The Lowdown: All the likes and dislikes from Round 23 in SA footy
Here are the likes and dislikes from SA footy from the weekend just gone.
DISLIKES
1. PORT'S START
It should be a celebration of what Travis Boak and Ken Hinkley have given Port Adelaide over the journey on Friday night against Gold Coast. So if you are a Power fan you'd hope, no you would expect, that Port actually turns up at the start of the match. Because on Saturday at Marvel Stadium the game was over in the first quarter after the Blues raced out of the blocks and mauled the Power. Just when the effort and intensity looked like it was back in the loss to Fremantle, the Power dished up what it has too often this year – an insipid showing.
Travis Boak and Ken Hinkley speaking after the former announced his retirement earlier this month. Picture Mark Brake
The Blues were plus 30 for points from clearance, plus 22 for contested possession and plus 12 at clearance. Josh Carr is going to have a lot to look and address and the Power's fall-off in the midfield will be very high up on that list. Yes, Port are without Jason Horne-Francis and Miles Bergman, but there was a sense among teams last year that its midfield could be vulnerable if you can really attack it. This year there would have been a sense that you can blow it out of the water.
2. CAN YOU GET AWAY WITH THAT IN FINALS?
It was a finals like game on Saturday night for the Crows, but when the actual stuff comes around can they allow a team to get a march on them like the Pies did in the first quarter? It said a lot about the character of the side that they were able to roar back into consideration and have the lead come half-time after being 25-points down at the first break. But there are teams that are a lot more potent than Collingwood going forward, so the Crows don't want to start too slowly when the stakes rise further.
LIKES
1. FINAL HURDLE OVERCOME?
Winning a tight, big game and finally getting a win over Collingwood. If anybody in the footy world didn't believe that the Crows can be a contender this year then Matthew Nicks' side answered this query in some way on Saturday night.
Riley Thilthorpe and James Peatling durign their win over the Pies. Picture:.
For all the improvement the Crows have made this year and the different ways they have found to win games, there was still a sense that they hadn't answered the longstanding knock on them that they didn't win the close games – despite single point margin wins over Port Adelaide and Brisbane this year. Especially with Collingwood winning by small margins time and time again against them. But the Crows showed that they have learnt plenty from their previous defeats in these games. And it couldn't come at a better time ahead of finals.
2. JACK HOMBSCH
Earlier on in the year this masthead asked to speak to the Crows' 32-year-old backline coach, about just how well the defence was tracking under his watch. The former GWS, Port Adelaide and Gold Coast defender was too modest to speak to us and when informed about this on Saturday night Crows gun Mark Keane said 'that sounds right'.
Mark Keane has backed the Crows' backline coach Jack Hombsch. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images.
But Hombsch is going to find it harder and harder to fly under the radar as he continues to impress early on in his coaching career. It was a heroic effort by the Crows defence under serious pressure from the Magpies on Saturday night but what was interesting was that Keane said despite having a whopping 71 inside 50s against them he and the Crows defence felt secure, especially in the second half. Nicks himself has been gushing in his praise for Hombsch, with the Crows' defence now ranked No. 1 in the comp. He's going to get more and more fans.
3. JACK WHITLOCK'S RESPONSE
There wasn't much at all to be happy about from a Port Adelaide perspective from Saturday. But in his third game Whitlock showed that he has plenty of mental fortitude. It was a tough start to the game for the key forward as he was monstered at times by the bigger Carlton bodies in the ruck, especially Harry McKay at one contest in the Blues' forward 50.
But he showed impressive mental fortitude as he bounced back to finish with three goals and be a rare shining light for the Power. This year is going to go down as an extremely poor one for Port but every one of the players that were drafted have played senior footy for the Power. It's not a lot but it's something.
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The Advertiser
30 minutes ago
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Hardwick's approach to 'two-game season' to define Suns
Damien Hardwick is treating the next week as a "two-game season" as Gold Coast attempt to scratch a 15-year AFL itch. The Suns (14-7) can lock up the club's first top-eight berth with a win against Port Adelaide in coach Ken Hinkley's final game in charge on Friday. A clash with Essendon, postponed due to a cyclone before round one, follows on Wednesday. Win both and the Suns could finish in the top four. Gold Coast have never finished higher than 12th since their 2011 AFL admission. Hardwick, lured back to coaching from a brief spell after steering Richmond to three flags, has been stressing to his players the importance of not looking too far ahead during the club's most successful campaign. A loss to GWS last weekend knocked the Suns back to ninth, and on Wednesday Hardwick took a slight departure from the script. "It's a two-game season for us," he said. "We're obviously out of the eight at the moment, looking to win both games. We know the situation we're in ... really important this week." Hinkley will finish his 13-season tenure at the Power, while three-time All Australian Travis Boak will also call time on his 19-year career. Hardwick has urged his men to "lean into it" at an Adelaide Oval venue where they are winless in 12 visits and that is sure to be pulsating. "Enormous occasion; there's going to be a lot of emotion ... a high-octane game," Hardwick said. "Ken's an incredible coach and he's a guy that I hugely admire, the way he's gone about it. "It's a shame that he hasn't quite got the the plaudits, I think, that he deserves. "Every time you play Port Adelaide, you know you're up for a hell of a fight, so I think he's done an incredible job." Suns midfielder Alex Davies had his one-game suspension downgraded to a fine, but Port star Ollie Wines wasn't as fortunate and will miss the clash. Hardwick said both Bailey Humphrey (knee) and Will Graham (hamstring) were close to returns, but would not be rushed back. But Daniel Rioli (leg) could be a vital inclusion this week, while foundation player David Swallow (knee), injured playing in the VFL a fortnight ago, is also training this week in a push to feature. The coach thought their lacklustre loss to the Giants on Saturday was a blip. "Our intensity was just well down and well off," Hardwick said. "When we showed the guys the vision (of their best football), it looked like we were playing it in fast-forward compared to what we did last week." Damien Hardwick is treating the next week as a "two-game season" as Gold Coast attempt to scratch a 15-year AFL itch. The Suns (14-7) can lock up the club's first top-eight berth with a win against Port Adelaide in coach Ken Hinkley's final game in charge on Friday. A clash with Essendon, postponed due to a cyclone before round one, follows on Wednesday. Win both and the Suns could finish in the top four. Gold Coast have never finished higher than 12th since their 2011 AFL admission. Hardwick, lured back to coaching from a brief spell after steering Richmond to three flags, has been stressing to his players the importance of not looking too far ahead during the club's most successful campaign. A loss to GWS last weekend knocked the Suns back to ninth, and on Wednesday Hardwick took a slight departure from the script. "It's a two-game season for us," he said. "We're obviously out of the eight at the moment, looking to win both games. We know the situation we're in ... really important this week." Hinkley will finish his 13-season tenure at the Power, while three-time All Australian Travis Boak will also call time on his 19-year career. Hardwick has urged his men to "lean into it" at an Adelaide Oval venue where they are winless in 12 visits and that is sure to be pulsating. "Enormous occasion; there's going to be a lot of emotion ... a high-octane game," Hardwick said. "Ken's an incredible coach and he's a guy that I hugely admire, the way he's gone about it. "It's a shame that he hasn't quite got the the plaudits, I think, that he deserves. "Every time you play Port Adelaide, you know you're up for a hell of a fight, so I think he's done an incredible job." Suns midfielder Alex Davies had his one-game suspension downgraded to a fine, but Port star Ollie Wines wasn't as fortunate and will miss the clash. Hardwick said both Bailey Humphrey (knee) and Will Graham (hamstring) were close to returns, but would not be rushed back. But Daniel Rioli (leg) could be a vital inclusion this week, while foundation player David Swallow (knee), injured playing in the VFL a fortnight ago, is also training this week in a push to feature. The coach thought their lacklustre loss to the Giants on Saturday was a blip. "Our intensity was just well down and well off," Hardwick said. "When we showed the guys the vision (of their best football), it looked like we were playing it in fast-forward compared to what we did last week." Damien Hardwick is treating the next week as a "two-game season" as Gold Coast attempt to scratch a 15-year AFL itch. The Suns (14-7) can lock up the club's first top-eight berth with a win against Port Adelaide in coach Ken Hinkley's final game in charge on Friday. A clash with Essendon, postponed due to a cyclone before round one, follows on Wednesday. Win both and the Suns could finish in the top four. Gold Coast have never finished higher than 12th since their 2011 AFL admission. Hardwick, lured back to coaching from a brief spell after steering Richmond to three flags, has been stressing to his players the importance of not looking too far ahead during the club's most successful campaign. A loss to GWS last weekend knocked the Suns back to ninth, and on Wednesday Hardwick took a slight departure from the script. "It's a two-game season for us," he said. "We're obviously out of the eight at the moment, looking to win both games. We know the situation we're in ... really important this week." Hinkley will finish his 13-season tenure at the Power, while three-time All Australian Travis Boak will also call time on his 19-year career. Hardwick has urged his men to "lean into it" at an Adelaide Oval venue where they are winless in 12 visits and that is sure to be pulsating. "Enormous occasion; there's going to be a lot of emotion ... a high-octane game," Hardwick said. "Ken's an incredible coach and he's a guy that I hugely admire, the way he's gone about it. "It's a shame that he hasn't quite got the the plaudits, I think, that he deserves. "Every time you play Port Adelaide, you know you're up for a hell of a fight, so I think he's done an incredible job." Suns midfielder Alex Davies had his one-game suspension downgraded to a fine, but Port star Ollie Wines wasn't as fortunate and will miss the clash. Hardwick said both Bailey Humphrey (knee) and Will Graham (hamstring) were close to returns, but would not be rushed back. But Daniel Rioli (leg) could be a vital inclusion this week, while foundation player David Swallow (knee), injured playing in the VFL a fortnight ago, is also training this week in a push to feature. The coach thought their lacklustre loss to the Giants on Saturday was a blip. "Our intensity was just well down and well off," Hardwick said. "When we showed the guys the vision (of their best football), it looked like we were playing it in fast-forward compared to what we did last week."
The Advertiser
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Magpies make Hill concession, Howe concussion call
Jeremy Howe will return for Collingwood's high-stakes clash with Melbourne, but coach Craig McRae concedes time is running out for Bobby Hill to feature in his side's AFL premiership push. Hill, the 2023 Norm Smith Medal winner, has made just one senior appearance in the past two months as he deals with personal issues. The 25-year-old has been absent from training this week and won't play against the Demons at the MCG on Friday night, when the Magpies can lock in a top-four berth. On Wednesday, McRae said he had dinner with Hill the previous night as he keeps tabs on the small forward's welfare. Hill asked his coach to leave the door ajar for a possible return to action in September, but appears an unlikely finals participant. "There's high performance and there's love and care, and I've just sort of left the high performance for now and I'm just making sure the young lad's OK," McRae said. "Time's running out in the season and maybe the high performance might be a bit far at the moment, but we'll just take that off the table for now. "Hopefully he can get back in the club and be happy, and then we'll see where we go from there." McRae specifically asked Hill how he should answer inevitable questions about whether he will play again at AFL level this season. "He goes, 'Please just leave a little bit of hope there for me'," McRae said. "But he's well aware that time's running out for getting enough load and then to be available. "I stepped straight back into love and care and said, 'Nah, let's just get him right day by day'." Howe has been given the green light to return from concussion, in a significant boost to Collingwood's defensive stocks. The 35-year-old was knocked out in a sickening collision with Hawthorn's Jai Newcombe in round 22 and is back after missing last week's three-point loss to ladder leaders Adelaide. "Howey will come back and his experience is important to us. I think he'll play our system really well," McRae said. Collingwood's forward-line connection wasn't up to scratch against the Crows, when the Magpies dominated the inside-50 tally (71-37) but couldn't make it count. McRae will consider recalling ruck-forward Mason Cox, with Daniel McStay potentially making way after some quiet performances. "We're working hard with Dan to get him moving and be part of our best team," McRae said. "There's a lot of work behind the scenes to work on his craft, jump at the ball well and fit into our patterns." Jeremy Howe will return for Collingwood's high-stakes clash with Melbourne, but coach Craig McRae concedes time is running out for Bobby Hill to feature in his side's AFL premiership push. Hill, the 2023 Norm Smith Medal winner, has made just one senior appearance in the past two months as he deals with personal issues. The 25-year-old has been absent from training this week and won't play against the Demons at the MCG on Friday night, when the Magpies can lock in a top-four berth. On Wednesday, McRae said he had dinner with Hill the previous night as he keeps tabs on the small forward's welfare. Hill asked his coach to leave the door ajar for a possible return to action in September, but appears an unlikely finals participant. "There's high performance and there's love and care, and I've just sort of left the high performance for now and I'm just making sure the young lad's OK," McRae said. "Time's running out in the season and maybe the high performance might be a bit far at the moment, but we'll just take that off the table for now. "Hopefully he can get back in the club and be happy, and then we'll see where we go from there." McRae specifically asked Hill how he should answer inevitable questions about whether he will play again at AFL level this season. "He goes, 'Please just leave a little bit of hope there for me'," McRae said. "But he's well aware that time's running out for getting enough load and then to be available. "I stepped straight back into love and care and said, 'Nah, let's just get him right day by day'." Howe has been given the green light to return from concussion, in a significant boost to Collingwood's defensive stocks. The 35-year-old was knocked out in a sickening collision with Hawthorn's Jai Newcombe in round 22 and is back after missing last week's three-point loss to ladder leaders Adelaide. "Howey will come back and his experience is important to us. I think he'll play our system really well," McRae said. Collingwood's forward-line connection wasn't up to scratch against the Crows, when the Magpies dominated the inside-50 tally (71-37) but couldn't make it count. McRae will consider recalling ruck-forward Mason Cox, with Daniel McStay potentially making way after some quiet performances. "We're working hard with Dan to get him moving and be part of our best team," McRae said. "There's a lot of work behind the scenes to work on his craft, jump at the ball well and fit into our patterns." Jeremy Howe will return for Collingwood's high-stakes clash with Melbourne, but coach Craig McRae concedes time is running out for Bobby Hill to feature in his side's AFL premiership push. Hill, the 2023 Norm Smith Medal winner, has made just one senior appearance in the past two months as he deals with personal issues. The 25-year-old has been absent from training this week and won't play against the Demons at the MCG on Friday night, when the Magpies can lock in a top-four berth. On Wednesday, McRae said he had dinner with Hill the previous night as he keeps tabs on the small forward's welfare. Hill asked his coach to leave the door ajar for a possible return to action in September, but appears an unlikely finals participant. "There's high performance and there's love and care, and I've just sort of left the high performance for now and I'm just making sure the young lad's OK," McRae said. "Time's running out in the season and maybe the high performance might be a bit far at the moment, but we'll just take that off the table for now. "Hopefully he can get back in the club and be happy, and then we'll see where we go from there." McRae specifically asked Hill how he should answer inevitable questions about whether he will play again at AFL level this season. "He goes, 'Please just leave a little bit of hope there for me'," McRae said. "But he's well aware that time's running out for getting enough load and then to be available. "I stepped straight back into love and care and said, 'Nah, let's just get him right day by day'." Howe has been given the green light to return from concussion, in a significant boost to Collingwood's defensive stocks. The 35-year-old was knocked out in a sickening collision with Hawthorn's Jai Newcombe in round 22 and is back after missing last week's three-point loss to ladder leaders Adelaide. "Howey will come back and his experience is important to us. I think he'll play our system really well," McRae said. Collingwood's forward-line connection wasn't up to scratch against the Crows, when the Magpies dominated the inside-50 tally (71-37) but couldn't make it count. McRae will consider recalling ruck-forward Mason Cox, with Daniel McStay potentially making way after some quiet performances. "We're working hard with Dan to get him moving and be part of our best team," McRae said. "There's a lot of work behind the scenes to work on his craft, jump at the ball well and fit into our patterns."
The Advertiser
31 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
Essendon's 'best case' for keeping free agent ruck
Essendon coach Brad Scott believes the "best case" has been put to keep Sam Draper, insisting the Bombers will continue to play two rucks. The 26-year-old big man is weighing up offers to join flag contenders Adelaide and the Brisbane Lions as an unrestricted free agent. The reigning premiers are seemingly positioned well to snare the South Australian-raised Draper, after the Crows recently re-signed big man Reilly O'Brien. Draper (achilles) and Nick Bryan (knee), who has recommitted to Essendon until the end of 2027, have been sidelined for the majority of this season. But before their injuries in consecutive weeks, Draper and Bryan were playing in the same team. The AFL is heading towards removing the sub rule and instead allowing five players on the bench. "They're very close (friends)," Scott said of Draper and Bryan. "The evidence at the start of the year was very clear ... they were both playing career-best football together. "We've been really clear in terms of we'd like to have that ruck partnership into the future. "The indication with changes to the sub rule only strengthens that case to play two rucks." Generally, if players haven't re-signed to their current club this late in the season it means they are likely to move in the trade period. But St Kilda star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera gave other clubs hope this week by ending months of speculation amid big offers from Adelaide and Port Adelaide to re-sign with the Saints. Essendon aren't forcing a timeline, or putting any extra pressure, upon Draper to make up his mind. "Clearly he's got a lot of interest, but I think we've presented a really strong case as to why he'll play his best football with us," Scott said. "There's an incredibly strong appetite from a lot of clubs to improve their list through trading and free agency. "Right at the moment, it feels like more than ever. "Sam knows how important he is to us, and he knows how much I, in particular, value him. "But I've made it really clear to him that he's got to come to this decision himself and do what he thinks is in the best interest of his career, and for the rest of his life." Essendon will play the first of their two round 24 games on Thursday night when they face rivals Carlton at the MCG. The injury-hit Bombers will be desperate to snap an 11-game losing streak, as heroic captain Zach Merrett plays his 250th game. Merrett's milestone was supposed to happen last Friday night against St Kilda, but a fractured hand sidelined him for a week and the Bombers suffered a two-point defeat. The 29-year-old has been declared a certain starter to face the Blues. "Nothing will stop him playing," Scott said. "I asked him if he wanted to do a test, and he said, 'no, it's not required', so he'll just be out there." After playing Carlton, Essendon will finish off their tough season on Wednesday night against the Suns on the Gold Coast. This game was supposed to happen back in March, but was postponed due to Cyclone Alfred and moved from the first weekend of the home-and-away season to the last. Essendon coach Brad Scott believes the "best case" has been put to keep Sam Draper, insisting the Bombers will continue to play two rucks. The 26-year-old big man is weighing up offers to join flag contenders Adelaide and the Brisbane Lions as an unrestricted free agent. The reigning premiers are seemingly positioned well to snare the South Australian-raised Draper, after the Crows recently re-signed big man Reilly O'Brien. Draper (achilles) and Nick Bryan (knee), who has recommitted to Essendon until the end of 2027, have been sidelined for the majority of this season. But before their injuries in consecutive weeks, Draper and Bryan were playing in the same team. The AFL is heading towards removing the sub rule and instead allowing five players on the bench. "They're very close (friends)," Scott said of Draper and Bryan. "The evidence at the start of the year was very clear ... they were both playing career-best football together. "We've been really clear in terms of we'd like to have that ruck partnership into the future. "The indication with changes to the sub rule only strengthens that case to play two rucks." Generally, if players haven't re-signed to their current club this late in the season it means they are likely to move in the trade period. But St Kilda star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera gave other clubs hope this week by ending months of speculation amid big offers from Adelaide and Port Adelaide to re-sign with the Saints. Essendon aren't forcing a timeline, or putting any extra pressure, upon Draper to make up his mind. "Clearly he's got a lot of interest, but I think we've presented a really strong case as to why he'll play his best football with us," Scott said. "There's an incredibly strong appetite from a lot of clubs to improve their list through trading and free agency. "Right at the moment, it feels like more than ever. "Sam knows how important he is to us, and he knows how much I, in particular, value him. "But I've made it really clear to him that he's got to come to this decision himself and do what he thinks is in the best interest of his career, and for the rest of his life." Essendon will play the first of their two round 24 games on Thursday night when they face rivals Carlton at the MCG. The injury-hit Bombers will be desperate to snap an 11-game losing streak, as heroic captain Zach Merrett plays his 250th game. Merrett's milestone was supposed to happen last Friday night against St Kilda, but a fractured hand sidelined him for a week and the Bombers suffered a two-point defeat. The 29-year-old has been declared a certain starter to face the Blues. "Nothing will stop him playing," Scott said. "I asked him if he wanted to do a test, and he said, 'no, it's not required', so he'll just be out there." After playing Carlton, Essendon will finish off their tough season on Wednesday night against the Suns on the Gold Coast. This game was supposed to happen back in March, but was postponed due to Cyclone Alfred and moved from the first weekend of the home-and-away season to the last. Essendon coach Brad Scott believes the "best case" has been put to keep Sam Draper, insisting the Bombers will continue to play two rucks. The 26-year-old big man is weighing up offers to join flag contenders Adelaide and the Brisbane Lions as an unrestricted free agent. The reigning premiers are seemingly positioned well to snare the South Australian-raised Draper, after the Crows recently re-signed big man Reilly O'Brien. Draper (achilles) and Nick Bryan (knee), who has recommitted to Essendon until the end of 2027, have been sidelined for the majority of this season. But before their injuries in consecutive weeks, Draper and Bryan were playing in the same team. The AFL is heading towards removing the sub rule and instead allowing five players on the bench. "They're very close (friends)," Scott said of Draper and Bryan. "The evidence at the start of the year was very clear ... they were both playing career-best football together. "We've been really clear in terms of we'd like to have that ruck partnership into the future. "The indication with changes to the sub rule only strengthens that case to play two rucks." Generally, if players haven't re-signed to their current club this late in the season it means they are likely to move in the trade period. But St Kilda star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera gave other clubs hope this week by ending months of speculation amid big offers from Adelaide and Port Adelaide to re-sign with the Saints. Essendon aren't forcing a timeline, or putting any extra pressure, upon Draper to make up his mind. "Clearly he's got a lot of interest, but I think we've presented a really strong case as to why he'll play his best football with us," Scott said. "There's an incredibly strong appetite from a lot of clubs to improve their list through trading and free agency. "Right at the moment, it feels like more than ever. "Sam knows how important he is to us, and he knows how much I, in particular, value him. "But I've made it really clear to him that he's got to come to this decision himself and do what he thinks is in the best interest of his career, and for the rest of his life." Essendon will play the first of their two round 24 games on Thursday night when they face rivals Carlton at the MCG. The injury-hit Bombers will be desperate to snap an 11-game losing streak, as heroic captain Zach Merrett plays his 250th game. Merrett's milestone was supposed to happen last Friday night against St Kilda, but a fractured hand sidelined him for a week and the Bombers suffered a two-point defeat. The 29-year-old has been declared a certain starter to face the Blues. "Nothing will stop him playing," Scott said. "I asked him if he wanted to do a test, and he said, 'no, it's not required', so he'll just be out there." After playing Carlton, Essendon will finish off their tough season on Wednesday night against the Suns on the Gold Coast. This game was supposed to happen back in March, but was postponed due to Cyclone Alfred and moved from the first weekend of the home-and-away season to the last.
