In Round 3 of the 2024 AFL season, a veteran Tiger stood tall as his side upset the Swans, and Harry McKay continued his return to form, but a Brisbane forward failed to have any impact in his side's loss to Collingwood. 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: For all that is going wrong for Adelaide this season, it's great to see Irishman Mark Keane playing some good footy in defence. With no Nick Murray and Jordon Butts through injury, Keane has filled their shoes -- at least for the past couple of weeks -- but was particularly impressive against the Dockers, finishing with 26 disposals, 11 marks and eight intercepts. His inexperience means some mistakes are still being made, but he competes hard and is certainly making the most of his opportunity.
Stocks down: Much of the blame for Friday night's disappointing loss to Fremantle has to fall on the Crows forwards. Taylor Walker, Darcy Fogarty, and Josh Rachele were all held goalless by what's an undermanned Dockers defensive six and were among the lowest rated players on the ground. Adelaide's midfield gave them chances, too, but generating a shot on goal from just 31% of inside 50s (after starting hot with five scores from five entries) simply isn't good enough.
Brisbane
Stocks up: Returning from a week off with a hamstring complaint, Lachie Neale was Brisbane's best in their Thursday night loss to Collingwood. Amassing 35 disposals, 10 clearances, and a goal, Neale's second quarter in particular was other-worldly; he had 14 disposals and 19 pressure acts as he dragged his side back into the contest. He just needed more support...
Stocks down: It wasn't a great night for a few Lions, but Eric Hipwood really struggled against the Pies. His eight disposals (just one of which was inside 50) with absolutely no scoreboard impact isn't good enough for a man of his size and experience. Often fumbly, he doesn't seem to clunk 'one-grabbers' enough, especially close to goal. He needs to do better or it won't be long before he's having a spell in the twos.
Carlton
Stocks up: A confident Harry McKay is a dominant Harry McKay, and the footy public is learning this early in season 2024. McKay booted five goals against the Kangaroos on Good Friday, taking his season tally to 11 goals. He's been accurate -- kicking just two behinds -- and is clunking contested marks for fun. With McKay in this kind of form, the Blues are a totally different proposition.
Stocks down: You need to be opportunistic as a small forward, but you also need to have an impact. Corey Durdin was opportunistic, but was unsighted for most of the match, kicking two majors but from just four disposals. Picky? Yes, but with Orazio Fantasia and Jesse Motlop (when fit) circling...
Collingwood
Stocks up: When Jamie Elliott is on, he's impossible to stop. Not only because he's good on a lead and at ground level, but he's an incredibly accurate kick for goal, too. The crafty small forward was on fire for the Magpies on Easter Thursday, kicking four goals straight, including three in a super second half as the Pies finally got on the board for 2024.
Stocks down: As one of the league's most experienced players, you can't be giving out open-handed tummy punches to the opposition. That's exactly what Scott Pendlebury did on Brisbane co-captain Lachie Neale late in the third quarter. Pendlebury isn't a known aggressor, having never been suspended throughout his near-400-game career, but, boy, he would just about deserve a week out of stupidity. A fine isn't going to do anything. Stop hitting other players!
Lachie Neale received a free kick following this incident involving Scott Pendlebury.#AFLLionsPies pic.twitter.com/2rE1poEp54
— AFL (@AFL) March 28, 2024
Essendon
Stocks up: What an epic effort that was from Essendon half-back Nic Martin, who registered 44 possessions -- the equal most in club history -- to help his side win a thriller at Marvel Stadium. Martin was the mastermind behind many of the Bombers' attacking chains from the backline, his 773 metres gained just a small example of the influence he had. Not sure it'll be long until an opposition team puts effort into stopping the 22-year-old.
Stocks down: This was a flip between Jade Gresham and Jye Menzie, who were both awfully quiet against the Saints, but the latter has struggled to do much all season, really. Menzie registered just seven touches (one effective!), and failed to impact the game in any way. His spot looks up for grabs.
Fremantle
Stocks up: It's amazing how things can turn around in such a short space of time. Now, the coaching future of Justin Longmuir appears as safe as houses. Longmuir entered the year as the most under pressure coach in the league. He then signed a one-year extension a few weeks back and has rewarded the club with three straight wins.
Stocks down: It wasn't the prettiest game, but a win's a win, and if you have to get picky, Tom Emmett left a bit to be desired. It's always a bit harsh going after a fifth-gamer, but he had just eight disposals and five clangers, in what was a bit of a nothing game. Could probably get more out of playing Jaeger O'Meara for the full whack.
Geelong
Stocks up: We asked who would step up with Patrick Dangerfield missing through injury and Tanner Bruhn delivered in a big way. The former Giant set the tone from the outset, picking up 15 disposals and eight contested possessions in a dominant first term. He finished the game with a career-high 27 disposals, game-high 15 contested possessions, and nine clearances.
Stocks down: He's been highly touted for several years now but Oisin Mullin just can't seem to put it all together when he gets an opportunity at senior level, looking a touch slow and fumbly. Mullin got the call up for Easter Monday and had 15 disposals in the win, but five turnovers and some scratchy play won't guarantee his spot in the side long term.
Gold Coast
BYE
GWS
BYE
Hawthorn
Stocks up: You've got to hand it to Sam Mitchell. He may not have the best group at his disposal -- at least not right now -- but boy does he know how to give a rev up. The Hawks started sluggish but looked a different team after quarter time on Easter Monday. They also lifted in a big way after the lightning delay to give the Cats a real scare late on.
Stocks down: He's been one of the best small forwards of the modern era, but Luke Breust looked well and truly over the hill against Geelong. The triple premiership star was held goalless and made one of the blues of the year inside forward 50 that he will likely never live down.
Melbourne
Stocks up: The Demons appear to be well and truly back after a gutsy come-from-behind win away at Port Adelaide on Saturday night. The beginning of this season has made one thing clear; Melbourne's premiership credentials are rising! Shoutout to Ben Brown, too, who kicked three goals in the win. The former Kangaroo just makes Melbourne's forward line look so much more structured, and therefore dangerous. He has to play every week.
Stocks down: He's enjoyed an impressive start to the season, but Christian Salem will be pretty happy to move on from Round 3. Salem tallied just 11 disposals in the tight win, and while he used the ball well when he had it, he needs to be finding twice the amount of footy each week.
North Melbourne
Stocks up: He's featured in this column quite regularly across the past 12 months, but there's a reason, and yet again Harry Sheezel's class was on display on Good Friday. The youngster had a game-high 23 disposals (81% efficiency), eight marks and 516 metres gained in his side's loss to the Blues. He's all class.
Stocks down: The lack of discipline from the Kangaroos on Good Friday was mind-boggling. North Melbourne conceded 34 free kicks in the 56-point loss, and at least half a dozen of them resulted in simple Carlton set shots for goal. The Kangaroos also gave up six 50-metre penalties in the game! This cannot happen for any side, let alone one which is struggling immensely.
Port Adelaide
Stocks up: Willem Drew has been an unsung hero for the Power for quite some time and in 2024, he is putting together a fine start to the season. The 25-year-old hard-running midfielder looks an improved player in Ken Hinkley's engine room, and can hold his head high after 25 disposals, a game-high 11 tackles, a game-high 10 clearances, and 501 metres gained against the Dees.
Stocks down: Not for the first time in 2024, poor goal kicking from the Power was on full display. This time, it cost them the win. Charlie Dixon and Willie Rioli were main culprits -- each kicking two behinds -- but Jeremy Finlayson's late miss from 10m out felt like the back-breaker. It didn't help Port's cause that Melbourne barely missed a shot all night long.
Richmond
Stocks up: In last week's 'Big Question' column, we challenged Richmond's veterans to show us what they have left in the tank, and credit where it's due, Nick Vlastuin delivered in Sunday's upset win over Sydney. In an undermanned backline, he was instrumental in repelling attacks, taking a game-high 13 marks (seven of which were intercepts) to go with his 29 disposals and seven score involvements.
Stocks down: It's just not been a great start to 2024 for Kamdyn McIntosh. Basically unsighted last week against the Power as a veteran needing to show leadership, he had just 14 disposals but six turnovers for the Tigers against the Swans.
St Kilda
Stocks up: It was a grim result for the Saints, but there are a couple of players who can hold their heads high, one of whom is Jack Higgins. After a four-goal performance against the Pies last week, he backed it up with another three against the Bombers on Easter Saturday -- proving to be one of few Saints who could actually kick straight.
Stocks down: Oh Mattaes Phillipou, you had options! With just over a minute to go in Saturday's thriller, the St Kilda youngster picked up a loose ball in the forward pocket and, tight on the boundary line, he elected to attempt a miracle snap which landed out of bounds. The worst part? He had players waiting for the hot spot kick, with the Saints going down by four points. He wasn't alone (cough, Riley Bonner's 17 turnovers, cough), but yeah, we think he'd like that moment again...
Sydney
Stocks up: Feels like a bit of a broken record naming this bloke so often, but Isaac Heeney's start to the year might be one of the best on record. The star Swan was simply superb on Sunday afternoon, racking up 27 disposals, five clearances, two goals, and 677 metres gained (a game high) at the MCG. But just how good has his start to 2024 been? Well...
Most AFL Rating Points in a player's first four matches of a season (2012-2024)
— Andrew Whelan (@andrew_whelan) March 31, 2024
105.4 Gary Ablett (GC), 2012
103.7 Isaac Heeney (Syd), 2024🔴
100.4 Patrick Cripps (Carl), 2019
98.3 Dustin Martin (Rich), 2018
94.8 Lance Franklin (Syd), 2018
92.4 Scott Pendlebury (Coll), 2014
Stocks down: Why did it seem like the Swans wilted under pressure? This is a side that's supposed to be contending for a premiership, and there were signs across the board that showed unless they apply it themselves, it could be another middle-of-the-road year. Where were Sydney's small forwards? Just four tackles inside 50 (to Richmond's 14) is diabolical, and reeks of either laziness or contempt for the opposition. Tom Papley, just one tackle, Will Hayward, two tackles and wasteful in front of goal. They just couldn't keep the ball locked in and Richmond took full advantage.
West Coast
Stocks up: There haven't been many better servants to the Eagles over the years than Jeremy McGovern, and he was one of West Coast's best in the 76-point loss to the Bulldogs on Sunday. Taking 11 marks (four intercept marks) to go with his 24 disposals and 528 metres gained, he repelled the Dogs as best he could. It's just a shame his side's forwards couldn't kick a bit more accurately.
Stocks down: From one veteran to another, it's so important that older heads perform strongly in a young side. In a game in which the Eagles kicked just three goals, it was Jamie Cripps who fluffed his chances in front of the big sticks. By no means West Coast's worse, his 1.5 was still well under par.
Western Bulldogs
Stocks up: Sunday's win over the Eagles was probably Laitham Vandermeer's best game for the Bulldogs. He was industrious, working hard between the arcs and finding space in the forward 50 as well. He took 10 marks to go with his 23 disposals, kicked a goal and had two direct goal assists among eight score involvements. Would love to see him build consistency.
Stocks down: There's not a lot to complain about for the Bulldogs following their 76-point win, but it does seem Tom Liberatore was subbed out with a very minor calf complaint. Let's hope he's right to go for Gather Round.