Our experts debate all the hot topics and burning questions ahead of Round 13.
Should GWS hold off re-signing Leon Cameron?
Niall Seewang: Yes they should, although Cameron and the Giants apparently have an in-principle agreement on a new deal for at least next year. If that wasn't the case, Cameron would be on thin ice and for good reason - the Giants have tumbled outside of the top eight after possibly the worst effort of any team this year and look completely disjointed and impotent. If I was in charge of GWS, I'd definitely be holding fire on committing to Cameron for the time being.
Jake Michaels: The Giants would be crazy to extend Cameron's contract. He's been at the helm since 2014 and despite all the talent and hype, has a win rate of just 56.29 percent. If GWS are serious about winning a premiership in the near future, it might be time to cut ties with Cameron and look elsewhere for a head coach who can extract more out of the playing group. If they just want to make up the numbers and continue to underperform, then go ahead and extend his contract.
Matt Walsh: I think Jake makes a good point that Cameron has been there for a long time, and if the Giants miss the finals this year, perhaps it's in the best interest of both parties to cut ties. Sometimes it's just for the best. It's obviously a tough environment for football departments, but if Cameron was to become available as an assistant, I'm sure a number of clubs would be interested in his input.
Jesse Robinson: Coaches generally get turned against very quickly so let's be patient here. Cameron has been around a while, but he is one of the two coaches who made a Grand Final just last season. At times, it feels like there is a want for the Giants to fail given they aren't a 'traditional' AFL club, but who is better suited to lead them right now? Go with what you know and keep building.
Should Adelaide be awarded a priority pick?
NS: No. It seems crazy to dismiss any thought of a priority pick for a team that may well go winless, but the AFL has in recent years only offered priority picks for teams that struggle for competitiveness for a number of years. Let's not forget, the Crows' past three finishing positions have been 11th, 12th and second. Maybe if they're in a similar position at the end of 2021 it might be an option, but not this year.
JM: Absolutely not! In order to receive a priority pick, a club has to be a basket case for more than one compressed season. The Crows have certainly been dire in 2020 but a lot of their poor form stems from the many off field issues which they are solely responsible for. They should be content with the No. 1 pick they will receive in this draft for finishing on the bottom of the ladder, and we'll revisit a priority pick in 2022 if things still haven't improved.
MW: This team was the favourite heading into a Grand Final less than three years ago. No.
JR: We're in agreement here. They've got plenty of games to lose before we consider this.
What's Essendon's biggest problem?
NS: I find the frenzied debate about Essendon's so-called crisis a bit strange, considering they sit 11th (and with a game in hand). Did anyone seriously expect them to be challenging for a flag? Yes, they've underperformed this year and haven't tasted victory in a month but I don't think it's panic stations yet. Their biggest problem in my opinion is a lack of star power through the midfield - Merrett, Shiel, McGrath, Heppell and Parish are all good-to-very good players, but there's no A-grader capable of taking over games.
JM: I share Niall's opinion here, Essendon's biggest issue is a lack of talent. Zach Merrett is their best player and I'm still not 100 percent sure he should be regarded as an A-grader. Is there another team in the competition which has zero A-grade players on their list? I don't think so. The Bombers are carrying far too much C and D-grade baggage and must replenish with some quality - it's as simple as that.
MW: I'll answer Niall's question with a 'yes, they should be challenging for a flag'. Every year for the last three years, at least once has John Worsfold called for, and I quote "patience" about this team, but when is enough enough? Their list is good enough to contend (despite Jake's opinion of having no A-grade talent), but for me the biggest issue is a coaching succession plan. Why? So many messages from many different people - Worsfold, Ben Rutten, Blake Caracella. Sort out the lines of communication. Get Rutten to take over now. Why the hold up?
JR: The short answer is we don't really know but it feels like the recruitment/list management side of things needs a shake-up. They have brought in some good talent -- Dev Smith, Jake Stringer, Dylan Shiel and Adam Saad being the headliners -- but what has it really achieved? Adrian Dodoro has been managing the list for roughly 10 years, so they might need some fresh ideas in that department.
Should all punches be an automatic suspension?
NS: They definitely should be. Week after week, we watch players strike each other with closed fists with little consequence for the offender. The entire industry seems to accept the euphemistic descriptions of 'tummy taps' and 'jumper punches' and it's time the league cracked down on punching instead of letting so many players get off with fines.
JM: I love this idea. The only way the AFL is truly going to stamp out punching (in all its forms) is to rub out offenders. It's a poor look and the league will be in a much better place when this nonsense has been fully eradicated from the game. I'm all in on suspensions for punching! Oh, and while we're on the subject, umpires should be giving more free kicks against players engaging in that stupid, macho off-the-ball shoving and whacking.
MW: I hate tummy taps, I hate kidney punches, I hate fake macho acts. Tom Lynch's attempts at getting the better of Sam Collins on Monday night were dirty and a terrible look for the game. From an off-the-ball tummy tap to get space on a lead, to fake punching to get Collins to flinch, it was downright embarrassing and has tarnished his reputation. Ban him, and anyone else who punches.
No flinch 🐍 pic.twitter.com/1IgUwjpaac
— Brayden Cocks (@brayden_cocks) August 17, 2020
JR: There's never need a need to swing a fist at another player - we saw the worst of it with Andrew Gaff on Andrew Brayshaw in 2018, where it can go very wrong very quickly, and we see countless episodes of unnecessary jumper punches and behind the play rubbish every week. Stamp it out.