Spherical 22 is highlighted by an intriguing recreation on Thursday night time recreation, between the seventh positioned Hawks and the second-placed Magpies.
Hawthorn
Jai Newcombe simply signed a brand new six-year contract to stay at Hawthorn till the tip of 2032. Newcombe has been disappointing within the final two video games.
The Hawks will want him to be at his greatest in the event that they’re an opportunity of beating the Magpies.
Collingwood
Darcy Cameron is arguably one of many high ruckmen within the AFL and for my part, the Magpies wouldn’t be within the finals if not for him and must be within the race for the ruck function within the All-Australian workforce.
Cameron drifts again and takes intercept marks, which is a weapon for the Magpies workforce and may show too good for Lloyd Meek.
Geelong
Max Holmes is in nice contact; the proficient midfielder hasn’t missed a beat to date this season.
The 22-year-old had a discipline day in Spherical 14 towards the Bombers; he had 36 disposals, seven rating involvements and 7 intercept possessions, so count on extra of the identical in Spherical 22.
Essendon
Mason Redman is a defender that the Bombers have invested closely in, as they’ve signed him till the tip of 2028.
The 187cm defender has averaged the equal sixth most intercepts per recreation, with 5. If the Bombers are to be aggressive in Spherical 22, then they’ll want Redman to carry out to his optimum degree, as a result of they’ll be up towards a Cats workforce that possess an amazing ahead line.
Richmond
Tom Lynch might be a welcome addition for a Tigers workforce, that solely kicked two objectives towards the Suns, in Spherical 21.
Lynch wants to steer from the entrance and play with a workforce first mentality, in any other case it turns into too one dimensional; the Tigers have some useful small forwards, so Lynch might want to halve contests and hopefully hit the scoreboard.
St Kilda
Rowan Marshall is participant with a vivid future; the place he might be in season 2026 is unsure, as a result of the Saints are reportedly chasing the signature Tom De Koning, so the 29-year-old could produce other golf equipment that search his signature.
Marshall was instrumental within the Saints win towards the Kangaroos, in Spherical 21 and polled 9 Coaches’ votes. The ruckman must be too cellular for Toby Nankervis in Spherical 22.
Brisbane
Zac Bailey is a proficient participant who’s an opportunity of being within the All-Australian squad. The Lions utility has averaged the second most rating involvements per recreation of any Lions participant, with 6.21.
Bailey nonetheless has room for enchancment as his been stored goalless in 4 of the 19 video games he has performed this season. On the different finish of the spectrum, he has kicked a number of objectives, six instances.
Regardless of kicking two objectives towards the Magpies in Spherical 21, the 25-year-old had simply three rating involvements from 21 disposals, however at his greatest he will be deadly.
Sydney
Nick Blakey is somebody who possesses blistering pace off the half-back flank line and is famend for his agility and evasiveness.
Blakey must be filled with confidence; the 25-year-old had 28 disposals, seven rating involvements and 11 intercept possessions towards the Bombers, in Spherical 21, so he ought to show powerful for the Lions to cease.
Carlton
Harry McKay has extra onus on him to carry out properly, as a result of Charlie Curnow is injured for the reminder of the season.
McKay wants to enhance on his performances to date this season if the Blues are to get the 4 factors once they tackle the Suns.
Gold Coast
Matt Rowell is aggressive on the contest and is a piece horse, the within bull has averaged essentially the most tackles per recreation of any participant within the competitors, with 9.32.
The Suns want him to carry out properly towards the Blues, as a result of George Hewett and Patrick Cripps carried out properly in Spherical 21.
Port Adelaide
Zak Butters lowered his colors, in Spherical 21, towards the Cats; the midfielder was stored to 10 disposals and had no impression on the sport. The Energy wanted extra out of their stand in captain, because of the absence of Connor Rozee by means of sickness.
Butters wants to reply and bounce again towards the Suns, in Spherical 22.
Fremantle
Patrick Voss brings loads of power and loves celebrating a aim, which should be infectious for the workforce as a complete. The 195cm ahead has averaged the equal most objectives per recreation of any Dockers participant, with 1.75.
The Dockers have proved that it’s doable to play three key forwards, so it is going to be fascinating to see who Voss is matched up towards once they tackle the Energy.
GWS
Kieren Briggs is a ruckman that simply performs his function for the workforce, however he’s off form; Briggs’s efficiency in Spherical 21 wasn’t as much as customary towards Bulldogs ruckman, as a result of Tim English regarded a category above him across the floor.
And it’s going to get more durable for the 201cm tall, as a result of he’ll be up towards Tristan Xerri who might be match and firing, in Spherical 22.
North Melbourne
Cameron Zurhaar is a tricky match up at his greatest, however the Kangaroo wants to enhance the depth he has over 4 quarters.
Zurhaar has solely been stored goalless in three video games and in Spherical 21, his efficiency, in that recreation is symptomatic of the place he’s at; the 27-year-old completed the sport with two objectives from 5 scoring photographs.
Spherical 22 must be a tricky take a look at for him, as a senior participant, as a result of they’ll be with out Nick Larkey and Paul Curtis.
Melbourne
Max Gawn is broadly thought to be the very best ruckman within the recreation. Regardless of that, he’ll face a tricky problem towards Tim English of the Western Bulldogs, who’s in good type and is a a lot improved ruckman.
It’s not going to be straightforward for Gawn, as a result of he’ll be up towards Sam Darcy at instances, so the Demons captain will have to be on the high of his recreation.
Western Bulldogs
Rhylee West was lauded by his coach within the post-match press convention for enjoying a selfless function, within the Bulldogs obliteration of the Giants, in Spherical 21; West had six rating involvements and 4 intercept possessions.
There’s an opportunity that he’ll be matched up on Christian Salem, when the Bulldogs face the Demons.
West Coast
Liam Duggan must convey extra management to a workforce that’s struggling to be aggressive.
Duggan had 21 disposals towards the Demons, in Spherical 21, with a number of from kick ins. The Eagles co-captain seems to be deflated and must be extra upbeat if the Eagles are to salvage something from the season.
The plain transfer can be to make use of Duggan within the midfield and to steer from the entrance.
Adelaide
Daniel Curtin is in a wealthy vein of type and should properly win the AFL Rising Star; his aerial prowess is there for all to see and the transfer made to play him on the wing by Matthew Nicks has proved to be a grasp stroke.
Curtin will show to be a tricky match up for the Eagles.
