A busy Round 4 was rough for some tipsters, let’s see who’s stocks have risen and fallen throughout the AFL.
Adelaide:
Rising- Josh Rachele
Ironically got named the rising star nominee for the week so the title is fitting, but Rachele was back to his dynamic best we saw in round 1. 19 disposals, nine marks and three goals for the first-round pick.
Falling- Reilly O’Brien
I didn’t want to believe ROB’s 2020 best and fairest campaign was a covid hub anomaly, but it’s looking that way. O’Brien was outplayed by journeyman Andrew Phillips, having identical stats with a goal for Phillips separating the two.
Brisbane:
Rising- Jarrod Berry
His best game for the season, Berry was responsible for Patrick Dangerfield around stoppages and did a good job. He also had 21 disposals of his own, with three marks and five tackles.
Falling- Dayne Zorko
We hold the Brisbane champion to such high standards that it is noticeable when he doesn’t reach them. Only 11 disposals for the night and it’s obvious something isn’t right. It’s either a niggling injury or his new role.
Carlton:
Rising- Zac Williams
Despite it being a disappointing night for the Blues, this is the Zac Williams they signed up for. 36 disposals, 31 being kicks, five marks, five tackles and 800 metres gained.
Falling- Jacob Weitering
An All-Australian defender at his best, but he was well below his best up north. The strength in his game is his intercept ability and ball use. He had 4 turnovers from 10 disposals and took only 5 marks.
Collingwood:
Rising- Nick Daicos
The fact no one is surprised a fourth gamer was arguably best on ground speaks volumes of this kids’ reputation. The boy wonder had 32 disposals, seven marks and five tackles against the Eagles.
Falling- Fourth Quarter Finishes
For the second week in a row, the Pies got ran over the top of. To have an undermanned Eagles side do this to the Pies at home will hurt. As a neutral to Collingwood, I love watching the high intensity and pressure style, but it is taking its toll already.
Essendon:
Rising- Nick Hind
The Nick Hind from last season is back! He had 24 disposals, 20 kicks, eight marks and two tackles as well as 624 metres gained. The Bombers look so threatening with him torching off half back.
Falling- Brayden Ham
Considering the Merrett injury and having no Stringer, Ham needs to cement a spot. He had only seven disposals, two marks and five pressure acts from big time on ground.
Fremantle:
Rising- Will Brodie
Gold Coast have let go of another very good player. Brodie was a Giant amongst the Giants, amassing 37 disposals, four marks, five tackles while spending 33 minutes on the bench!!! Not bad for three quarters work.
Falling- Luke Ryan
This one could be out of luxury for Fremantle, but Ryan’s output is as low as it has been for years. Is this because of the emergence of Hayden Young, Heath Chapman, and Nathan O’Driscoll? Or has he hit his peak?
Geelong:
Rising- Isaac Smith
Was the best player on the ground, Smith did as he pleased down in Geelong. He had 29 disposals, ten marks and kicked a major. His 90 percent disposal efficiency and 626 metres gained are trademarks of his game.
Falling- Cam Guthrie
Had a very quiet night for his standards, with only 15 disposals and three marks. He did some good defensive work amongst the stoppage with six tackles but didn’t accumulate like we are used to.
Gold Coast:
Rising- Noah Anderson
What a performance by the young gun! Anderson had 35 disposals, 10 clearances, 682 metres gained and a goal. His disposal efficiency is an area he needs to improve, but he was massive.
Falling- Izak Rankine
This is the knock on him. He started the season as my riser in Round 1 after a huge performance, missed two games and then was rarely sighted here. He always shows flashes, but we need consistency.
Izak Rankine. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)
GWS:
Rising- Isaac Cumming
This guy is just a genuine footballer. Nothing flashy about him, but he constantly gets the job done. 29 disposals, eight marks and 679 metres gained.
Falling- Harry Himmelberg
Regardless of ball use going forward, quality of defence you are facing, conditions etc, you cannot end a game with three disposals. For an experienced player and leader at that club, it’s not acceptable.
Hawthorn
Rising- Tom Mitchell
Easily Mitchell’s best game of the season individually. He racked up 32 disposals, four tackles, nine score involvements and nine clearances.
Falling- James Worpel
Was pinned as a future captain after his 2019 best and fairest season but could now face omission from the side. Five disposals and three free kicks against are all he has to show for his round 4 appearance.
Melbourne:
Rising- Max Gawn
Anyone who thought Max was done has been washing the egg of their face since Thursday night. He was the definition of dominant in this one, with 25 disposals, 33 hit outs, twelve marks and a goal. What a star.
Falling- Sam Weideman
Was good the week prior but is on thin ice as it is. Seven disposals, three marks and no scoreboard impact doesn’t help his cause. Ben Brown has been offered a VFL suspension, so he will get another week, best he makes the most of it.
North Melbourne:
Rising- Jaidyn Stephenson
Why did North pay Jaidyn Stephenson so much money? This game! It was a brilliant all-around performance with 24 disposals, seven marks and eight tackles.
Falling- Aiden Bonar’s Fantasy Price
I like to have one quirky pick per week and keep it fun and this week it’s at the expense of poor Aiden Bonar. Two weeks in a row he has been subbed on late and registered a negative fantasy score.
Port Adelaide:
Rising- Ryan Burton
Would be top three in Port’s Best and Fairest with Karl Amon and Travis Boak after a month. Burton was very good again against Melbourne with 26 disposals, nine marks, six rebound 50’s and 721 metres gained.
Falling- Scott Lycett
This is a premiership ruckman that Port traded in to help them compete in big games. To be blunt, Lycett got embarrassed in this game by Max and despite him not being the first and definitely won’t be the last, Port would expect better.
Richmond:
Rising- Daniel Rioli
I will admit, I didn’t buy into the Rioli to Half Back hype, but he has converted me. He had 25 disposals, eight marks and six rebound 50s. He adds a new element to the Richmond back six that I really like.
Falling- Jack Graham
With no Dusty or Kane Lambert, I would have assumed Graham would have a huge role to play in the Richmond midfield. However, he only attended two centre bounces against the Dogs, with just 12 disposals to his name.
St Kilda:
Rising- Brad Hill
It was the Brad Hill Saints fans have been begging for. He had 23 disposals, nine marks and kicked four goals. He has a huge role to play if the Saints want to go on with it this year.
Falling- Continuity
Paddy Ryder has been offered a 2-week suspension for his bump on Will Day. I’m not here to say whether it’s right or wrong, but the Saints are objectively better when Ryder and Marshall play together.
Sydney:
Rising- Justin McInerney
Was someone I was super high on this pre-season, and he delivered here. 30 disposals, six marks, seven clearances and six score involvements. He will be a star.
Falling- Luke Parker
Only 11 centre bounce attendances, 18 disposals, a mark, and a tackle. Seems to be getting pushed out of the midfield for youth and his production is naturally taking a hit.
West Coast:
Rising- Alex Witherden
Stood up when he needed to and the big thing with him is his ball use. It was beautiful in this game, going at 85% disposal efficiency from 27 disposals with seven marks and rebound 50’s.
Falling- Luck
Not the first time I have used this for the poor Eagles, but they finally get a win and not even 48 hours later they find out they will miss star ruck Nic Nat for the next three months. Who broke the mirror in the Eagles gym over summer?
Western Bulldogs:
Rising- Bailey Smith
Unbelievable what Smith produces week in and week out, but this is a weekly piece so let’s look at Round 4. 36 disposals, seven marks, four tackles, five inside 50’s and 644 metres gained.
Falling- Small Forwards
Cody Weightman, Mitch Wallis and Laitham Vandermeer combined for 21 disposals, four marks, four tackles and 1 goal. The Dogs just didn’t look like scoring when the ball hit the ground and it cost them.
Macca
Roar Rookie
So Docherty and Saad averaging considerably more than Daicos and Williams only had 11 possessions in his first game this year but is also close to double Daicos' intercepts, more than double his rebound 50's averaging 1.5 fewer turnovers and 100m more gained. So Daicos is roughly the same as Newman? You can see why I think we need to temper the hype.
dargerovitch
Roar Rookie
Brad Hill starring for the Saints against his first AFL club. At the time i wondered when he left Freo why he didn't return to Hawthorn. Now wondering if the Cyril Rioli thing might have been part of it. Hawks could certainly have used him .
1DER
Guest
It's a long season. Think you will find the experience of Parker and Kennedy playing crux minutes in the midfield come seasons end being programmed. Heeney did not attend a single CBA last game is another ace when Papley returns.
1DER
Guest
The Blues sit no. 2 for uncontested possessions per game some 40 per in front of 8th and 60 possessions in advance of the 18th team, the Suns in season 2022. Colling sit 5th for uncontested possession averaging 12 behind the Blues.
1DER
Guest
Daicos has had 23 contested possessions from 4 games. Carlton's back four of Saad, Docherty, Williams and Newman have had a combined total of 89 contested from 15 games participation - 20/3, 32/4, 21/4 and 16/4 respectively. Daicos tracking very nicely.
robertbrob13226
Roar Rookie
Witherden or Starcevich not hard to work out non playing WCE got better deal by far
Jake Smith
Roar Rookie
That’s a fair point!! Always appreciate the interaction on the stock market piece Macca
Dingo
Roar Rookie
I think that’s a bit tough on Parker. First round he was a five goal hero but with all the young midfielders he is now rotating in the forward line same as Kennedy moving to half back. Swans are big on flexibility but Parker is too good to have low possession numbers for too long. In saying that, the speed of play being asked of Sydney by the coaches might be hard for Parker and Kennedy to keep up with
Macca
Roar Rookie
Its not that I am putting contested possesion on a pedestal, just saying he only gets uncontested, too much of either is a bad thing, you need to be balanced to be elite.
Jake Smith
Roar Rookie
Yeah it’s hard to criticise much that Horse does given his track record, but Kennedy at half back is a real head scratcher for me! And I think Parker is right in his prime so seeing him seemingly pushed out is interesting
Jake Smith
Roar Rookie
I understand your criticism, but I’m curious as to why contested possessions are on such a pedestal? I feel like players like Tom Mitchell and Matt Crouch get criticised for only getting contested possessions and not being “damaging”
Knackaz
Roar Rookie
Luke Parker got a 3 year extension which will see him out as a lifetime Blood. Whilst I applaud the Swans youth policy rolling younger players through the middle, some bigger, harder bodies in at centre bounces (ala Luke Parker/Joey Kennedy) are still required. Kennedy should be tried across half forward, and if that doesn’t work he may be done as a senior player. Horse showed no mercy with Ryan O’Keefe when he lost a few yards of pace and consigned a great player and clubman to finish an excellent career in the seconds …
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
True, however it frees someone to go back. We may unearth a talent hitherto unknown. I'd bust a nut getting Rankine.
Chris M
Guest
Why would a club give Luke Parker a four year contract extension and push him out of the midfield this early? He’s 29 years old and should still be in his prime as an inside bull. Maybe he is carrying an injury. As you previously intimated when you placed him in the ‘Falling’ category last week, Sydney should redeploy Josh Kennedy differently if his new role isn’t working.
Prez
Roar Rookie
more then 1 short, buts it the midfield and halfback where we come undone.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
... and also l think we're short a genuine star but maybe Rachele might turn in to that.
Macca
Roar Rookie
There is a big difference in the numbers though that is the point; Rowell averages 10.4 contested possession Walsh averaged 9.7 Palmer & Judd stats aren't available but they both won their own ball. Daicos is getting a big number of possessions (but very few contested) in the team that gets the most uncontested possession in the comp. Put him the Carlton side with the least number of uncontested possession and he would be considered very average.
Jake Smith
Roar Rookie
I did touch on Kennedy in a previous round and how him playing half back is not working! Didn’t want to have him falling again
Jake Smith
Roar Rookie
Anytime a rookie gets these numbers there will be hype, it’s the nature of sport fandom We did it with Rowell in 2020 Walsh in 2019 Rhys Palmer in 2008 Chris Judd in 2002 The list goes on and on
Macca
Roar Rookie
Don't need him to be an inside bull but 5 contested possessions is a very low number.