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          AFL Round 5 stocks up, stocks down: Lion king returns, Saint's horror year continues

          • ESPN staffApr 18, 2021, 08:40 PM

          Our footy experts cast their eye over the week's action to find out whose stocks are up -- whether it's a coaching masterstroke or a player having a blinder -- and whose are down. Every club features, so jump ahead to your team below (desktop only).

          Crows | Lions | Blues | Magpies | Bombers | Dockers | Cats | Suns | Giants | Hawks | Demons | Roos | Power | Tigers | Saints | Swans | Eagles | Bulldogs

          Adelaide

          Stocks up: Key backman Tom Doedee continues to have a solid start to 2021, and is one of a few Crows who can hold their heads high after their loss to Freo at home on Sunday. Doedee is calm with ball in hand, desperate without (his smothering work has been sublime) and is surely firming as the Crows' next skipper.

          Stocks down: From glorious highs one week, back down to earth the next, Shane McAdam had a day to forget. He kicked one goal and had just four touches on the day from 75 percent game time. We're going to need to see much more for his stocks to rise.

          Brisbane

          Stocks up: Brisbane looked close to its best on Saturday night, after a relatively disappointing start to the season. Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale was a huge part of the wet weather onslaught, picking up 38 disposals and booting two majors in the Lions' 57-point win.

          Stocks down: Jarrod Berry really can't take a trick. The young Lion returned from injury but was once again back on the pine, funnily enough being replaced by his brother and medical sub Tom, after suffering an Adductor injury in the first half.

          Carlton

          Stocks up: It's not the first time his stocks have increased, and we're betting not the last, but Sam Walsh continues to go from strength to strength. He had another 29 touches on the weekend (now averaging 30 a game in 2021) and kicked a goal, which was just about the only knock on his year so far. Easily Carlton's most consistent player.

          Stocks down: The Blues were never really in the game against the Power but it could have been a different story had their forward 50 disposal efficiency been better. Carlton had nine more inside 50s and the same amount of shots at goal, yet still lost by 28 points. Go figure...

          Collingwood

          Stocks up: The Pies are vulnerable at the moment and their fans are on edge about what the rest of their season holds, but they also got a glimpse of the future with Finlay Macrae making his debut. The skillful midfielder, and brother of Bulldogs star Jackson, collected 12 of his 18 disposals in the final quarter and never dropped his head in a tough night for the black and white army.

          Stocks down: When you're fighting tooth and nail for a place at senior level, you really can't afford to throw your spot away. That's exactly what Mark Keane did by tripping West Coast's Josh Kennedy, an action which earned him a one-week suspension.

          Essendon

          Stocks up: We asked him to lift last week and he certainly did. Full credit to Andrew McGrath who bounced back from a shocker with an impressive 30 disposal, 12 tackle night. It's just a shame many of his teammates didn't match his level.

          Stocks down: Jordan Ridley is perhaps Essendon's most important player right now, so it was a huge blow to see the star defender subbed out of the game early with concussion. He will now miss next week's Anzac Day clash against Collingwood.

          Fremantle

          Stocks up: There has been much talk about the wild inconsistency of the two WA-based clubs, but full credit to the Dockers for their effort on the road against the rejuvinated Crows. Justin Longmuir's side earned its first win in Adelaide in eight attempts, and first win away from Perth since Round 17 last year. Let's see more of this, please.

          Stocks down: Clubs had been circling for gun Dockers midfielder Adam Cerra, and now the youngster could be set for some time on the sidelines. He was subbed out of Sunday's game against Adelaide with a suspected ankle injury.

          Geelong

          Stocks up: We're not sure Tom Stewart could have done much more on Sunday afternoon. The Cats defender was exceptional at picking off play. His 30 disposals included a game-high 14 intercepts and 548 metres gained.

          Stocks down: You almost wouldn't have believed it if you were told Tom Hawkins would kick just one goal against North Melbourne. Last year's Coleman Medal winner was left frustrated time and time again as he struggled to get into the game. It's not the Tomahawk we've become used to seeing in recent times.

          Gold Coast

          Stocks up: It was a dirty day for the Suns, but Brandon Ellis continues to deliver for his new club. The running midfielder was again prominent with 27 disposals (19 kicks) and 14 marks.

          Stocks down: It was shades of 'Kyle Reimers day' at Marvel Stadium with the Suns failing to register a goal until just before the half time siren. We've been patient with coach Stuart Dew but, now in his fourth year at the helm, there must be some queries about whether he's the man to help the Suns take the next step.

          GWS

          Stocks up: There's been plenty of criticism of Josh Kelly in recent times but his match-winner against Sydney, with just one minute left on the clock, will live long in Giants history. The gather, the poise, the finish - just beautiful.

          Stocks down: He's a freak talent, one of the most watchable players in the competition, and had his stocks rise significantly in the first month of the season, but Toby Greene should spend the week practicing his goalkicking, after a horribly inaccurate evening in front of the big sticks. He kicked a wasteful 1.7 in the win over the Swans. Lucky his misses weren't too costly!

          Hawthorn

          Stocks up: Dropped after Round 2, Ollie Hanrahan made his way back into the Hawks' side on Sunday and impressed with two important first-quarter goals and 14 touches. If he can bring a touch more consistency and pressure around the ball, he could be a very handy small forward for years to come.

          Stocks down: When Dylan Moore kicked a goal just 15 seconds into the last term to get Hawthorn within a kick, things got interesting. But the Hawks' midfield disappeared straight after. Melbourne were allowed to do as they pleased with no pressure put on them, and it's little wonder they booted eight of the last nine goals. James Worpel's two fourth quarter touches was simply not good enough.

          Melbourne

          Stocks up: That's what we're after, Tom McDonald! A game-high 10 marks, 22 disposals, two goals and three goal assists against the Hawks was just about his best game for the Dees since 2018.

          Stocks down: It's a bit of an elephant in the room, but just eight touches and one tackle for Nathan Jones from 70 percent game time is easy to ignore when you're winning... Can you drop a man on the cusp of the 300 club?

          North Melbourne

          Stocks up: Ben Cunnington has been criminally underrated for years, and once again he showed his value, almost single-handedly keeping the Roos in Sunday's game against Geelong. He tallied 29 disposals, seven clearances and a great goal down at GMHBA Stadium.

          Stocks down: North were well and truly in the game and a few more contributions would have gone a long way. Someone who failed to have any impact was Bailey Scott. Just six touches and one tackle is nowhere near good enough for a midfielder.

          Port Adelaide

          Stocks up: Everyone will praise Ollie Wines and Travis Boak, but Karl Amon showed why he is an integral part of the Power lineup. He worked his backside off against the Blues, to finish the day with 28 disposals, a goal and a game-high 647 metres gained.

          Stocks down: After Round 4, the last thing Port needed was more injuries. Unfortunately, they lost Dan Houston early, while Hamish Hartlett was almost split in half after being crunched in a marking duel with Blues big man Harry McKay.

          Richmond

          Stocks up: It's easy to be drawn to the superstars at Tigerland but some of the lesser names starred against St Kilda. Shai Bolton and Jack Graham combined for 46 disposals, 12 clearances, 15 tackles and four goals. Impressive stuff.

          Stocks down: He's the best player in the competition, but Dustin Martin's disposal left a lot to be desired on Thursday night. The star Tiger tallied a game-high 34 disposals, yet 17 of them were ineffective! Tidy it up, Dusty!

          St Kilda

          Stocks up: He faded out of the game as the Tigers took control, but Max King proved a nightmare for the reigning champions early on. The young key forward was clunking everything in his area, now if he could just tidy up his set shot kicking, his stocks would be soaring.

          Stocks down: Brett Ratten said he won't be dropped but Brad Hill certainly didn't do anything to retain his spot in the side. Hill was the lowest ranked player on the ground on Thursday night, finishing with just seven kicks and failing to lay a single tackle. Has he been a bust? We're starting to think so.

          Sydney

          Stocks up: From preseason, when his stocks were down and not many expected him to have an impact in 2021, to kicking five against the cross-town rival in Round 5, Lance Franklin must surely be a sneaky chance to make it to 1000 goals ... this year?! Big Bud's in fine form, and you just know his teammates will look after him if he gets close towards the end of the season.

          Stocks down: GWS should never have been allowed to win that match, and strategy coach Don Pyke and defensive coach Ben Mathews should come under some scrutiny for what happened in the dying seconds. Giant Josh Kelly was allowed open space, was not marked, and had no pressure on his left boot when he snapped the winner.

          West Coast

          Stocks up: The exciting Oscar Allen booted a career-high five goals against Collingwood on Friday night, and we feel like this is the first of many big hauls to come for the 22-year-old.

          Stocks down: The last thing Eagles fans would have wanted to see in a big bounce back win is injuries, and a late, ugly head clash between Tom Cole and Josh Rotham certainly would have put hearts in the mouths of the Optus Stadium crowd. The sickening collision could mean the duo miss the next 12 days, if of course they are deemed concussed.

          Western Bulldogs

          Stocks up: If it's not the Bont, and it's not Jack Macrae, and it's not Adam Treloar ... you see where this is going, right? This week, Josh Dunkley was outstanding for the Dogs and his stocks rise sharply. He had 38 touches and kicked two goals (including one which seemed to defy physics!) against the Suns. Make sure you catch him on the ESPN Footy Podcast on Tuesday, too!

          Stocks down: The Bulldogs were on track for a MONSTER win on Saturday, but the killer instinct -- which was on display against North Melbourne -- seemed to disappear. Instead, they allowed the Suns back into the game. Luke Beveridge won't be too impressed.