Daw-some ... Majak Daw was sensational against Western Bulldogs. Source: JOE CASTRO / AAP
Fox Sports' AFL expert Julian de Stoop reviews round seven in the AFL and discusses his likes and dislikes.
LIKES
Majak Daw
| P | W | D | L | % | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Geelong | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 121.43 | 28 |
| 2 | Essendon | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 151.47 | 24 |
| 3 | Hawthorn | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 131.16 | 24 |
| 4 | Port Adelaide | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 122.93 | 20 |
| 5 | Sydney | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 121.26 | 20 |
| 6 | Fremantle | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 114.95 | 20 |
| 7 | Richmond | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 107.86 | 16 |
| 8 | Collingwood | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 95.06 | 16 |
| 9 | Adelaide | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 119.97 | 12 |
| 10 | Carlton | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 114.36 | 12 |
| 11 | West Coast | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 112.56 | 12 |
| 12 | North Melbourne | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 109.46 | 12 |
| 13 | Gold Coast | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 98.61 | 12 |
| 14 | Brisbane | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 72.79 | 8 |
| 15 | St Kilda | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 93.47 | 4 |
| 16 | Bulldogs | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 71.10 | 4 |
| 17 | Melbourne | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 55.03 | 4 |
| 18 | Greater Western Sydney | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 57.41 | 0 |
Given their journey to the AFL and their athletic build, there’s no surprise comparisons are already being made between Majak Daw and Nick Naitanui.
Those comparisons are premature but Nic Nat certainly did have a breakout game as early in his career as Majak.
In game number four, Daw kicked six goals from 10 scoring shots to give the football world a taste of his talent.
On-field, it’s great news for Brad Scott and off field it’s a great news for the Roos. I’m sure they will be conscious of controlling the hype, but as competitive as the club has been in recent times they have lacked a bit of excitement since the glory days of the King Wayne Carey.
Daw is already a cult figure and if he keeps developing he will drag the fans through the gates.
The emergence of Daw - and to a lesser extent - Aaron Black has also taken a bit of pressure off Drew Petrie which once again is good news for the coach.
Tom Lynch
No Walker, no Tippett, no worries… well not quite, but no matter who the opposition is kicking 10 goals in an AFL game is a significant achievement.
The likes of Shaun McKernan, Josh Jenkins and Jason Porplyzia have been seen as the replacement for Walker and Tippett but maybe this is the opportunity Tom Lynch needed to finally cement his place in the game.
St Kilda selected Lynch with pick 13 in the 2008 National Draft but he could only manage just six games in three years under Ross Lyon and in his first year at Adelaide in 2012 he only managed six games as well.
One swallow doesn’t make a summer but it’s a step in the right direction for a much maligned player.
Chris Scott
Geelong are now the only undefeated team in the competition and following their 28-point win over Essendon on Friday night the Cats players - both young and old - quite rightly won all the accolades, but it’s about time the coach got some credit.
Yes, Chris Scott took over a great list from Mark Thompson but the way he has introduced more than a dozen young players and re-modeled some older ones has once again put the Cats in the frame for a premiership.
Jimmy Bartel and James Podsiadly appear to be relishing stints in defence, Steve Johnson loves being in the midfield while Harry Taylor is lethal when he drifts forward. On Friday night, his defensive partner Tom Lonergan did the same with devastating effect kicking two vitals goals.
At the other end of the scale, the Cats had 10 players with less than 50 games experience in their side on Friday night and all looked comfortable in what was an intense contest.
With seven games to come at Simonds Stadium, the Cats are on track for a top two finish and for that the coach deserves high praise.
Hawthorn Forwards
Buddy Franklin’s form was the hot topic in the build-up to the grand final re-match, but in truth, most of the Hawks' forwards have been up and down this season apart from the highly underrated Luke Breust.
But against the Swans Franklin, Jarryd Roughead, Bruest and Jack Gunston combined for 11 goals between them and with Max Bailey back in the side, David Hale chipped in for three of his own.
Credit to Roughead. His grand final performance was poor, but along with skipper Luke Hodge he was the most influential player on the ground this time.
As for Breust... he is a star.
Richmond Leaders
Richmond’s on-field leaders - in particular Jack Riewoldt and Brett Deledio - have been smashed in the past fortnight but in the absence of skipper Trent Cotchin, both stood up in a vital win over Port Adelaide.
Deledio was best on field with 32 disposals while Riewoldt set up the game in the first term kicking three of the Tigers' eight goals on his way to a bag of five.
The highly-respected Robert Walls accused Richmond’s leaders and even coach Damien Hardwick of sulking in recent weeks following losses to Fremantle and Geelong but their response against Port Adelaide minus key players Cotchin, Ty Vickery and Dylan Grimes was a sure sign this team has matured.
DISLIKES
Collingwood
Once again, a small forward got hold of them with Michael Walters kicking four goals and question marks remain hanging over their midfield’s ability to defend. The return of Luke Ball this weekend is much needed.
There also seems to be some disharmony in the ranks. Scott Pendlebury’s post Anzac Day comments about his fellow midfielder’s ‘cheating’ clearly didn’t go down well with some judging by Dale Thomas’ comments on Friday.
Thomas called for his teammates to pull their heads in during a fascinating radio interview in which Darren Jolly’s article which criticised former teammate Josh Fraser was also mentioned.
The Magpies don’t have much time to regroup. This weekend they face the Cats.
Injuries to Jonathan Griffin and Chris Knights
Just last week we pumped up the performances of Jonathan Griffen in the absence of Aaron Sandilands, but now his season is over thanks to a serious knee injury.
Chris Knights has had no luck with his body since a breakout season with the Crows in 2009 and just as he was finding his feet in the yellow and black, his right foot came out from under him resulting in a dislocated kneecap.
It was one of the more bizarre injuries you will see and unfortunately it could sidelines the talented left footer for three months.
Melbourne
On a day when new CEO Peter Jackson said no one’s job at Melbourne was safe, an insipid performance against Gold Coast was the last thing Mark Neeld needed.
Once again his future will be a hot topic of debate this week and although Neeld is contracted until the end of next season, he appears long odds to be in charge this time next year.
It’s no shock the Suns beat Melbourne but the fact the Demons managed just four goals to three quarter time is an indictment.
Colin Sylvia’s stray elbow to Jared Brennan which will see him suspended only adds salt to the wound.
Mother’s Day Footy
The AFL has given up when it comes to Mother’s Day. The fixture this year was horrible.
Just 5,830 turned up to see the Giants get slayed by the Crows and the crowd wasn’t much better for the Demons v Suns at the MCG.
Surely a big drawing twilight game which can also be used a tribute to footy mums is a better way to go?
The surprise omission of Paddy Ryder
Paddy Ryder’s non-selection for Friday night’s top of the table clash against Geelong was baffling.
Yes Scott Gumbleton has been playing well and would have been stiff to be dropped, but Ryder is one of Essendon’s most influential players and was in super form in the ruck prior to his suspension.
His absence didn’t cost Essendon victory, but on a night when their tall forwards struggled in the air, his presence would have been handy. Plus if Ryder plays, Tom Bellchambers can spend more time up forward.
Throw in one goal nine behinds in the third term and it added up to a frustrating night for Bomber fans, although their team were far from disgraced.
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