In Round 1 of the 2024 AFL season, the Swans strengthened their premiership credentials at the expense of Collingwood, and the Suns and Giants keep rolling, but Luke Beveridge is already in peak Bevo form. Here's whose stocks are up and down.
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.
Adelaide
Stocks up: If there's anything the Crows can take away from such a disappointing Round 1 loss to the Suns, it's the barnstorming finish that meant they were inches away from snatching one of the unlikeliest of victories. Trailing by as much as 36 points in the final quarter, the Crows kicked five unanswered goals in wet, scrappy conditions to put hearts in mouths, but the comeback fell short, and Matthew Nicks' side was left to rue a slow start.
Stocks down: Speaking of the near-epic comeback, the Crows weren't without their opportunities and scrapped the ball inside 50 for one final effort in the dying seconds. The ball hung in the air and Sam Berry looked to take an uncontested mark, however he couldn't hold onto the slippery ball, meaning the Crows were denied a shot after the siren. Adelaide is now 2-9 in their last 11 interstate games dating back to the start of last season, with wins over West Coast and Hawthron (by three points in Launceston). That away record, hey?
Brisbane
Stocks up: Is it fair to say Joe Daniher has become one of Brisbane's most important players? Not just for his goalkicking, but for his ability to work up the ground effectively, present as a marking target, and then get back to goal multiple times a quarter? As a key forward, he had 20 disposals (17 kicks) for 10 score involvements and 645 metres gaines (a team high on the night). He's much more than a one-trick pony.
Stocks down: Anything to be concerned about for Brisbane's defence? Particularly the big backs? Two games in a row now they've allowed runs of eight straight goals, with key forwards doing the damage. On Sunday against the Dockers, the Lions allowed Josh Treacy to kick three majors, Jye Amiss kicked four, and Luke Jackson rested forward effectively to kick two majors as well. Not to throw the backs under the buss completely, the Lions' mids need to do a better job at running both ways -- they've been hurt on transition a lot early in season 2024. Tom Doedee can't come into this side quick enough.
Carlton
Stocks up: The legitimacy of the Blues' flag credentials continues to rise. Last week, Carlton stormed from 46 points down to beat the Lions in Brisbane. This week, their opponent, Richmond, might not have been of the same caliber, but they had made it a coin flip with five minutes to play. Michael Voss' side just keeps finding ways to win, and that's something we only really ever say about the truly elite teams.
Stocks down: A bit like a Labrador who gets too excited at times, someone needs to tell Charlie Curnow that taking a mark two metres out is a guaranteed goal - there's no need to risk or rush anything! His 2.3 on the night was almost costly as he had the chance to seal the match taking a mark on the goalline late in the fourth term, but his decision to play on, and allow Nick Vlastuin to sneak up on him ... like a librarian(!), had Carlton fans on the edge of their seats (again) in the dying seconds.
That's one of the best defensive efforts you'll ever see!#AFLBluesTigers pic.twitter.com/pASTQoN7Ig
— AFL (@AFL) March 14, 2024
Collingwood
Stocks up: This might be the year of Finlay Macrae. The Magpies have been patient with the young midfielder, and in his 13th game, came onto the ground as the sub with great effect. Thrown straight into the clinches, he had eight disposals, two centre clearances, two tackles, and a goal assist, as his side fell to Sydney by 33 points on Friday night. Having been struck down by injuries over his first few years in the AFL, the 22-year-old has big wraps on him this year -- let's hope he gets a consistent run at it.
Stocks down: New year, same Nick Daicos. The Magpies champ was best on ground for his side in their loss, amassing 37 disposals, seven score involvements, and seven clearances, but we don't want to see this kind of stuff in his game. He's so talented, and beats most players on their day -- no flopping, Nick. You're better than that.
daicos drops a chest mark then flops and gets rewarded with a free kick LMFAAOOO #AFLPiesSwans pic.twitter.com/FVS5R10qH7
— outbreezy (@outbreezyWC) March 15, 2024
Essendon
Stocks up: Was that Archie Perkins' best game as a Bomber? We think it may have been, and going by his influence after spending most of his day in the midfield (perhaps helped by the absence of Darcy Parish), we call for Brad Scott to keep him in the guts. Perkins had 27 CBAs (only Todd Goldstein had more), and kicked two goals from 24 possessions. He also had four marks, 12 tackles, eight clearances and 532 metres gained in Essendon's win over the Hawks.
Stocks down: Jake Stringer kicked four, Kyle Langford kicked three, Peter Wright kicked two, Harrison Jones kicked... zero. Sure, he wasn't helped by 61% game time (only the four substitutes had less), but the talented tall was held to just one mark and one kick from four touches at the MCG. He's capable of more, and we really need to see it.
Fremantle
Stocks up: He was All-Australian in 2023 and finished top five in the Brownlow Medal, but Caleb Serong might be even better in 2024 -- and that's scary! Serong became the first player this season to crack the 40-disposal mark, finishing with 46 as the Dockers stunned the Lions in Perth. The young Fremantle star also had 10 clearances, 21 contested possessions, and seven tackles.
Stocks down: The four points is great, but the injury carnage, especially to key position stocks, was devastating for the Dockers. Three Freo cogs were pulled from the game, Corey Warner after a sickening accidental head clash with Lincoln McCarthy, offseason recruit Oscar McDonald, who looked to injure his knee while attempting a spoil, and Brennan Cox, who similarly suffered a non-contant knee injury. Awful dampener on a great day for the Dockers.
Geelong
Stocks up: Just when you thought it might be time for the Cats and their ageing list to fall away, up steps a youngster who shows an uncanny ability to perform at the top level and remind us why this club has been so successful over the years. This time, it was emerging forward Ollie Dempsey, who was clearly one of the most influential players on the ground with his three goals from 15 disposals, seven marks, and nine score involvements a sign of what's to come from him in 2024.
Stocks down: Gryan Miers, what are you doing throwing Rowan Marshall's boot away? Whether he was just ridding the contest of a potential hazard or it was intentional misconduct -- Miers provided one of the more bizarre moments of Round 1. This wasn't your gentle lob to the side, either, this was a genuine hurl with effort!
Gryan Miers wasn't sneaky enough when he threw Rowan Marshall's boot away! 😆
— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) March 16, 2024
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Gold Coast
Stocks up: This Gold Coast midfield is on a serious mission in 2024! Just read it for yourself: Noah Anderson (35 disposals, five tackles, eight clearances and 781 metres gained), Matt Rowell (29, 10 and nine), Sam Flanders (35, four and three) and Touk Miller (29, nine and 10) were colossal in the Suns' second win of the season. There perhaps isn't a better time for this group to be going up against the star-studded Bulldogs engine room, who awaits in Round 2.
Stocks down: Is the new reality that the Suns are a genuine finals contender, and the expectation that will now follow this group around, a good thing or a bad thing? Who knows, but with the Western Bulldogs, GWS, and Sydney three of their next four opponents, we'll soon know whether or not they're the real deal.
GWS
Stocks up: Tom Green backed up his superb outing in Opening Round with a 37-possession, nine-tackle, six-clearance game against the Roos, once again dominating around the contest. Jesse Hogan also wasn't too shabby, arguably in the best early-season form of any key forward in the game. He kicked six goals to back up his four majors against the Pies. There were contributors everywhere in this team, and they continue to look like the frontrunner in 2024.
Stocks down: Well, it's fair to say the team that comes up against the Giants, each week, is going to have a very, very tough time. Clearly the flag favourites through the first fortnight. It's not particularly close.
Hawthorn
Stocks up: It was quite the revenge game from former Bomber Massimo D'Ambrosio, who impressed in his first game in the brown and gold with 29 disposals and eight score involvements. The 20-year-old used the footy well and looks right at home running off that decimated Hawthorn half-back line.
Stocks down: Using Finn Maginness as a substitute just seems a tad pointless, doesn't it? Predominantly used as a run-with player in 2023 and successfully tagging some of the game's most damaging midfielders, Maginness lacks that burst and spark that you want injected late in games. You won't be getting the best out of him starting him in that vest, and it's hard to see why it would benefit Sam Mitchell's side.
Melbourne
Stocks up: Ah, that Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver one-two punch. How the Dees have missed this. The Demon duo terrorised Luke Beveridge's Bulldogs on Sunday afternoon, combining for 64 disposals, 23 contested possessions, 21 score involvements, nine clearances, 14 inside 50s and over a kilometre of territory gained as Melbourne made amends for their Opening Round slip up.
Stocks down: Usually incredibly reliable in front of goal, Bayley Fritsch was wayward on Sunday, kicking 0.3 from his four kicks, all from pretty gettable shots. Also, we know it's too early for the ski season, so what's the excuse, Dees fans? Just 44,000 turned up to their season-opener, against another Melbourne club, at the MCG. Sure, it was warm, but there'll be people begging for warmer days once the cold nights in late July hit. Turn up and support your club!
North Melbourne
Stocks up: The Roos weren't disgraced entirely in their heavy loss to the Giants, and they have plenty of young talent to thank for that. But we must highlight the game of pick No. 2 from last year's draft and Tasmanian product Colby McKercher who is set for a serious career in this league. McKercher roamed all over the field and his class was on full display, going at 86% disposal efficiency from his 22 touches and eight marks.
Stocks down: It was tough to watch promising defender Josh Goater clutching at his lower leg late in the game. Non-contact and innocuous, it didn't initially bode well for the 20-year-old, and the Kangaroos have since confirmed a ruptured Achilles for the youngster.
Port Adelaide
Stocks up: Ivan -- that's Iv-ahn, not Eye-van -- Soldo's Port Adelaide debut was one to remember. Along with a game-high 28 hitouts, he kicked two goals himself, and had two direct goal assists. Big tick. Speaking of first games, not a bad first day out for new skipper Connor Rozee, either; his 27 disposals and two majors was notable.
Stocks down: If you didn't know the result, and we told you the Power had 40 scoring shots in their Round 1 win over West Coast, you're probably thinking it was a 100-point victory. Well, Port 'only' won by 50, but were incredibly inefficient in front of goal, kicking 16.24 (120) for the match. Jeremy Finlayson kicked 0.4, Miles Bergman and Todd Marshall both kicked 0.3, and while Charlie Dixon kicked three majors, he also missed three times. It probably wasn't going to cost them a win, but percentage is crucial in footy, and beating the 'bad' teams well is so important...
Richmond
Stocks up: It's the ultra rare back-to-back stocks up and Nick Vlastuin could not be more deserving. For the second week in succession, Vlastuin played a starring defensive role for Richmond, leading the game in intercept possessions and time and time again putting himself in the right place to snuff out Carlton's attacks. Keep it up and we're talking a maiden All-Australian blazer...
Stocks down: The playing stocks ... quite literally. It was carnage for the Tigers on Thursday night, losing Dion Prestia early to a hamstring strain and Tylar Young to concussion. But the biggest blow was losing promising key back Josh Gibcus to a season-ending ACL tear. Gutting.
St Kilda
Stocks up: It was terrific to see experienced Saint Tim Membrey back out on then field and playing good footy after going through a difficult 2023 season and playing just seven games. He's a great mark, an elite kick, and makes Ross Lyon's forward line a whole lot better, finishing with three majors against the Cats.
Stocks down: And there we have it, ladies and gentlemen, an early contender for the worst free kick of the year! We're going to put this simply, this is not a good decision and our game needs to do better to protect players who are first to the ball. Don't go in head first for the ball like Liam Stocker did, guys, you'll be penalised. Unreal.
Surely the worst decision of the season and won't be beaten? pic.twitter.com/2FYF0NCWw7
— Darren Parkin (@Darren_Parkin) March 16, 2024
Sydney
Stocks up: He didn't quite hit the heights expected of him in 2023, but Chad Warner looked every bit an A-grade midfielder as the Swans put the reigning premier to the sword on Friday night at the MCG. Warner had 27 disposals, seven clearances, 11 score involvements, and kicked three goals, but his anticipation to pick of Magpie handballs and kicks was what really caught the eye. Could be in for a monster season.
Stocks down: Sydney, still without a number of key players, cruised to the finish line against Collingwood. But, amazingly, they really should have won by a lot more. John Longmire's side was wasteful and squandered a plethora of chances, not just with poor accuracy, but with some untimely fumbles (looking at you, Jake Lloyd).
West Coast
Stocks up: We wanted to see him in the middle for the first centre bounce, and that's exactly what we got. Harley Reid's debut for West Coast was extremely solid. He finished with 16 disposals, five clearances, and four score involvements. Plenty to be very encouraged by!
Stocks down: We lauded Connor Rozee's first game as captain, but Oscar Allen's first for 2024 as co-captain with Liam Duggan didn't go so well. The key pillar was pretty well held all day, finishing with just four marks and seven kicks for 0.3 on the day. While it wasn't the difference between winning and losing, you do want your leaders to ... lead from the front. We'll back Oscar to bounce back.
Western Bulldogs
Stocks up: It's great to see Jamarra Ugle-Hagan influence games off his own boot. Still just 21 -- a baby in key forward terms -- the No. 1 pick from the 2020 draft was a big presence for the Bulldogs in their loss to Melbourne. Taking a game-high four contested marks and kicking 2.3 he could easily have finished with close to a bag with some straighter kicking. Jamarra is definitely one to watch in 2024.
Stocks down: As polarising as ever, Luke Beveridge had to face some serious questioning in his post-match press conference following his side's 45-point loss to Melbourne. Needled about why Caleb Daniel -- one of his side's best ball users -- was the sub, and why debutant Ryley Sanders -- who, after two turnovers in a row -- was suddenly subbed out halfway through the third term. Pulling Sanders wasn't a great look - almost a hark back to an old school 'dragging', but Beveridge dismissed the move as a coincidence, while he said Daniel was below a number of others in the pecking order coming into Round 1. We suspect Daniel won't be the sub again; in just more than a quarter of footy, he had 12 touches, more than eight teammates. One game in, and Bevo's pressers are as must-watch as ever.