Chris Fagan flagged a tough review for Joe Daniher after the loss to the Bulldogs.Credit:Getty Images
Collingwood d Richmond
Big crowd,big occasion,and it was the Magpies who again proved they are made of the right stuff. Forget the final margin because Collingwood were clearly the better side. There is probably still a slight query on their no-frills forward line,with recruitDan McStay yet to take a match by the scruff of the neck. But they will have no shortage of supply ifJordan De Goey,Tom Mitchell,Steele Sidebottom andJack Crisp keep playing the way they are.Billy Frampton’sarrival also gives coach Craig McRae options for the opposition’s best key forward,too,after a superb shutdown job on usual Pies nemesisTom Lynch. As for the Tigers,there must be some concern despite them having a genuine excuse with a lengthy injury list. The cavalry –Dustin Martin,Jayden Short andJacob Hopper – is on its way for Saturday’s clash with a Western Bulldogs team just as desperate for a win. It’s far too early to panic,but Richmond haven’t shown the same high gear as other top sides so far this year. They need more from players outside ofLiam Baker andDaniel Rioli. –Marc McGowan
Hawthorn d North Melbourne
This was billed as a grudge match between master coachAlastair Clarkson and his one-time protege,Sam Mitchell. And the smile on Mitchell’s face once this clash in Launceston was done indicated yes,he was happy to have banked the Hawks’ first four points of the season,but also relieved that his first head-to-head meeting against Clarkson had gone his way. Mitchell tactically had the better of Clarkson. The latter opted to have his men defend space,rather than a player,through the midfield. Mitchell counter-attacked by instructing his team to chip its way through the zone and hold possession. It worked a treat,forJai Newcombe,Will Day,Dylan Moore and,particularly in the first half,Changkouth Jiath,used their skills well. The Hawks led by 31 points early in the third term. The Kangaroos rallied late,but the Hawks – with three goals byTyler Brockman in his first senior game since 2021 – hung tough. The Roos clearly missed two of their prime midfielders,skipperJy Simpkin (suspended) andLuke Davies-Uniacke (tight calf),who withdrew in the warm-up. Rookie standoutHarry Sheezel was superb,and did his best to drag the Roos to what would have been a third straight win. The Hawks remain a major work in progress,and desperately need a marking tall up forward,but this win eases what had been a burning spotlight on a rebuild in its infancy. –Jon Pierik
Carlton d GWS
Like many other teams,the Blues are making an effort to keep intensity high in their midfield and rest their guns,soPatrick Cripps,despite his 42-possession masterclass,spent time “resting” in the forward line late in Saturday’s win over the Giants. “We have to get intensity around the ball for four quarters so when he came on the field,he ended up going deep forward,but that was more to do with giving him a rest. He was pretty handy across the day,wasn’t he?” Blues coachMichael Voss said. The Blues also have a very impressive defensive stopper inNic Newman,who kept GWS skipperToby Greene to one of the quietest days of his career. Voss praised Newman’s first month of 2023. Speaking of intensity,Matt Owies (hamstring) andBlake Acres (shoulder) have played important roles up forward and in the midfield this season,but both are under clouds with Owies subbed out with a “minor hamstring” while Acres was clearly hurting but played out the game. He has also been given a one-game ban by the match review officer. – Roy Ward
Patrick Cripps picked up 42 touches in the win over GWS.Credit:Getty Images