The second week of Sir Douglas Nicholls Round is in the books with some big results occurring across Round 11.
We had a Saturday fun of upsets, the pressure get turned up on struggling sides and impactful moments as we continued to celebrate Indigenous culture and the impact of First Nations players on the game.
Here’s what we learned from the weekend.
Converting in front of goal has never been more important
Sunday’s game between Adelaide and Brisbane was genuinely decided by the execution of both sides in front of goal.
With the game in the balance in the third term, the Lions had 10 scoring shots (1.9) to four (3.1), ultimately losing the quarter by two points due to their woeful kicking.
With the final scores 14.11 (95) def 10.18 (78) the Lions would have been disappointed to have more scoring shots but never really challenge late in the piece.
It wasn’t even just that game though, quite stunningly three other matchups saw the winners have fewer scoring shots than the losers with Melbourne kicking 10.12 to Fremantle’s 12.7, Geelong kicking 10.13 to GWS’ 12.9 and the Bulldogs kicking 11.11 to Gold Coast’s 13.6.
Then we had Friday’s debacle at the SCG with Carlton shooting themselves in the foot in their loss to Sydney by kicking 6.15 to 11.11, and the Swans only really bridged a margin late.
With the competition so even, sides must kick straight or even get close to it if they’re not to lose games they should.
Who knows how to fix it, but you can be sure several clubs will take a close look at it this week.
2023 looks destined to be another wasted year at Ikon Park
After entering the season with such high hopes, Carlton seemingly have gone backwards in 2023.
Against Sydney at the SCG on Friday, all of Carlton’s woes came to the fore with goalkicking again costing the side in a game they had enough control of to win if circumstances played out differently.
The thing is though, for the Blues, they’re built to win now. Most of their stars are in their prime and their salary cap is at a stage where it’ll be difficult to bring in any recognised talent from rival clubs.
There’s no doubt this side’s window isn’t close to finished, but they’d want to be competing during it before it naturally evades them.
They’d need to seriously turn things around in the next few weeks if this season isn’t lost on them.
They won’t get many more chances with a primed list going forward to make something of it.
We’ve said it for a couple of weeks, but it’s almost last chance saloon on Friday against Melbourne at the MCG.
The Luke Jackson trade is paying off for Freo
Fremantle were criticised early in the season for giving up so much in a trade for Luke Jackson, but they’ll be feeling pretty good about their decision now.
Up against his old club on Saturday, Jackson was absolutely enormous to lead his side to victory … all while ruck partner Sean Darcy went down with a hamstring injury.
Forced to play in his preferred position at the stoppage against the two-headed monster of Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn, Jackson helped himself to 19 disposals, one goal, 15 whiteouts and eight clearances
It’s a performance that probably gets him three votes come Brownlow night and genuinely gives the Dockers belief that they can return to September now that they hold a 6-5 record.
A special performance from a special young player.
Geelong’s premiership defence may already be over
It sounds ridiculous to say, but Geelong’s premiership defence may already be over after 11 rounds.
There’s a world where the Cats rally from here to return up the ladder and contend for a premiership, but they’re dangerously close to being too far behind to even mount that charge.
Holding a 5-6 record following their loss at home to GWS, Geelong can probably only afford one more loss if they’re to finish top-four, and we all know how difficult it is to win it all without the double-chance.
While if any side was to do it you wouldn’t doubt the Cats, they’ll need to turn around their form to even make the eight at this stage.
Taking a look at their fixture, they’ve probably already gone through their easier section of the draw and with the Dogs, Power, Dees and Swans ahead in the next month, the Cats would want to go unblemished through that slate if they’re to stamp themselves as premiership threats again.
They climbed the mountain in 2022, but have they fallen off the cliff on the other side in 2023?
We’ll well and truly know in the coming weeks.
Matt Rowell is becoming the player that showed so much promise in 2020
After bursting out of the blocks in his first few games at AFL-level, former number one pick Matt Rowell endured good but not great campaigns in 2021 and 2022 as he battled with injury.
One of the key knocks on the Sun was his inability to spread from the stoppage as he become somewhat of a clearance specialist, but we’re starting to see him expand his game again in 2023.
Rowell probably earned the three votes in a potential season-defining win over the Bulldogs in Darwin on Saturday with all of his best assets coming to the fore as he collected 29 disposals, one goal and 16 clearances.
His third quarter where he had seven clearances helped bridge enough of a gap for the Suns to win, and he’s now beginning to match his best mate Noah Anderson as a genuine future superstar of the competition.
Already perhaps the game’s best inside bull aged 21, it’s scary to think what Rowell can become if he continues to add strings to his bow from here.
Jordan De Goey looks set to earn a maiden All-Australian blazer in 2023
Collingwood gun Jordan De Goey has long been one of the Magpies’ most dangerous players but he’s finally matched his output with consistency.
Already having a career-best year, De Goey’s best performance so far came on Sunday against North Melbourne as he collected an equal-career-high 35 disposals to go with five clearances and a goal.
While Nick Daicos has rightly earned plenty of attention and also starred on Sunday, De Goey’s season isn’t far off the young gun’s campaign.
After having two best-afields from three finals in 2022, De Goey could easily have four three-vote Brownlow efforts from 11 games this season and should pick up votes in other appearances.
While it might not result in taking home Charlie, at this rate he’ll almost certainly be an All-Australian, and that could be alongside the likes of his captain and the two Daicos boys.
He’s certainly paying Collingwood back tenfold after they committed to him with a five-year deal last off-season.