analysis

Duff’s Dozen: Mark Duffield runs his eye over the moments that mattered in round 21

Mark DuffieldThe West Australian
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Camera IconMark Duffield runs his eyes over the moments that mattered in round 21, including Josh Kennedy kicked eight goals in his final game, Collingwood’s hybrid attack and the Dockers’ big man’s big moments. Credit: AFL Photos

1. Collingwood’s hybrid attack

There is no genuine key position player yet they kicked 15 goals against the AFL’s best defence in a stunning win on Friday night that has put them in flag contention. Jamie Elliott is a super talent who has missed a lot of football with injury and he is confirming that talent.

Brody Mihocek is a great workhorse and Ash Johnson is a really exciting mobile tall. They bring great pressure as well as strong goalkicking nous. The Pies are the real deal.

2. Ben McEvoy

There are some great touches of humour at AFL clubs - few better than the Hawks bandaging themselves up mid week to celebrate Ben “Big Boy” and “Bandaged Head” McEvoy’s 250th game against Gold Coast in Launceston.

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He only had eight disposals for the game but one of them came from a timely contested mark behind the ball when the Suns were coming hard late in the match. Has been a great servant of two AFL clubs.

Camera Icon‘Big Boy’ McEvoy. Credit: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

3. Jesse Hogan

At 27 and in his eighth AFL season, the enigmatic talent is finally starting to rediscover the consistency he had early on in his career before he lost his way.

He was the dominant figure in the Giants’ win against Essendon, taking 12 marks and kicking four goals. He now has 30 goals this season and has hit the scoreboard in all but two of 16 games with 20 goals in his past seven matches. He appears to have responded well to caretaker coach Mark McVeigh.

4. Jordan Clark

The Dockers’ defence was great against the Western Bulldogs on Saturday with Heath Chapman, Brandon Walker, Alex Pearce and Luke Ryan producing strong games, but Clark is having a hell of a season and his third quarter spoil while wedged between two bigger Bulldogs opponents was inspirational and a big moment in the game.

He finished with 26 disposals and gave the Dockers a lot of the dare they have lacked in recent weeks. Has become a significant player.

Camera IconJordan Clark. Credit: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

5. Rory Lobb

Often accused of spectating too much instead of competing, this was one of the big man’s most worthy performances. Clearly less than 100 per cent fit, and unable to take a turn in the ruck, he kicked four goals from limited chances to give the Dockers the scoreboard impetus they needed after a barren month for their attack.

Kicked beautifully from the 50-metre arc and gave contests when he needed to when not in marking position. Perhaps a Sean Darcy-Griffin Logue ruck combination with Lobb permanently forward is the way for the Dockers to go this year.

6. Sam Darcy

The Bulldogs have been accused of being a one-trick pony with a dearth of tall defensive options. That would make the debut of son-of-a-gun Darcy even more exciting for them.

His 10 disposals included eight marks, and those eight marks included a couple of great contested “clunks” under high balls down the line. He has just turned 19, is 205cm tall and still five years from being close to his peak.

7. Max Holmes

Camera IconMax Holmes. Credit: Graham Denholm/via AFL Photos

Part of Geelong’s ability to stay at the top has been luck with father-sons, part the return home of Paddy Dangerfield, part has been elite culture with elite coaching from Chris Scott.

But the Cats keep finding gems in the draft and Holmes is a ripper. One of their best against St Kilda who they handled comfortably despite the absence of Joel Selwood and Mark Blicavs and the late withdrawal of Dangerfield. Quick and strong, Holmes had 24 disposals with a goal. This was his 26th game and he is still a teenager.

8. Shai Bolton

The closest thing to poetry in motion on a football field was Bolton’s slalom through traffic late in the second term for one of four goals against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.

Darcy Byrne-Jones fumbled, Ryan Burton had left Bolton not anticipating the fumble, and three Port defenders couldn’t lay a glove on Bolton as he got them to zig before zagging. Closing in on a 40 goal season as a small bodied forward/mid who has more moves than any other AFL player.

9. Nick Larkey

When your club kicks 13 goals and gets beaten by 38 points and you kick seven of them it rates a mention. North Melbourne were up against it from the beginning against Sydney and it didn’t help when Ben McKay came out of their team just before the game.

Larkey and a handful of other youngsters are reasons for the Roos to hope as they search for a fresh player group and a new senior coach. Larkey’s haul took him to 36 goals for the season from 18 games at an average of two per game, with precious little lace-out delivery in a struggling team.

10. Zac Bailey

Who says footy isn’t played between the ears? Brisbane, who coughed up a seven-goal lead against Richmond last weekend, were as far ahead as 10 goals at the start of the final term against Carlton at the Gabba. But with four minutes still to play the Blues had stormed to within four goals with enough time to pinch it.

Bailey had come out of the Richmond game injured. The Lions can thank their lucky stars he played in this one. He booted four goals from 19 disposals and in the end the lead he helped the team build was enough to stave off the late-match wobble.

11. Josh Kennedy

Camera IconJosh Kennedy is consoled by Liam Ryan after the loss. Credit: Simon Santi/The West Australian

What a way to go out! He booted 8.2 in his 293rd and final game and all of the trademarks of a truly great player were on show. He led strongly, had clean hands and a sure foot.

The only one he missed that he should have was the one that might have given his team a sniff of a fairy-tale victory.

The Eagles honoured him by looking for him all day and he did not let them down. His eighth was a Kennedy classic, making the dummy lead to give Jack Darling space and then doubling back to get the spill from the marking contest.

12. Rory Laird

The midfielder who helped the Crows spoil the party. It was a milestone match for him too and he celebrated his 200th game in style, kicking the first two goals of the game and finishing with 36 disposals gathered evenly across four quarters.

It was an important match for the Crows after the scandal of their 2018 camp re-emerged. Laird helped steer them to the line.

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