Why the supposedly ‘old and tired' Magpies are flag favourites: Key takeouts from round 12

Sydney Morning Herald

3 days ago

Gabba, Thursday night
Brisbane defeated Essendon by 18 points
Noah Answerth has become one of those lockdown defenders no forward wants to face. Last week, Answerth held dynamic Hawk Nick Watson goalless and to just four disposals (and a friendly bump when the two men left the field in the first quarter) in a win at the MCG. Hawks coach Sam Mitchell later lamented the lack of impact his small forwards had when the ball hit the turf. Answerth had another win on Thursday night, when he held Isaac Kako goalless and to 11 touches. It's the third-straight week Kako has been goalless. While Answerth has a shut-down mentality, he had 20 touches and 401 metres gained of his own.
Teammate and dual Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale described Answerth as follows: 'He is dog hungry. He is a junkyard dog, is what we call him.
'The stuff he does around the contest down back and the effort he puts in to clamping down on a dangerous forward is first class.'
So are the Lions, despite their so-so form against mid-tier teams. They led by 32 points at quarter-time against the Bombers, only to find themselves trailing early in the final term. Emerging star Nate Caddy was a pleasure to watch up forward, and did all he could to will the Bombers across the line, but the Lions did what great teams do, and that's take care of business.
With a 9-2-1 record, they - like the Magpies - could barely be better placed to launch for back-to-back flags, ahead of facing an emerging Adelaide on Friday night.
Why this is Sam Mitchell's toughest task
Friday night, MCG
Collingwood defeated Hawthorn by 51 points
Sam Mitchell has dealt with several challenges through a relatively short coaching career now in its fourth season. The unceremonious departure of four-time premiership coach Alastair Clarkson meant the focus on the untried Mitchell was fierce from day one. There was the 0-5 start last year, and the spotlight which came from that, before a stunning run to the finals. Now Mitchell faces his toughest challenge yet - going from good to great, as Brian Cook dubbed the now famous review of Geelong's operations in 2006. The Hawks have seven wins and are still strong finals contenders, so they are good, but it's taking that next step that will show where Mitchell and his team are at in their development.
Rivals have honed in on the Hawks, and are denying their outlet passes. Their ability to take the ball by hand from defensive 50 to attacking 50 has been stymied, with rival half-backs pushing up and making it tough for the Hawks to find space. Their poor tackling count recently has been well documented. Mitchell maintains skipper James Sicily is not hampered by a groin issue, but AFL great Leigh Matthews isn't so sure, declaring on 3AW that Sicily 'is having a really bad year'. Sicily had an AFL ranking of 44 last season; this year he is well into the 160s.
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The Hawks' lack of Hollywood run is impacting Dylan Moore up forward, while Matthews has also questioned whether recruit Tom Barrass is 'making them better' in defence. And is father time catching up with Jack Gunston? That the Hawks are chasing Oscar Allen and Harley Reid is a sign they know they are not yet the finished product. But Mitchell can only work with what he has got.
The Dockers and Crows are building; it's season over for the Swans
Saturday afternoon, People First Stadium
Fremantle defeated Gold Coast by 11 points
Saturday night, SCG
Adelaide defeated Sydney by 90 points
They have been a tipster's nightmare, but the Dockers and Crows have found winning momentum. The Dockers have won their past three, none better than Saturday's surprise win on the Gold Coast, and have North Melbourne immediately after their mid-season break. The Crows, meanwhile, have won four of their past five, their only loss in this period coming against Collingwood by 10 points at the MCG. Their 90-point win over Sydney on Saturday, with a whopping 88 of their points derived from turnover, was their best of the season.
There were also moments of brilliance, namely Josh Rachele's angled tap of the boot soccer pass in the centre square to Ben Keays, who capped this off with a running goal, was special. Rachele, of course, was a star junior soccer play, and he and Keays are both Manchester United fans. Keys had a superb all-round game, having emerged this year as one of the league's best defensive forwards. He booted three goals and subdued Nick Blakey (nine disposals).
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The Crows have much to boast - seven times in 12 games they have scored more than 100 points, on four occasions scoring more than 120. Only twice have they conceded more than 100 points, and three times they have only allowed 50 points or fewer.
They sit in the top three, but if they want to prove they are the real deal, they will get the job done against Brisbane at the Adelaide Oval on Friday night.
And a word about the Swans. They are in a world of pain, with five losses by 10 goals or more. That's not the Bloods culture we have come to respect and fear. Where Geelong and Collingwood briefly fell off the perch the season after a flag, the Swans - after the grand final horrors of 2022 and '24 - are now in pain. Dean Cox needs to instil a greater defensive ethos - the hallmark of the 2005 premiership side that was on hand on Saturday celebrating their 20-year reunion.
Damien Hardwick, meanwhile, has seen many great moments from Shai Bolton during their premiership years at Richmond but, on Saturday, and now as Gold Coast coach, Bolton's chase down tackle on Nick Holman with 35 seconds remaining was one he was left to rue.