Goodwin was more focused post-match on how Sydney worked his men over in the contest by the final siren and finished with 14 extra inside-50s. The 2021 premiership coach believed the return of key personnel in the front half – Harry Petty, Kysaiah Pickett and recruit Shane McAdam – would remedy some of the problem, but it is a familiar one since, and even before, their flag triumph.
“We’ve worked all summer, and we’ve leaned into the fact we’ve got to get better, in terms of our efficiency,” Goodwin said. “It doesn’t mean it’s going to be an instant improvement … but tonight was a really hard night to assess that.”
Cadman is coming
Saturday night, Engie Stadium
GWS defeated Collingwood by 32 points
There is an exciting new generation of key forwards emerging across the AFL and the Giants have one of their own in 2022 No.1 draft pick Aaron Cadman, who not only presented as a more physically imposing figure on Saturday night but looked ready to help Adam Kingsley’s side try to win its maiden premiership.
Cadman kicked only six goals in 12 games in his debut campaign, including never kicking more than one goal or winning more than seven disposals.
Aaron Cadman is a more imposing specimen in his second season.Credit: AFL Photos
The 20-year-old is hardly alone as a key forward whose career started slowly, but he looked a vastly improved player in his team’s 32-point dismissal of reigning premiers Collingwood.
Cadman, who inked a two-year contract extension in December until the end of the 2026 season, grabbed two strong overhead marks in the first quarter – slotting a close-range goal from the second of them – and snapped an excellent goal two terms later as the Giants assumed control. Not every recruiter would have made the 19-year-old the dux of the draft class two years ago, but he is exactly what GWS need to complement star spearhead Jesse Hogan and Jake Riccardi.
Acres of running
Friday night, Gabba
Carlton defeated the Brisbane Lions by one point
There was some private poo-pooing – as well as some praise – of Carlton’s recruitment 17 months ago of former Docker and Saint Blake Acres.
Acres enjoyed a career-best season for Fremantle in 2022 but received a modest contract offer that convinced him to look elsewhere. The Blues were frontrunners for him from about mid-season and secured him for a future third-round pick on a three-year deal that will cost them barely $1 million in total.
The 28-year-old winger averaged 23 disposals across 25 matches for Carlton last year, and racked up 22 more touches in the Blues’ rousing one-point boilover against the Lions at the Gabba on Friday night.
However, there were two defensive plays in particular that put Acres in coach Michael Voss’ good books and were wonderfully highlighted by the club’s social media team on Sunday.
He first ran hard to get deep into defence and intercept a pass intended for Charlie Cameron, then presented as an option shortly after passing the ball off, before putting on his skates to quickly venture to the other end.
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The Blues rushed the ball forward, only for Brisbane to pinch the Sherrin back in their defensive 50. Acres quickly figured out Hugh McCluggage was the next target and sprinted in front of him to spoil, then dished a handball to Adam Cerra, who found Matt Kennedy in the pocket.
Kennedy bent his shot back perfectly for Carlton’s fifth goal in a row of the third quarter – but it would not have happened without Acres’ interventions.
Where to for the Tigers?
Saturday afternoon, People First Stadium
Gold Coast defeated Richmond by 39 points
Not many tipsters expected Richmond to return from the Gold Coast and a first meeting with ex-coach Damien Hardwick with a win, particularly without Dustin Martin, Tom Lynch, Toby Nankervis and Jack Graham.
The Tigers showed some pluck to make the scoreboard look more flattering, but to be 67 points down not even 26 minutes into the second quarter must be of concern to first-year coach Adem Yze.
Tigers star Dustin Martin and Tom Lynch were key outs in round zero.Credit: Getty Images
They were sloppy with their field kicking, with ex-Giants Tim Taranto (seven) and Jacob Hopper (four) combining for 11 turnovers while barely going at 50 per cent disposal efficiency. There were some ugly moments where Hardwick’s Suns made them look second-rate.
Richmond and Geelong were the popular picks to slide on the ladder this year, after they already finished 13th and 12th, respectively, in 2023. They played off in the 2020 grand final and are responsible for winning four of the past seven flags between them, so their predicament is what is supposed to happen with the AFL’s equalisation model, even if the Cats fought gravity for a long time.
The worry is the Tigers’ list offers less hope than Geelong’s. They gave up a swag of high picks to acquire Taranto and Hopper, who are more-than-capable midfielders but a tier below the league’s best on-ballers.
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Dylan Grimes, at age 32, is understandably a shadow of his former self, and Yze has a big call to make on how quickly he forgets about this year and switches full throttle to the future.
Josh Gibcus, Maurice Rioli, Seth Campbell, Sam Banks and Thomson Dow were the only 22-and-unders in Saturday’s game squad, even with the aforementioned veteran outs.
They must find out what they have in players such as Tom Brown, Tyler Sonsie, Judson Clarke and Steely Green, as well as mid-season pick-ups Jacob Bauer, Matt Coulthard and James Trezise.
Fresh draftees Kane McAuliffe and Liam Fawcett might push for opportunities soon enough, too.