Opinion
Round 12 was a round when one of the highlights was Jeremy Cameron kicking his 500th goal of his AFL career and having an outstanding game.
The Eagles still share the record of losing seven games in a row by 50 points or more with Fitzroy and the Giants, but they avoided being the sole team that holds that record.
There was yet another controversial incident on Friday night. In Round 11 it was Lance Franklin and Trent Cotchin and in Round 12 it was Bailey Smith and Zach Tuohy.
The Swans were unpredictable without one of their best players in the team, Franklin, against the top-of-the-ladder Demons.
(Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Saving the worst and the best for the last, the worst is that Lachie Weller from the Suns – who’s arguably been in career-best form – suffered a season-ending knee injury.
One of the better moments came in the second last game of the round. Oliver Henry of the Magpies held his nerve to kick what proved to be the winning goal for the Magpies against the Hawks.
The best was a goal of the year contender from Errol Gulden of the Swans when they were trailing the Demons by one point late in the game.
The goal was a set shot from outside 50 and on a tough angle, but he kicked it through the middle.
There was also another freakish goal from Mitch Lewis from outside 50, with the young Hawks forward nailing what looked to be an improbable goal.
Even though there were only six games, the 12 teams that played have plenty to take away from Round 12, especially the Dockers, who should be considered one of the main contenders.
Teams with the bye: Carlton Blues, Essendon Bombers, GWS Giants, Port Adelaide Power, Richmond Tigers and St Kilda Saints.
Adelaide Crows: After quarter time, it was an even game
The Crows started the game well, but led by the same amount at full time as they did at quarter time, which was 31 points.
At the end of the day, they broke a five-game losing streak. Taylor Walker led from the front with 22 disposals and three goals and Rory Laird was prolific with 33 disposals and nine tackles.
(Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
They have a good mix between youth and experience. They have the youthful exuberance of Jake Soligo and Patrick Parnell to complement their senior players. Despite that, there is still work for them to do to play finals.
Brisbane Lions: There’s no disputing that they couldn’t do much more
The Lions performed at their optimum level, but the Dockers were simply too good. Sometimes you just have to admit you were beaten by the better team and that’s what Chris Fagan and the Lions should do.
There’s always scope for improvement and despite losing, they did their fans and members proud. Zac Bailey was a shining light with 22 disposals and four goals, while Daniel Rich had 32 disposals and 906 metres gained.
Collingwood Magpies: They are in contention to finish in the top eight
The Magpies produced a performance that had plenty of character and grit. There’s no disputing that they were challenged by the Hawks.
There were very few players that didn’t contribute and they willed themselves to a win after trailing by nine points in the fourth quarter.
Credit to Nick Daicos, who is so calm and composed, a bit like the coach. Despite amassing 36 disposals, Nick Daicos barely wasted a disposal.
Scott Pendlebury had his 9000th disposal. Steele Sidebottom and Scott Pendlebury equalled the record for most games played together as teammates for the Magpies with 254 games.
For the first time in a long time, the Magpies fans have a team that they can be proud of supporting.
Fremantle Dockers: Their vigour and persistence is infectious
The Dockers haven’t put a foot wrong in Round 11 and Round 12 following Justin Longmuir’s infamous post-match press conference after their Round 10 loss to the Magpies.
The first half was extremely low scoring with teams kicking four goals each. The second half was the antithesis with the Dockers kicking 11 goals to the Lions’ nine.
(Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
The Dockers took plenty of risks with their ball movement and they attacked relentlessly. They may well have the Brownlow Medalist in season 2022 with Andrew Brayshaw leading the way with 39 disposals.
Despite that, it was a team effort with the youthful exuberance of Bailey Banfield and Michael Frederick there for all to see with the pair kicking four and three goals respectively.
Geelong Cats: Cameron saves the day
The Cats can thank Jeremy Cameron, who showed why he is a star with six goals. Three of them came in the first quarter.
The Cats led by nearly seven goals in the second quarter, but the balance of play and momentum of the game changed when Tom Stewart was subbed out in the second quarter due to concussion.
It’s harsh on Sam De Koning and Mitch Duncan to single out Jeremy Cameron as the difference, but he kicked six goals at important times in the game.
Gold Coast Suns: Suns shine after quarter time
The Suns played well after the first quarter, as they trailed by 17 points at quarter time. Whatever Stuart Dew said at quarter time was the catalyst for them to showcase a game plan that can rival any team in the AFL as they won the last three quarters by 79 points.
It was an even performance with Sam Day and Izak Rankine being the only multiple goal kickers, as they had 13 different goal kickers.
Despite not having his best game, Mabior Chol has still kicked at least one goal in every game in season 2022.
They need to work on their goal kicking should they play finals in season 2022 as they had 34 scoring shots to the Kangaroos’ 12, so the Suns could’ve won by more than 62 points.
Hawthorn Hawks: The only thing missing was the four points
The Hawks trailed the Magpies by 30 points at one stage, but they fought their way back into it, which is to be expected of a Sam Mitchell-coached team.
(Photo by Cameron Grimes/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
It was their youngsters in Mitch Lewis and Jai Newcombe who got them back into the game. Mitch Lewis kicked four goals and didn’t get out marked, while Jai Newcombe had 24 disposals and 12 tackles.
They never gave in, but unfortunately for them they lost by four points. They tried hard to get over the line in a game that was Liam Shiels’ and Luke Breust’s 250th game.
Melbourne Demons: Demons show they are beatable
The Demons performed admirably, with Max Gawn leading the way with 28 disposals, three goals and 30 hit-outs.
There are gaps in the attacking element of their game as they only kicked 30 points after quarter time. They were badly beaten after quarter time, as they lost the last three quarters by 32 points.
The loss of Steven May due to injury hurt them as Sam Reid kicked three goals as did the Swans’ second key forward in Logan McDonald.
The margin could’ve been more than 12 points as the Swans had 23 scoring shots to the Demons’ 16.
North Melbourne Kangaroos: They have a long way to go
The Kangaroos performed poorly after giving their supporters false hope for a quarter.
They were obliterated in every aspect of the game against a Suns team that had more players with 50 games or fewer than them. Inexperience isn’t an excuse for the Kangaroos.
There has to be a circuit breaker, whether that’s getting a new coach or just throwing the magnets around. Their members and fans deserve better.
(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Sydney Swans: They won because they delivered when the game was on the line
The Swans won a game due to playing an exceptional brand of footy after quarter time. They fought and fought relentlessly.
There’s no disputing that they were deserved winners. There was a good mix between defence and attack as well as playing tempo footy and risking the ball being turned over by moving the ball quickly. The key is there’s a good balance in their game style.
Ultimately, the game was won with them kicking the last two goals of the game, which were freakish goals. One came from Errol Gulden and the other came from Tom Papley, as they trailed by a point prior to those goals.
West Coast Eagles: Arrived a quarter late, but an honourable loss was their fate
The Eagles trailed by 31 points at quarter time and by the same margin at full time. They found a few players even though the Crows weren’t at their best after quarter time.
At least there was something positive to take away from their Round 12 display. There were some positives with the midfielders as Jack Redden, Luke Shuey and Andrew Gaff combined for 17 tackles.
(Photo by Matt Roberts/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)
The youngsters had a crack, in particular Bailey Williams, who finished with 21 hit-outs, Greg Clark, who had ten tackles, and Callum Jamieson, who amassed 11 disposals and had nine hit-outs.
After quarter tine, the endeavour was there for all to see.
Western Bulldogs: They gave the Cats a 33-point head start by quarter time
The Bulldogs would be extremely disappointed with their first quarter. In the second and third quarters they restricted the Cats to an aggregate of 12 points.
The game swung when the Cats lost one of their most important players, Tom Stewart. Tom Liberatore was the Bulldogs’ best player, who got them back into the contest with two goals and 30 disposals.
There’s no disputing that the Bulldogs had some positives to take out of the game as they had eight different goal kickers compared with the Cats’ six. Unfortunately one of those six was Jeremy Cameron, who kicked six goals.
Questions need to be asked as it’s still Aaron Naughton or bust at times, with the forward thoroughly outplayed by young Cats defender Sam De Koning, as Naughton finished the game with just one goal.
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