AFL round 4 briefing: Key takeouts, MRO news

Port Adelaide v Melbourne, Adelaide Oval

Port Adelaide’s premiership window appears firmly shut and Ken Hinkley‘s coaching future in severe doubt after Thursday’s nightmare against Melbourne. Some late consolation goals left Port with a deceptively flattering final margin of defeat after a first half when everything that could go wrong did so. The Power endured the first goalless half in their history and lost Brownlow medallist Ollie Wines at the break, sent to hospital with heart palpitations. The Power now face the prospect of an 0-5 start to the season, starting as underdogs against Carlton at the MCG on Sunday. But while the Power failure was the story of the night, the Demons’ unblemished premiership defence is a scary prospect for rival contenders. Captain Max Gawn played his best game of 2022, while fellow tall Luke Jackson proved a match-up nightmare for Port all evening – and will likely continue to do so for most opponents.
– Steve Barrett

There was a Power failure at Adelaide Oval on Thursday night.Credit:AFL Photos

Geelong v Brisbane, GMHBA Stadium

The Cats deserved to win, despite some dubious umpiring decisions towards the end of the match that helped them, including a non-decision on a marking contest between Tom Hawkins and Harris Andrews. Geelong dominated the game, but could not open up a big enough margin to rest easy at any point. It was disappointing for the Lions, who have to find ways to win in Victoria, and particularly at the MCG, if they are going to be considered a genuine threat to Melbourne for the flag. That they could not overcome Geelong despite their opponents losing defender Tom Stewart just before the game and resting their skipper Joel Selwood was a cross against the Lions, who were not hard enough in the clinches at various times. Hawkins was the difference, kicking five goals in a great battle with Marcus Adams, who helped keep the Lions in the game with his intercept marking in the third quarter. With three wins after four rounds, the Lions are in a much better position than they were this time last year when they finished a whisker from making another preliminary final. The positive for the Cats was the impressive form of youngsters Sam De Koning and Max Holmes, while they won without a large contribution from Patrick Dangerfield. If the Cats can avoid injuries to key players, they are a threat.
– Peter Ryan

Tom Hawkins was not penalised despite appearing to push Harris Andrews in the back.Credit:Channel Seven/Fox Footy

Collingwood v West Coast, Marvel Stadium

When you win the inside-50 count by 19, victory is very likely. But the Magpies could not get the job done against a spirited and accurate West Coast. Jeremy McGovern is the best intercept mark in the game, and he is the reason the Eagles have not completely dropped the ball as player after player copped COVID-19 or was injured. The Eagles deserved to win on effort alone, but the Magpies should regret their inability to convert their chances. Their forward line did not function well, getting in each other’s way too often and messing up golden chances to score. The Daicos brothers, Nick and Josh, were outstanding. Nick has moved from rising star to genuine star within a week. The Eagles’ midfield was tougher for longer than Collingwood and their star forwards Liam Ryan, Willie Rioli, Josh Kennedy and Jack Darling took every opportunity to pull off a famous victory. The Magpies will take time under Craig McRae and their efforts to stay in the hunt this season will be hurt by the shoulder injury to Jamie Elliott – he may miss 12 matches. After playing in a grand final in 2018, both teams face a tough 2022, even if Eagles coach Adam Simpson said the win kept their season alive.
– Peter Ryan

Jamie Elliott suffered a shoulder injury and could miss up to three months.Credit:Getty Images

Richmond v Western Bulldogs, MCG

As wasteful as the Bulldogs were in front of goal, goalkicking can be rectified easily enough. Less so is their dearth of tall timber – and it’s hurting them. With Josh Bruce out as the support act to Aaron Naughton, the Dogs have to play the long game with No.1 pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, who after two solid weeks took a step back – understandably so for a second-season key forward. Does Marcus Bontempelli spend more time forward? Or maybe it’s an issue that can be remedied by better ball use entering their forward 50 given the number of times they pulled the wrong rein approaching goal. In defence, the absence of Alex Keath for at least another fortnight will test the unlikely key back pairing Ryan Gardner and Tim O’Brien, who struggled against Tom Lynch and Jack Riewoldt. Zaine Cordy adds experience should he return from concussion this week. The first four weeks have not provided conclusive evidence the Tigers’ dynasty is over but nor are we closer to knowing if last year was an aberration. That they have led at the final change in all four games is a positive, but they have also produced two terrible quarters. The win against the Dogs will make their rivals uneasy given how closely it resembled their performances from 2017-20, when their trademark hunt and pressure was on show weekly. The 22 who took to the MCG on Saturday night included 16 members of their 2020 flag-winning team, though it’s arguable if there are many outside of Shai Bolton, Daniel Rioli and Noah Balta who have improved since. As well as they played, teams can still produce the occasional game from the top drawer while in decline before the slide gathers speed.
– Andrew Wu

Are the Tigers back?Credit:Getty Images

Fremantle v GWS, Optus Stadium

The Giants won’t want to see the free kick count from Saturday night’s loss to the Dockers. They gave away a staggering 42 to just 16 from Fremantle. In what was a pretty dour arm wrestle for three quarters, the Dockers broke the shackles in the final term, kicking six goals to none. The Dockers didn’t just win on the scoreboard – they had GWS covered comprehensively on the stat sheet. They smashed the Giants for disposals (381-321) and contested possessions (151-126), and they also had more marks (85-84), contested marks (8-5), tackles (66-63) and inside-50s (51-45). New Docker Will Brodie played the best game of his career, amassing a personal best 36 disposals to go with 20 contested possessions, six clearances, five tackles, six score involvements and two goal assists. Griffin Logue and Brennan Cox did well to keep Jesse Hogan and Harry Himmelberg quiet in the second half. Things aren’t going to get any easier for the Giants, who next face the Demons in Melbourne. The Dockers, on the other hand, next travel east to face the Bombers, where they would be confident of consolidating their spot in the eight.
– Ronny Lerner

Essendon v Adelaide, Marvel Stadium

The Bombers were able to wrangle their first win for the season, narrowly escaping defeat against the Crows on Sunday afternoon. Veteran Crow Taylor Walker made a four-goal return for the Crows after serving a six-match suspension for racist remarks he made during a SANFL game last year, but it wasn’t enough to keep the Bombers at bay. It was Essendon premiership player Blake Caracella at the helm while senior coach Ben Rutten was out due to AFL’s health and safety protocols. A young team excelled as fringe players stepped up in the absence of key players such Jake Stringer, defender James Stewart, Tom Cutler, and Zach Merrett and Kyle Langford who are expected to be out for two and three months, respectively.
– Sarah Burt

Max King was again crucial in round four.Credit:Getty Images

Hawthorn v St Kilda, MCG

St Kilda diehards have been fooled by countless false dawns before, but they have every reason to be excited by the way the Saints dismantled Hawthorn. Both teams entered the clash with 2-1 records. Only one – St Kilda – finished it inside the top-four and buoyed by a huge percentage boost. Four Saints players – a combination of big and small in Max King, Brad Hill, Jade Gresham and Tim Membrey – kicked four goals each, aided by a midfield that sparkled, absolutely destroying their Hawk counterparts. Tougher assignments lie ahead but the early evidence points to this being the strongest St Kilda side since the one that contested the 2010 grand final. If Sam Mitchell’s honeymoon as Hawthorn coach didn’t end in last week’s nail-biting loss to Carlton, it certainly did when he watched his side get wiped off the MCG on Sunday. The Hawks’ fast-paced style came undone with an error-riddled display, their forward line was inefficient and their back line was given no chance against the rampaging Saints. Easter Monday against old rivals Geelong will provide more intel as to whether the St Kilda shocker was an aberration for Mitchell’s men.
– Steve Barrett

Gold Coast v Carlton, Marvel Stadium

The Blues should get Marc Pittonet back into the ruck against Port Adelaide, but they were badly exposed without him against the Suns. Losing a red-hot Patrick Cripps, potentially for a few weeks, hurts even more. After the late fade against Hawthorn, and this tepid performance, it’s time to have a closer look at the much-hyped Blues. The Suns did what they had to after a shocker against Greater Western Sydney, but they need to begin by backing it up against the Saints at Marvel before they’re a chance to be taken more seriously.
– Andrew Stafford

From the match review officer…

Four charges were laid from round four matches across Friday and Saturday. Toby Nankervis was charged with tripping Western Bulldogs counterpart Tim English and was given a fine with an early plea. Braydon Preuss, meanwhile, was charged with striking David Mundy and was given a one-match sanction. Michael Walters was charged with a first offence of making careless contact with an umpire and was fined $1000, while Nakia Cockatoo was also given a fine for engaging in rough conduct against Rhys Stanley.
– Russell Bennett

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