The 2024 season is turning into a write-off for the reigning premiers, while one flag contender is in “perfect shape” as the final stretch of the season commences.
Plus, the key-position jackknife that has ‘reinvigorated’ an out-of-form finals fancy.
Every club’s burning question ahead of Round 18, as well as the commentators for every Fox Footy game, in our ultimate weekly preview: The Blowtorch!
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2011 AFL GF Rewind – Cats v Pies | 08:19
COLLINGWOOD v GEELONG
Friday July 12, 7.40pm at the MCG
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 6.30pm on Channel 504 with Garry Lyon, Jonthan Brown, Nathan Buckley, Jordan Lewis, Cameron Mooney & Jon Ralph followed by Fox Footy Live
Magpies’ burning question: Is it turning into a write-off season?
Collingwood’s on-field problems in 2024 — where the reigning premiers just don’t look as dog hungry as last year — have been compounded by widespread injuries. Just as they’ve gotten players back, others have gone out in what has eventuated in a vicious cycle — resulting in an unsettled side with constant forced changes to the 23. A loss to Geelong would see the Pies’ already-dwindling finals hopes cop a big hit in what’s fast turning into a write-off season. You can add Brody Mihocek (pectoral) and Jeremy Howe (hamstring awareness) to that list of casualties, with the latter being swung forward in recent weeks given how undermanned Collingwood has been in its forward. Triple premiership Lion Jonathan Brown on Fox Footy expressed concerns with the ongoing injuries, particularly given they’ve largely been in the “one area of the ground”. Brown said: “Mihocek, (Dan) McStay, (Jamie) Elliott, (Mason) Cox and (Beau) McCreery won’t be there on the weekend and they’re having problems with their forward connection.” The question then is whether the injuries are just an excuse, because it’s not like the healthy players are in top form either.
Cats’ burning question: Has Scott reinvented them?
Chris Scott has never been one to sit on his hands, particularly when the Cats need a spark. After a recent slump where some were putting a line through Geelong, Scott has shuffled the magnets including moving Tom Stewart into the middle and Sam De Koning into the ruck for great effect. Saints great Leigh Montagna sees De Koning, who’s spent the majority of his career in defence, as a “future Mark Blicavs” for the Cats, having averaged 20.3 disposals, 11.3 contested, 4.3 clearances and four tackles over the last three games spent between the arcs. “It’s been great to reinvigorate the place and give guys different challenges … (De Koning) is a guy they can deploy anywhere. I think in the future he could play as a forward alongside Jeremy Cameron, wing and rolling back like Chris Scott loves to do. I think he’s going to be an absolute weapon higher up the ground,” Montagna said on Fox Footy’s First Crack.
Which AFL contenders are real? | 04:03
HAWTHORN v FREMANTLE
Saturday July 13, 1.45pm at UTAS Stadium
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 1.30pm on Channel 504 Dwayne Russell, David King, Gerard Healy, Cameron Mooney & Jon Ralph
Hawks’ burning question: Can they bounce back in mini final?
After a 0-5 start to 2024, Hawthorn’s resurgence has been one of the great stories of 2024. Sam Mitchell’s side however was brought back to earth in 51-point loss at the Cattery last weekend to suddenly put the Hawks in a precarious position in terms of playing finals — sitting a game and healthy percentage outside the top eight. In reality, featuring in September was always a long shot and the club’s promising long-term outlook is ultimately the bigger takeaway from this year. Still, Hawthorn can keep those faint finals hopes alive against the third-placed Dockers at its UTAS Stadium fortress in a do-or-die game for Mitchell and company.
Dockers’ burning question: Is breakout gun an All-Australian smoky?
Josh Treacy’s emergence as one of the game’s premier forwards has played a key role in the Dockers’ rise in 2024. Coming off a career-best five-goal haul against Richmond, Treacy has 35 goals with 21 score assists to his name in 2024, forming an exciting duo with fellow young gun Jye Amiss. St Kilda great Leigh Montagna on Fox Footy’s First Crack heaped praise on Treacy, suggesting he should be in the mix for an All-Australian key forward spot. Montagna said: “He plays like the real alpha male and key forward that uses his body well, is aggressive and loves the physical contact. He’s in a rich vein if form playing sensational footy … alongside Jye Amiss they’ve got some pretty special key forwards for a long time.”
Isaac Heeney loses at AFL appeal board | 00:57
SYDNEY SWANS v NORTH MELBOURNE
Saturday July 13, 1.45pm at the SCG
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 1.30pm on Channel 503 with Leigh Montagna, Dermott Brereton, Nick Dal Santo, Alastair Lynch & Jon Ralph
Swans’ burning question: Has superstar trio’s dominance masked over issues?
The Swans dropped their second-straight game last Sunday against St Kilda — just their third overall loss in 2024 — as some vulnerabilities in their game have emerged. It was inevitable Sydney would eventually drop off in some way from its insane heights, while it’ll hardly be concerned sitting two games and healthy percentage clear on top of the ladder. However, Saints great Leigh Montagna noted the “one question” hanging over John Longmire’s side is whether the dominance of superstar midfield trio Chad Warner, Isaac Heeney and Errol Gulden potentially masked other issues. “How much of it is the Sydney system that has been terrific and how much of is it just the individual brilliance? Particularly Heeney but Warner and Gulden have also not been at their absolute best the last two weeks, and they’ve been slightly vulnerable,” Montagna said. Roos legend David King added: “The challenge goes back to John Longmire — what do you have in your kit bag that’s different for the back half of the year? I guarantee you he’ll have something up his sleeve.”
Kangaroos’ burning question: Could you make Sheezel captain as early as next year?
Harry Sheezel’s extraordinary on-field exploits through 39 games are arguably as good as we’ve seen. He’s averaged 27.9 disposals, 443 metres gained, 7.8 contested possessions and 4.5 score involvements including a move to the midfield earlier this year paying dividends for Alastair Clarkson’s much-improved side. The 19-year-old, who’s already part of the Roos’ leadership group, has future skipper written all over him … so how soon is too soon? “One of the youngest captains of all time and the greatest was Wayne Carey — after four seasons and 60 games he became captain. If Sheezel plays the rest of the year, he’ll be up to 46 games; do you pull the trigger on him as captain?” Lions great Jonathan Brown asked on Fox Footy. Two-time premiership winning Roos coach Dennis Pagan called for the Roos to take a “punt” on making Sheezel captain for 2025 — a role the young star admitted on AFL 360 he was interested in, but suggested next year would be too soon. Five-time All-Australian Garry Lyon highlighted former Melbourne co-captains Jack Trengove and Jack Grimes are the “cautionary tale” of anointing players too early, which came during the Demons’ lowest ebb, with the pair struggling in the role they didn’t appear ready. And so, while Lyon wasn’t sure if 2025 would be the right time to make Sheezel skipper, he said the former Pick 3 “will captain the Kangas at some stage.”
Scott v Hall – Full Fight Highlights | 03:23
WESTERN BULLDOGS v CARLTON
Saturday July 13, 4.35pm at Marvel Stadium
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 4.30pm on Channel 504 with Mark Howard, Anthony Hudson, Garry Lyon, Jonathan Brown, Ben Dixon & Jon Ralph
Bulldogs’ burning question: After a shocker and in the midst of a hectic finals race, is this must-win?
Despite a promising previous month of football, the Bulldogs’ inconsistency concern has reared its head yet again after a disenchanting loss to Port Adelaide last Saturday. “They just weren’t threatening, and it just wasn’t the Dogs that we’ve come to expect in the last four weeks,” Mark Robinson told Fox Footy’s AFL 360 on Monday night. “And because they had such a poor start to the year, they can’t afford to drop games and they can’t afford to drop these kinds of games. My faith in the Dogs took a severe hit … I think the heat is rising out at the Dogs.” Their next four fixtures comprise Carlton, Geelong, Sydney and Melbourne as they sit 8-8 in 11th spot on the ladder. Further, they are already trailing the eighth-placed Giants by four premiership points and can ill-afford another defeat in their quest for a September appearance.
Blues’ burning question: What sort of response do we see after GWS collapse?
After kicking eight goals to three in the first term last Saturday night, absolutely nobody expected Carlton to fold to GWS the way it did after quarter-time — conceding 14 of the next 17 goals en route to a shock defeat. The loss snapped a five-game winning streak, unable to capitalise on a weekend that saw first-placed Sydney also lose in surprising fashion. Throughout the second and third quarters, the Blues were -10 for clearances and -15 for inside-50s. On Fox Footy’s AFL 360, Mark Robinson said: “What happened? Did you think: ‘39? (points up) I might run over there (forward). We’ve got this’. They’ve achieved nothing yet, this Carlton team. Absolutely nothing. They’ve done nothing, this mob, and I think this is a reminder for the players.” Leigh Montagna wasn’t as animated in reaction to the defeat, calling it a “little reality check” on Fox Footy’s First Crack: “I’m not too concerned, I think their game is in great shape. Maybe just a good little reminder, if you take the foot off the gas ever so slightly, anyone can trounce you.”
Katy Perry poised to headline AFL GF | 01:51
ADELAIDE CROWS v ST KILDA
Saturday July 13, 7.30pm at Adelaide Oval
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 7.30pm on Channel 503 with Adam Papalia, Jack Riewoldt, Mark Ricciuto, Ruby Schleicher & Jon Ralph
Crows’ burning question: How will new-look forward line mesh?
On Thursday night, Adelaide named Riley Thilthorpe to play his first game of the season on Saturday night against the Saints — meaning we’ll get our first 2024 taste of Taylor Walker, Darcy Fogarty and Thilthorpe playing in the same side. After playing a career-high 21 senior games last season, Thilthorpe was struck down by a torn lateral meniscus in the pre-season. How will they go together? Is the chemistry there between all three to not get in each other’s way. With Walker’s career slowing down and potentially done after this year or next, the Crows need one or both of Fogarty and Thilthorpe to step up and announce himself as the club’s spearhead key forward to aid its hopeful uptick in form next season. After a stunted start to the year, Thilthorpe will be given chances across this closing stretch of the Crows’ season to assert himself.
Saints’ burning question: Is Max King worth a nine-year deal?
During the week, Herald Sun journalist Jon Ralph revealed the Saints were in talks with King’s management on a massive extension. “As long as nine seasons — now, that is haggling point — the nine has been mentioned,” Ralph told Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle, with King sidelined for the remainder of the season. “It’s certainly not locked in, not set in stone, but it could be something like nine years at about $1.1 million … two years (left on his current deal) and then seven on top of it, maybe. … It (the nine years) is something that’s a haggling point — if it’s not that, it’ll be close to eight or nine.” So, would it be wise to lock King up for such a long period of time considering his growing injury history and recent on-field struggles? The 24-year-old has managed a combined 23 games in the past two seasons. This Saturday night, the Saints have the chance to make it back-to-back upsets. Granted, it wouldn’t be an upset on anywhere near the same level as last Sunday’s stirring defeat of the ladder-leading Sydney Swans, but a win in Adelaide over the favoured Crows would certainly surprise a few.
The current AFL coaching landscape | 05:55
MELBOURNE v ESSENDON
Saturday July 13, 7.30pm at the MCG
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 7.15pm on Channel 504 with Sarah Jones, Jason Dunstall, David King, Leigh Montagna & Jon Ralph
Demons’ burning question: What do they look like without Max?
While the expectation was that off-season recruit Tom Fullarton would assume Melbourne’s rucking duties with Max Gawn absent for at least a couple of weeks, the ex-Brisbane key-position hybrid has been left out. Instead, Harrison Petty was recalled as Melbourne’s only inclusion. So, could we see something like a Jacob van Rooyen-Daniel Turner tandem? How about Tom McDonald? Petty has been named in the ruck, so it could well be the South Australian. In any case, whoever comes in will have a task on their hands in Essendon’s Sam Draper — and potentially Todd Goldstein, too. Separate to the chosen replacement for Gawn and ruck battle discussion, it’s anyone’s guess as to how the Demons’ midfield performs against the Bombers, however, coach Simon Goodwin will lean heavily on his senior ball-winners to aid his side on Saturday night against a burgeoning Bombers outfit — Jack Viney, Clayton Oliver, Alex Neal-Bullen, Trent Rivers and Tom Sparrow among them.
Bombers’ burning question: Is Merrett the All-Australian skipper?
Zach Merrett is having some sort of season — both from an individual perspective and with how his selfless approach has played a crucial role in the Bombers’ top four charge. The Dons skipper has averaged 28.5 disposals, 5.1 tackles, 4.8 clearances and 4.5 inside 50s, including a huge performance against Collingwood last week, racking up 30 touches, 15 score involvements and a goal for 33.7 ranking points. The 28-year old’s defensive efforts have been profound, with the fourth-most impact of any midfielder through his defensive work. And according to Roos legend David King, it’s that buy-in to the defensive side of the game that makes him the deserving All-Australian captain. “This year he’s gone the next level and most of it without the footy … without the footy is the reason his leadership stamps him as the All-Australian captain. I just think this is going to permeate throughout the group that, if you do the team things, these are the rewards we get,” King said on Fox Footy’s First Crack.
Phillips racks up footy in country game! | 01:02
GOLD COAST SUNS v PORT ADELAIDE
Sunday July 14, 1.10pm at People First Stadium
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 12.45pm on Channel 504 with Adam Papalia, Jack Riewoldt, Mark Ricciuto, Ruby Schleicher & Jon Ralph
Suns’ burning question: How do they respond to Dimma’s brutally honest reality check?
Damien Hardwick delivered a brutally honest reality check to his own team after last week’s loss to North Melbourne, declaring the club needed to “grow the f*** up.” That defeat saw the Suns remain winless on the road in 2024 at 0-8 — an issue that dates back to last year — when the club was 2-10 in away games. How the 12th-placed Gold Coast, who’ll be without Touk Miller (broken wrist) for several weeks, responds to the three-time premiership coach’s spray will be fascinating as it fights to keep its finals hopes alive at home, where it’s undefeated this year. “I think (Hardwick) was speaking to the whole club — not only the team — because it’s a big boys’ competition — that’s the message he was trying to create. I think they’ve certainly made steps forward … I didn’t mind it, in this case, it’s acceptable,” Lions champion Jonathan Brown said on Fox Footy’s On the Couch.
Power’s burning question: Is the Hornet the answer up forward?
The Power’s forward 50 is a “concern,” according to Kangaroos legend David King, who believes Jason-Horne-Francis is the “answer” to addressing those woes by spending more time in attack. In the last six weeks Port rank 14th in the competition in forward half pressure and 18th in each of forward half intercepts, points from forward half intercepts, points from forward half clearances and forward half contests won. Horne-Francis ranks second at the club in forward 50 contested possessions — ahead of the likes of Willie Rioli, Darcy Byrne-Jones, Mitch Georgiades and Todd Marshall — despite only spending 30 per cent of his time in the forward half. And so, King has declared Ken Hinkley has to use the former No. 1 pick forward more to go deep into September, and ultimately, save his job. “This correction is right in front of them. You need to have the threat. I don’t think Port Adelaide can defend themselves to a title. Get serious exploring this bloke, because you can attack yourself to a prelim. But he needs to be a major part of kicking three or four (goals) in a final to get it done, I want to see him play forward more because the rest don’t cut it,” King said on Fox Footy’s AFL 360.
Taranto pleads with star Tigers to stay | 02:27
RICHMOND v GWS GIANTS
Sunday July 14, 3.20pm at the MCG
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 3pm on Channel 503 with Ben Dixon, Dermott Brereton, Eddie Betts, Nick Dal Santo & Jon Ralph
Tigers’ burning question: How worrying is Dusty’s injury absence?
With Dustin Martin remaining sidelined due to injury, there are almost as many questions about his longer-term health than his playing future. Back injuries are notoriously delicate — Martin exited early against Carlton back in Round 16 with ‘soreness’ and didn’t make the trip to Western Australia to play the Dockers last Saturday. While some pundits surface the possibility of a refusal to travel interstate post-game 300, Martin won’t suit up to play at his stomping grounds when Richmond host GWS at the MCG on Sunday after the legendary three-time Norm Smith medallist was labelled a ‘test’ in the days leading up to selection. With Martin’s playing future also up in the air, coach Adem Yze on Fox Footy’s AFL 360 midweek floated the idea of adopting the NRL’s model of player movement: “I don’t mind the NRL model where they come out and say they are leaving (halfway through the season). It’s different, and it might be a different view than we are used to … I look at the players and the anxiety they have about making the decision during the season and carrying that, it’s too hard for them.” Which way Martin is leaning should become clearer in the coming weeks.
Giants’ burning question: Are the Giants smalls the key to their season?
The Giants’ mosquito fleet of small forwards were up and about in last week’s win over Carlton, including strong showings from Brent Daniels (29 disposals, 10 score involvements, 11 tackles), Harvey Thomas (18 touches, seven score involvements) and the returning Darcy Jones (17 possessions, six score involvements). It resulted in Adam Kingsley’s side playing as well as it had in some time to breathe fresh life into the club’s season. Despite the Giants — outside of a hot start — not yet looking as good as last year, Saints great Leigh Montagna hasn’t given up on their prospects. He declared on Fox Footy that GWS’ best “is as good as anyone in the competition,” with its small forwards key to its cause. “In last year’s run, their half forwards were such a big factor — getting up and defending and pressuring and being integral in this tsunami wave. I know Brent Daniels has been in pretty good form, but now to get Darcy Jones back into the side and have Toby McMullin getting involved (is important). Harvey Thomas is a beauty as well. I think this is going to be a point of difference for the Giants going forward. Most premiership teams have these half forwards … when they’re pressuring and getting involved in offence, they look like a completely different team.”
Simmo & Reid’s alleged moment goes viral | 00:22
WEST COAST EAGLES v BRISBANE LIONS
Sunday July 14, 4.40pm at Optus Stadium
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 4pm with Adam Papalia, Dwayne Russell, Matthew Pavlich, Will Schofield, Kath Loughnan & Jon Ralph followed by Bounce and First Crack
Eagles’ burning question: Do they get the interim coach ‘sugar hit’?
West Coast’s parting of ways with long-time senior coach Adam Simpson means Jarrad Schofield will step into the role effective immediately. In the past we’ve seen the installing of interim coaches have a ‘sugar hit’ effect in that first game, and teams prosper with a weight off the shoulders and new voice leading the way. In fact, AFL caretaker coaches over the last five years are 4-3 in their first game. So, will the Eagles get such a boost on Sunday? They’ll certainly need it against the red-hot Lions, while it’ll come in front of the Eagles’ home fans at Optus Stadium. There could even be something of a spiritual lift, at least early, with Simpson to be in attendance and given a chance to farewell supporters before the game.
Lions’ burning question: Are they perfectly placed?
Seemingly within the blink of an eye, the Lions have gone from sitting 14th on the ladder to being a bona fide flag contender again. Indeed, Brisbane has gotten its season back on track in a major way amid a five-game winning streak — including winning seven of its last nine — to now sit in seventh position with the second-best percentage in the competition and a game outside third place. And in numbers shown on Fox Footy’s AFL 360, Chris Fagan’s side, along with Sydney, are the only clubs ranked top four in all five key metrics of the ‘contender stocktake’ — of which each of the last 10 premiers have. “This might surprise a few, the Brisbane Lions are almost in perfect shape. It’s exactly the same as at the end of the home and away season last year and we know they got within four points of winning a premiership,” Montagna said on AFL 360.