One positive and one negative from your club's Round 19 performance

It was a big round of footy and there were important storylines across the weekend.

We have selected one positive and one negative from the Round 18 performance of each of the 19 clubs.

See our thoughts below:

Positive: Broke a mini drought

The Crows have shown plenty of positive signs this season, but endured a mini slump over the last month with four straight losses at an average losing margin of 41.75.

That run of outs was snapped against Hawthorn in Melbourne.

Matthew Nicks’ men saw off a number of challenges from the Hawks before putting them away late to notch a sixth win which saw them jump above Collingwood on the ladder.

It will do them a world of good ahead of their set of tricky fixtures against in-form sides the Western Bulldogs, Port Adelaide, Melbourne and North Melbourne, and saw them climb out of the wooden spoon race.

Rory Laird was immense in the win with 36 touches, a massive eight centre clearances, 20 contested possessions and two goals.

Negative: Allowed the Hawks plenty of looks

While they got the result they wanted, the Crows did give the Hawks plenty of opportunities.

Their opponents finished with 59 inside 50s (to 48) and a better side might have scored more heavily.

It did not impact the outcome, but against a stronger team the Crows might have been in some trouble.

Nevertheless, they got the win which is all they would have wanted.

Andrew Slevison

Positive: Lyons makes Suns pay again

Former Sun Jarryd Lyons continues to haunt his old club.

After being delisted in 2018 by Gold Coast, Lyons has flourished under Chris Fagan at the Gabba as a consistent inside midfielder.

Whether it’s something about the Q-Clash or Lyons being motivated to show up his old club, he often plays his best football against Stuart Dew’s side.

His performance on Sunday where he collected 33 disposals and 18 contested possessions earned him the Marcus Ashcroft Medal for best afield – the second time he’s taken home the award this year.

While Lachie Neale, Hugh McCluggage and Dayne Zorko are the most eye-catching Brisbane midfielders, it’s Lyons who allows them to flourish with his inside work.

The club will forever be thankful that the Suns decided he was surplus to requirements some three years ago.

Negative: Poor first-half performance

Nobody would have predicted a 49-point Brisbane win on Saturday after watching their first-half performance.

The Lions trailed at the main break by 27 points, and it could have been worse, such was Gold Coast’s domination of the opening two terms.

On one hand, it’s a credit to the Lions that they were able to turn things around so convincingly, but it’s also a little worrying that their worst is bad enough to look non-competitive.

With just four weeks remaining this season, they’ll be hoping to see less of what they produced in the first half and more of what they came up with in the second.

Lachlan Geleit

Positive: Charlie Curnow gets through unscathed again

Charlie Curnow’s now played two practice games for the Blues and gotten through without issue.

This will hopefully put him in line for his first game at AFL level since 2019 when Carlton takes on St Kilda this weekend.

Given Carlton had no healthy key forwards on their entire list last weekend, that would be handy.

Other than that? Yeah, not a whole lot of positives for the Blues.

Negative: Defensively ripped apart

Carlton conceded seven goals from 12 inside 50s in the third quarter of this game, could not defend the corridor and made life impossible for Jacob Weitering and Liam Jones.

Their midfield refuses to run defensively, their half-backs are too offensively minded and their system has been opened up consistently across the season.

Carlton is the only team this year to concede eight scores of 100 or more and that stat alone will have David Teague on thin ice.

Had the Blues beaten the 18th placed Roos, they would be two points outside the top eight right now despite everything. Instead, they’re headed for what could be a total club overhaul.

Nic Negrepontis

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Positive: Ruscoe’s move back

Second year utility Trey Ruscoe is starting to find a home off half-back.

Originally recruited to the club as a defender, Ruscoe was used primarily as a forward in his first seven games at AFL level.

Quite surprisingly, it was necessity that sent Ruscoe into his preferred position, with Will Kelly’s injury against Richmond in Round 17 forcing the 19-year-old back in just his eighth AFL game.

A 10-disposal second half against the Tigers has been followed up by 23 and 20-disposal efforts respectively against Carlton and Port Adelaide, with his best traits coming to the fore in the back end of the ground.

Ruscoe looks a good user coming out of defensive 50, and his height allows him to peel off and impact other contests both as an interceptor or third man up.

While the Magpies have plenty of options in the half-back position, Ruscoe is doing everything he can to lock down his spot in future.

It would be surprising to see him anywhere else in black and white from here on out.

Negative: Pendlebury’s injury

Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury will miss the remainder of the 2021 season with a fractured leg.

After playing 334 games across 16 seasons he’s finally succumbed to his second serious injury, having also fracturing his leg a decade prior in 2009.

Pendlebury’s loss was evident on Friday night against Port Adelaide, with the Power controlling the centre without the Pies captain to worry about.

While he’ll be ready to go for the 2022 pre-season, Pendlebury would have hoped to see out this season to help bring through the Magpies’ young midfield brigade in the last four rounds.

It’ll be interesting to see how they cope in the final four games without him directing the troops.

Lachlan Geleit

Positive: Jordan Ridley stands tall in defeat

On a disappointing evening for the Bombers, Jordan Ridley was the side’s rock in defence and looked as composed as ever.

25 touches at 92 per cent efficiency as well as six marks was a fantastic return for a player that is central to Essendon’s next generation.

Ridley stood up well as the Giants fought back in the second half, doing everything in his power to restrict what was coming his way.

Negative: Beaten again in two key facets

Two key issues reared their head for the Bombers in losing to the Giants – both their inability to defend transition consistently as well as losing the midfield battle their ultimate downfall.

After looking good in the first half, Essendon conceded three goals in the opening seven minutes of the third term as the game slowly slipped away.

Their finals hopes still remain alive, but they’ll need to beat Sydney in Round 20 to keep pace with the other hopefuls vying for the bottom two places in the eight.

Laurence Rosen

Positive: The young midfield trio

Fremantle’s midfield trio of Andrew Brayshaw, Adam Cerra and Caleb Serong continue to lead the way, rubberstamping the club’s recent drafting.

Brayshaw led the way with 34 disposals and four clearances against Sydney, Cerra picked up 30 touches and kicked two goals and Serong finished with 26 disposals, seven clearances and seven score involvements.

With Nathan Fyfe out for the season, the trio will be relied upon further to get the job done and it will be critical for their development.

Negative: Injuries mount once again

After toughing it out and playing on with a shoulder injury, Nathan Fyfe will go in for surgery after the latest dislocation.

This will end his season and allow him to get right for 2022.

Veteran Michael Walters also went down with a hamstring injury in another frustrating blow.

It’s been a tough season for Walters and if the hamstring injury is serious, he will likely spend the rest of it on the sidelines.

Nic Negrepontis

Positive: Geelong set to face good problem up forward

Just how would Geelong go with key forward pair Gary Rohan and Jeremy Cameron missing through injury? The big question when a long way to being answered on Sunday afternoon.

While it was no surprise to see Tom Hawkins bag another four goals, Esava Ratugolea booting four majors was the big positive to come out of Geelong’s win over Richmond.

Ratugolea has been in and out of the side throughout his career at Kardinia Park, but he put on his best display of the year when his side were in desperate need of finding someone to partner Hawkins with two of the so-called three-headed monster up forward missing.

If Ratugolea can continue in fine style, it’ll give Chris Scott plenty to think about heading into finals.

Negative: Injury worry for Selwood

The Cats captain appeared to pick up a thigh injury in the opening term against the Tigers and while he continued for a further two quarters, he was ultimately subbed out of the match.

Geelong will be taking no chances with their prized midfield and with both Jordan Clark and Charlie Constable in reserve, it wouldn’t surprise to see him miss against North Melbourne this weekend.

Laurence Rosen

Positive: Career-best day for talented Sun

Brayden Fiorini delivered a career-best performance in Gold Coast’s QClash loss to the Brisbane.

The 23-year-old racked up a career-high 41 disposals, eight marks, six score involvements and four clearances to further cement his spot in the side.

Fiorini is averaging 27 touches, five tackles and 4.6 clearances since he was recalled to the senior side in Round 14.

Rising Star nominee Jeremy Sharp (31 disposals) and star midfielder Touk Miller (32 and nine tackles) were again impressive for the Suns.

Negative: Squandered lead

Gold Coast took a 27-point lead into half-time as a major upset loomed at the Gabba.

It was all downhill from there.

The Suns were outscored 13 goals to one in the second half as the Lions ran riot to record a come-from-behind 49-point win.

Brisbane completed a 78-point turnaround to condemn Gold Coast to their sixth straight QClash loss.

Oleg Markov’s hamstring injury further soured the Suns’ disappointing defeat.

Alex Zaia

Positive: Second-half fight

The Giants were behind by almost three goals at the main break and staring down the barrel of another disappointing defeat.

After the main break, however, Leon Cameron’s side definitely played like there was a spot in the eight up for grabs.

They completely restricted the Bombers, keeping them to one second-half goal while kicking 6.6 themselves to come over the top and snap a two-game losing run.

Promising midfielder Tom Green was massive again and is pushing his case for the Rising Star award. He had 29 disposals and six clearances, while the classy Lachie Whitfield had 35 touches.

Negative: Scrappy beginning

On the flip side of their second-half fight, the Giants were scrappy early.

GWS allowed the Bombers to force their way out of congestion and in using the ball less efficiently found themselves with quarter-time and half-time deficits.

Some wayward kicking in front of goal had them on 3.6 at the main break and subsequently in arrears.

But as highlighted above, they were able to turn things around to record a vital win.

Andrew Slevison

Positive: Mitch Lewis hits the scoreboard

It’s been a rough few months for Mitch Lewis, who found himself out of the team with a concussion suffered during a boxing incident at training.

However, he’s had a good fortnight since returning to the side, kicking five goals in two games.

Lewis booted three against the Crows on Saturday night from 13 disposals and took five marks in a display more symbolic of his promising 2019 form.

Negative: James Cousins’ hamstring

James Cousins was substituted out of the loss to Adelaide with a hamstring injury, compounding the defeat.

After entering the side as a late inclusion last weekend, Cousins held his spot and was on track for another strong performance, picking up 18 disposals before the injury.

The 23-year-old has played 10 games this season, averaging 19 disposals and four tackles per game.

Nic Negrepontis

Positive: Brown and Pickett hit the scoreboard

On a disappointing night for the Demons, they may be slowly figuring out their best forward mix with both Ben Brown and Kysaiah Pickett kicking two majors apiece.

It’s been a central talking point with this side, with Tom McDonald being a mainstay as Simon Goodwin shifted the magnets to try and find their best mix.

But as the finals rapidly approach, it’s Brown who could be the side’s most importance piece. If he fires, the Demons could become a different team.

Negatives: Melbourne outgunned as more questions linger

Just where in the premiership pecking order are the Demons?

On the back of another loss – albeit it to one of the competition’s hottest sides in the Western Bulldogs – questions continue to linger about where Melbourne stacks up against their fellow premiership contenders.

While it’s hard to pinpoint just exactly what’s gone wrong in the last few weeks, they still have a month to sort things out before finals arrive and that will give Goodwin plenty of hope.

Laurence Rosen

Positive: Offensive game comes together

Carlton parted like the Red Sea for them, but North Melbourne’s attacking brand through the middle of the ground was something to behold on Saturday.

The Roos were slick through the corridor and constantly found players on their own inside 50, simply through their aggressiveness and speed.

Nick Larkey was on the receiving end of the transition dominance, kicking seven goals, while Jaidyn Stephenson and Tarryn Thomas combined for seven of their own and were the chief destroyers going forward.

This is a performance North fans can hold onto as a glimpse of what the team could look like consistently in a few years.

Negative: Will Phillips’ nose

It’s hard to pick out a negative for North Melbourne other than Will Phillips’ substitution with a nose injury.

It’s unclear whether he will miss weeks with the injury. It would be disappointing given the form he has shown in the last month.

The Kangaroos ticked all the boxes on Saturday afternoon.

Nic Negrepontis

Positive: Consolidated fourth spot in Boak’s 300th

Port Adelaide got the win in Travis Boak’s 300th game.

The Power strengthened their grip on fourth spot by beating Collingwood by 28 points with tall trio Charlie Dixon (four goals) and Todd Marshall (three) and Peter Ladhams (two) firing up forward.

Port won the clearances (39-32), stoppage clearances (28-19) and contested ball (142-126) thanks to work of Boak (30 disposals and seven clearances), Willem Drew (32 and eight) and Ollie Wines (30 and a goal).

An important win given fifth-placed Brisbane and sixth-placed Sydney also recorded victories.

Negative: Scope for improvement

It took until the last quarter for the Power to shake off a young Collingwood outfit who lost captain Scott Pendlebury to injury in the first quarter.

Doubts remain over Port Adelaide’s premiership credentials given their record against top eight opposition this season.

While wins are vital at this time of the year, they would have envisaged a more convincing performance against the lowly Magpies.

Lots of scope for improvement with games against GWS, Adelaide, Carlton and the Western Bulldogs to come before the finals.

Alex Zaia

Positive: Intent evident

On paper, Richmond was already outgunned against a very strong Geelong side.

But just as they did against Brisbane last weekend, Damien Hardwick’s Tigers cracked in all day and at times made life difficult for the Cats.

They did lack some composure and class, but their intent was evident.

Daniel Rioli was one of few Tigers who won on the day with a third impressive display as a rebounding half-back flanker.

He had 19 disposals and seven tackles, while mid-season pickup Matt Parker did all the tough things in his 19-tough, eight-tackle outing.

Negative: Skill errors, missed set shots

The undermanned Tigers were never going to beat a seasoned Geelong outfit, but at least they could have put themselves in a position to seriously challenge had they been a bit tidier.

It was a contest of high pressure so mistakes were bound to happen, but Richmond made a lot of them.

In the third quarter, Liam Baker, Tom Lynch and Jack Riewoldt all missed very gettable set shots with the Cats almost immediately responding with goals down the other end. It was essentially a five-goal turnaround.

As mentioned, it wouldn’t have impacted the result as the Cats were more or less in control, but it did deny Richmond any chance of a late rally.

Andrew Slevison

Positive: King’s breakout game

Max King’s performances have come in for criticism throughout the year, but the young key forward has well and truly arrived.

King threatened to single-handedly drag St Kilda over the line, dominating West Coast’s defence with eight contested marks and a career-best six-goal haul.

The 21-year-old’s goalkicking has also improved, kicking 16.4 in his past six games.

King has now booted 30 goals for the season at just under two a game.

Dan Butler recaptured his 2020 form with 20 disposals, 11 score involvements and two goals.

Negative: Key names have off day

The Saints trailed from start to finish in Saturday’s eight-point loss to the Eagles in Perth.

Brett Ratten’s side ultimately fell short in what was a fighting performance after West Coast threatened to blow the game open.

St Kilda lost the clearances (40-31) and centre clearances (17-10) as key midfielders Jack Steele (18 disposals), Brad Crouch (17) and Jack Billings (15) all had quiet afternoons.

Co-captain Steele did however lay 13 tackles, eight more than the second-best Saint Paul Hunter.

St Kilda must beat Carlton this week if they’re any chance of making the finals.

Alex Zaia

Positive: Heeney gives us a glimpse

Isaac Heeney was at his dynamic best on Sunday against Fremantle.

The mid/forward was by far the best player on the ground – kicking five goals, collecting 22 disposals and taking a massive mark to go along with it.

There’s no doubting he’s one of the most exciting and damaging players in the competition when he’s at his best, and we’re starting to see it more often on a consistent basis.

While his overall disposal numbers have dropped slightly, Heeney is averaging career highs in both goals and marks as he plays forward more often.

With the Swans’ on-ball unit working well, it’s a luxury for Sydney to be able to play Heeney primarily inside 50, and he looms as a genuine match-winner heading into finals.

Coming into his prime at age 25, Heeney’s starting to become the player many have hoped he’d become.

Negative: Reckless Franklin could cost himself

Sydney superstar Lance Franklin is walking a fine line in regards to suspension.

Buddy is set to face MRO scrutiny for elbowing Fremantle defender Luke Ryan on Sunday, with his on-field recklessness becoming a bit of a recurring topic.

This incident marks the third time Franklin will face MRO deliberation this season – having being assessed for collisions with Port Adelaide’s Jarrod Lienert and Carlton’s Nic Newman earlier in the campaign.

While he escaped suspension on those two occasions, Franklin is coming increasingly closer to missing games for his actions, and it could cost both he and his club.

The loss of their star tall could ruin Sydney’s top four hopes, while missing games could also mean he won’t reach the 1000 goal marker in 2021.

We want to see Buddy on field more often than we have in the last few seasons.

Hopefully his recklessness doesn’t cost him key opportunities with the improving Swans.

Lachlan Geleit

Positive: Breathing room

West Coast have long loomed as a potential casualty of a tepid top eight race. Going into Round 19, the Eagles were just four competition points ahead of Essendon, Richmond, Fremantle and opponents St Kilda, with a percentage under 100.

Ahead of meetings with top four fancied Melbourne and Brisbane, a trip to the MCG to face Collingwood and a cut-throat Western Derby, Adam Simpson’s side have bought themselves some time.

The win rests on the second term, a showcase for this Eagle era. Ensnared by West Coast’s web across the centre of the ground, the Saints kicked high from defence, and felt the numbers close in when the ball went to ground.

Jamie Cripps pushed up the ground and was rewarded with more than five opening half score involvements, Nic Naitanui had won four clearances to half-time with two goal launches among them, while Tim Kelly went inside 50 five times from his 13 disposals in the second term.

The reward for just 40 to 60 minutes of that compactness was vital in the context of the ladder, and the second quarter will have been a welcome taster of what they can be as the finals near.

Negative: The Saints walked through them

West Coast weren’t so structurally sound after half-time. The visitors scored from more than half their forward entries in the third term without closing the gap, but kicked goals from each of their first three inside 50s in the final quarter.

It appeared Saints coach Brett Ratten had instructed his team to possess the ball by hand and back their superior leg speed, only pulling the trigger by foot when spearhead Max King was in range, and it left the Eagles a little flat-footed.

King consistently asserted front position and plucked contested marks even when West Coast had the extra seconds in defensive transition to jam up his leading lane, and he closed the margin to seven points with three minutes to go.

Dom Sheed twice punctured the Saints’ ballooning hopes of a second come-from-behind victory over the Eagles this season, fed the ball as he feinted onto his favoured left foot.

Simpson will be pleased his side could counter the visitors’ aggressive approach, but to concede 38 points in the final term was to flirt with danger, and he’ll hope to tighten up their game over four quarters.

Small forward Liam Ryan pulling up sore with a hamstring complaint early in the game was a dampener. Fingers crossed for a short-term stay on the sidelines.

Nathan John

Positive: Watch out for the Schach… defence?

When Josh Schache last appeared at the elite level, he was bullied by athletic Richmond defender Noah Balta. The ex-Lion failed to pull down even one contested mark; the son of the Electrical Trades Union’s assistant secretary snaffled four and ran away with the pill.

As far as many Dogs fans were concerned, the 23-year-old’s papers were stamped. The talent was evident - Schache took five contested marks in just his second AFL game, and kicked 19 goals in 10 games at the back end of 2019 - but his confidence was shot.

Contracted for another season however, popular thought turned to whether Schache could be re-deployed behind the ball. Former Dogs tall Liam Jones was similarly bound for the scrapheap after just 17 games at Carlton; he has since lined up in the Blues’ backline on 76 occasions.

On Saturday evening, weeks of work on the training track and at reserve level came to fruition as Schache registered 17 disposals - his equal most in a game - with seven intercepts, six marks, four tackles and four rebound 50s.

He had nervous moments when the game went to ground, and needs to better assert himself and protect the loose ball, but the position ensured his head stayed in the game, and the Dogs were all the better for having his 199cm frame, long reach and smooth kicking in the defensive mix.

Negative: The body count

It was fortunate Schache settled into his new role so swiftly, because the Dogs were down wily key defender Alex Keath before the former Crow had registered a stat.

Substituted in the opening minutes with a hamstring injury, Keath has been the bulwark between the Dogs and disaster throughout the past two seasons.

Mistakenly perceived as an interceptor on the smaller side, the 29-year-old initiates body contact at the right time to get separation in one-on-one contests, and has a trick bag full of taps and knock-ons when the ball goes to ground.

His craftiness, physicality and vocal leadership will be missed, through coach Luke Beveridge sounded optimistic after the game.

“Until you scan these you don’t know, but it may be a good sign that he jogged off and didn’t need help,” Beveridge told his press conference.

Ed Richards suffered a concussion from a clash with Kysaiah Pickett, and will miss the next game. It is worrisome after the 22-year-old was concussed in the pre-season last year, and disappointing given injury and illness have already interrupted so much of his season.

Nathan John