Richard Douglas starred in the absence of Bernie Vince, Andrew McLeod (both injured) and Tyson Edwards (retired) over the past month. Douglas has played the majority of his 68 games in the forward line, but the injuries, coupled with the emergence of Jared Petrenko has allowed the ball magnet to move into his preferred midfield position. The 23-year-old has averaged 28 possessions and a goal in his last four games, switching between on-ball and playing forward.
BRISBANE LIONS
Despite having to play musical chairs in defence, Michael Voss has found a great acquisition in Brent Staker. Originally drafted in the off-season to play the third tall forward role, Staker has been Mr Fix-It this season and done a marvellous job. With defenders Daniel Merrett, Josh Drummond, Jed Adcock, Ash McGrath and Matt Maguire all missing in the last month, Staker has swung back and excelled. He has played on smalls and talls and still found time for a 29-touch game in the team’s only win over Collingwood.
CARLTON
Dream Team aficionados will have noticed Andrew Carrazzo is playing an alarmingly team-oriented role lately. Gone is the half-back flanker/Dream Team champ who averaged a shade under 27 touches over the first eight games and in his place is a maddening shutdown tagger who possesses the ball about 18 times a match over the past month. His value has plummeted $64,100 since round nine, but coach Brett Ratten is more concerned with the value he brings to the side. Aaron Joseph applied the midfield tag with aplomb last season, but he is seeing more action on opposition small forwards now.
COLLINGWOOD
Ben Reid was always noted for his kicking and is using his left foot with precision. During the week, Reid can often be seen practising his long-range bombs over 50m with Pies’ defensive coach, Scott Watters. This is transferred to match day, with Collingwood showing its willingness to use Reid as a weapon when bringing the ball out of defence. Reid - who has kicked the ball more than 70 per cent of the time when he has received it over the last month - is often the preferred choice when the Pies opt to switch play.
ESSENDON
Tom Bellchambers got a game last week after David Hille went down with a hamstring and handled himself well. Mark McVeigh seems to be spending the twilight of his career curtailing small forwards, which has left the midfield open for youngsters like Jake Melksham and occasionally Travis Coyler to have a run. Leroy Jetta is the favoured small forward with Mark Williams still struggling to break in, while an injury to Angus Monfries and the return of Cale Hooker has seen Michael Hurley settle in attack.
FREMANTLE
Fremantle has comprehensively solved its biggest problem of last season - the midfield - with Michael Barlow, David Mundy and tagger Ryan Crowley now the club’s No.1 onball combination. After failing to capitalise on Aaron Sandilands’ hit-out dominance in 2009, Fremantle is this year ranked third in the AFL for scores from centre bounces (behind Geelong and the Sydney Swans). Barlow and Mundy have been the difference, and their form has allowed veterans Paul Hasleby and Matthew Pavlich to be used in more attacking roles.
GEELONG
With Brad Ottens sidelined, Tom Hawkins was going very well as a back-up to Mark Blake in the ruck, but now he’s also gone down. As a result, the Cats have turned to inexperienced big men Dawson Simpson and Trent West. Simpson was given a run against the Eagles in round 11, but picked up only three possessions. He was subsequently replaced by West, who collected just seven disposals in round 12. Geelong has continued its preference for using handballs to break down opposition zones. The Cats average 211 handballs per game (the highest in the AFL).
HAWTHORN
Even with Wayde Skipper in the side to give Brent Renouf a spell, the third man up at ruck contests continues to be an important facet of the Hawks’ game. Carl Peterson, Cyril Rioli, Luke Hodge, Shaun Burgoyne and Jordan Lewis all registered hit-outs against Adelaide with Lewis particularly effective. On two occasions late in Saturday’s game Renouf was clearly more intent on keeping Ivan Maric busy than winning the tap which allowed Lewis a clear run. His decisive taps resulted in goals to Rioli and Xavier Ellis as the Hawks bolted away with the match.
MELBOURNE
Melbourne has been playing a corridor-focused game in the past few weeks. While this has long been seen as the most direct style of football, it does mean congestion and opposition pressure can affect disposals inside 50. First-year player Tom Scully is one of the best exponents of this style of play, often gathering the ball at half-back and looking to go back into the play rather than pushing out on the wing. Coach Dean Bailey has expressed a need to occasionally play by the boundary line so a change could be coming.
NORTH MELBOURNE
A key factor in each of the Roos’ six losses has been the ease with which opposition teams have been able find free men inside their attacking 50m arc, especially after North Melbourne kick-ins. The Roos have employed an 18-man defensive zone at these kick-ins, meaning if the ball spills to an opposition forward holding his ground, a goal would almost certainly follow. This has contributed to North conceding the second most points in the competition. In the last two weeks, however, defenders Scott McMahon and Brady Rawlings have found a man to stand at centre half-back.
PORT ADELAIDE
The Power are yet to win a game, since losing veteran Warren Tredrea to a serious ankle injury in round seven. The Power have managed just 19 goals over the past three weeks and have struggled to find a consistent option up forward, with Robbie Gray, Daniel Motlop, Daniel Stewart, Justin Westhoff, Cameron Hitchcock, and Jay Schulz all spending time on the sidelines through form and fitness. Opposition teams are targeting prime movers Travis Boak, Danyle Pearce and David Rodan and denying Port Adelaide use of the corridor, which has resulted in wide and often ineffectual entries inside 50.
RICHMOND
Jake King is back in favour, but at the other end of the ground from where he started his career. He is now playing as a defensive forward, averaging over three tackles a game. The Tigers have gone with a two-talls forward line, with youngster Ben Griffiths partnering Jack Riewoldt. Griffiths has only played two matches, but the Tigers are clearly going to get some games into him. Riewoldt has been a revelation, with his one-touch marking and general ability in the air allowing the Tigers' midfield to feel confident in using the corridor as their main attacking avenue.
ST KILDA
The Saints experimented with Brendon Goddard as a key forward in the absence of Nick Riewoldt but they seem to have realised he is more valuable as a midfielder dropping back into defence. Goddard often starts in the middle where he is valuable at the stoppages, only to drop back to lend a hand to the St Kilda defence and provide the drive out of the back half. Goddard’s value in this role has become more prominent with Sam Fisher having to drop back and take the key forward in Zac Dawson’s absence.
SYDNEY SWANS
Coach Paul Roos said recently that every contest in every game matters and the stats prove him right. In each of the Swans' wins, they have dominated the contested possession count (the first four wins, plus the Essendon thriller) or, when that stat is close, edged the clearances (victories over the Brisbane Lions and Port Adelaide). Conversely, in each of their losses, the Swans were either thumped in contested possessions (26 less than Geelong, 24 less than the Bulldogs) or narrowly lost the clearances when the contested possession stats were neck and neck (the Fremantle and Hawthorn games).
WEST COAST
The Eagles have had a horror month, but it could have been much worse without stand-in captain Beau Waters. The 24-year-old has averaged 27 possessions a game in the last three weeks playing as a hard-working half-forward and a loose defender at times. Returning from long-term injury this year, Waters is significantly fitter and is able to play where required and impart his will on games. He had 33 possessions and 17 marks in an incredible round 11 performance against Geelong.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Robert Murphy made an outstanding return from a knee injury in round 12 in a defensive role he has toyed with in the past. His creativity and calmness under pressure have meant Rodney Eade might just leave him at half-back, especially with Ryan Hargrave and now Tom Williams sidelined although Easton Wood has provided another defensive option. Ryan Griffen and Adam Cooney have been important in setting up forward thrusts with a combined 116 inside 50s, while Brian Lake - either in attack or down back - has had sure hands this year and leads the league with 111 marks.
The views in this article are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
