There were no perfect A+ performances, but statements were still made by finals aspirants.
Meanwhile, three teams copped a fail grade as big questions loom.
Every team’s performance analysed and graded in foxfooty.com.au’s Round 3 edition of Report Card!
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ADELAIDE CROWS
It wasn’t the slickest of wins by any stretch of the imagination, but Matthew Nicks’ side are 3-0 for the first time since 2017. The Crows kicked at least four goals in each quarter to have their game on their terms at every main break, and barring a small run from North Melbourne after half time, had control of the Round 3 clash. The extent of Josh Rachele’s rib injury may force a change for this weekend, but for now, West Lakes continues to be as settled as they have been for a long time.
IN THE VOTES
Jake Soligo (28 disposals, nine inside 50s, six clearances, one goal) was absolutely everywhere for Adelaide on Sunday, and simply couldn’t be stopped by North’s midfield. Similarly, Izak Rankine (30 disposals, eight clearances, 541 metres gained) had plenty of the ball — albeit didn’t use it as well as Soligo. Veteran star Taylor Walker (14 disposals, four goals, nine score involvements) would be unlucky to not pick up a vote, having run riot on the Kangaroos’ defence.
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
Surprisingly, the Crows were outdone at centre clearance at Adelaide Oval, but not so much so that it was a cause for concern. The Kangaroos were able to match Adelaide’s uncontested mark game after quarter time, but it didn’t seem to affect their output too much. Polish lacked at times, but overall, a six-goal win over a rising Roos side will go down as a pass.
BRISBANE LIONS
The Lions’ unbeaten run as reigning premiers continues for another week, after successfully turning around a 26-point deficit into a nine-point victory and four more premiership points. Hugh McCluggage stood tall to deliver five score involvements from his eight disposals in the third term, as the tide turned in favour of the hosts. Set to play Richmond next week at the MCG, they now look very likely to go 4-0 for the first time since 2010 … oh the contrary to last year!
IN THE VOTES
As Geelong honed in on Lachie Neale in and around stoppage, Hugh McCluggage (30 disposals, eight tackles, seven inside 50s, six clearances) looks every chance of polling three big ones come Brownlow night. Not far behind him will be last year’s Norm Smith Medalist Will Ashcroft (33 disposals, one goal, one goal assist), with coach Chris Fagan labelling his performance “probably the best game he’s ever played”. Dayne Zorko (28 disposals, 834 metres gained, one goal) and Zac Bailey (19 disposals, 11 contested possessions, six tackles, one goal) were also integral in the come-from-behind win.
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
There were no statistical losses that are cause for concern at Springfield, with perhaps only a reminder to bring the ball to ground slightly more in contested marking spaces. They started the match ever so slowly, but they responded as well as they could have!
CARLTON
The Blues again showed better signs but fell short against the Bulldogs, slumping into the dreaded 0-3 hole with a critical bout with arch-rivals Collingwood upcoming. Michael Voss’ side was more fluid with its general ball movement but again struggled to maximise their opportunities going forward, and they couldn’t take advantage of a team missing more than a couple of stars.
IN THE VOTES
Tom De Koning continued his blistering start to the season with an influential outing against the Dogs, racking up 28 disposals, eight marks, seven clearances, six score involvements and eight intercepts. With Harry McKay still out of the side, Brodie Kemp stepped up in a big way as a forward-50 target, booting a career-best five goals to complement Charlie Curnow’s three and unlikely forward contributor Lewis Young’s two. Sam Walsh, Adam Cerra and George Hewett all went for 25 or more disposals.
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
The Blues registered 56 inside-50s and were plus-five in the count overall and also won the clearance battle, but they could only manage a 33.9 per cent efficiency rate for their entries. The Dogs were 13 per cent more efficient, and it ultimately proved the difference in the game. Voss’ men sorely missed Harry alongside Charlie, but they still need to make improvements to the quality of their entries, which leave more than a bit to be desired at times. They were also -28 for uncontested possessions as the Dogs were able to get off-leash a few too many times.
ESSENDON
Well that’s the best way to move the media bus away from outside your club’s headquarters. That was a gritty 12-point win from Essendon, running over the top of Port Adelaide in the final term as they showed off eye-catching workrate on the outside and strength at the coalface. After trailing for the best part of three quarters, and slipping 11 points behind early in the final term, Essendon exploded into life, kicking the final four goals to win.
IN THE VOTES
Zach Merrett led from the front again with 34 disposals and Xavier Duursma was instrumental against his old side, especially in the decisive last quarter, as he recorded a career-best 29 touches and 11 contested possessions. Jade Gresham also played one of his best games for the club with 20 touches, seven tackles and a goal. Mason Redman was pinpoint with hid disposal off half-back, Sam Durham was dogged at the contest and Dylan Shiel thrived as he returned to the midfield to finish with 25 touches. Meanwhile, coach Brad Scott was full of praise for his key defenders in Ben McKay, Zach Reid and Jordan Ridley, who helped restrict the Power to 8.12.
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
The inaccurate Bombers (9.18) were at risk of kicking themselves out of the game for most of the night. They made a strong start to the game, thanks to some ferocious pressure that was sorely lacking last week, but they could only manage 2.5 in the opening term. Then at the start of the third term, they recorded 10 of the first 13 inside 50s but failed to translate that dominance onto the scoreboard. The Dons had five of the last seven scoring shots for the quarter, but could only manage 1.4 as their method of forward delivery left a lot to be desired. Individually, Andrew McGrath was quieter than usual, finishing with nine disposals and one tackle from 81 per cent game time.
FREMANTLE
Hey, it wasn’t the perfect 10/10 performance that took the competition by storm, but the Dockers banked another Western Derby win to their name on Sunday night. Longmuir’s side was rocked by a pair of late changes an hour before the bounce, with Jaeger O’Meara (illness) and Corey Wagner (injured), but it ultimately didn’t affect the result. Their win saves the purple haze from falling to their worst start in half a decade, and keeps their head above water for this week heading into a crucial clash with the Western Bulldogs in Perth.
IN THE VOTES
Glendinning-Allan medal winner Caleb Serong (35 disposals, 17 contested possessions, 10 clearances) will unsurprisingly poll votes from this game, but is he a certainty to bank three? Far from it, as partner-in-crime Andrew Brayshaw (29 disposals, nine inside 50s, seven tackles, two goal assists, 696 metres gained) tore it up to an equal degree to fall just short of the medal itself. Jye Amiss (10 disposals, four goals) and Josh Treacy (13 disposals, three goals, three contested marks) were damaging up forward to help Fremantle kick West Coast out of the contest.
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
The Dockers trumped the Eagles in nearly every mainstream stat line there is, with only tackles (-7) and efficiency inside 50 falling in favour of the eventual losers. Again, their win was scrappy, but for now the four points is all that matters for Justin Longmuir’s side.
