Star ‘playing for his spot’; ‘damning’ issue quickly emerges: Nine AFL contenders’ flaws exposed

No team is perfect, no matter how healthy or convincing their win-loss records might be.

And for this year’s nine finals contenders, there’s still room for growth.

With the held of Fox Footy’s On The Couch panel and Champion Data, we take a look at the “warts” of all nine teams contending to play finals this season.

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COLLINGWOOD

Weakness/question mark: Counterpunch

Between Opening Round and Round 15, the Pies were second for points scored from half-back. But between Rounds 16 and 20, they’ve sat 13th.

“If you’re looking at anything to try and gain that little edge from what you’re currently doing to when the finals come around, it’s that counterpunch off half-back,” four-time premiership star Jordan Lewis told On the Couch.

“I think the other interesting part to the Collingwood conversation is, is Dan Houston playing for his spot in this Collingwood finals team? … There’s going to be some tough decisions. I genuinely think he’s playing for his spot in a Collingwood finals team.”

In the first half against the Tigers, Houston ranked 37th on the ground for player rating after just four disposals and one intercept.

Triple premiership Tiger Jack Riewoldt added: “There’s six to come back for Collingwood; that’s the thing you’ve got to factor in.

“They traded a lot to get this man. Maybe that’s the big decision that’s coming.”

Jordan De Goey, Bobby Hill, Beau McCreery, Jeremy Howe, Billy Frampton and Scott Pendlebury are walk-up inclusions to the side that beat Richmond in Round 20.

“The only thing there is that there’s only Jeremy Howe, and Frampton as well, that are defenders, but they’re deep defenders. So, they’re not playing in the same role that Houston’s playing in,” Magpies legend Nathan Buckley said.

ADELAIDE CROWS

Weakness/question mark: Clearance game

Much has been made of Adelaide’s electric forward line and improving defensive group.

But there remains doubt over its on-ball brigade.

Adelaide ranked seventh for clearance differential between Rounds 0-11, but has sat a lowly 16th between Rounds 12-20.

Triple premiership Lion Jonathan Brown said the one question mark on the Crows remained “the depth of midfield”.

“They’ve just got to fix up this part of the game,” he told On The Couch.

“(James) Peatling’s 240th (ranked in the AFL), (Sam) Berry 130, (Luke) Pedlar doesn’t even qualify because he’s only played the past two matches, (Jake) Soligo there as well.

“ know they’re supported by the outsiders, (but) you just wonder about that midfield and how that depth holds up.”

BRISBANE LIONS

Weakness/question mark: Midfield

Brisbane irrefutably has a star-studded engine room. But of late, it hasn’t been performing.

In the past six rounds, the Lions have sat 14th for points from clearance, 18th for points against from clearance, and 16th for clearances.

Riewoldt declared they were “some damning numbers for a very good midfield”, adding the ruck combination of Oscar McInerney and Darcy Fort “were smacked by Jarrod Witts” during the Lions’ loss to the Suns.

Brown added: “I think that’s the last time you’ll see two rucks. Forward McInerney is not working, McInerney’s clearly sore. So, I think Sam Day, who played reserves (last weekend), will come back in as the backup ruckman/forward — that Joe Daniher role — so there’ll be a bit of a change in mix.

“Purely on that stoppage stuff, they’ve got to get to work.”

GEELONG CATS

Weakness/question mark: Defending ball movement

The Cats, since Round 12, have been one of the AFL’s hottest teams, winning eight of their past 10 games by an average margin of 63 points. And in those eight wins — of which six have been against bottom-nine team — they’ve averaged 120 points.

Yet Geelong is ranked 18th — against the top nine sides — for defending opposition half-back to score.

But Lewis said he saw it as an “opportunity” for the Cats to improve, rather than a flaw that’ll break their flag aspirations.

“You like to think of it as ‘warts’ and what’s going wrong with their game,” Lewis said.

“I like to think of it as: This is the opportunity for this side to hone in a little bit on these actions, which can get them the edge to take them to premiership glory.

HAWTHORN

Weakness/question mark: Midfield

Like the Crows, Hawthorn’s lack of midfield depth remains a concern — despite recently regaining their No.1 man from injury.

Against Carlton in Round 20, the Hawks were -12 for first possessions, -12 for clearances and -8 for centre clearances.

“The return of Will Day helps the Hawthorn midfield, but at the moment, their numbers in terms of first possession, clearance and centre clearances have not been up to standard and were not up to standard on the weekend — and that was with Will Day in the side,” Riewoldt said.

Riewoldt also flagged the selection conundrum around the Hawks’ tall forward set-up.

“I think the fascinating watch over the back part of the year is Mabior Chol,” he said.

“He would be their preferred forward-ruck option but at the moment finds himself out of the side. Calsher Dear performed well the other night, Mitch Lewis gives them a different look ahead of the ball — a bigger key forward which Chol doesn’t give them — and Jack Gunston.

“I think Chol misses out. I think they go with the three they had on the weekend.”

GWS GIANTS

Weakness/question mark: Holding up

This is something Buckley has been all over all year.

Despite their exciting recent form, the Giants this season rank 16th for inside 50s against.

As star-studded as their dependable backline is, Buckley said the Giants are doing themselves no favours.

“They’ve been living with it, and everyone’s known about it, but they’ve still been able to perform through it,” he said.

“Just to give that much weight of field position away, I don’t know whether that’s sustainable.

“Having said that, 17 inside 50s in the second half they gave Sydney, which was their best return for a half for the year — 21 against West Coast was their previous best.”

FREMANTLE

Weakness/question mark: Post-clearance contest

With the likes of Caleb Serong, Andrew Brayshaw and Luke Jackson, you’d think the midfield would be Fremantle’s biggest weapon.

The numbers, however, suggest otherwise.

The Dockers this year are ranked 13th for contested possessions and 13th for groundball gets.

“Once the clearance leaves the 10 to 20me bubble that you need to get over to … Hayden Young, I think, helps this, (Sam) Switkowski back helps this,” Lewis said.

“So, the contested possessions and the groundball gets, post-clearance, is a real opportunity for them.”

GOLD COAST SUNS

Weakness/question mark: Turnover scoring

The Suns are surging towards a maiden finals appearance.

But they’re falling short in one of the most important KPIs in footy of late.

Between Opening Round and Round 11, the Suns had no issue punishing their opposition off turnover, ranking second in the competition.

Between Rounds 12 and 20, though, it’s been a vastly different story, ranking 13th in that time.

“They were smashing it out of the park early, half-backs running hard and being able to score especially from the back half,” Buckley said. “They haven’t been as strong with that in the past couple of months.

“If you’re scoring 84 points from clearance (against Brisbane last Saturday), you’re probably not going to be pressured to turnover score as much. But, as we know, that back-half scoring in particular is a model that the premiership sides have been able to action well.”

Daniel Rioli’s absence due to a fractured tibia hasn’t helped, of course.

WESTERN BULLDOGS

Weakness/question mark: Defensive woes

It’s seemingly been the Bulldogs’ Achilles Heel for years.

Luke Beveridge’s side is ranked ninth for points against, 11th for scores per inside 50 against and eighth for points against from turnovers.

“I just wonder (about) the inexperience of (James) O’Donnell, (Jedd) Busslinger and (Luke) Cleary in their back six,” Brown said.

“That’s going to be a watch for the Dogs if they go all the way.”