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Opinion
As May comes to a close the AFL hits the halfway mark of the season. It feels like a blur.
For some teams, the year is just about done: Carlton, Collingwood I’m looking at you. For others, the last five weeks were a high point: the Lions went 5-0, the Demons and Cats each 4-1.
Crowds were back before coronavirus reared its ugly head again. Injuries have plagued most teams. New rules and old interpretations have been talking points. Eddie McGuire resigned. Things haven’t gone exactly to plan for coaches like Nathan Buckley, Brett Ratten and David Teague. The reigning premiers Richmond are no longer intimidating, but the likes of Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs are thriving as real contenders.
This season, with a cloud of some uncertainty, still has a lot to play out. But let’s take stock of how we got here and what we’ve learnt about 2021 so far.
From all reports, it sounds like there was a collective buy-in at Melbourne during pre-season on how they defend, and most importantly a team-first approach.
This is what was lacking for the Demons who in past years had talented individuals chasing stats which left them disconnected. Now those individuals are doing what’s best for the team.
Case in point: Angus Brayshaw’s low-disposal, defensive wing role. Clayton Oliver, Max Gawn and Christian Petracca have been an elite engine room. As a group, the Demons are as connected as they’ve ever been and they’re now the best defensive team in the AFL. Melbourne have clicked.
Angus Brayshaw. (Photo by Will Russell/AFL Photos/Getty Images)
No AFL coaches have been fired but Nathan Buckley’s job at Collingwood has been an ongoing talking point. How long can he keep it with the Pies in 16th sitting on two wins? Some feel the end is near.
He’s not alone. Of the other 17 coaches, Brett Ratten’s Saints haven’t delivered on great expectations from last year’s 10-7 season; they were a semi-final team who were quick, skilful and hard to contain. That form and belief have vanished.
David Teague – most likely safe for the year – is another coach that has fallen short on expectations. The Blues are 4-7 in 13th with the fifth-worst defence and look well behind a rebuilding Essendon who are ninth.
Alastair Clarkson is one more coach that might have many asking if he should stay on as Hawks coach as they sit in 17th, but, come on, he gave the club a dynasty and reached legend status. He can go out on his own terms.
Alastair Clarkson. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)
Collingwood’s off-field drama has impacted their on-field performance (that link is not actually proven, but both notions have merit).
The bleak period for the club started 12 months ago when Steele Sidebottom broke covid-19 protocols, followed by Pies president Eddie McGuire partying at the Pink Flamingo on the Gold Coast which went against hub life convention.
From there, things have got progressively worse. They lost Adam Treloar, Tom Phillips and Jaidyn Stephenson over their salary cap debacle. Eddie McGuire resigned after the release of the Do Better report. This all happened as the Pies went from a preliminary final in 2019 and semi-finalists last year to a team that kicked 0.7 in a half of football on the weekend.
Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Football was brought back to life with the inclusion of fans earlier this season. What a sight for sore eyes.
Gone were the reverbed and hollow-sounding synth crowd effects. The Anzac Day match netted 78,113 fans. A top of the table clash between Melbourne and Richmond got 56,418. Arch-rivals Essendon and Carlton had 57,447. Life was good. Fans were getting used to being at football again as a sign that society was getting back to the normal things people enjoyed.
That is, until the latest coronavirus outbreak. And now we’re back to square one with no crowds. What a time to be alive.
(Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Some players have taken big leaps this year. Essendon’s Darcy Parish went from averaging 19.18 disposals in 2020 to 30.27 per game in 2021. Injuries to midfield duo Dylan Shiel and new recruit Jye Caldwell gave Parish room to flex his ability. His form is here to stay, and it’s been a big part of why the Bombers’ form has turned.
Sam Walsh from Carlton has produced a similar turnaround: averaging 20.53 disposals in 2020 to 30.27 in 2021. He’s arguably the Blues’ best player right now. And Tim Taranto jumped from 19.27 touches per game in 2020 to 29.73 disposals in 2021. It was only a matter of time for the Giants midfielder.
Sam Walsh. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
The new man on the mark rule introduced this year was initially met with traditionalists focusing on how many 50-metre penalties will be deciding games of football because of how militant it was being ruled during pre-season. Turns out, it’s been fine.
Actually, better than fine. Teams are using it to be more attacking. They’re swinging around the man on the mark to gain an extra few steps for a shot at goal or to an open man running by. I like it. Fox Footy analyst David King pointed out last weekend that umpires had slipped in a few examples of keeping the rule tidy – not pinpointing the actual mark and letting a rolling mark fly.
Keep the rule in check. It’s here to stay.
The reigning premiers Richmond are not better than last year.
Exhibit A: they are 6-5 in eighth. Exhibit B: they just aren’t as intimidating anymore. Teams don’t fear them.
It’s not to say they can’t defend their title. Fact is, they know how to win finals. Flying under the radar might work in the Tigers’ favour as they figure things out without too much pressure. But this year they’ve looked distracted.
Coach Damien Hardwick has complained about injuries, Marvel Stadium, he’s defended his players when they’ve come under fire for sub-par form on and off the field. There’s been a lot of noise and moving pieces this year. Can they find their mojo and hold it together for one more flag? History is against them.