The AFL Report Card: A Deep Dive into the Weekend's Action
The AFL weekend was a rollercoaster of emotions, with some teams soaring to new heights and others hitting rock bottom. Here's a deep dive into the action, with a focus on the key takeaways and insights.
Adelaide Crows: A Dominant Display
Adelaide's first-term performance was nothing short of breathtaking. They set the tone for their 57-point demolition of the Western Bulldogs, with nine goals in the opening term. Jordan Dawson was in the form of his life, registering the third-highest-rated quarter on record. His 32 disposals, 17 contested possessions, and three goals were a testament to his all-around brilliance. The Crows' quarter-time score of 9.2 (56) was the equal-second biggest in club history, showcasing their ability to dominate from the get-go.
Brisbane Lions: A Step in the Right Direction
The Lions made it two consecutive wins with a 35-point triumph over Richmond. Chris Fagan's men dominated the third quarter, piling on seven goals to put the result beyond doubt. Will Ashcroft had a standout day in Hobart, with one of his two majors a Goal of the Year contender. The Lions' ability to break the game open in the second half was a positive sign, but they still have room for improvement, particularly in defensive transition.
Carlton: A Bye Day
Carlton had the bye, giving them a chance to rest and regroup. The team will look to bounce back in the upcoming rounds.
Collingwood: A Bye Day
Collingwood also had the bye, providing an opportunity for the team to focus on strategy and preparation.
Essendon: A Slow Start, A Late Revival
Essendon suffered a 45-point loss to Melbourne, with a slow start costing them dearly. The young and inexperienced Dons showed glimpses of promise in the third term, but they ran out of steam in the last quarter. The team's lack of polish and fundamentals was evident, with coach Dean Solomon highlighting the need for improvement.
Fremantle: A Bye Day
Fremantle had the bye, allowing them to rest and prepare for the upcoming challenges.
Geelong Cats: A Comprehensive Win
Geelong registered a comprehensive 45-point win over Gold Coast, showcasing their ability to dominate from start to finish. The Cats' 'Dash Brothers' team, Max Holmes and Bailey Smith, had a devastating double act, with more disposals and metres gained than any other Cat on the field. Chris Scott's side was particularly impressive in the ruck, with Sam De Koning and Mitch Edwards assisting their midfielders.
Gold Coast Suns: A Star-Studded Midfield
The Suns had more of the ball and dominated uncontested possessions, but they lacked punch and efficiency forward of centre. Damien Hardwick post-game lamented his side's inability to take opportunities and poor kicking at goal. The star-studded midfield, including Christian Petracca, was well-held by the Cats, with the Suns struggling at stoppage.
GWS Giants: A Rollercoaster 2026
The Giants' rollercoaster 2026 continued in Melbourne, with their orange tsunami game style failing to appear. The team struggled to punish their defensive end in the first two terms, with the first GWS goal coming in the third term. The eight-point loss brings GWS crashing back to reality, with coach Leon King praising Clayton Oliver's efforts.
Hawthorn: A Dominant Display
Hawthorn dominated most statistical categories, finishing +53 disposals, +22 inside-50s, +9 clearances, +32 contested possessions, +11 marks, and +8 tackles inside-50. Max Gawn was the game's highest-rated player, showcasing his brilliance. The Demons' accuracy was a concern, kicking 13.17 in conditions that weren't ideal.
North Melbourne: A One-Point Thriller
North Melbourne snagged a one-point thriller in Perth, ensuring the club's decision to sell games to the WA government wasn't a fail in 2026. The Roos' forwards took 14 marks inside 50, despite having just 44 entries. Harry Sheezel dominated with 33 touches, and Jack Darling had his best outing for North with four goals.
Port Adelaide: A Close Call
Port Adelaide continued to do a lot of things right, yet came up agonisingly short once again on Saturday night. The Power generated nine more inside-50 entries than the Swans, but Sydney's guns lifted in the final quarter. The Swans had the edge for contested and uncontested possessions, with Port's 56 entries six more than its season average.
Richmond: A Third-Quarter Swing
Richmond flashed some strengths that we're not used to seeing, with Yze's charges able to get out the back of Brisbane's defence and transition into the forward half with relative ease. The Tigers' improvement in the turnover game was notable, with 17 tackles inside 50 to cause front-half turnovers. Tim Taranto led from the front, finishing as the game's highest-rated player.
St Kilda: A Favourable Run Home
St Kilda is continuing to bank wins against sides outside of the top eight in 2026. With a fixture that sees the team anchored in Victoria for the remainder of the season, it's looking like a favourable run home for Ross Lyon's men. The Saints got to work when the ball hit the deck, racking up +26 tackles to ramp up the pressure.
Sydney Swans: A Tense Last Quarter
The Swans' stars got them over the line in a tense last quarter, after trailing by nine points at three-quarter-time. Chad Warner, Isaac Heeney, and Brodie Grundy stepped up when required, as Sydney held on for a three-point win. The Swans' ability to counteract Sydney's ball movement will be a focus for rivals.
West Coast Eagles: A Set-Shot Miss
The Eagles would have been hoping for the 2024 Jake Waterman, but instead, it was the 2026 Waterman who struggled with his accuracy. The team's 44% efficiency inside 50 didn't help their cause, while they laid just 46 tackles for the entire match.
Western Bulldogs: A Middling Brand Exposed
The Western Bulldogs' middling brand was exposed on Thursday night, with multiple Fox Footy commentators left doubting their finals credentials. The Dogs were demolished by the rampant Crows, who booted nine first-quarter goals. The Dogs couldn't match the Crows' intensity and competitiveness, losing contested possessions by -20. The scoreline left pundits questioning the team's overall profile and depth.
