The AFL teams “scariest to play at the moment” sit 11th and 12th on the ladder, according to Roos legend David King, in a showing of just how close this season is.
*Checks ladder* … the Western Bulldogs and Hawthorn!?
OK, so while this is discounting the likes of Sydney and Carlton, it’s still wild to consider two of the form teams of the league aren’t even in the top eight.
Watch every game of every round this Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >
And it’d be causing some angst for opposition teams that play them in the coming weeks.
Below, foxfooty.com.au has delved into how the Dogs and Hawks have turned around their seasons – and the scalps they’ll look to claim on the run home (granted, a lot can change in the next three months).
Legend’s fiery racism debate with Caro | 01:26
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Rapidly gone from the AFL’s most overrated team to most underrated.
The 6-6 Dogs have won three of their last four games including a 14-point loss to Sydney a fortnight ago they almost pinched.
And really, Luke Beveridge’s side hasn’t had too many missteps this season including narrow losses to Hawthorn (by seven points) and Geelong (four points). Heck, its 45-point defeat to Melbourne in Round 1 was its biggest loss, with the club building into the season since.
It leaves the Dogs only one game outside the top eight, with their 121.3 percentage the third-best in the AFL behind Sydney and Fremantle.
The Dogs overpowered reigning premier Collingwood last Friday night, kicking 45 points from stoppage, which marked the Magpies’ second-worst result conceded this year.
It continued a dominant patch from Beveridge’s star midfield, having gone into Round 12 ranked first in the AFL in centre bounce differential in clearances (+15) and points from clearances (+57).
That’s impressively come despite Tom Liberatore being sidelined since Round 8 after another concussion, while Ed Richards, whose midfield move has been a big win, also missed against the Pies due to his own concussion.
Marcus Bontempelli stepped up and then some against Collingwood in a true captain’s performance, racking 38 disposals, eight score involvements, 10 clearances, nine tackles and kicking two goals.
“Star factor competition and when they turn up, they turn up big,” King said on Fox Footy’s The First Crack.
“You just had to see the game to believe it. I love him when he’s like this – emotional, invested and prepared to go head-to-head with the opposition’s best player (Nick Daicos), who was out of control.
“You’ve just got to appreciate what this guy is.”
King lauded the way the Dogs and the previously under-pressure Beveridge have responded to critics in recent weeks while learning about their list and overall identity.
The North legend forecasted the Dogs will get even better when the likes of Liberatore, Richards, Aaron Naughton and Cody Weightman return from injury in a scary proposition for rival clubs.
“They’ve been on the canvas for a few weeks and somehow have found a way. Everyone was coming for ‘Bevo’ for a while there and they’re back in the hunt now and looking really dangerous,” King added
“They’ve got some returning stars over the next few weeks and they’re going to get healthier and better. They’re going to be a tough proposition in the back-half of the year.
“I think they’ll make (the top eight), don’t have a bad night against the Dogs. Because their younger players have elevated and their stars are still playing at the top level.”
Potential scalps on run home?
-Brisbane (Marvel Stadium, Round 13)
-Fremantle (Marvel Stadium, Round 14)
-Port Adelaide (Adelaide Oval, Round 17)
-Carlton (Marvel Stadium, Round 18)
-Geelong (GMHBA Stadium, Round 19)
-Sydney (SCG, Round 20)
-Melbourne (Marvel Stadium, Round 21)
-GWS (Mars Stadium, Round 24)
Cotchin DOMINATES with 27 and 4 goals! | 01:07
HAWTHORN
We’ve seen this story before with Hawthorn in deja vu to last season, starting slow out of the gates then rising.
The Hawks lost their first five games of 2024 as questions came on coach Sam Mitchell and the rebuilding club’s overall plan.
From that regard, they’ve been playing catch up ever since in terms of making a genuine run this year. But it’s more important for the young Hawks to be showing true development than anything right now, which they have, while winning four of their last five games to improve to 5-7.
The only loss during that period was a one-point defeat to Port Adelaide right on the final siren in a result that very nearly could’ve, and probably should’ve, gone the Hawks’ way.
A key reason for their turnaround has been Will Day’s return from a foot injury. For it’s not only Day’s individual influence as a star-level player, but also how he helps the overall function of the midfield and team at large.
Since Day returned in Round 7, the Hawks have improved from 18th in the league to ninth in centre bounce clearance differential and 18th to sixth in scores from centre bounce.
And in Hawthorn’s win over the Crows, it kicked 38 points from centre bounce.The last time the Hawks scored more than six goals from stoppage? Their 2013 premiership-winning season.
“It’s amazing what a bit of confidence does and a bit of belief from the coach,” King said on The First Crack.
“It’s obvious (Jai) Newcombe is back to his best, (James) Worpel has been the mainstay and Will Day comes in and has a significant impact.
“It just takes the pressure off the rest of your program to have to score in different ways, move the ball every time or put that young back six under pressure.
“It’s been terrific to see the revolution, if you like, of this midfield. They’re going to play a lot of football and be hard to roll the next few weeks.
“I really wouldn’t want to be playing the Hawks right now.”
King added that Hawks’ first half against Adelaide was “brilliant defensively” and “bulletproof,” adding “you’re not a good side until you’re hard to play against and move the ball against.”
What is Melbourne’s method right now? | 02:59
The dual premiership Kangaroo also highlighted Mitchell’s side off ball work and ability to outnumber the Crows at the contest.
Former Hawthorn sharpshooter Ben Dixon meanwhile believes Mitchell’s coaching adjustment to the crackdown on the holding the ball rule also deserves credit.
Dixon on The First Crack showed vision where Hawthorn used just one tackler in the contest instead of multiple, while other Hawks held their ground and waited for the ball to spill out to initiate their attack.
“What they’re doing is there’s one at the tackler then they set up a perimeter. They’re separating and giving some width,” Dixon explained.
“They were doing this at training … they stay in their position and hold their form. They force an error and all of a sudden you’ve got an exit.
“Sam was quick to coach it … (under the loosened holding the ball rule) we’ve seen one or two tacklers in, get a stoppage and set up.
“(On the weekend) It was the case of, it’s either going to be holding the ball or it’s going to come out. If it comes out, they’re going to go.
“I think it’s going to change the game – we’re in a honeymoon period right now – but if it changes the game, we’re going to get some real speed on the ball.”
Potential scalps on run home?
-Geelong (GMHBA Stadium, Round 17)
-Fremantle (UTAS Stadium, Round 18)
-Collingwood (MCG, Round 19)
-GWS (Manuka Oval, Round 21)
-Carlton (MCG, Round 22)
Source Agencies
