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Max Gawn’s damage poses issues for Melbourne that Brodie Grundy alone cannot remedy, whereas the distinctive abilities of Nick Daicos show tough to quantify.
Welcome to the AFL Spherical-Up, the place we digest the week that was.
Gawn however not forgotten
Max Gawn stated it finest himself — a smiling emoji with a little bit brow sweat drip, usually used to convey reduction.
There have been vital fears on Friday night time that the Melbourne captain’s season was over, with that thousand-yard stare within the change rooms completely screaming ACL.
However scans introduced excellent news for Gawn, Melbourne and anybody who loves the sport. A medial ligament pressure, possibly six weeks on the most.
And but on the proof of Friday night time, when Gawn’s early exit created holes within the Demons’ armoury they had been merely unable to patch, it is nonetheless an absence that can be closely felt.
The apparent response is to have a look at the low season acquisition of Brodie Grundy as a prophetic masterstroke, permitting Melbourne to interchange one champion ruck with one other with out lacking a beat.
However the entire purpose ‘Gawndy’ was an opportunity of working within the first place is as a result of Gawn and Grundy are two very completely different gamers. There are issues Gawn can try this Grundy merely cannot, and vice versa.
Grundy has shone brightest when the ball has hit the deck and is launched into open play, when he is ready to play as a large midfielder, like a modern-day Dean Cox.
Gawn’s best weapons have been his ability as a faucet ruckman and his potential to learn the play and grow to be an impenetrable aerial presence behind the ball, form of like a modern-day Dean Cox.
The purpose right here is not simply that Dean Cox is among the 10 finest footballers of this century, however that the Gawn void will not merely be crammed by a plug-and-play Grundy. They’re going to have to make structural shifts, lest their midfield get belted and their defence overwhelmed because it was by Brisbane.
How the Demons adapt can be fascinating to observe.
How do you assess Nick Daicos?
I promise we can’t spend each week in right here fawning over Collingwood, however it’s fairly rattling arduous to not proper now.
And proper on the coronary heart of every little thing particular in regards to the Magpies is one very gifted teenager, who’s shortly exceeding even the loftiest exterior expectations.
Nick Daicos is really distinctive. It’s exceptionally completely different to pinpoint one other participant, previous or current, whose model and impression will be thought-about an correct comparability.
After some time, the one title that makes any sense is Gary Ablett Jr. You then swiftly admonish your self for evaluating a 19-year-old to arguably the best participant of all time.
Nevertheless it’s not absurd. There was a contested ingredient to peak-GAJ’s sport that Daicos clearly hasn’t developed into but, however few others have been in a position to management a sport from any place on the bottom just like the younger Pie.
His poise, imaginative and prescient and creativity set him aside. There are lots who can accumulate the footy like Daicos, however solely a tiny handful who’re as dedicated to creating each possession as damaging as doable.
He sees kicks others cannot, and nearly at all times pulls them off. He is aware of when to hurry the play up and when to keep up management. You’re feeling he might place all 36 gamers on the sphere at any given second in a sport, and immediately can put the items of the puzzle collectively.
Most of these aren’t attributes that instantly catch the attention in the identical means as electrical pace or bulldozing power, and because of this doubters will at all times query simply how impactful he’s.
Do not be a type of folks. Take pleasure in watching a very distinctive expertise, and hope he has a uncommon off time without work when your crew performs Collingwood.
Again to the teaching future
A Ross Lyon crew grinding its opposition right down to a blunt nub, whereas an Alastair Clarkson crew goes on the highway for a spirited and gutsy away win? Appears like a normal Saturday night time in 2013.
That nostalgic feeling was palpable on a night that proved as a lot as footy adjustments 12 months on 12 months, some issues will at all times stay true.
Lyon is aware of find out how to arrange a crew defensively. He at all times has and at all times will. St Kilda rendered the Western Bulldogs completely impotent, the identical means they’d Fremantle final week.
From that dependable bedrock can a Lyon crew develop, and that is the place the true pleasure in these Saints will be discovered. A cobbled-together ahead line constructed round Zaine Cordy, draftee Matteas Philliou and the unknown Anthony Caminiti is one way or the other working.
Nevertheless it’s all constructed on the Lyonist defensive rules that we all know and love. With Essendon and Gold Coast up subsequent, the Saints might quickly discover themselves with a big platform to launch from, even with out Jack Steele.
After which there’s North Melbourne, in a state of subdued delirium after the membership’s finest fortnight in years.
The Sirengate 2.0 controversy considerably overshadowed the actual fact North had been clearly the higher crew towards the Dockers, and actually should have received by greater than the solitary level.
Clarkson is conserving issues easy for now. The Roos are successful contests, making use of strain and trusting their very own skills. After all it does not harm that Luke Davies-Uniacke is in Brownlow kind, or that Harry Sheezel is enjoying as if he 200 AFL video games below his belt as an alternative of two.
North Melbourne’s ceiling is not as excessive as St Kilda’s, however it’s all relative. Each golf equipment can clearly see a future now, one that will not have been so clearly seen six months in the past.
Across the grounds
Michael Voss conceded Carlton’s win over Geelong might but show to be a landmark second for the crew. As a lot as they’d have most well-liked a chill final quarter, letting it get shut after which discovering a solution to maintain on will do them some good in the long term.
You might not have observed, however the Swans are completely obliterating groups proper now. You may be content material to write down off the Suns and Hawks, however be careful after they do it to Melbourne subsequent Sunday arvo.
Richmond will play Collingwood on the MCG subsequent Friday night time in entrance of a crowd of roughly a million folks. The Tigers aren’t fairly operating on all cylinders but, however their finest will give the Pies one thing to noticeably take into consideration. Cancel your plans.
Essendon-Gold Coast was a little bit Sunday arvo deal with of surprisingly prime quality. The actual fact each golf equipment seem like making up these “not fairly in finals rivalry, however technically in finals rivalry” locations reveals how robust the league is lately.
It shapes as a tough 12 months for West Coast, however its mission assertion is evident — compete strongly, particularly at dwelling, and see some promise from the likes of Reuben Ginbey, Elijah Hewett and Noah Lengthy. Mission achieved in spherical two.
Within the clubhouse
Right here we take inventory of who’s main the race for the season’s particular person awards.
It got here as a shock to no person that Sheezel was the spherical one rising star, and one other stand out show towards Freo means he stays the frontrunner.
However Will Ashcroft ought to get his nom this week (forward of Phillipou), and also you get the sensation that can be a race that would come right down to the latter phases of the season. The 2022 draft class is already making fairly an impression on the AFL.
Tom Papley will get our nod for mark of the week.
Papley will get further factors for being visibly satisfied along with his efforts, however Harry Himmelberg stays the MOTY chief.
And Corey Durdin takes purpose of the week honours for this effort, though we nonetheless have Chad Wingard’s spherical one wizardry in entrance general.
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