Four Points: Utility Blicavs, Blues hopes, against Tigers and fast growing Daicos

He is also the emblem of Geelong this year. While he has been a good performer for a long time, what he represents is how Geelong draws something from the cast in the role. Tom Atkins’ game last week was very good in possession. He had a run-with role with Sam Walsh on Saturday night and while Walsh is one of the Blues’ best players, Atkins’ pressure around the contest is still significant.

Geelong has had an impact on this cast of Atkins, Brad Close, Max Holmes, Mark O’Connor and even Gryan Miers, all of whom have pace and are used to the high-pressure games Geelong plays.

Geelong killed Carlton on turnover, which is an area that has improved dramatically in 2022, and it was pressure from the fast fringe type that was significant in that change. Jeremy Cameron benefits and helps make it happen.

Football analysts will always look at these seemingly immeasurable elements of pressure in football and conclude that they are an essential ingredient in any major league. Geelong, now at the top of the ladder, has gotten much better in this area.

And, of course, on top of that they have added Tyson Stengle, a player not considered more opportunistic than the pressing forward at Richmond and then Adelaide, but he has combined that with his cunning around goal. You don’t really know what Geelong is lacking until Stengle arrives and his knack for finding space and his finishing skills have made the Cats front line look much more rounded.

Harry McKay flew in for a sign.Credit:Getty Images

BLUE BLUE

Since bye Carlton lost to Richmond, St Kilda and Geelong, and beat Fremantle. In the recent final readiness test in the period when they wanted to be a top four team, they failed.

Surprisingly it was Fremantle they liked the most. Both have taken big strides this year that deserve great credit and don’t deserve to be belittled by the idea of ​​what they don’t look ready yet.

Both things can be true. They could have had a brilliant season, but have been disappointed by recent critical games. Both were underwhelmed at the weekend in a game when credibility was at stake.

Carlton was going to get better when Zac Williams and Jack Martin re-entered and gave them some runs and out of class that they were lacking. They were also still anxiously waiting for Caleb Marchbank, as usual. With these players they look better and could probably still do that, but some of their leaders will be disappointed with their performance against the Cats.

In the battle of the best four key attackers in the game, Harry McKay is highly undesirable. Michael Voss was clearly frustrated not only at McKay but in the way the ball was sent forward and then Geelong’s effortless pressure turned the ball across Carlton’s line.

REGRETTING TIGER

Richmond forgot how to win. Three flags for Richmond’s many players, but twice in two weeks they lost games that should have been won in the dying minutes. Twice they were beaten by lesser teams.

Losing to a team a week after parting ways with its coach is nothing new in football, but this is a team that has just been asking for priority picks, it looks pretty bad. North was good last week against Collingwood but still Richmond, 11.22? Win on 50 counts 67-46 and lose?

Damien Hardwick was unhappy with the Tigers shooting themselves at the foot of their loss to the North. Credit:Getty Images

Richmond is a team that always finds a way to win when they have bad days. Now they are playing like a team that finds a way to lose.

up early

This may sound premature, but it’s not. Nick Daicos had to compete for the All-Australian. So is Sam De Koning in this regard.

At least the splendid young son of Melbourne Macedonia’s most famous, and ninth tall athletic blond brother should be in the wider squad.

Nick Daicos should not only win the Rising Star, he should also compete in the All-Australian. Credit:AFL Photo

Daicos has reached a point where there should no longer be a “good for a first year player” driver for his performances. He is fine regardless of age. On Saturday, he made 40 touches and kicked three. It was an amazing game regardless of age.

De Koning was so confident in the air, he was crucial to Geelong’s rise to the top of the ladder. Competition is hot for places in the AA team, even the wider squad, and particularly for key defenders, with May, Weitering, Grimes, who might put the Cats backman right outside that bracket but the year has to be acknowledged.

Stay up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.

#Points #Utility #Blicavs #Blues #hopes #Tigers #fast #growing #Daicos