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AFL takeaways: How your club fared in Round 4

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Roar Guru
13th April, 2022
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The round started with a dour affair between a team that can’t stop winning and one that can’t stop losing, Melbourne and Port Adelaide.

Fortunately it was followed up by a pulsating game between two top-four contenders, the Cats and the Lions. Despite that there was a controversial non-free kick when Tom Hawkins pushed Harris Andrews in the back and kicked what proved to be the winning goal for the Cats.

Back to the footy now, and it was a great round with plenty of action and a potential goal of the year by Shai Bolton.

The Saints put the rest of the competition on notice. Brett Ratten’s moving the magnets around showed that his faith in Brad Hill was warranted.

Last but not least, Stuart Dew put on a masterclass against the most hyped team in the opening three games of the season, the Blues.

Here’s what every team can take out of Round 4, good and bad.

Adelaide Crows: gallant in defeat

The Crows may have lost their match, but they didn’t lose any fans. They weren’t scared to take the game on and did everything right beside claiming the four points. Taylor Walker led from the front with four goals in his first game back. Josh Rachele continues to develop, kicking three goals.

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Brisbane Lions: the right team won

The Lions had ten fewer scoring shots than the Cats. They clearly missed Oscar McInerney through suspension, as they had 18 fewer hit-outs than the Cats. The Lions also had 11 more turnovers, which shows that they have to improve their ball use. Despite that, their key forwards and key backs were outstanding, with Joe Daniher and Daniel McStay kicking three goals each. In defence Marcus Adams and Harris Andrews were outstanding. They can take a lot of positives away, but in the end their coach admitted that they didn’t deserve to win.

Carlton Blues: don’t underestimate the opposition

The Blues performed brilliantly in the first three games of 2022. They appeared to be unprepared for the Suns and took for granted that they would claim a win. There’s no doubt that they were hurt by the loss of Patrick Cripps early in the game through injury, and they failed to play to the level that they have this season. Marc Pittonet was a big loss before the game, as it meant Jack Silvagni had to spend time in the ruck against Jarrod Witts. Harry McKay was honest enough to signal that a ball he kicked through the goals was touched.

Charlie Curnow and Jack Silvagni of the Blues celebrate.

(Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Collingwood Magpies: can’t kick straight and get punished for not being great

The Magpies lost because they were their own worst enemies. They had 24 scoring shots to the Eagles’ 17 but lost by 13 points. That’s despite the fact they had the three highest disposal winners on the ground: Nick Daicos, Jack Crisp and Josh Daicos. Missing Taylor Adams and Jordan De Goey was no excuse, as the Eagles were also down on troops. Where would the Magpies be without the Daicos brothers and Brayden Maynard and Brodie Grundy?

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Essendon Bombers: season still alive

The Essendon strategy of having two ruckmen up against Reilly O’Brien worked, as Sam Draper kicked a pivotal goal late in the game and Andrew Phillips finished with one more hit-out than O’Brien. Peter Wright once again was a threat with three goals and Alec Waterman was a welcome addition with two goals. They won a game that was in the balance up until the final siren, which should give them confidence and help them build momentum.

Fremantle Dockers: spreading the load

The Dockers had ten different goal kickers who combined for a total of 13 goals. The whole game it felt as if the Dockers had too much of an even contribution for the Giants to cope with. They kicked six straight goals in the fourth quarter to the Giants’ four behinds, which tells the story. The big story was Will Brodie, who was recruited from the Suns and finished with 37 disposals.

Sean Darcy

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

Geelong Cats: too hungry for their competitors

The Cats coped with the loss of Tom Stewart and without captain Joel Selwood. Tom Hawkins just kept getting the job done on the scoreboard, kicking five goals. Isaac Smith didn’t stop working, and his relentless appetite to win the ball shone through. They finished the game with 13 more tackles and six more centre clearances, which shows that they were willing to work with and without the footy.

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Gold Coast Suns: totally outplayed their opposition, with credit to Stuart Dew

The Suns recovered well from conceding the opening two goals of the game. Noah Anderson led the way with 35 disposals, and Touk Miller put in his usual shift. The Suns benefited from having the X factor that Malcolm Rosas provided, and he finished with three goals. Their game plan proved too strong for the Blues, as there was a clear difference in standards between the two teams. Jarrod Witts led from the front, with Lachie Weller, Will Powell and Sam Collins prolific in defence.

Greater Western Sydney Giants: lack of discipline proved costly

The Giants had only five separate goal kickers that combined for eight goals. They would be bitterly disappointed with their fourth quarter, as they lost it by 32 points despite having only two fewer scoring shots. They relied heavily on the likes of Tim Taranto and Tom Green. The Giants conceded 26 more free kicks than the Dockers, which was where the game was ultimately lost. They desperately need to improve if they are to make finals.

Toby Greene of the Giants rues a missed shot on goal

(Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Hawthorn: simply outplayed

Hawthorn played a Saints team that would’ve beaten any team in the AFL. It’s a learning experience for a young Hawthorn team, but the worrying sign was that their experienced players were quiet. The likes of James Worpel and James Sicily didn’t contribute. Tom Mitchell won plenty of the ball but didn’t impact the game. Hawthorn have plenty of work to do and proved that their dominant win over the Power may have been an aberration.

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Melbourne Demons: working together in synergy

The Demons players simply played their roles. Their brand of footy is team first. They won the game comfortably. It was as if the game was a training drill. Steven May took intercept mark after intercept mark, and it was good to see Jake Lever was back. Ed Langdon still hasn’t been on the interchange bench all season, which substantiates his extraordinary work rate. The scoreboard flattered the Power, as the Demons should’ve won the game by more than 32 points.

North Melbourne Kangaroos: magnet moves pay off

The Kangaroos made some changes that paid dividends. Jack Ziebell was moved forward, which was rewarded, as he kicked five goals. Giving Jason Horne-Francis midfield time paid dividends, as he had 23 disposals and made five tackles. They also happen to have an elite midfielder, Jy Simpkin, who doesn’t get the credit he deserves.

Jack Ziebell

(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Port Adelaide Power: no game plan and no system

The Power failed to kick a goal in the first half. It was the worst game of footy in my recollection from a strategic perspective. It was painful to watch, and the execution of skills wasn’t there.

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Richmond Tigers: no Dusty, no worries

Richmond’s skills and efficiency were exemplary. Liam Baker’s effort, full of blood, summed up that they are willing to work their guts out for the team. But they still have Tom Lynch, Shai Bolton and Jack Riewoldt, who kicked eight goals between them. Last but not least, Bolton kicked a goal of the year contender nearly midway through the second quarter when the game was in the balance, and Riewoldt kicked a barrel after the three-quarter-time siren.

St Kilda Saints: why not?

The Saints put in a performance that should make the rest of the competition sit up and take notice. They dominated the game. Every player played their role. They never let up. You wouldn’t know that they didn’t play finals in 2021. They produced the template for how footy should be played. It was an outstanding performance that will make the rest of the competition take notice, with four players kicking four goals each: Max King, Tim Membrey, Jade Gresham and Brad Hill.

Jack Hayes of the Saints celebrates a goal.

(Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Sydney Swans: character and grit

The Swans played a Kangaroos outfit that was hungry to atone for the obliteration they suffered in Round 3. Sydney had to be at their best to win a game, with Lance Franklin subbed out due to a finger injury. They kept working hard for each other and won the game by not giving in. They won partly due to Justin McInerney, who didn’t give up and was there when the game was in the balance. Isaac Heeney could be one of the leading vote-getters after Round 4 in the Brownlow Medal – he kicked two goals and made 11 tackles.

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West Coast Eagles: great spirit and team-first application

The Eagles were missing a few of their best players. Jeremy McGovern typified their strong endeavour by helping restrict the Magpies forward line. Ultimately the Eagles won the game because they wanted the win more and, put simply, kicked straighter than Collingwood.

Western Bulldogs: their own worst enemy

The Bulldogs had two more scoring shots than the Tigers but lost the game by 34 points. They played some decent footy, but if you can’t capitalise on the scoreboard, you end up losing the game. The wayward kicking was contagious.

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