These players are yet to sign on the dotted line,and they’ll be at the centre of trade talk in 2025. And with a club captain among their number,the chase is on.
Gold Coast,St Kilda,Hawthorn and Brisbane Lions were the big winners on AFL Saturday while more questions will be asked players pushing opponents into traffic after a young Saint was left with a suspected concussion.
All the ins and outs for round three,and how the experts see it all playing out.
AFL footballers are under more scrutiny and pressure than ever before. It’s impossible to ignore it all,no matter how hard you try. But you have to put it into perspective.
West Coast will have to explain why their star youngster made the gesture to the Gabba crowd,while Geelong’s star defender Tom Stewart remains an outside chance to play at the same venue this week against the Lions after being cleared of structural damage to his knee.
Essendon were embarrassed at the MCG while Richmond came back to earth at Adelaide Oval after a surprise round one win. Geelong and St Kilda fought out the day’s thriller at Marvel Stadium.
Geelong have led the league in scoring for the past two seasons,while St Kilda’s issues in attack are well documented. However,on Saturday night,it was the Saints who reignited their finals aspirations.
The spotlight has shone on Charlie Curnow’s inclusion in the Carlton side on Thursday night,while the AFL has conceded Hawthorn should have received more than a warning for the “major breach” of fielding 19 players on the ground.
Max Holmes doesn’t set goals,nor dwell on his preliminary final heartache. But he’s desperate to improve. At this rate,he could be the Cats’ best player and one of the AFL’s finest by season’s end.
Ross Lyon made a statement at the selection table,while Collingwood also made some key calls.