch.

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Adam Cerra of the Dockers looks on

Adam Cerra (Photo by Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Geelong

Rising: Tom Atkins
He was seen as a midfielder, but they have transformed him into a small defender, and he is thriving. Atkins had 25 disposals and four tackles, one of the few bright spots for the Cats on a dark day.

Falling: Luke Dahlhaus
On a day that should have suited the small forwards, Dahlhaus was quiet, having only 11 disposals and not troubling the scorers. With the Cats struggling to score, will Dahlhaus make way?

Gold Coast

Rising: Touk Miller
He’s always the forgotten man in the Gold Coast midfield, but he was a monster against the Blues. He had 28 disposals but most impressively a massive 13 tackles, showing he can do it in all aspects of the game.

Falling: Jarrod Harbrow
The veteran playmaker struggled against the Blues. He had only five disposals and an alarming 38 metres gained. Once his trademark, Harbrow is lacking the flare of years gone by and may struggle to hold his spot.

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Greater Western Sydney

Rising: Toby Greene
Pressure makes diamonds, and isn’t this bloke a gem. He isn’t everyone’s favourite for reasons I won’t mention, but he put the Giants on his back with five massive goals on top of his 18 disposals. He was the matchwinner.

Falling: Jesse Hogan
He has been injured, but with Harry Himmelberg, Jeremy Finlayson and Jake Riccardi all playing well, how does he get a spot? All three talls played an important role and hit the scoreboard, and if that continues, Hogan will struggle.

Hawthorn

Rising: Chad Wingard
It wasn’t a great day for the Hawks, but the Chad has come back with vengeance. He had 26 disposals and kicked a goal, which we know he can do, but it’s the defensive pressure that has the stocks rising. Five tackles and 20 pressure acts are huge for him.

Falling: Luke Breust
He has been one of the star small forwards of the competition, but he was soundly beaten. He had only eight disposals with no scoring shots and didn’t manage to lay a tackle.

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Chad Wingard

Chad Wingard (Michael Willson/AFL Photos)

Melbourne

Rising: Christian Petracca
He hasn’t had the day out yet this year, but boy the Cats felt the full force. There were 36 disposals and two goals for the bull in a dominant performance. The Dees are firing and fans should be excited.

Falling: Adam Tomlinson
He came across on big money and hasn’t delivered. He’s been moved back to a defensive role but hasn’t produced yet. He had only eight disposals at 50 per cent efficiency and no marks.

North Melbourne

Rising: Tom Powell
The first-round draft pick for North had his best game yet, with 19 disposals and eight tackles. There is unfair criticism on Will Phillips, but no-one can criticise Powell after this performance.

Falling: Trent Dumont
Has been injured to start this season, but with the young midfielders coming in and the rebuild in full force, what will his role be going forward?

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Trent Dumont of the Kangaroos celebrates kicking a goal

Trent Dumont (Photo by Matt Roberts/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

Port Adelaide

Rising: Aliir Aliir
I don’t think anyone could have predicted the impact Aliir has had on the Power. He was huge for Port in their thrilling win, having 23 disposals and six marks,vwhile his opponent Tom Lynch was a non-factor.

Falling: Charlie Dixon
It wasn’t the easiest of nights for King Charles,vbut only one scoring shot – a behind – for your spearhead forward isn’t ideal. He created a magnificent contest all night and played higher, so I could be being slightly harsh, but his stocks were high.

Richmond

Rising: Bachar Houli
The veteran stepped back into the AFL arena for the first time since the grand final like it was nothing. He had 26 disposals and 11 marks, using the ball at 77 per cent. He and Jayden Short will run amok off halfback all year.

Falling: Jason Castagna
Despite ‘George’ not being a huge stat getter, it was another quiet night. He had a chance to win them the game with a soccer off the ground and had a fresh air swing. Two kicks and three tackles isn’t enough.

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Bachar Houli

Bachar Houli (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)

St Kilda

Rising: Brad Crouch
In his second game as a Saint, Crouch proved why St Kilda wanted him so bad. He had 26 disposals through the midfield but 12 tackles. Adding that grunt allowed Jack Steele to use his class in a bounce-back win for the Saints.

Falling: Dan Hannebery
Another soft tissue injury for the luckless Saint. Though it’s no fault of his own, his stocks just keep falling due to these constant injuries.

Sydney

Rising: Chad Warner
This guy just keeps getting better. The young midfielder had 23 disposals and six tackles. He has slotted into the core of the Swans centre bounce set-up like a hand in a glove. Exciting times for Sydney fans.

Falling: Nick Blakey
If you are a 195-centimetre wingman you need to impact around the ground with your marking. Blakey took four, all uncontested. He had only 13 disposals at a dismal 46 per cent efficiency and could be facing suspension for a late hit on Zach Merrett. Not a good night.

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Nick Blakey of the Swans celebrates a goal

Nick Blakey (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

West Coast

Rising: Jack Petruccelle
The Eagles have always had a high opinion of this guy, and he has delivered. Four goals from the speedy small forward in a very exciting display. With Jamie Cripps nearing the end, he can cement his role for the future.

Falling: Jake Waterman
With the emergence of Oscar Allen, he has become a bit of a floater. He got thrown back yesterday due to the injury to Shannon Hurn but didn’t have an impact on the game. We know he has talent; hopefully he can cement a role.

Western Bulldogs

Rising: Aaron Naughton
He looked unstoppable at times in tough conditions in Ballarat, kicking 2.5. If he kicks straight, he is walking away with a big bag. His hands are arguably the best in the AFL.

Falling: Caleb Daniel
Just eight disposals and no marks for Daniel. It was a nightmare day for him and his SuperCoach owners (me). We know that he loves the fast track under the roof at Marvel, but he can’t afford to be irrelevant in games away from there.

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