In Round 11 of the 2024 AFL season, Leek Aleer gave us a glimpse into a future defensive juggernaught alongside Sam Taylor and Jack Buckley, and Jordan Ridley made a welcome return for the Bombers, but one No. 1 draft pick should probably be under a little more pressure after another down performance. 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: It was a skipper's performance for the Crows on Sunday evening. Jordan Dawson led from the front in his side's percentage-boosting win, tallying 30 disposals, 673 metres gained, two goals, and two direct goal assists. While he hasn't quite hit the same consistent highs of his 2023 form (though he's not far off), the Crows are a significantly tougher prospect when their captain is firing on all cylinders and using his dangerous left peg.
Stocks down: Coaches have their methods, and we can understand the decision given how the game looked at half time, but is it the best thing for Jake Soligo's development to be subbed out at half time with the reason being 'load management'? He's been a rising star for the Crows this season, give him the opportunity to shine! Plus, you're playing with fire subbing out a player so early, just ask Matthew Nicks when Josh Worrell was injured one minute into the third term and Dan Curtin had already been subbed out in their draw with Brisbane.
Brisbane
Stocks up: We know how heavily the Lions have been hit by injury this season, but it's given opportunity to a few players who would otherwise be on the fringes and struggling to break into the side. One of them, Kai Lohmann, has been a quality injection into the forward line, continuing to prove he belongs at the level with 18 disposals, eight marks, four tackles and two goals against the Hawks.
Stocks down: It happens. Good, quality players can have down games, but too often Cam Rayner has gone missing in important matches for the Lions, and it happened again in Round 11. The former No. 1 draft pick did not touch the footy until the second quarter of his side's disappointing loss to the Hawks, and finished with seven disposals and only 58 metres gained. That's well below what Chris Fagan needs from a player with match-winning capabilities.
Carlton
Stocks up: The Blues were absolutely belted in the contest/midfield game against the Swans and, yep, Patrick Cripps took it personally. The Carlton captain was superb against the Suns and more than made amends a week later, finishing with 31 disposals, 13 clearances, six tackles and an important last-quarter goal that shut the gate.
Stocks down: The inefficiency of the Blues has to be somewhat concerning for Michael Voss and his coaching staff. For large stretches at Marvel Stadium they looked head and shoulders the better side, yet at no point in the first three quarters were they able to establish any meaningful gap on the scoreboard. They finished the game +138 in disposals, yet both teams had the same amount of inside 50s.
Collingwood
Stocks up: Have the Magpies found another one in Harvey Harrison? The 20-year-old, in just game nine, kicked three goals and laid nine tackles as the Magpies played out their second draw of 2024, this time against the Dockers. Harvey was damaging with ball in hand, too, finishing the contest with 85% disposal efficiency.
Stocks down: Another game, another stack of injuries for the Magpies. Mason Cox finished the night with concussion after landing awkwardly in an incident which also saw his knee bend underneath him, while Brody Mihocek has re-injured the same hamstring that kept him sidelined in rounds 9 and 10. They're running out of options in that forward line...
Essendon
Stocks up: Bomber fans could not have asked for a better return to football from star back Jordan Ridley. Having not played since Round 19 last year, Ridley made his comeback in Dreamtime at the 'G and scooped the Yiooken Award with an ultra impressive display that had him finish the night with 31 disposals, 14 intercepts, 10 contested possessions, 12 marks, over 750 metres gained, and even a goal!
Stocks down: Has starting Nick Hind as sub officially become a thing of the past? The speedy Bomber was superb against the Tigers with 25 disposals, five marks, two goals and 657 metres gained to his name. It's a far cry from his influence off the subs bench, which he became accustomed too after beginning that way in five prior matches this season and struggling to make an impact.
Fremantle
Stocks up: If you thought last week's performance was an anomaly, Jordan Clark proved against Collingwood that he can be a serious weapon and do it with some consistency. Clark had an equal game-high 35 disposals, 23 kicks, and nearly 500 metres gained against the Magpies, but it was his defensive work which really caught the eye, finishing with a game-best 10 intercepts.
Stocks down: It might be time to change Jye Amiss' nickname from 'Nev' to 'Always' after the young Docker forward continued his wayward goalkicking against the Magpies on Friday night. Amiss shanked his first opportunity early in the game and never really looked likely after that, finishing with just two kicks. The one-time sharpshooter has kicked two goals and seven behinds over his last three weeks.
Geelong
Stocks up: Well, at least they've got a soft draw and will still likely play finals? It's been 18 years -- yep, 18 years -- since the Cats last lost four consecutive games in a home-and-away season, but with matches against the entire bottom five still to come, you can (almost) pencil in wins for all of them. They'll be fine, but you'd be wrong to not have concerns about how far they can actually go in 2024.
Stocks down: Who would have thought playing the Giants at GMHBA Stadium would be such a bogey fixture!? Also, when the game was screaming out for a match-winner, it was Oliver Henry's opponent, Leek Aleer, who stole the show and proved the difference in the late nail-biting moments. It's the first game all season Henry has failed to hit the scoreboard.
Gold Coast
Stocks up: How good is Mac Andrew going to be in a few years? Answer: very, very good! The young Sun played a sensational role on Carlton spearhead Charlie Curnow, making life for the back-to-back Coleman Medal winner as hard as could possibly be. And although Curnow booted four goals, Suns fans had to be impressed with what Andrew was able to do. He finished the game with 17 disposals, 11 marks, and 11 intercepts.
Stocks down: We pumped them up during the week, but the Matt Rowell-Noah Anderson combination was well beaten on Saturday afternoon by their Carlton counterparts. Patrick Cripps, Sam Walsh, and Co. ran rings around them, and their Suns teammates. The Blues ended the afternoon +138 in disposals, + 12 in clearances, and +22 in contested possession.
GWS
Stocks up: Leek Aleer, take a bow! Not only did the young Giants defender keep Ollie Henry goalless, he was influencing aerial contests all night and took two huge intercept marks late in the game to help the away side hold on for an outstanding win at GMHBA Stadium. The second of those match-saving grabs, which came with only 60 seconds remaining as the Cats were peppering the inside 50 entries, is hard to beat as the moment of the round. Check it out below!
Stocks down: He played almost 106 minutes of footy in Geelong and Toby Bedford was unable to register a single kick! That's right, just three handballs and two tackles for the entire game. This is the third team this season Bedford has finished a game with one or fewer kicks to his name, that didn't happen once in 2023. Second year blues at his new team?
Leek Aleer to the rescue, with a match saving mark! 🚀
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Hawthorn
Stocks up: Sam Mitchell's stocks as an inexperienced coach have only surged upwards in the past month. He was able to lead his side to a stunning upset win over the Lions, and they've now won three of their past four matches (and four of their past six). That one loss? Yeh, when they were nearly two goals ahead of the Power with 30 seconds to go... They're going to be alright, these Hawks.
Stocks down: He was given the role to shut down dangerous Lion Charlie Cameron and did ok in patches, but overall Seamus Mitchell was simply beaten by a better opponent. Just four handballs on the day for the Irishman.
Melbourne
Stocks up: Welcome back, Adam Tomlinson! In Jake Lever's absence, Tomlinson was recalled into the team as a key defender to partner Steven May and did a great job, tallying 12 intercept possessions and 25 disposals. His two contested marks were also notable, as were his eight one-percenters, showing he can still be a valuable contributor when needed. He's versatile, too, which can't be underestimated. Could be a handy 'in' while Lever is on the sidelines.
Stocks down: He's come across from the Crows and made his club debut last week (and was pretty good), but Shane McAdam needs to work into his 2024. Four disposals and just the one behind for the crafty forward, but in good signs, he was active at ground level, with six tackles (five inside 50).
North Melbourne
Stocks up: We're not sure if Luke Davies-Uniacke will be a Kangaroo long term, but whichever team he plays for down the track is going to be thanking their lucky stars. LDU continued his rich vein of form against the Power, amassing a game-high 35 disposals, 18 contested possessions, nine clearances, and kicking a goal. Don't forget Davies-Uniacke when discussing the best young players in the competition.
Stocks down: He's not getting much opportunity, granted, but Nick Larkey looks a shell of the man that gave last year's Coleman Medal a real shake. He could not get near the Sherrin on Saturday afternoon in Tasmania and was held goalless for the first time since Round 4 last year. Larkey's kicked just 19 goals this year at an average of 1.7 per game. Last season he averaged 3.1 majors per game.
Port Adelaide
Stocks up: So much love goes to the young Port midfielders, but it was the veterans who stood up in Tasmania and led their side to a big win over the Kangaroos. Ollie Wines had 26 disposals, six clearances, and kicked two goals, while Travis Boak wound back the clock with 25 touches and almost 500 metres gained. Both players had nine score involvements, the equal-most on the ground.
Stocks down: Just as Willie Rioli started to rediscover that magical form he's been struck down with injury. Rioli was subbed out of Saturday afternoon's contest at quarter time after suffering a calf injury. Hopefully it's a quick recovery!
Richmond
Stocks up: A few weeks ago we questioned whether Richmond's horror demise is impacting Dustin Martin and his legacy. It divided opinions - but no matter yours, there's little doubt Martin, even at age 32 as he closes in on game 300, remains one of the best players in the land on his day. He reminded the footy world of that at Dreamtime at the 'G, kicking three goals from his 23 disposals in a virtuoso performance.
Stocks down: Just when you thought things couldn't get any worse, Richmond's injury crisis has continued with emerging defender Tylar Young suffering the dreaded ACL injury in the VFL on the weekend. The midseason draft has come at a good time, we guess...
St Kilda
Stocks up: Is it time to back the Eagles to beat the Saints this coming week? West Coast will be back at home where they've looked pretty comfortable this season (all things considered), and the Saints haven't kicked more than nine goals in their last three starts. They're struggling, St Kilda, and can't seem to find the answers moving the ball forward.
Stocks down: He's had some monster games this season but Rowan Marshall fell flat on Sunday afternoon when going up against the league's premier ruck in Max Gawn. Marshall was well beaten across the ground, finishing with just six kicks and four marks. Meanwhile, Gawn tallied 27 disposals, 18 contested possessions, 10 clearances, seven marks (three contested), and a goal.
Sydney
Stocks up: It's fair to say Chad Warner's stocks are at an all-time high, and that doesn't mean the dip is coming! Warner was the match-winner for the Swans on Thursday night, kicking a career-high four goals from his 25 disposals as the ladders leaders held off the Bulldogs. He's now kicked 19 goals in 11 games (seven in the last two weeks) and is proving to be one of the best genuine goalkicking midfielders in the league.
Stocks down: He's playing out of necessity rather than choice, but Aaron Francis just isn't an AFL-calibre defender. Francis was beaten time and time again, had the fumbles all night and played with no urgency or confidence, leaving John Longmire blowing up into the phone on numerous occasions. Tom McCartin can't come back sooner.
West Coast
Stocks up: Aside from Harley Reid, who seemed to spark the somewhat lifeless Eagles halfway through the match, Campbell Chesser showed some good signs, picking up 15 disposals, seven intercept possessions, and one team-lifting run-down tackle among some decent run and carry. At 21, we'd like to see a bit more (and some further consistency), but his past six weeks has us optimistic he can make it as a valuable contributor.
Stocks down: The road form these Eagles show just isn't good. Winless away from Optus Stadium, and having posted just five goal in their past two interstate starts (against Collingwood and Adelaide, in fairness), the younger and inexperienced side is showing struggles in posting consistent results. How do you fix it? Well, it's tough, and we're not sure a few extra business class seats will make a difference...
Western Bulldogs
Stocks up: Young gun Ryley Sanders was the Dogs' sub in their loss to Sydney, but came on just two minutes into the match after Anthony Scott was concussed in a sickening head clash. Sanders looked well at home for the Bulldogs, and ran the game out strongly, working from contest to contest, picking up 20 disposals, three clearances, and six score involvements. He's a bit shaky with his decision making at times, but will be better for consistent footy. Keep him in, Bevo!
Stocks down: We all feared the worst when Aaron Naughton fell to the turf clutching his right knee, but the Bulldogs received some 'good' news on Friday when the extent of the injury revealed Naughton had instead suffered a medial ligament tear. Still, Naughton will miss four to six weeks, but it's a whole lot better than the alternative!