In Round 13 of the 2024 AFL season, the Kangaroos broke through and their skipper was instrumental, but a coach is set to face the blowtorch. Plus, one Tiger scored a rare stocks up AND down gong. 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's a different game when Jordan Dawson has the Sherrin in his hands. On a night when many of his teammates struggled immensely, Dawson continually hit targets, set up attacks, and showcased his tremendous creativity by foot. The Crows captain finished with a game-high 32 disposals.
Stocks down: It's the elephant in the room, but is Matthew Nicks in danger of being sacked in the coming weeks if his side keeps losing winnable games? The Crows re-signed the coach on the eve of the season, a decision which looks quite foolish in hindsight given the club has just four wins after 13 games. Surely no club was out there thinking of poaching Nicks - so why were the Crows so keen? Stability? Not sure that's a reason which passes the pub test. Prepare for the blowtorch, Matthew.
Brisbane
Stocks up: It was a vintage Lachie Neale performance on Friday night against the Bulldogs, the dual Brownlow medallist doing his prospects of another three-vote game no harm. He was everywhere, racking up 38 disposals, 10 clearances and kicking two goals, including a ripper from a stoppage, literally as the half time siren blew.
Stocks down: It's been quite a down patch for small forward maestro Charlie Cameron. He was held goalless on Friday night, after kicking just one goal the week before in the Lions' loss to Hawthorn. In fact, he's kicked just one or no goals in four of his past five matches. Are we worried? Not yet, but he seems reflective of Brisbane's year as a whole. Underwhelming.
Carlton
Stocks up: Usually the Blues win games of football off the back of brilliance from the likes of skipper Patrick Cripps, Sam Walsh, and Charlie Curnow. Not one of that star trio fired against the Bombers on Sunday night, yet they still cruised to victory, thanks to the performance of some Carlton lesser lights. Tom De Koning was an absolute monster in the ruck, Elijah Hollands kicked three goals and provided great drive, Alex Cincotta played a starring defensive role, and George Hewett was a constant big body in the midfield. Great signs for the Blues.
Stocks down: He's an important player for the Blues, no doubt, but Blake Acres' game against Essendon wasn't one to remember. Acres had 16 disposals, but operated at a lowly 44% efficiency. He was also responsible for seven turnovers on the night.
Collingwood
Stocks up: Jack Crisp moved to outright second for most consecutive games played in the VFL/AFL, and his 227th match in a row was critical in a midfield that has been decimated by injury in recent weeks. Crisp has thrived as a pure midfielder, and finished the King's Birthday contest with 27 disposals, nine inside 50s and six clearances as one of the most damaging players on the ground -- earning him best on ground honours and the Neale Daniher Trophy.
Stocks down: Can Nick Daicos' stocks really ever fall? Probably not, but it's fair to say he was well held by Melbourne's Alex Neal-Bullen, who put the hard tag on the premiership Pie and kept him to just 15 touches and very minimal impact -- well down from his usual output. Daicos was subbed out of the contest in the last term after copping a knock to the shin, which isn't what the Pies need right now...
Essendon
Stocks up: The Bombers fell to the Blues on Sunday night, but don't be surprised if the three Brownlow Medal votes go the way of Nic Martin. The young Bomber did everything he could to drag his side back into the contest, particularly in the third term, kicking two goals from his 26 disposals to go along with 400 metres gained.
Stocks down: Essendon's tall and mid-sized forwards got a little bit of a reality check against Carlton. Peter Wright and Kyle Langford were held goalless, while Jake Stringer and Harry Jones, who each kicked one, were very quiet on the night. When none of your prime forwards fire, it's tough to win games of football. It's not like they didn't have supply (albeit at times rushed) - the Bombers won the inside 50 count 60-41.
Fremantle
BYE
Geelong
Stocks up: Don't be surprised or shocked if Max Holmes wins Geelong's best and fairest. Or, maybe even receives an All-Australian blazer... Holmes continues his career best year against the Swans, racking up another 550 metres gained, as well as a team-high 23 disposals, 10 contested possessions, and six clearances.
Stocks down: Commentator constantly fawn over Mark Blicavs, but the Cats utility was nowhere to be seen as Sydney came charging over the top of his side at the SCG. Blicavs, who was supposed to be minding Swans gun Errol Gulden, had just nine disposals at a shocking 33% efficiency and failed to lay a single tackle. Meanwhile, Gulden had a game-high 37 disposals, 15 score involvements, eight marks, and 737 metres gained.
Gold Coast
Stocks up: The defensive-attacking duo of Sam Flanders and Alex Sexton certainly did their job on Saturday night, it's a shame we can't say the same for most of the Suns. The pair combined for 71 disposals, 52 kicks, 29, marks, 11 intercepts, and over 1,000 metres gained! It's been a great move by Damien Hardwick to make these two positional changes. Now, about winning a game on the road...
Stocks down: We're really not sure why, but the work rate of the Suns really does drop off significantly when they're away from People First Stadium. Gold Coast was beaten up around the ground by the Saints, who won the clearance count by 10, contested possession by 21, and inside 50s by 11. The good teams just don't have such a variance between their best and worst performances.
GWS
Stocks up: With usual spearheads Jesse Hogan, Jake Riccardi, and Aaron Cadman struggling to assert their authority in Tasmania (Callum Brown was also subbed out with just five touches), it was the unlikely Xavier O'Halloran who all but emerged as the potential hero and became his side's main avenue to goal. O'Halloran was opportunistic and clever around stoppages on his way to a career-high four goals, two of which were vital in the last term.
Stocks down: Bit of mayo from James Sicily? Sure. Only a split-second in it, and no malice intended? Yep, sure seemed like it. Stupid at that stage of the game, in that part of the ground? Absolutely. It's only a light bump, and there really wasn't much in it, but the downfield free kick given away by Tom Green for his marginally-late bump on Sicily was there, and it's a dumb act to commit with scores level and just one minute remaining.
Green gives away a downfield free kick and Breust goals with 1 minute left!
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Hawthorn
Stocks up: It's no coincidence Hawthorn's form has coincided with the injection of Will Day into the team. Day was brilliant against the Giants, picking up 26 disposals, six marks, and laying 10 tackles. The Hawks will also be delighted with what they're seeing from their young talls, players such as impressive utility Josh Weddle -- who floated back when needed, pushed forward when needed, and even toiled in the ruck when needed -- and raw but talented Calsher Dear showing plenty early in their careers, and already having big influences on games.
Stocks down: Hawthorn's ruck stocks have taken another beating. Lloyd Meek was already out with an ankle injury and now Ned Reeves will join him on the sidelines, after appearing to injure his back. Sam Mitchell ended up having to rely on the unlikely Weddle-Conor Nash pairing, though it didn't seem to hamper them too much!
Melbourne
Stocks up: It was another tough result for Demons fans and not the response they were after as a team, but inspirational leader Max Gawn (25 disposals and 44 hit outs) and emerging forward Jacob van Rooyen (13 touches, nine marks and three goals) could not have done any more for their side.
Stocks down: An injury to Christian Petracca is the last thing Melbourne needs right now after back-to-back losses by an accumulative margin of 130 points among a five-week stretch that has just one win, not to mention a game style that is being picked apart right now. Petracca copped a heavy Darcy Moore knee to the ribs at the end of the first quarter before being subbed out and eventually sent to hospital. Fingers crossed there isn't too much damage!
North Melbourne
Stocks up: Take a bow, Jy Simpkin! the North Melbourne co-captain led from the front on Saturday night to help lift his side over the Eagles and notch their first win of the season. Simpkin finished with 28 disposals, seven tackles and two goals (including the go-ahead goal in the dying stages). He was well supported by midfield counterpart Luke Davies-Uniacke (26 disposals and six score involvements), whose dominant third quarter set up the inspirational win.
Stocks down: When the club has its first win of the year, and second in just 34 games, stocks across the board can only be trending up. Enjoy the win, Kangaroos fans!
Port Adelaide
BYE
Richmond
Stocks up: He may have only touched the Sherrin five times, but that's all Noah Cumberland needed to stamp his impact on Thursday night's game and help the Tigers to a much needed win. The 23-year-old forward booted three goals and used the ball at 100% efficiency, proving, when fit, he should be someone picked every single week.
Stocks down: Unfortunately, it's the rare stocks up and stocks down for Noah Cumberland. After the aforementioned heroics, Cumberland committed the cardinal sin of coughing up a free kick for aggressively dumping Mark Keane, seconds after teammate Jacob Koschitzke had taken a mark 30m out directly in front of goal. Unsurprisingly, a number of his Tiger teammates were filthy, as was coach Adem Yze. Thankfully, it wasn't too costly, but this could be a reason why he's not a mainstay when everyone is fit.
St Kilda
Stocks up: Grim game aside, Jack Sinclair was a standout for the Saints in their three-point win over the Suns. Finding space, taking ground with run and carry, his 31 disposals were notable, and his 703 metres gained clearly the most of any player on the ground. He has seven score involvements as well, which given the context of his side scoring just 16 times, is rather impressive. He's a star.
Stocks down: The inability to score has to be a concern for St Kilda, even taking into account Ross Lyon's defensive-minded approach. They scored a season-low 51 points against the Suns, and while it was enough to bank the four points -- just! -- it continues a worrying trend that screams a lack of forward line fire power. The Saints have been held to fewer than 70 points seven times this season.
Sydney
Stocks up: Where to start? There's the resilience, the coaching, the home form, but what we love most is this Swans midfield. Right now, it's the best in the league, and by quite a margin. The group of Brodie Grundy, Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Errol Gulden, James Rowbottom is so dynamic and ticks just about every box you can ever ask of a midfield unit. After a slow start against the Cats, it was the midfield that clicked into gear and completely flipped the game on its head.
Stocks down: The premiership hopes of 17 teams have taken a serious hit. The Swans continue to prove they aren't just the team to beat for the flag in 2024, they're miles ahead of the chasing pack. If someone is to upset John Longmire's squad, it's going to take something pretty special.
West Coast
Stocks up: When the Eagles went nearly six goals down at the start of the final term, Elliot Yeo took the game by the scruff of the neck and could not have done much more, despite the end result. Yeo took complete control of the midfield, picking up nine of his 23 touches in the final stanza and also hitting the scoreboard as part of the drastic comeback, along with five clearances and six tackles.
Stocks down: Jack Darling wasn't the only culprit in an abysmal 8.17 return for the Eagles, but the key forward could have done a lot better than his 1.3 from seven disposals (42% disposal efficiency). He also finished with -4.3 rating points -- clearly the lowest-rated player on the ground. Yikes.
Western Bulldogs
Stocks up: After battling ongoing concussion-related issues, it was nice to see gun Bulldogs midfielder Tom Liberatore make it through a full AFL game unscathed. Liberatore won 21 disposals and seven clearances against the Lions. He also had seven inside 50s, 452 metres gained, and five tackles.
Stocks down: He's been a whipping boy during his time at the Kennel, but Rory Lobb didn't show much reason to get excited by his return to the side before he was subbed out with an ankle injury. Five disposals and just mark for a man who easily clears 200cm is disappointing in anyone's language. What's his future - both at the Bulldogs and in the AFL?