Round 4 may throw up a few more surprises. Find out which player from each club can make a difference.
Brisbane:
Charlie Cameron needs to improve on his output and hit the scoreboard more than he has in the first three games. The only game that he kicked multiple goals in, was against Melbourne Demons in Round 2, which Brisbane Lions won by 11 points. This was their only win for the season. It’s a pivotal game for them and they need Cameron firing.
Collingwood:
Jack Crisp gets space to work his magic in the corridor because he is often underestimated by the opposition. He plays in a Magpies team that has a formidable midfield with the likes of Jordan De Goey, Taylor Adams and Tom Mitchel. Crisp averages 6.33 score involvements per game, to go with an average of 23 disposals. He doesn’t need to get a lot of the ball to have an impact on the contest.
North Melbourne:
Jy Simpkin was sorely missed through suspension in Round 3 for a game that was the first loss for North Melbourne this season. He will be tested in the midfield in Round 4 as North Melbourne will be up against a Carlton midfield that’s quality.
Carlton:
Charlie Curnow should cause Alastair Clarkson plenty of headaches, given Ben McKay is injured and Griffin Logue is suspended. It’s the perfect game against a North Melbourne team with a depleted back line to continue on the path he is on, as Carlton needs him fit and firing.
(Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Adelaide:
Izak Rankine needs to prove that the way he performed in Round 3 in the Showdown, wasn’t an aberration. He is a player with plenty of X-Factor and Fremantle could find it tough to defend him. He should be full of confidence, after kicking four goals in the Showdown.
Fremantle:
Andrew Brayshaw has had a good season for Fremantle and needs to carry on that form and had the most clearances of any player on the field in the Western Derby. He leads by example and may well go head-to-head with Rory Laird of the Adelaide Crows, which is a tantalising possibility.
Richmond:
Tom Lynch must have more impact on the game in Round 4 than he did in Round 3. He was matched up with Billy Frampton for much of the game against Collingwood and only managed one goal – he needs to be better than that. He also needs to help bring the ball to ground for the likes of Shai Bolton and Maurice Rioli.
Western Bulldogs:
Adam Treloar has only unfortunately played two games in season 2023 as the Bulldogs need him to stay injury free. He racks up the stats and has averaged the most score involvements of any Western Bulldogs player with 5.50 score involvements per game. It’s difficult to find a matchup for Treloar, as most of the planning by Richmond should go into curtailing the influence of Marcus Bontempelli.
(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
St Kilda:
In Round 3 against Essendon, Brad Crouch showed that he could lessen the loss of Jack Steele in the midfield after he had six tackles to go with 32 disposals in a game, but failed to poll a Coaches’ vote. He needs to embrace the challenge and take the pressure off Sebastian Ross who finished with nine tackles.
Gold Coast:
Jarrod Witts must at least break even in the ruck battle with Rowan Marshall as that duel could well decide the outcome of the game. Witts has averaged the most hit-outs of any player in the AFL with an average of 40.67 per game. He needs to lead from the front as he did in Round 3 when he received five Coaches’ votes.
Sydney:
Errol Gulden would be disappointed with his output in Round 3 where he had just 15 disposals. He needs to build on the form he displayed in Round 1 and Round 2. He showed what he was capable of in preseason when he had 45 disposals and kicked three goals against Carlton in what was a 43-point win for the Swans. There’s no ceiling on what he can produce.
Port Adelaide:
Zak Butters is a player that just hasn’t been producing to a level that he is capable of. There’s no disputing that he has the potential to improve. Round 4 could be a season-defining game for Port Adelaide and they need Butters to put his best foot forward and hopefully perform well so that he can gain some confidence in a team that has many flaws.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Essendon:
Nic Martin showed what he is capable of in Round 3 when he was awarded three Coaches’ votes. There’s no doubt he can have an impact on the game in Round 4 when Essendon take on GWS. It was impressive to see his improvement last round and hopefully, that trajectory continues.
GWS:
Tom Green has the capability of being elite and has been impressive during the opening three games of the season. He has been arguably the best player for GWS and will need to continue his good form should GWS have an upset win over Essendon. He has to win the ball against a talented Essendon midfield – it’s a tough task, which I’m sure Green will relish.
West Coast:
Tom Barrass will face a barrage of inside 50s many missing from the West Coast’s best 22. He will have to increase his average intercepts of seven per game, in the absence of Jeremy McGovern and will probably be matched up with Ben Brown. It’s going to be a tough task for West Coast to be competitive in Round 4 against the Melbourne Demons – Barrass needs to replicate the form he displayed in season 2022, where he made the AFL All-Australian squad of 44.
Melbourne:
Brodie Grundy can build on the confidence he should’ve gained from the manner in which he performed in Round 3. He polled six Coaches’ votes against Sydney Swans and he won’t get a better opportunity against a West Coast team with plenty of injuries, to prove the player he can become.
Brodie Grundy of the Demons handballs. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Geelong:
Cameron Guthrie is the obvious one. He is such a talented player who hasn’t been performing to his full potential in the opening three games. In what is a must-win game for Geelong, against Hawthorn the Cats will need him to be back to his best in what promises to be an intriguing contest.
Hawthorn:
James Sicily needs to curtail the influence of Jeremy Cameron. Sicily is the sole captain of Hawthorn and won’t get a better chance to display why that’s the case in a game where remarkably Hawthorn can even the ledger. They have the opportunity to make it two wins and two losses after people feared they wouldn’t win a game all season!
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