It was a vintage Tom Hawkins performance which helped the Cats to victory over GWS, but Chris Fagan's Lions have again squandered a golden opportunity. Here's whose stocks are up and down after this week's AFL semis.
Our footy experts, Jake Michaels, Matt Walsh, and Jarryd Barca, 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. Jump ahead to your team below (desktop only).
Lions | Cats | Giants | Bulldogs
Brisbane
Stocks up: Heartbreaking. Just heartbreaking. But Brisbane was still a chance right up until the last seconds of a pulsating clash with the Bulldogs, and one player who never gave in until that gatecrashing siren sounded was hard-running wingman Hugh McCluggage, who played an outstanding final. The 23-year-old had 28 possessions and one goal among eight score involvements as the Lions' main link between its defence and attack. McCluggage commanded the corridor game and his run, drive and ball use was an indispensable cog in Chris Fagan's frenetic game plan. It was a classy finish to the season which leaves us eager to see what the next step in his career looks like.
Stocks down: If you'd have asked any die-hard Lions fan back in 2017 if they'd take three consecutive top four finishes between 2019 and 2021, they would have jumped at that straight away. But you can't help but think this era has been a waste for the Lions, who have been done in 'straight sets' twice in those three years. That's a 1-5 finals record for Chris Fagan's men in that time. Yes, the Dogs were a formidable semifinals opponent given they were top of the ladder barely a month ago, but good finals teams take any advantage they can. Brisbane's home record in finals over the past few years has been worrisome, and squandering the good fortune of having a 'home' Grand Final last season just adds to the pain. With Lachie Neale signalling his desire for a trade back to Fremantle, how much longer has this team got left to compete? Can Fagan squeeze any more out of this group?
Geelong
Stocks up: Having your big, bustling key forward in red hot form ahead of a preliminary final is exactly what Geelong coach Chris Scott would have been hoping for this week. Tom Hawkins was at his damaging best against the Giants, kicking five goals, taking eight marks and picking up 19 disposals as the Cats booked their place in the last four ... yet again. The last time Geelong played GWS, Hawkins was well beaten by Sam Taylor, but the Tomahawk squared the ledger this time around with a dominant display which will have surely left Melbourne defensive duo Steven May and Jake Lever a little nervous. His partner in crime, Jeremy Cameron, was also quite handy with two goals and nine score involvements against his former side.
Stocks down: The Cats looked to have Friday night's semifinal won midway through the third term but a flurry of Giants goals to start the final quarter saw the game tighten up once again. It's the second time in three weeks Geelong has held a comfortable lead, only to take the foot off the gas and begin fading out of the game. In Round 23, the Demons stormed home, kicking the final seven goals of the game to pip them at the siren and claim the minor premiership. While the switch off didn't prove disastrous this time around, it must be a worry for Geelong supporters, because, as Melbourne proved, the top sides will make you pay.
GWS
Stocks up: Things didn't exactly go to plan for the Giants, and most of their stars were a fair way off their best against Geelong. Lachie Whitfield was the exception, playing a superb role for Leon Cameron off half back and through the midfield. Whitfield didn't just have game-highs in disposals (34) and kicks (22) but also topped the stat sheet in intercept possessions, highlighting his exceptional defensive work. Add in his team-highs of 711 metres gained and seven score involvements, and it was a complete performance from one of the competition's premier ball users. It's just a real shame he had so few mates for four quarters on Friday night...
Stocks down: Did the Giants lose this game at the selection table? This game was tough to watch from a Giants perspective; they moved the ball pretty well in the first half, only to be held goalless after one quarter, and have just three goals to their name at the main break. In the third, the Cats piled on a further five majors to the Giants' two, and the result was all but put to bed. One of the big issues? A lack of height in the forward line. With Jesse Hogan and Toby Greene (who can play tall given his outstanding contested work) both out of the side which beat the Swans, and with no notable tall replacing them, the Giants really struggled to hit targets and get convertible opportunities. In fact, the Cats and Giants both finished the match with 49 inside 50s apiece, but Geelong were able to procure 10 more scoring shots. Conor Stone (two goals) looked lively as one of the inclusions, but there was just too much work to do up the other end.
Western Bulldogs
Stocks up: As superior as he was on Saturday night, it seemed like just another night at the office for ball magnet Jack Macrae! Do we really expect anything different? Macrae had 39 disposals, 11 clearances and inside 50s, nine score involvements and a game-high 813 metres gained, outworking his opponents all over the field and showing composure when others couldn't in a cut-throat final. Perhaps the 27-year-old's most influential moment came at the beginning of the final quarter when he eased through a set shot from 40 metres out to cut the margin from 10 points to four and gave his side the crucial momentum. He was the best player on the ground, again, and put together a performance worth standing up and applauding.
Stocks down: They'll be up and about, the Doggies, but they're not without their worries. Cody Weightman was subbed out of the semifinal contest with what the medical staff listed as a 'head knock' after an accidental collision with Brisbane defender Marcus Adams just seconds before the half time siren. The Dogs will be crossing fingers and toes the AFL doesn't class the injury as a 'concussion', or a mandatory 12-day concussion protocol will be served. On precedent, the livewire forward will miss the Port Adelaide blockbuster after Magpie defenders Jordan Roughead and Nathan Murphy were also withdrawn from their Round 8 clash this season with 'head knocks' and, despite passing the necessary concussion tests, could not play the following week.