Melbourne emerges as AFL’s ‘biggest headache’ in 2023

Some recruits shined even brighter than others whereas a couple of golf equipment clearly nonetheless have work to do earlier than Round 1.

The Demons put collectively one of the crucial eye-catching performances of the pre-season and the one-two punch of Max Gawn and Brodie Grundy is trying prefer it might be the “biggest headache” within the AFL this yr.

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ADELAIDE CROWS

The 2023 season might be Darcy Fogarty’s largest and finest but.

The key ahead had an electrical end to his 2022 marketing campaign, he booting 31 objectives from his closing 12 matches.

And he seems primed for additional enchancment this yr, if his efficiency towards West Coast on Friday evening is something to go by.

Fogarty was a relentless menace and presence all evening for the Crows, booting 4.2 from 18 disposals, seven marks and three inside 50s. Overall, 11 of his 18 disposals led to Adelaide scores.

“He’s a young player that’s really built his way into his career and he’s having a standout match today, which bodes well for his and the Crows’ season,” Dockers legend Matthew Pavlich informed Fox Footy.

Premiership Eagle Will Schofield added: “Doesn’t he look dangerous? This is the type of age where key forwards start coming of age. People become impatient with key forwards, but it just takes some time. We saw what he could do in the back-end of last year and now look at what he’s doing.”

Fogarty solely conjured 26 objectives from his first three seasons, however now seems properly positioned forward of his sixth season as a Crow.

Asked post-game if he’d seen a participant have a much bigger 12-month transformation than Fogarty, Crows coach Matthew Nicks mentioned: “No I haven’t.

“He would be the one player at the moment that you would refer to of where our team is getting to.

“Six or nine months ago, people were wondering what was going on but he’s done an incredible job off his own back … and now he believes in himself.

“It’s so pleasing to see him come back after an off-season and still be able to do what he was doing at the end of last year.

“It’s important to be patient with people and patient with development because it takes a different amount of time for every single player.”

BRISBANE LIONS

There’s been a lot commentary and hype round Brisbane’s low season recruits – and so they look the true deal.

Josh Dunkley (31 disposals) and Will Ashcroft (26 disposals) starred within the midfield in Thursday’s win over Geelong to spherical out arguably one of the best on-ball unit within the competitors alongside Lachie Neale and Hugh McCluggage.

While Jack Gunston was under his finest with 1.3 in entrance of objective, he seemed harmful inside 50 all sport to offer their already potent ahead line a strong new dynamic.

The Lions additionally showcased a extra daring, sooner sport plan to utilise their firepower in assault.

The trio of recruits will go a great distance in serving to the Lions problem for the flag after a number of years of finals shortcomings, with dominant wins over 2022 Grand Finalists Geelong and Sydney the best preparation for the season correct.

Indeed, it looms as Brisbane’s finest probability at successful the flag below Chris Fagan as possibly the frontrunner as issues stand.

CARLTON

There might be one – possibly extra – new Blues to take the sphere of their Round 1 conflict towards Richmond.

Quite a few rising Blues staked their declare to make their correct senior debut with promising performances towards the Swans in an in any other case disappointing exhibiting from Michael Voss’ males.

While Blake Acres seemingly has one wing place locked down, it appears Oliver Hollands might be battle it out with Lochie O’Brien for the position on the reverse finish.

Hollands, who joined Carlton with Pick 11 in final yr’s draft, confirmed nice working energy and composure with the footy on Saturday evening.

Even if Hollands isn’t there Round 1, anticipate the younger gun to characteristic within the senior aspect at some stage this yr.

Meanwhile, second-round draftee Lachie Cowan and Alex Cincotta, who was picked up from the membership’s rookie record, additionally put in encouraging performances and can primarily be competing for a similar halfback position vacated by Zac Williams following his ACL damage.

In saying this, Nic Newman and Caleb Marchbank didn’t line up towards Sydney as extra seasoned names that might stroll into the defence over the duo.

But there may nonetheless be room for considered one of Cowan and Cincotta to play a task, notably with Sam Walsh’s damage doubtlessly pushing Sam Docherty additional up the sphere.

“Docherty might be required to push up and give some extra relief in the midfield as well. Tonight even he’s playing in the back half and pushing into the middle,” Hawks nice Dermott Brereton mentioned on Fox Footy.

“He’s sort of quarterbacking a bit, sitting off the back of the packs there … but you will need him to run through the middle for sure if Walsh doesn’t make it out there.”

COLLINGWOOD

Following Nick Daicos’ great debut season culminating in Rising Star honours – and plenty of saying it was one of the best rookie marketing campaign they’ve ever seen – he would possibly discover issues a lot more durable in his second yr.

Hawthorn’s Finn Maginness successfully shut down Daicos in a tagging job in Thursday evening’s conflict, limiting the 20-year previous Magpies prodigy to simply 17 disposals.

It comes as Daicos is being touted to play extra on the ball in 2023 as Craig McRae seems to deploy a deepened midfield – and Daicos could be the Magpies’ most damaging participant that units up their fast-paced, run and carry model.

Of course, Daicos already began to get extra consideration from opposition within the second half of final season, however as relayed by Hawks coach Sam Mitchell on Fox Footy on Thursday, the son of a gun “better get used to” being tagged extra often.

Many pundits have predicted Daicos is ready to take one other large leap in yr two after he was mentioned to have had an enormous pre-season and in pushing additional up the bottom.

Heck, some imagine he’s a reliable probability to assert an All-Australian blazer and is even a Brownlow Medal smokie.

But studying to play with extra opposition consideration goes to be vital – albeit uncommon therapy for only a 20-year previous in his second season in a testomony to his expertise.

“He’s the sort of player who will see it as a massive challenge and wear it as a badge of honour that he’s getting tagged and find a way to get on top of it,” Demons nice Garry Lyon informed Fox Footy.

“Craig’s always got the option to throw him at halfback the he tore the shreds to competition to shreds last year and take his opposition to places they wouldn’t want to be.”

ESSENDON

One of Essendon’s largest points final yr was its obvious lack of ahead strain.

Injury restricted Will Snelling to simply eight video games, and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti didn’t make a senior look earlier than saying his retirement – a choice which he has since reversed.

But the Bombers look to have gone some method to fixing that drawback with the addition of Alwyn Davey jnr to the line-up.

The thrilling father-son prospect won’t have made his AFL debut but, however from what he has proven within the pre-season up to now, the Essendon devoted have so much to get enthusiastic about.

The teenager not solely runs into the best areas, however he hunts the opposition and is aware of the place the objectives are. It’s clear to see he has glorious footy smarts already.

With Snelling again to full health, and McDonald-Tipungwuti not far off, the strain in Essendon’s attacking zone seems set to ramp up a notch or two in 2023.

However, new coach Brad Scott nonetheless has a whole lot of work to do in different areas regarding their ahead line – particularly inside-50 supply.

The approach the ball enters Essendon’s ahead line has been considered one of their largest issues for years, and clearly there’s no fast repair helpful, as a result of towards St Kilda on Friday, the supply was as soon as once more regarding.

Key forwards Peter Wright, Harry Jones and Sam Weideman have been accomplished few favours by their teammates additional up the sphere, with kicks of their neighborhood usually flying over their head or misdirected in varied different manners.

Wright, particularly, confirmed final yr how efficient he could be as a focal goal, kicking a career-best 53 objectives (the primary Bomber to crack 50 since Joe Daniher in 2017) and successful the membership‘s best-and-fairest.

So it’s vitally vital that Essendon be sure that they make Wright’s job as simple as potential with the intention to maximise his strengths.

And after being essentially the most inaccurate crew within the competitors final yr (51 per cent), the Bombers’ goalkicking clearly hasn’t improved if their woeful 3.14 (32) towards the Saints is something to go by. The Dons are a middle-of-the-road crew and to be any probability of an unlikely finals berth, accuracy is an absolute should because it might be the distinction between pinching an additional win or two to scrape into the highest eight, or not.

Another new recruit in Will Setterfield seems like he’ll add much-needed bulk to the Bombers’ midfield, however an on-ball division containing Zach Merrett, Darcy Parish, Dylan Shiel, Ben Hobbs and Jye Caldwell nonetheless seems undersized, and regardless of being gifted, it’s exhausting to see this unit severely threatening one of the best midfield teams within the competitors often.

Down again, the sensible Jordan Ridley and Mason Redman have seemed nearly as good as ever this pre-season and seem set for large seasons whereas Jayden Laverde and Jake Kelly have been strong too.

FREMANTLE

All the ahead line rage after the Dockers‘ victory over Port Adelaide on Thursday night centred on Nat Fyfe – and rightly so.

The dual Brownlow Medallist put in another outstanding pre-season performance, booting three goals from 14 disposals and six marks. Most importantly, eight of Fyfe’s 14 touches ended up in Fremantle scores.

But there have been additionally promising indicators from one other Fremantle ahead on Thursday evening – a participant eager to cement his spot within the Dockers‘ best 22 this season.

Josh Treacy was a constant presence and threat for the Dockers, booting two goals from 10 disposals, five score involvements and three marks (two contested). He also pinch-hit in the ruck in the absence of Luke Jackson, finishing with six hit-outs and a couple of clearances.

Treacy, a 2020 rookie pick, turned heads in his first season with 13 goals from 15 games, but managed just one goal from four games last season. But the 20-year-old put his hand up for Round 1 selection on Thursday as he covered the ground with aplomb and brought ample energy to the contest.

“I think he’s an actual undiscovered expertise that Fremantle haven’t fairly seen one of the best of him but,” premiership Eagle Will Schofield informed Fox Footy. ”But he’s a younger child and going to turn into one thing actually particular at Freo.”

Dockers legend Matthew Pavlich mentioned it was clear Treacy had “got a big summer under his belt”.

“He had a number of issues last pre-season and that hindered him in some ways, almost second-year blues after a pretty impressive first year off the rookie list,” Pavlich informed Fox Footy.

With midfielder-turned-forward Fyfe to take up one spot inside 50 and the resting ruck – both Jackson or Sean Darcy – to carry one other, Treacy seems to be competing with Jye Amiss and Josh Corbett for a spot within the senior crew. And that‘s assuming Matt Taberner is an automatic inclusion, too.

But Treacy is now arguably in Position a for a Round 1 berth.

Dockers assistant coach Jaymie Graham, who looks after the club’s ahead line, mentioned Treacy had “come back very fit and he is a lot lighter than last year”, including he’d “put his hand up” for Round 1 choice.

“We have to work out what our team looks like from a balance point of view – but he has done what he can do. He has controlled that and put his hand up,“ Graham told reporters post-game.

GEELONG CATS

It may have only been a practice match, but it’s still rare to see Geelong get beaten so badly in a 46-point loss to Brisbane.

Of course, the Cats were missing their star twin forwards Jeremy Cameron and Tom Hawkins in addition to the likes of Mark Blicavs, Mitch Duncan and Isaac Smith.

The exclusion of such names was always going to hurt the reigning premiers, although they’ll have to get by without Hawkins as well as Jack Henry to start the season to leave two key voids up forward.

Ollie Henry can help cover that after crossing from Collingwood in the off-season, and there’s probably enough star power otherwise with Cameron, Gary Rohan, Tyson Stengle, Brad Close and Gryan Miers.

For dual All-Australian Kane Cornes, the fact that Geelong only lost the inside 50 count to Brisbane 53-53 suggests Chris Scott wouldn’t be panicking – especially with Cameron and Hawkins missing.

“I don’t think they’d be too concerned about anything that they saw last night,” Cornes mentioned of the Cats on SEN.

“It was just a tough night for them. They had a number of entries but were just inefficient going forward, conditions played a factor in that, but there wasn’t anything to write home about.

“Not that it has me swaying my opinion on where they will be in September.”

GOLD COAST SUNS

Most sides battle with out their stars, however the Suns have been no match for the Giants given the absence of Touk Miller, Brandon Ellis and Lachie Weller.

Miller’s absence was felt much more given the consistency the star onballer has displayed all through his profession.

This uncommon have a look at a Miller-less midfield wasn’t precisely alarming however, as Brad Johnson mentioned throughout the match, highlighted “how important Miller is to the midfield of the Suns”.

By the top of the match, 5 Giants gamers had greater than 25 disposals, whereas the Suns had only one in Sam Flanders, who seems set for an enormous 2023 after failing to cement himself within the senior line-up final yr.

Without a number of of the Suns’ finest mids, the Giants have been left to run riot, with Josh Kelly and Tom Green combining for 70 disposals and 13 clearances.

A forty five-point loss appears bleak on paper however, as Dermott Brereton mentioned: “You’ve got to take into account your No. 1 driver in the midfield is not there.

“Their intensity was up at the start, but they just couldn’t go the distance.”

If something, Saturday’s loss simply highlighted how vital it’s for Miller to stay match and firing in 2023 if the Suns are to breakthrough and see September motion.

GWS GIANTS

After Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper each left GWS for Richmond throughout final yr’s commerce interval, the prevailing view was that the Giants’ midfield would battle to be aggressive this season.

But there have been some sturdy indications that it won’t be all doom and gloom within the GWS engine room in 2023.

Tom Green and Finn Callaghan particularly have each seemed excellent and might be able to step up and fill the massive footwear left by Taranto and Hopper.

While it’s true that Green is already a longtime member of the Giants’ finest 22, it‘s the added boost that they might get from former No.3 pick Callaghan which could come as a huge bonus after he only managed five matches last year due to a foot injury.

And when one considers that Josh Kelly and Stephen Coniglio, who have both been unburdened by the removal of the co-captaincy, also look as though they haven’t skipped a beat this summer season, in addition to Lachie Ash and Lachie Whitfield, then maybe GWS will get by with out Taranto and Hopper simpler than first thought.

But it’s not simply the on-ball division that may be enthusing new coach Adam Kingsley. Down again, defenders Sam Taylor, Isaac Cumming, Connor Idun and Jacob Wehr have labored properly collectively in observe matches and in an enormous enhance, Taylor’s fellow All-Australian Nick Haynes seems unimpeded by a abdomen muscle damage which hampered him throughout most of his 17 video games final yr.

Especially towards the Suns on Saturday, Haynes appeared to be shifting freer which is a superb signal for the Giants.

And whereas it was a small pattern measurement towards undermanned Gold Coast crew, the GWS ahead line functioned very properly too with Jake Riccardi (4), Harry Himmelberg (three), Jesse Hogan (two), Callaghan (two), James Peatling (two) and Daniel Lloyd (two) combining for 15 objectives.

Spreading the goalkicking load is vital for any crew and if you throw in famous person Toby Greene to the combination, it seems as if Kingsley has fairly a couple of avenues at objective to work with.

HAWTHORN

Maybe the Hawks didn’t minimize too deep?

Sam Mitchell’s younger aspect impressed in Thursday’s conflict towards Collingwood in a aggressive hitout. After trying like getting blown off the park within the early levels, Hawthorn fought again and stayed with the Magpies all contest.

It was a promising efficiency after query marks on whether or not the Hawks shed an excessive amount of expertise within the low season – a complete of 1181 video games together with midfield stars Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O’Meara – leaving them with simply seven gamers who’ve performed over 100 matches.

Those considerations solely grew after Hawthorn bought thumped by Geelong in final week’s match simulation.

But the new-look on-ball brigade led by Jai Newcombe (27 disposals) and James Worpel (30 disposals) seemed as much as the duty towards Collingwood, whereas Pick 7 draftee Cam Mackenzie shone (24 touches, one objective, equal game-high 11 rating involvements), too.

Meanwhile, former Bulldog and SSP signing Fergus Greene was instrumental up ahead with three objectives to assist fill the void left by Jack Gunston and canopy Mitch Lewis’ absence.

While it was only a observe sport, there was promising indicators that’d fill Hawks followers with extra confidence forward of the season after taking a high 4 aspect from final yr all the best way.

And even when Hawthorn slides down the ladder this season, it was encouraging to see the constructing blocks for the long run already standing up.

“It is a practice match, but for Hawthorn, it’s so much more than that. They’ll get so much out of this against a quality opposition,” Demons nice Garry Lyon informed Fox Footy.

“And last week which we know they were disappointed they way Geelong handed them and brushed them aside.”

Greene and Mackenzie seem like digital locks to play Round 1, whereas the latter introduced himself as real Rising Star contender, enjoying in his first unofficial sport for Hawthorn after lacking final week’s match simulation towards the Cats.

In a season the place participant growth would be the precedence, Mackenzie might be amongst these younger Hawks uncovered to larger roles.

“There’s been a lot of talk about Will Ashcroft, but his Sandringham Dragons teammate Mackenzie certainly looks like he’s going to burst onto the scene as well,” Lions champion Jonathan Brown added.

MELBOURNE

There’s been query marks all low season as to how the daring Max Gawn–Brodie Grundy ruck mixture would work at Melbourne – and real query marks of that.

But if Sunday’s conflict with Richmond was something to go by, the remainder of the competitors has a significant issue on its arms.

Or as put by St Kilda legend Nick Dal Santo, it’ll be the “biggest headache in football” for rival golf equipment to attempt to fight.

After a promising first hitout collectively in final week’s match simulation towards St Kilda, Gawn and Grundy have been dominant towards the Tigers – combining for six objectives rotating between the ruck and ahead.

As highlighted by Dal Santo, their capability to do injury in assault and thus detract consideration on Melbourne’s different forwards is Simon Goodwin’s actual level of distinction.

“This has completely changed my mind,” Dal Santo mentioned on Fox Footy at half-time.

“I questioned whether this would work when the trade went through, I thought it would always take away from somebody.

“What we’ve seen in this first half of football and saw last weekend against the Saints, this could be the biggest headache in football.

“This will change opposition team selection throughout the week, because they take a genuine defender. Then that frees up a Tom McDonald or Bayley Fritsch when he’s back playing.

“They’ve been superb. They’ve kicked six of the nine goals so far in this game, they have been the difference and the standout players already.”

Gawn even admitted on Fox Footy post-match that how efficient he and Grundy are ahead might be the important thing to how profitable the pairing is.

Indeed, what was as soon as seen as an enormous query mark now seems to be an awesome benefit for the Demons – and these benefits yr on yr is what can actually elevate a contender.

“It is working this two bigs situation that a few did question,” Fox Footy commentator Dwayne Russell famous throughout the sport.

“But Melbourne has kind of done it before … they got two key defenders in Steven May and Jake Lever and spent so much on them, but they won a premiership doing it.

“So who’s to say they aren’t going to do something a little radical here getting two of the best ruckmen in the competition and win another flag?”

NORTH MELBOURNE

Clarko or not, it’s going to be an extended season for North Melbourne, so the small wins are what North Melbourne followers might be on the lookout for.

From that standpoint, No. 3 decide Harry Sheezel as soon as once more strutted his stuff and appears properly and actually prepared for a spherical one berth if chosen.

While there was a lot of reward rightly for Liam Jones in Dogs colors, Griffin Logue confirmed loads on the different finish for North Melbourne.

The former Docker completed with eight intercept possessions, showcasing some spectacular talent alongside Ben McKay and Luke McDonald.

While it wasn’t frequent, the events during which these three helped arrange scoring chains have been moments that can present some type of pleasure in what might be one other arduous season.

Those on the lookout for positives will even observe the Roos solely misplaced the within 50 depend by six, placing in a strong exhibiting by the center of the bottom with the likes of Ben Cunnington and Jy Simpkin main the pack.

They’re little wins, however they’ll imply loads because the losses seemingly mount all through the season.

PORT ADELAIDE

Considering its record construct and robust end to its 2022 marketing campaign, Power followers can be coming into this season optimistic they will return to the finals come September.

But Port‘s WA pre-season road trip resulted in two defeats to the Eagles and Dockers – and the positives were tough to pick out.

After going down to West Coast in a match simulation hitout, the Power were then overrun by Fremantle six days later at Fremantle Oval.

Sam Powell-Pepper and recruit Francis Evans were dynamic up forward, Miles Bergman showed some promise on the wing and Connor Rozee was classy around the ball against the Dockers. But that was about it.

Port for the second week in a row won the inside 50 count but were inefficient and inaccurate forward of centre. Ken Hinkley’s males additionally misplaced the clearance (-6) and contested possession (-10) counts convincingly.

Four-time Port finest and fairest winner Kane Cornes mentioned he had considerations over the membership‘s lack of midfield depth and inconsistency up ahead as Charlie Dixon, Mitch Georgiades and Todd Marshall mixed for only one objective.

“I watched all of Port Adelaide who were mightily disappointing, I’ve got to say,“ Cornes told SEN Breakfast on Friday.

“A few concerns about Port Adelaide … there’s reason to be concerned, you’re looking for little (positive) nuggets and I couldn’t find many.”

Hinkley mentioned his crew was merely outplayed by the Dockers.

“We need to be better than we performed today,” Hinkley informed reporters.

“It‘s not so much concern because that’s what trial games are about. They give you information and we’ve got to do something with the information.

“Defensively they got through us a bit easily but mind you, a couple of those we gave up when we were pushing really hard and the game blew out a bit.”

RICHMOND

Health is so vital at the moment of the yr, but the Tigers immediately go into the season with uncertainty round considered one of their key stars following Dion Prestia’s pectoral pressure.

In an already disappointing day for Richmond towards Melbourne, Prestia exiting the sport within the second quarter with the damage dampened it additional.

While the setback isn’t thought-about critical, with Prestia seen smiling on the bench later within the sport and finishing working drills at half-time, it’s clearly lower than very best for Richmond to have any type of doubt round considered one of its most vital gamers – particularly given his damage historical past – forward of Round 1.

The 30-year previous performed 19 video games final yr, however made solely 9 appearances in every of the 2 seasons prior resulting from ongoing damage points.

The three-time premiership participant been essential to the membership’s current golden period together with claiming finest and fairest honours in 2019 and getting named within the All-Australian squad in the identical yr.

It additionally highlights the significance of the Tigers’ star recruits Jacob Hopper and Tim Taranto in beefing up their midfield, which with out Prestia, has been a weak level of Hardwick’s aspect previously.

Fingers crossed for Richmond’s sake, Prestia is obtainable to face the Blues within the season opener in a fortnight’s time.

“That is fantastic that he’s running … it didn’t look like a great deal, but we know he’s had a wretched run with injuries,” three-time All-Australian Nick Dal Santo mentioned on Fox Footy.

“He’s a critical piece to their midfield and their success going forward this year.

“But for him to be running at half-time, smiling and chuckling along with his teammates in that second quarter. It’s a really pleasing sign, and hopefully he’s right for Round 1 in 14 days’ time.”

ST KILDA

There’s one thing particular about Mitch Owens — and the Saints know they’ve bought a magnificence.

Owens on Friday proved the pre-season hype round him this summer season may be very actual after starring towards Essendon.

Drafted with Pick 33 within the 2021 draft, Owens arrived on the Saints with the popularity of being a fierce big-bodied midfielder and performed seven video games in his first AFL season.

But below Ross Lyon, the 19-year-old has been requested to play as a hybrid ahead with a concentrate on competing within the air. And Owens did precisely that towards the Bombers on his method to three objectives from 16 disposals and 4 inside 50s.

“He’s had a great pre-season. He’s a contested marking beast and a bit of a scrapper on the ground – I love those sorts of players,” twin premiership Kangaroo David King informed Fox Footy.

“If he sees a marking opportunity, he just releases and goes after the ball. It’s a trait you love to see in younger players.”

Owens’ new position is especially important contemplating the accidents to different Saints key forwards in Max King (shoulder), Jack Hayes (foot) and Tim Membrey (knee), with the latter the one Round 1 probability of the trio.

Speaking post-match, Owens mentioned adjusting his mindset to that of a key ahead had been a problem.

“It’s a bit tough, but having ‘Hammer’ (Anthony Caminiti) down there helps a lot as well,” Owens informed the membership’s web site post-game. “The small forwards too putting lots of pressure on, it makes our job a lot easier.

“It’ll be really good to have King, Membrey and ‘Hayesy’ back when they’re back from injury.”

SYDNEY SWANS

If you’re on the lookout for causes Sydney can go a step additional in 2023, look no additional than Errol Gulden.

Many have been tipping the 20-year-old to thrive after an enormous pre-season, however absolutely not many would’ve predicted he’d be this good.

Against Carlton, Gulden produced top-of-the-line pre-season particular person performances ever seen, booting three objectives from 45 disposals, 17 contested possessions, 9 clearances, seven inside 50s, 5 tackles, 887m gained and 189 Champion Data rating factors.

“It’s probably as good a game as you’ll ever see,” Swans assistant coach Jarrad McVeigh informed reporters post-game. “Not only he 45 touches and three goals, but I think he led our pressure acts as well.

“He played a lot more midfield tonight with ‘Millsy’ (captain Callum Mills) having a rest, so we probably needed that extra run through there. We know he can play forward, wing and midfield but tonight was more midfield for him – and he came through in flying colours.

“It’s really pleasing for him and hopefully his trajectory as a player can keep going upward.”

Asked if Gulden was on the verge of “superstardom” – as Fox Footy’s Dermott Brereton predicted on Friday evening – McVeigh mentioned: “It’s only a pre-season game, so I think we’ll temper that. But we know he’s a good player, he trains extremely hard, he hones his craft, he’s got beautiful skills and he works on his all-round game all the time.

“He’s in his third year now and we’ve seen good signs. He’s had a really good pre-season, so hopefully that leads into next week.”

If it does lead into subsequent week, and the week after that, and the week after that, opposition golf equipment are going to need to up-end what they thought they knew about Sydney’s midfield brigade.

WEST COAST EAGLES

Eagles coach Adam Simpson hasn’t saved secrets and techniques about his plan for his crew to play with extra velocity and depth on transition this yr after its injury-riddled 2022 marketing campaign.

The footy world bought a glimpse of that extra aggressive West Coast aspect with ball-in-hand on Friday evening — and whereas the daring nature was admirable, the execution was properly off.

The warning indicators have been there early, with Adelaide booting six objectives to at least one within the opening time period. By sport’s finish, the Crows had scored 11.6 off Eagles turnovers and outscored West Coast from that supply by +31 factors as they constantly pounced on sloppy Eagles disposals.

Asked at quarter-time if he’d tweak his crew’s method with ball in-hand to stem the bleeding, Simpson defiantly informed Fox Footy: “We’re trying some new stuff and we’ve got some new players in the side, so we’ve just got to keep persisting and don’t give up just yet.”

West Coast did persist, however the turnovers and Crows objectives saved coming.

Speaking to reporters post-game, West Coast assistant coach Luke Webster mentioned the Eagles merely “didn’t get our ball movement going”.

“It was probably on the back of some fundamentals in and around the contest, but also when we did get into open play we didn’t execute with our skill execution,” Webster mentioned. “So, that was probably something we wanted to keep working on in this pre-season. We just didn’t see it tonight.

“I think our group are still going to have good confidence. These pre-season games are for us to trial what we’ve been practising all year. What they’ve done over the bulk of work for this pre-season is going to hold us in good stead for round one. I think they’re still going to be pretty confident.”

WESTERN BULLDOGS

If Max Gawn and Brodie Grundy are the largest supply of curiosity from a tag-team perspective, the Western Bulldogs’ talls are most likely essentially the most fascinating ensemble.

The additions of Rory Lobb and Liam Jones within the low season solely added to the sheer weight of numbers and centimetres on the membership.

If Saturday afternoon at Ikon Park was something to go by, the Dogs aren’t solely going to make it work, however make it thrive.

“They look unstoppable”, Kelli Underwood mentioned at halftime of the aspect’s 58-point demolition of North Melbourne.

Aaron Naughton, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Sam Darcy and Rory Lobb all mixed with aplomb, wreaking havoc on the Kangaroos’ defence and aided at instances by the likes of Tim English and Marcus Bontempelli once they drifted into the attacking 50.

“That’s the difficult task not just for North Melbourne today but also if they do play like this in the season, how do you match up on that height in your forward line?”, Jordan Lewis mentioned watching on.

“They’re playing in the air really well but they’ve also been really creative on the ground.

“If you’re playing a tall forward line like that, you need to be good in both areas, which they’ve done on numerous occasions today.”

Down again, Jones starred to be top-of-the-line gamers on the bottom, taking intercept marks with ease and looking out like he by no means left the AFL.

It lessened the load on Alex Keath, whereas Josh Bruce labored his approach into the match in a key defence position.

Any holes the Dogs had final yr seem to have been plugged, setting the stage for a 2023 season bursting with potential.

“There’s no reason why they can’t play off in a grand final,” Leigh Montagna mentioned.

“They’ve got the talent. Last year we know it was just their team defence really that let them down.

“They’ve shored that up, it looks like they’re playing a little bit closer to their men than they may’ve in previous years. The Dogs should have high ambitions for this season.”

Originally revealed as Melbourne emerges as AFL’s ‘biggest headache’ in 2023