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Opinion
In Round 15 there are six teams that have the bye; Carlton, GWS, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide, Richmond and Western Bulldogs, the other 12 teams all have a player that can make a difference.
Geelong
Max Holmes needs to tidy up his ball use when Geelong take on Melbourne in Round 15. If he can do that then he will have an impact on the game that his stats warranted in Round 14 against Port Adelaide; he had the equal most contested possessions on the ground with 15.
To go with that, Holmes finished with a game high seven tackles, which was the most of any player on the ground, which should hold him in good stead when Geelong play against Melbourne.
Melbourne
Bayley Fritsch played a key role in Melbourne winning the King’s Birthday clash as he kicked three of the eight goals for Melbourne, which made them only the second team this season to beat Collingwood. In ten out of 12 of the games that Fritsch has played in he has kicked multiple goals.
It will be interesting to see who Geelong choose to match up on him as his 188cm; it could be tough for Geelong to find a match up for him, as he has footy smarts to go with his class.
Bailey Fritsch of the Demons. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
St Kilda
Callum Wilkie is in All-Australian form; he has a vital player for St Kilda and a substantial reason why they sit in the top eight after Round 14.
He has averaged the third most intercepts of any player in the AFL with an average of 9.23. Wilkie will need to be at his best as he will up against Eric Hipwood and, or Joe Daniher of Brisbane in Round 15.
Brisbane
Josh Dunkley is probably leading the best and fairest for Brisbane. What’s impressive about him is that averages the equal fifth most tackles per game of any player in the AFL with an average of 7.00. It’s great to see that the defensive side of his game is in such good stead.
Dunkley is also a valuable player in the trenches as he averages the most clearances per game of any Brisbane player with an average of 5.69; it should be difficult for St Kilda to curtail him.
Sydney
Errol Gulden is such an important part of the Sydney team; he averages the second most disposals of any Sydney player with an average of 24.54. The value he brings to Sydney can’t be measured as he never stops trying and produces regardless of the scoreboard. It will be difficult for West Coast to stop him having an impact on the game.
West Coast
Liam Duggan has averaged 23 disposals per game in the 12 games that he has featured in and he has averaged 444.50 metres gained per game, which is the most of any West Coast player. Duggan was sorely missed when West Coast were annihilated by Adelaide in Round 13, as he is a player that the younger players can learn from. He may get the job of negating Will Hayward and at other times Tom Papley.
Fremantle
Luke Ryan is a key player for Fremantle; as well as averaging the fifth most metres gained of any player in the AFL per game with an average of 533.23, he has also averaged the third most intercepts per game of any Fremantle player with an average of 6.38. Ryan needs to perform well, as Essendon are a team in form.
Essendon
Andrew McGrath has been a key component of Essendon being in good form as he has been vice-captain and led by example. Essendon coach Brad Scott as often given him the job of negating the best small forward; given that Fremantle have a small forward line, it will be intriguing to see who McGrath gets the job of curtailing.
He isn’t one dimensional as has the capability to create run out defence and has averaged the fourth most disposals of any Essendon player with an average of 22.31.
Collingwood
Tom Mitchell played well for Collingwood and was more prevalent through the midfield as he polled one Coaches’ vote in the King’s Birthday clash with Melbourne. He needs to fill the void of Jordan De Goey once again; he has averaged 27 disposals per game, which is the second highest average of any Collingwood player this season.
Mitchell has averaged the most tackles of any Collingwood player with an average of 5.85 tackles per game and will need to be at his best against Adelaide team with a good midfield.
Adelaide
Reilly O’Brien has the most hit-outs of any ruckmen in the AFL with 510, which is 54 more than the next best. In Round 15 he will be up against Darcy Cameron and Mason Cox at times, which will be a challenge.
O’Brien could well be a key factor as to whether Adelaide perform to their optimum level and win the clearances.
Gold Coast
Ben King had a shocking game against Carlton in Round 14, as he had no impact on the game and only kicked one goal. Despite that, he has still kicked at least one goal in all 13 games that Gold Coast have played. He will need to halve the contest better than he did against Carlton and bring the ball to ground for the crumbers to go to work in Round 15 against Hawthorn.
Ben King of the Suns celebrates a goal. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Ben King won’t get a better opportunity to impact the game on the scoreboard as Hawthorn will be without their best key defender, James Sicily.
Hawthorn
Jarman Impey polled three Coaches’ votes pre bye against Brisbane, therefore he should be full of confidence. Impey averages 21 disposals per game and is starting to play good footy and generate run off the half-back flank. Hawthorn will need him to perform at his optimum level when they take on Gold Coast.
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