Opinion
It’s fair to say the stock of the AFL umpires is falling after a shocking weekend, headlined by head-scratching 50-metre penalties against Hawthorn and Brisbane.
The confusion stocks are skyrocketing with fans and players, with seemingly different umpires playing to different rules, so let’s hope the AFL stands in now before it gets really out of hand.
But enough of that, let’s see whose stocks are on the rise and fall for your club.
Rising – Rory Laird
The ball magnet is back from that pre-season thumb injury and back to his best. He had 26 disposals, five marks, four tackles and kicked a goal. I personally wasn’t sure how he would go with a midfield featuring Matt Crouch again, but they looked good in this one.
Falling – Rory Sloane’s body
After the Making Their Mark documentary was released, it’s fair to say it is incredibly hard not to root for Rory Sloane. But his body just won’t help him out. We saw it during the documentary, and he was helped off the field with a suspected knee injury. The worst news was confirmed with a ruptured ACL. All the best to Sloane in his recovery.
Rising – Hugh McCluggage
The silky smooth wingman had a fantastic all-around game in this one with 27 disposals, five marks, six tackles, four clearances and seven score involvements. He was right up there in the conversation for the best in the game.
Falling – Darcy Gardiner
It was a really clumsy game for Gardiner who is usually a pillar of strength and consistency. It was highlighted by the crude bump on Josh Daicos that resulted in a fine. He also gave away four more free kicks.
Rising – Sam Walsh
In the first game of the season without Patrick Cripps, Sam Walsh assured Carlton fans the midfield would be okay. He had 38 disposals (16 in the first quarter), six tackles and eight score involvements. Robin turned into Batman for this one.
(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Falling – Nic Newman
With Zac Williams playing permanent back, as well as Sam Docherty and Adam Saad doing their thing, Newman is the forgotten man. He had just 12 disposals, three of them being turnovers, and just one rebound 50, something he was recruited to do.
Rising – Josh Daicos
I gave his little brother a wrap in last week’s edition, now it’s Josh’s turn for some love. Not to be outshone, he had 22 disposals, nine tackles, five score involvements and kicked a first-quarter goal. He has stepped up his play thanks to the presence of his brother.
Falling – Steele Sidebottom
The veteran had started 2022 in a better way than he finished 2021, but this wasn’t his best. He had 14 disposals and four marks playing on a wing, and it seemed the kicking woes that have plagued him recently were back. For someone so talented, he shouldn’t be missing this many targets.
Rising – Jake Kelly
When he was announced as the first free agency signing from Adelaide to Essendon, we thought it was to free up Jordan Ridley. But Kelly is taking over the Ridley role, having 26 disposals, nine marks, eight rebound 50s and 500 metres gained.
Falling – Archie Perkins
The 2020 first-round pick has started 2022 on fire, but this was a down performance. He had only six disposals, two marks and one goal assist. Perkins has announced himself as a serious player, so let’s see how he responds.
Rising – Matt Taberner
It was his third game of the season and easily his best, kicking a career-high seven goals. He also took six marks and did not have a blemish in front of the big sticks. He doesn’t need to kick seven each week, but this is huge for his confidence.
(Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Falling – Rory Lobb
Taberner kicked seven as the other tall and Sean Darcy kicked two goals in the time Lobb was rucking. Lobb couldn’t hit the scoreboard and only took two marks for the day under the roof. For a man of his size, they will be looking for better.
Rising – Mitch Duncan
He hasn’t been at his best in 2022 but he was really good on Easter Monday. He had 25 disposals, seven marks and 12 score involvements and his kicking was unbelievable.
Falling – Tom Hawkins
He kicked three but had some terrible moments. He gave away a key 50-metre penalty, missed a shot from the goal square and took one of the biggest dives seen on a footy field. Someone as strong as Hawkins should not need to stoop to those levels.
Rising – Touk Miller
This guy is unbelievable. Win, lose or draw, he is giving absolutely everything for his club. He had 32 disposals, seven marks, five clearances and seven inside-50s including some of the best field kicks you will see. He is a genuine star of the AFL.
Falling – Stuart Dew
The decision to use Matt Rowell as a run-with player looked strange the first time. Now after three weeks it is looking silly. He may have a long-term plan in mind, but with Alastair Clarkson chilling at home, he may not have time to execute a long-term plan.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Rising – Callan Ward
I am not sure what fountain of youth he travelled to over the pre-season but it has done wonders. Ward had 34 disposals, four marks and four tackles, playing a Mr Fix It role between the midfield and half back.
Falling – Lachie Keeffe
He plays as a key defender/back-up ruckman but at 32, getting seven disposals and taking two marks, with young prospects like Leek Aleer playing well at VFL level, it’s not ideal.
Rising – James Sicily
It was comfortably his best game since his ACL injury, Sicily was a roadblock. Not only did he do a fantastic job on Jeremy Cameron, but he also had 26 disposals and took a massive 15 marks. All of this while kicking the ball at over 90 per cent efficiency.
Falling – Jacob Koschitzke
He struggled early as a forward and didn’t look like a ruckman after the Ned Reeves injury. With Max Lynch back next week he won’t be asked to ruck and with Jackson Callow and Emerson Jeka dominating up forward in the VFL, where is he at?
Rising – Jack Viney
Some people thought he was done at times during 2020, but he had a good campaign in the premiership year and is backing it up in 2022. He had 27 disposals, five tackles and kicked a goal, adding the perfect balance next to Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca.
(Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)
Falling – Ben Brown
Silly suspensions in the VFL aren’t going to help his cause getting back into a starting 23 that is dominating the competition. Brown showed how good he is last year, but if it isn’t broken, you shouldn’t fix it.
Rising – Tristan Xerri
The man who has replaced Todd Goldstein showed why North have so much faith in him. Xerri had 20 disposals, eight clearances, 26 hit outs and a goal. Considering Tim English is the most hyped ruckman in the competition right now, Xerri arguably beating him needs to be mentioned.
Falling – list management
The decision to not trade Todd Goldstein to Geelong for a draft pick seems mind boggling considering the way they are using him. He had only four disposals and just isn’t a forward. They also have way too many players just not up to standard and need a big shake-up.
Rising – Zak Butters
After two lean weeks, Butters bounced back. He had 32 disposals, seven marks, eight score involvements and six clearances. He also added a very important third-quarter goal in there while Port made their charge.
Falling – Aliir Aliir
It was quite obvious that he was underdone and not ready to come back. Aliir could not keep up with Harry McKay or Charlie Curnow, with that pair combining for eight of Carlton’s 14 goals. Let’s hope he recovers well and can redeem himself next week because he’s a star.
(Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Rising – Trent Cotchin
It was probably his best individual game of 2022. Cotchin had 24 disposals, took five marks and kicked a goal. But in a midfield that’s been struggling to win the contest, his nine clearances really stood out.
Falling – Marlion Pickett
It was probably not a good week to have a poor individual game, but Pickett had exactly that. He had 11 disposals, three of them turnovers, and three free kicks against. He also failed to register a tackle, something that has endeared him to Richmond fans and coaches.
Rising – Jack Higgins
He looked the most dangerous forward on the ground from the outset. Higgins kicked five goals two behinds, took seven marks and was lively for the Saints. It hasn’t been an easy season for him so far, but this will be the confidence boost he needs.
Falling – Dan Butler
I am not sure what has changed since 2020, but he seems a different player. He had eight disposals at 25 per cent efficiency, one behind and only a single one per-center. If his pressure isn’t there and he isn’t impacting the scoreboard, what is he actually providing?
Rising – Errol Gulden
The man with the best name in footy turned it on, collecting 27 disposals, seven marks and ten score involvements. He was the third man picked from the 2020 draft class but has certainly had the biggest impact so far.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Falling – Braeden Campbell
One of the players picked ahead of Gulden in 2020 isn’t having as easy of a time settling into the Swans’ line-up. Of his ten disposals, four of them were turnovers and considering his strength is his kicking, that is not ideal.
Rising – Liam Duggan
Duggan was a bit of a rock playing on the back line considering the amount of entries Sydney were making. He had 25 disposals at 84 per cent, six intercepts and eight marks. Considering what the Eagles have been through, it’s good to see a premiership player back and in form.
Falling – Tim Kelly
When are we going to be able to label this a bad trade for West Coast? They gave up the farm for Kelly and he hasn’t delivered. He had 16 disposals, four of them clangers, from 19 centre bounce attendances. They need better.
Rising – Taylor Duryea
Unheralded down back, the two-time premiership Hawk was unbelievable on Good Friday. He had 25 disposals playing as a small back, using the ball at 88 per cent efficiency, took 13 marks and helped drive countless Bulldogs counter attacks.
Falling – Jamarra Ugle-Hagan
He was the only Bulldogs forward to not cash in on the comprehensive victory. He is still learning, but this is a weekly piece and after five disposals, two marks and a goal, he is falling.
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