In Round 15 of the 2024 AFL season, Tom De Koning soared to new heights, and a young Docker continues to impress in the midfield. But have Power fans finally had Kenough of Hinkley? 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
BYE
Brisbane
Stocks up: There was a lot to like about Brisbane's barnstorming 79-point win over the hapless Power on Saturday afternoon, but we can't help but give praise to big Oscar McInerney. The Lions ruckman was highly influential all afternoon at Adelaide Oval and finished the game with 18 disposals, eight clearances, 31 hit outs and three goals in one of the best games of his career. Up next? Max Gawn -- another challenge, and another interesting watch.
Stocks down: Facing Brisbane in the run home isn't going to be easy, for anyone. They're the only side other than Sydney nailing all five of Champion Data's 'premiership metrics' and are on a mission to not only play finals, but scrape into the top four after a horribly slow start to the season. They're coming, and with a percentage only second to the Swans(!), it shows just how destructive they can be when it all falls into place.
Carlton
Stocks up: One of the most improved players in the game? Yep. One of the best ruckman? Clearly. But it goes beyond that, and in the past month Tom De Koning is clearly one of the most damaging players in the competition. Period. Four of his past five games have been the highest-rated games of his season and, against the Cats, he amassed 25 disposals, 20 contested possessions, 34 hit outs, seven clearances, one goal and a whopping 35.5(!) rating points in an utterly dominant night against his younger brother. That's the biggest game all season, by anyone, according to Champion Data.
Stocks down: If you're a team not named Sydney or Carlton, you might have trouble finishing in the top two and earning a home qualifying final. The Swans, and the Blues -- as they showed again on Friday night -- are flying, and outside of that pair it seems it's just a race for third. With contributions from their stars like Patrick Cripps, Charlie Curnow, and Jacob Weitering, but also the lesser lights -- think Matt Owies, Lachie Cowan, Jordan Boyd -- there's some good cohesion down at Princes Park.
Collingwood
BYE
Essendon
Stocks up: Not for the first time this year, Jake Stringer's stocks have risen after another stellar performance that ended with 20 disposals, 10 marks and five goals. But it was still only the support act to Sam Durham's main event at Marvel Stadium, the much-improved Bomber continuing his career-best season after collecting 29 disposals, five clearances, 10 inside 50s, eight score involvements, 530 metres gained, and one goal against the Eagles.
Stocks down: Another solid win, some strong individual performances, and third on the ladder after 15 rounds. Essendon absolutely deserves to be where they are right now, but the reality is their percentage of 102.7 is the best indication of how good they are, and how good any team is. The Bombers are good, but are they better than just 'good'? The jury is still out after a hard-fought win over the lowly -- albeit improved -- Eagles (three of Essendon's last four wins have come against the bottom three teams on the ladder). Geelong, then Collingwood, then Melbourne, then Adelaide ... it's a season-defining month coming up.
Fremantle
Stocks up: Usually it's Serong and Brayshaw getting the midfield kudos for the Dockers, but Hayden Young's star really has shined brightly in 2024. The 23-year-old was the Dockers' best in the win over the Suns, picking up 24 disposals and kicking three majors among his 12 score involvements. Used through the midfield but also pushing forward, it's a change in role for Young, who is benefitting. He's averaging season-highs in disposals, goals, tackles, clearances, and inside 50s since making the switch from a more permanent half back post.
Stocks down: You have to feel sorry for skipper Alex Pearce. Injuries have continued to cruel his career, and after a start to 2024 which had him in the conversation as a potential All-Australian, it's yet another injury which could sideline him. He landed really awkwardly in a marking contest on the wing, and seemed to bend his left forearm at an awkward angle. He was taken from the field and subbed out. Fingers crossed it's not too serious.
Geelong
Stocks up: Not for the first time in his career, spearhead Jeremy Cameron looked like the only Geelong player capable of actually hurting the Blues on Friday night. He and the rest of Chris Scott's forwards had fairly limited opportunity, but Cameron finished his night with 26 disposals, 10 score involvements, five marks, and three goals. He's one of not many Cats that can actually hold his head high...
Stocks down: Where do we begin? It was an extremely poor night for the Cats who have now lost six of their past seven matches. Oisin Mullin was subbed out of the game after just three disposals (zero effective), Tom Hawkins, who is on track for his lowest season goal tally in over a decade, was destroyed (again) by Jacob Weitering and ended the match with a foot injury, and, well, the entire midfield just got absolutely smashed. Time to embrace the winds of change and play the kids more?
Gold Coast
Stocks up: Damien Hardwick is exactly what Sam Flanders needed. After racking up a career-high 42 disposals in the last game before the bye, there was no post-bye blues for the rejuvenated Sun, who picked up 33 disposals as he floated between half back, the win and the middle of the ground. Flanders is adding strings to his bow; be it the six centre bounce attendances or the six intercept possessions, he's proving to be useful anywhere he's needed.
Stocks down: When he's on, he's so good to watch, but unfortunately we don't see the consistency we'd like yet from Bailey Humphrey. He had just four disposals before being subbed out in the third term, two of which were clearances. He also had four tackles, but we just need more from the youngster.
GWS
Stocks up: Tom Green went head-to-head with James Rowbottom for most of the afternoon and has proved to be a difficult opponent all season, so the Giant should be lauded for his efforts in tough conditions. Green had 35 disposals (18 in the first quarter), eight marks, five tackles and four clearances, and will continue to be the barometer in Adam Kingsley's engine room in the run home to finals.
Stocks down: We'll admit, it wasn't the typical day for a key forward to dominate, but Jesse Hogan, despite kicking one major, finished with a 28% disposal efficiency (the worst on the entire field), and has now gone three consecutive games without kicking multiple goals. He's not performing poorly, but it's a far cry from his blistering start to the season.
Hawthorn
BYE
Melbourne
Stocks up: In heart-stopping thrillers, it's usually the experienced players who are relied on to commit desperate acts and stay composed for the rest of the team. But against North Melbourne, a young Demon debutant all but won his side the game with his first involvement in AFL footy. Kynan Brown chased down Nick Larkey -- who was streaming forward -- with a desperate lunging tackle with two minutes remaining, denying the fast-finishing Roos another forward 50 entry and saving Melbourne's three-point lead.
Another heart-breaking loss for the Roos as the Dees held on in a tense finish 👊
— AFL (@AFL) June 22, 2024
Watch the Last Two Minutes of #AFLDeesNorth now, thanks to OMO Australia. pic.twitter.com/gjGAI8ga1Y
Stocks down: Speaking of experienced players, what has happened to Bayley Fritsch and Clayton Oliver? Fritsch (two kicks and no marks) was well held by impressive young Roo Jackson Archer and has now kicked only one(!) goal in his past three matches, while Oliver (14 disposals and five frees against) couldn't break the Will Phillips tag all night and had no influence on the game. With no Christian Petracca, these established players need to be doing a lot more if they're serious about making finals.
North Melbourne
Stocks up: He might not be an All-Australian midfielder at this stage of the season, but Luke Davies-Uniacke, to the surprise of no one, is clearly one of the best mids in the game when allowed to strut his stuff with no attention, and is certainly putting selectors on notice. The 25-year-old was one of the main catalysts for North's wild but too-little-too-late fightback, breaking away from countless stoppages at the MCG and finishing with 31 disposals, eight clearances and a goal.
Stocks down: It just wasn't the night that Nick Larkey, and the Kangaroos, would have been hoping for, the spearhead finishing his night with just six touches and one behind. If he isn't scoring, North isn't winning. Simple.
Port Adelaide
Stocks up: If there's one positive thing to come out of Port Adelaide's Round 15 contest, it's without a doubt the throwback retro guernsey! There's definitely a nostalgic factor in this, but it still trumps the tri-colour thunderbolt, and it trumps the current predominately-black chevron design. Teal is a unique colour and it's a shame the club doesn't embrace it more, not to mention it's the jumper the club wore in its one and only AFL premiership! Great kit -- should it become more permanent, or should it be saved for special occasions?
Stocks down: Alright, now onto the on-field stuff... Is Ken Hinkley's future at the Power coming to an end despite his contract running to the end of next season? Okay, we understand this might be slightly knee-jerk, but the reality is if Port Adelaide indeed misses finals this season, it would have to be in the club's best interests to part ways with the long-serving coach and be ahead of the eight-ball when it comes to hiring the best available gaffer. They've lost their last three games now and their three previous wins following the Round 8 Showdown loss was hardly against anyone of substance. With a midfield core the envy of the competition, ensuring this team competes at the pointy end is so crucial to keep everybody happy at their digs... It's a big final nine weeks for Ken.
Richmond
BYE
St Kilda
BYE
Sydney
Stocks up: Doesn't Errol Gulden just love the Sydney derby?! The Swans star earned his third straight Brett Kirk Medal after a starring 41-disposal effort against the Giants. The star Swan also took 12 marks, had an incredible 973 metres gained and booted a major in the win over their neighbours. It's often hard to know which member of that midfield group should be the victim of an opposition tag, but there is hardly a more damaging player with ball in hand than the classy 21-year-old.
Errol Gulden is as classy as they come ⭐#AFLGiantsSwans pic.twitter.com/smchIIWRRZ
— AFL (@AFL) June 22, 2024
Stocks down: Fans were treated last week when Joel Amartey put on a show and slotted nine goals against the Crows, but he was hardly seen in Round 15, only managing six touches, one behind, and four frees against. Quite the drop off, and building that consistency is something we need to see to be convinced he can become a star.
West Coast
Stocks up: Tom Barrass, take a bow! The Eagles may have come up short on the day, but it was through no fault of the star premiership defender who was the biggest roadblock standing in Essendon's way. Barrass put together one of the best defensive games of the season, taking 11 marks (nine intercepts) and again proving why he is worth every cent. It was also great to see the return of key forward Oscar Allen who, although rusty at times, clearly straightens up that Eagles forward line, his 13 touches, nine marks and two goals a more than handy comeback.
Stocks down: The Matt Flynn-Bailey Williams ruck combination was simply dominated on Sunday afternoon. The pair finished with a combined one kick and 10 handballs, and just 40 metres gained. They were vastly outplayed by returning Essendon big man Sam Draper, whose 17 disposals, 32 hit outs, six clearances, and 416 metres gained tells the story of that contest.
Western Bulldogs
BYE