In Round 7 of the 2024 AFL season, Nat Fyfe returned to his devastating best, an experienced Tiger and fringe Bomber made catastrophic mistakes, while the entire Brisbane Lions Football Club continued its freefall.
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: Rory Laird racked up 34 possessions (20 contested), 13 clearances, six tackles, seven inside 50s, and 13 score involvements against the Kangaroos in what was clearly his best performance of the season, so far. His efforts culminated in 23.2 rating points -- more than any other player on the ground. Give him the three votes!
Stocks down: It's been harped on about, but just how much will the Crows rue their poor start to the season? Make no mistake, a win over this struggling North Melbourne team should not be seen as the catalyst for a potential shift in fortunes, as most teams will be putting them to the sword, but a few close losses and a tight win over premiership fancy Carlton isn't too disastrous, despite what their 2-5 record suggests. Massive Showdown coming up.
Brisbane
Stocks up: There were very few winners for the Lions on Anzac Day after falling to GWS by 54 points, but someone that did play their role was Josh Dunkley. The 2016 Bulldogs premiership player had 20 disposals, nine tackles, half a dozen score involvements, and never stopped trying, despite the game blowing out not long after halftime.
Stocks down: At the risk of this stating the bleeding obvious, the entire Brisbane Lions Football Club is heading in the wrong direction. So close to a premiership last season and now 2-5 (one of those wins coming against the abysmal Kangaroos). There's off field issues plaguing the club, and, on field, things just aren't clicking between the midfield and forward line. It's going to take some fixing to turn things around...
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Carlton
Stocks up: We flagged it last week, but Patrick Cripps could well and truly be on his way to a second Brownlow Medal. The Carlton captain was inspirational -- yet again -- on Saturday afternoon, throwing his weight around in the midfield and finishing with 29 touches, six tackles, eight clearances, and two goals. Credit to Jacob Weitering, too, who kept Geelong spearhead Tom Hawkins goalless and took 12 marks in defence.
Stocks down: Matthew Owies can appear at important times throughout games, but he just doesn't do enough at the top level. If the Blues welcome back some injured stars next week, he may be the first to make way.
Collingwood
Stocks up: We're calling it, Jamie Elliott is winning Mark of the Year! Nothing, absolutely nothing, is going top Elliott's stunning effort on Anzac Day, soaring over the top of 203cm Bomber defender Ben McKay to clunk the ball cleanly, and at its highest point. The best bit? He turned around and nailed a difficult set shot! One of the all-time great Anzac Day plays.
Stocks down: He played a starring role in Collingwood's come-from-behind win over Port Adelaide in Round 6, but Will Hoskin-Elliott was nowhere to be seen on Anzac Day. Just three disposals for the 30-year-old utility, a total that was more than doubled by substitute Harvey Harrison, who only got injected into the game in the fourth quarter! Steele Sidebottom (three touches to three-quarter time) and Jack Crisp (two kicks) are a couple of other experienced Pies who have also been extremely poor to start the year.
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Essendon
Stocks up: Most footy fans laughed at Brad Scott for suggesting the Essendon Edge was a real thing, and something to get excited by, but it does seem real and there's life in this side all of a sudden. The Dons are in the top eight and boasting a 4-2-1 record, with a game against the Eagles next week. Could jump into the top four with a big win...
Stocks down: When you sit on the bench for three and a bit quarters of tight, end-to-end footy, you simply cannot make a catastrophic mistake in your first involvement in the game. Unfortunately, that's exactly what happened to Nick Hind. The Esssendon sub lost his footing inside defensive 50, slipping over and allowing Beau McCreery to run inside and snap a go-ahead goal. So, so costly...
Fremantle
Stocks up: How good is the Nat Fyfe-Caleb Serong duo!? The pair absolutely tormented the Western Bulldogs midfield -- Marcus Bontempelli included -- combining for 74 disposals, 38 contested possessions, 24 clearances, 18 score involvements, eight tackles, and eight inside 50s. It's great to see Fyfe back to his devastating best.
Stocks down: If there's one area of the ground the Dockers cannot afford any injuries, it's the backline, considering they've already lost key defenders Oscar McDonald and Brennan Cox. Unfortunately, youngster Josh Draper was subbed out on the weekend with a hamstring injury, leaving Luke Ryan and Heath Chapman to play taller, which they may now need to continue doing for a little while longer...
Geelong
Stocks up: Seriously, how good is Jeremy Cameron!? The AFL world was privileged to see him kick his 600th goal in the big time at the MCG, while his nine marks and five goals were a big reason the Cats were able to salute against the Blues and remain undefeated. His teammate, Gryan Miers, was also superb and added to a brilliant season to date, picking up 22 disposals (81% efficiency), 10 score involvements and finishing with two goals.
Stocks down: On a day the Cats welcomed back Cam Guthrie after nearly an entire year out of the game, midfield counterpart, and captain, Patrick Dangerfield hobbled from the field in the third quarter with a hamstring injury. He was playing a ripping game, too, but is almost certain to be spending a fair period on the sidelines, leaving a significant hole in the one area of the ground the Cats are lacking.
Gold Coast
Stocks up: Well, that midfield dominance was truly something! The Suns are emerging and we dare say this midfield mix is going to be spoken about as one of, if not the best, in the competition in the years to come. It was led by Noah Anderson (33 disposals, 12 clearances and two goals), while Touk Miller (27 touches, six clearances, and 10 tackles) and Matt Rowell (22, 13 tackles and two goals) also played their part. The trio thrived off the ruck craft of Jarrod Witts, who was far too strong for his Eagles opponents.
Stocks down: He's a role player much-loved for his hardness, and while Nick Holman has bobbed up in the past to kick critical goals, he was well below his best on Sunday afternoon. Holman had just seven touches (at 42% efficiency), and two behinds for the day. Against the Eagles? The opportunity was there!
GWS
Stocks up: The plaudits will go to Tom Green for his 37 touches and a goal (and rightly so), but fellow young midfielder Finn Callaghan showed that he can also play an integral midfield role for the Giants. The 20-year-old, who has only played 32 games at the top level, turned in his best performance on Anzac Day, finishing with 32 disposals and over 600 metres gained.
Stocks down: Toby Bedford does a lot right and is a much respected figure at the Giants for the defensive pressure he brings -- his five tackles against the Lions an example of that -- but surely you want more than just one kick from your small forwards? With Brent Daniels starting as sub, Toby Greene to come back in the side, and debutant Darcy Jones showing plenty of excitement and potential, the former Demon will want to be doing a little bit more in the coming weeks...
The Orange Tsunami at its best!#AFLGiantsLions pic.twitter.com/ryvRdtASFT
— AFL (@AFL) April 25, 2024
Hawthorn
Stocks up: You can always count on Dylan Moore; hard working, reliable, and as underrated as they come. The 24-year-old kicked 1.1 from 25 possessions, took eight marks and laid five tackles against the Swans on Sunday afternoon -- a performance that should have him walking from the field with his head held high. Not sure we can say the same for many of his teammates, though.
Stocks down: Hawthorn only had three fewer inside 50s than Sydney. What does it mean? Well, they weren't that bad. But regardless of how good the opposition's defence is, the Hawks copped a lesson that you need to make the most of your opportunities. Their forward line just didn't function, Jack Ginnivan's 0.4, and Mabior Chol's four frees against not helping the cause.
Melbourne
Stocks up: He's long been seen as the No. 1 ruck in the league, but Max Gawn looks to be taking his game to another level in 2024. He's also starting to draw comparisons to some of the best rucks in league history! Gawn dominated the Tigers on Anzac Eve, picking up 23 disposals, 16 contested possessions, 10 marks, and kicking a goal.
Stocks down: The hunger of the Demons has to be brought into question after a very lacklustre start against Richmond. Simon Goodwin's mob had two weeks to stew on that disappointing loss to Brisbane, but hardly looked to make an early statement against the lowly Tigers. You really do expect the top tier sides to bounce back immediately.
North Melbourne
Stocks up: North Melbourne needs to do all it can to give Luke Davies-Uniacke signs the club is travelling in the right direction and success is on the horizon. The gun midfielder, who registered 29 disposals and six clearances against the Crows, has reportedly put contract talks on hold, and it would be a disaster to lose the 24-year-old in the midst of a rebuild.
Stocks down: Here are Paul Curtis' first half stats: One tackle. Yep, that's it. Credit to the youngster, though, Alastair Clarkson throwing him in the middle after half time which let him get more involved in the game, and he showed plenty of signs with eight touches and three clearances. One to keep an eye on for the coming weeks.
Port Adelaide
Stocks up: On a night when the Power could not kick straight to save themselves, one man repeatedly showed his teammates how it's done. Maligned forward Charlie Dixon kicked four straight and never looked like missing -- well, until that late snap! -- as Port Adelaide proved too strong for St Kilda at Adelaide Oval. Believe it or not, it's just the second time in the last three seasons Dixon has finished a game with four goals next to his name.
Stocks down: They may have banked the four points with a win over the Saints, but Friday night did not go to plan. Port Adelaide suffered a plethora of injuries, notably to skipper Connor Rozee, star defender Aliir Aliir and the devastating season-ending ACL tear to forward-line livewire Sam Powell-Pepper. Far from ideal with a Showdown around the corner.
Richmond
Stocks up: They may have lost, and lost by 43 points, but Richmond should take some confidence out of Wednesday night's Anzac Eve clash against Melbourne. The depleted Tigers pushed the Dees -- a side many expect to finish the year in the top four -- for three quarters before falling apart late. Positive signs to take away in what's shaping as the club's worst season in over a decade.
Stocks down: There may not be a bigger don't-come-Monday than Toby Nankervis. With ball in hand and seconds to play in the third quarter, Nankervis chipped it straight to young Demon Caleb Windsor, who slotted the goal after the three-quarter-time siren. It was an absolute back breaker for the Tigers and something that's simply inexcusable from the leader of a club.
St Kilda
Stocks up: That's the Jack Sinclair we've come to expect! He may not have done enough to get the win, but Sinclair easily played his best game of the year, finishing with 28 disposals, 11 contested possessions, 665 metres gained, seven intercepts, seven score involvements, and a late goal (that could have proved to be very important). Need more of this, Jack.
Stocks down: It hasn't been the start to the season Ross Lyon and Saints fans had hoped for, but those who have written off St Kilda's final chances might be eating their words in a few weeks. Sure, they're currently 2-5 after a loss to the Power, but with games to come against North Melbourne, Hawthorn, and Fremantle, over the next three weeks, they could very easily be back level in no time.
Sydney
Stocks up: Sure, it was 'only' Hawthorn, but every win at the MCG this season will prove invaluable if the Swans want to keep improving their premiership chances. They slipped up against the Tigers only a few weeks ago, and their worst case scenario was a similar banana peel game in their final match at the MCG until (maybe) finals. They were clinical, and so were many of their stars, and it sets up a monster, mouth-watering clash against the Giants this week.
Stocks down: In a 13-goal win, you'd expect your key forwards to assert themselves and really damage the scoreboard given the supply they get throughout the game, but it just wasn't the case for Joel Amartey, who only registered three possessions and one goal against the Hawks. In fact, he only had one handball after half time. Yikes.
West Coast
Stocks up: We've sung his praises already this season -- for good reason -- and yet again Jake Waterman's stocks just keep on rising. The key forward was the second-highest rated Eagle, behind Elliot Yeo, after he booted another four majors against Gold Coast on the weekend, putting himself third on the Coleman Medal leaderboard behind more established stars Charlie Curnow and Jesse Hogan.
Stocks down: Bailey Williams has had some good games in 2024, but he was shown up on the weekend. The West Coast ruck was absolutely belted by Jarrod Witts, finishing with just five disposals (four ineffective), three frees against, and very limited impact around the ground.
Western Bulldogs
Stocks up: There's a lot -- and we mean A LOT -- to like about Sam Darcy. The Bulldogs' big man, still just 20 years of age, has shown some promising signs in the early stages of 2024, and Saturday night against the Dockers stingy defence was no exception. Darcy clunked seven marks (two contested), laid four tackles, and booted three of his side's 10 goals.
Stocks down: He may have saluted over his old mob last year, but Rory Lobb was an absolute non-factor in his latest return to Western Australia. No score and just four kicks from the former Docker was nowhere near enough production. Also, spare a thought for talented small forward Cody Weightman, who was subbed out early with a gruesome elbow injury.