It was a shortened round, but one that taught us a lot.
We were treated to an after the siren finish, some telling results, and one club has found themselves in the pressure cooker.
Here’s what we learned from Round 14:
Stewart confirms status as competition’s best defender
While Gary Rohan was the hero of Geelong’s after the siren win over the Western Bulldogs, defender Tom Stewart was clearly the most influential player on the ground
Stewart was forced to step up with fellow defender Lachie Henderson a late out, and he delivered with 27 disposals, six score involvements, and an AFL record 10 intercept marks.
Cats coach Chris Scott said post-match that it was one of the best games he’d ever seen a half-back flanker play, while teammate Zach Tuohy said there “isn’t any doubt” Stewart is the best defender in the game.
His ability to play tall, small, one on one and loose makes him perhaps the competition’s most valuable defensive asset, and he’s all but set to lock in his third All-Australian blazer in just his sixth season.
For now at least, it’s hard to argue against Tuohy’s claim, Stewart has to be the number one seed when it comes to defenders.
Port Adelaide have found another one
It’s widely believed that two good drafts can help set up a club’s future, and Port Adelaide’s bunch from 2018 and 2019 are shaping up as special.
We all know how the Power fast-tracked their rebuild when they selected first-round trio in Zak Butters, Connor Rozee and Xavier Duursma, and they well and truly consolidated those selections with Mitch Georgiades a year later.
While Georgiades showed signs of stardom early, fellow first round pick Miles Bergman was made to wait until Round 1, 2021 to make his debut.
Breaking in to a side that was fit and came within a goal of a Grand Final in their most recent game proved that the Power were impressed with Bergman’s pre-season, and he’s now starting to make a name for himself at AFL level.
The teenage utility had 23 disposals (22 effective), seven marks, six tackles and four score involvements against the Suns on Saturday, and he’s looming as another early tick for Port’s recruiters.
If his form continues to tread upwards, Port Adelaide could have another young star on their hands to help make a genuine premiership push in 2021.
Their blend of both young and experienced talent gives them a perfect profile for sustained success near the top of the table.
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Something needs to change on the Gold Coast
While Port Adelaide’s young stars impressed, Gold Coast’s couldn’t get much going their way as the Power dictated terms.
Clearly the Suns don’t have the same calibre of experienced players to drag their young guys along, but they’d still be disappointed with where they sit after many expected progress in 2021.
They’ve now lost five of their last six games, and Saturday marked the third time they’d been thumped by 50 points or more this year.
Perhaps most disappointingly, a lot of the criticism directed towards the Suns is about effort instead of ability, as they leaked 11 end-to-end goals with the Power moving the ball up the ground with ease.
The talent’s there, but the effort’s not, and that’s been a constant theme with the Gold Coast since their inception.
They’d be looking for some kind of reaction next week when they face North Melbourne in Hobart.
Is Toby Greene the AFL’s most “box office” player?
While he’s not the best player in the competition (he’s pretty close, though), Toby Greene might be the AFL’s most watchable player.
The GWS star was absolutely everywhere against Carlton, with four goals, 20 touches and eight marks in a match-winning effort.
The stat-line is impressive enough, but it’s the way he did it which truly caught the attention.
11 of his touches directly turned into scores, but not just that, there were big marks, boundary snaps, 60 metre torps and times where he was just toying with his opposition.
We know he has the occasional brain-snap - and he’ll even catch the MRO’s attention for striking Nic Newman off the play - but Toby Greene is good for footy.
He’s genuinely box office, so much that he could be the competition’s biggest star barring Dustin Martin… imagine if he played for a Melbourne club.
The Package is back to his best
Jake Stringer’s career as a star is having a genuine rebirth in 2021.
He’s certainly been no slouch since moving from the Bulldogs to the Bombers, but his two dominant seasons in 2015 and 2016 looked well beyond him.
Injury problems, poor form and a lack of continuity in his game has hampered him since then, but it appears new Dons coach Ben Rutten is getting the best out of him again.
Stringer’s averaging career highs in tackles and clearances this year, while averaging the most goals in any campaign since his All-Australian 2015 effort.
He’s proving a genuine match-winner for a revamped Essendon side, and was clearly best afield with four goals and 29 disposals against the Hawks on Sunday.
At just 27 years old, he might just be entering his prime now, Bombers fans should get excited of what’s to come for ‘The Package’.
It’s a big week for Carlton
After announcing a review of their football department, Carlton failed to respond as they went down by 36 points to GWS on Saturday night.
The loss takes them to a 4-9 record, with their season dead and buried as they sit in 14th place.
Most disappointingly, the Blues have been in every game this year, but have failed to win in most as teams continuously pull away late.
Next week they face Adelaide, and while the result won’t dictate their ladder position too drastically, Kane Cornes believes a loss could spell the end of David Teague’s tenure as head coach.
If the Blues were ever going to give a response it’d have to be this week, all eyes will be set on Marvel Stadium next Sunday to see what they produce.
