Dean Solomon’s Bombers remain under the microscope, as glaring defensive vision and how they “dumbed down” one of their stars were laid bare on Wednesday night.
Plus, more of the biggest talking points ahead of Round 17, as well as the commentators for every Fox Footy game, in Foxfooty.com.au’s ultimate weekly preview: The Blowtorch!
Round 17
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‘DUMBED HIM DOWN’: HOW STAR BOMBER BECAME ‘NOTHING PLAYER’… AND GLARING VISION THAT SUMS UP DONS
As Dean Solomon weighs up whether he wants to throw his hat in the ring for the permanent coaching job, the conversation has turned to what he needs to do to prove himself.
Because little has changed in the way of method and outcome since he assumed the reins following Brad Scott’s dismissal, with Essendon winless in four dour, Solomon-led interim games.
The Bombers are still incredibly easy to play against. They’re easy to move the ball on – conceding the most marks per game to the opposition – and they’re easy to be scored on, ranking second-last for points against.
But will the difference between winning and losing affect Solomon’s candidacy, as the spectre of James Hird looms large over Tullamarine?
“I do believe that they need to win … and I think from Solly’s perspective, if he’s going to throw his hat in the ring, you want to see some improvement; you want to see some direction,” former Hawthorn sharpshooter Ben Dixon told First Crack Preview on Wednesday night.
Tsatas facing the axe from Essendon? | 06:58
Probed on whether Solomon should be fixated on trying to win to boost his chances, Champion Data expert Daniel Hoyne pointed to what’s going on over at Alberton.
“I love the Port Adelaide profile at the moment – playing really good footy, sustainable footy, but not winning,” Hoyne told First Crack Preview.
“For me, it’s more (about) how they’re actually playing – that’s what I’m interested in.
“I don’t think the wins are going to come off the back of that anyway. If I’m an Essendon supporter, I want Pick 1 in the draft this year who’s going to make us a better footy club.”
The Power are losing most weeks, but looking promising doing it, as they sit in the top five of the draft order.
The Bombers, on the other hand, are losing and looking uninspiring doing it. And it’s not just an inability to defend the opposition’s uncontested game. Their forward-half work is suffering in a big way.
Between Rounds 12-16, the Dons rank 18th for time in forward half, 17th for forward-half intercepts, 17th for forward-half pressure, and 18th for scoring.
“They’re easy to play against,” dual flag-winner David King said on First Crack Preview.
“Even if you’re an average team down on talent, you can still … lock the ball in your forward half, you can still create pressure, you can still have a buy-in.
“We haven’t seen that. That’s what’s got me questioning are they absolutely revved up and ready to go in this area of the ground.
“The first place you fall over with your pressure game is your small forwards. They don’t roll up, then your half-forwards are asking too much.”
King singled out the poor defensive tracking of Isaac Kako on multiple occasions in the loss to North Melbourne last Sunday.
“These are standards that you need to adhere to, or you need to drive home in your meetings if you’re really intent on winning,” he said.
Dixon added: “Those gaps are laziness, and those gaps may be intentional. And if they’re intentional, we’re actually not trying to turn over this football.”
Watch the full First Crack Preview breakdown of Essendon’s defensive issues in the video player below.
Kako’s lack of pressure exposed | 02:22
“You think ‘OK, what are they trying to do?’ Because I don’t think that this would be the system and the plan that Solly would go with next year if he were given the main role.
“There’s no way they’d be playing like this, in this method or in this mode, because it is just too easy.”
The other part of the Essendon discussion that King delved into revolves around Zach Merrett’s positional move to half-back.
The Bombers have clearly begun to go away from Merrett at centre bounces, with Solomon keen to give others looks in the guts. The ex-captain attended just one ball-up against the Roos.
But his move behind the ball hasn’t paid dividends, with the left-footer dropping significantly for ball-winning impact.
Between Opening Round and Round 12, Merrett ranked 48th in the AFL for ball-winning. He’s ranked 120th from Round 13 to Round 16.
In the same time span, Merrett, in the ball use ‘damage’ rating, has dropped from 36th to 277th.
“This guy has become a bit of a nothing player, since he’s been moved out of the midfield to half-back,” King assessed.
“Even if he’s a half-back, he can’t be rated 277th with his ball use. He has to be a damaging player down there, or that’s not working for both parties.
“So it’s either another position, or put him back where he’s strong, get one of your guns going, and give yourself a chance to win games.”
Hoyne rounded off the Essendon discussion by explaining his “number one issue” pertaining to the Bombers.
“The number one issue is how they’re actually playing,” he said.
“Over the last three, four, five months, no one’s going more lateral, away from goal, than what Essendon is going.
“I didn’t mind the Merrett move to half-back, but I didn’t mind if it was going to represent something like a Dayne Zorko, who’s going to pull the trigger and be aggressive.
“Bailey Dale, Jack Sinclair, Nick Blakey … (who) actually create and open the game up. But he’s not doing that; Essendon’s not doing that behind the footy.
“And if he’s not doing that, then he’s wasted behind there.”
King added: “(They) put him back there for damage, and they’ve dumbed him down.”
Can Port get a fair trade for Butters? | 03:07
PORT’S BIG CALL ON BUTTERS TRADE WARS AS FRESH OPTION EMERGES
Gerard Whateley “couldn’t be more admiring” of Zak Butters’ incredible form this season in the face of ongoing speculation around the superstar free agent’s future.
And Port Adelaide faces a big decision on how the club manages getting the best possible package for Butters, should he exercise his restricted free agency rights and make the Power to match to force a trade, which they intend to.
Reports this week stated the race to secure the gun midfielder might be more open than expected and it’s not a fait accompli that he gets to the Western Bulldogs, like some have suggested, as Geelong and Richmond also circle the Victorian.
Saints great Leigh Montagna said the Power simply won’t be able to be fairly compensated, saying you ultimately “can’t measure what Zak Butters brings to a football club” ahead of a looming tense trade standoff.
Montagna expects Butters will look to ensure Port is “looked after” in a deal as the club navigates securing its highly-rated father-son and Academy players over the next two drafts.
“It’s a game-changer, wherever he goes. And it’s going to be a massive loss (for Port), he’s the heart and soul of that team,” Montagna said on Fox Footy’s AFL 360.
“They’re going to do their best to get whatever they can out of it. Maybe they do need to leverage some clubs off one another.
“Zak is going to be the type of player that he’s going to want to make sure Port Adelaide gets a fair deal, that would be incumbent on him, and I think he’d be pushing that with his manager and say: ‘Look, I need to make sure Port Adelaide gets looked after. They’ve been so great to me, I love this footy club, they need to make sure they can move on and still be able to build their next wave of players.’
“But it’s going to be an interesting watch on how it all plays out. If it is between the Bulldogs and Port Adelaide, Richmond is there lurking.
“If Port Adelaide says, ‘Well, we’ll just let him go through to the pre-season draft,’ Richmond can snare him. And if the Bulldogs hold their nerve and say to Port: ‘This is all we’ve got, if you don’t take it, he can walk to the pre-season draft’.
“So, there might be a bit of to-and-fro going on there.”
There’s another option.
Third team join the hunt for Butters | 01:24
Port, currently with the No. 4 pick, might be best served not matching an offer and getting first-round compensation directly after its current selection, which would currently be No. 5.
That might be more appealing than the Bulldogs’ first-rounder, currently No. 11, and future picks that are set to slide back in the compromised Tasmania drafts.
“What if, at the end, Port do have Pick 4 in the draft, and the best deal is actually not to match and pick up Pick 5 for him?” Whateley posed.
“So instead of the Bulldogs’ first, second and third round picks, or first and a future, which is going to be something like (GWS’ return for Jeremy Cameron) – picks 13, 15 and 20 – that’s not just terms.
“I know it’s complicated by the father-son (and Academy) issue, but if it’s just raw: you can add Pick 5 to Pick 4, is there a pragmatism to just take the one pick which is going to give us the best possible replacement?”
Taking the compensation pick, if it is as high as No. 5, is an option Montagna would “seriously consider” if he was in charge at Port.
Though it would do nothing for the Power’s need to add high-end draft assets in the 2027 crop — where they have two players linked to them in Zemes Pilot and Louis Salopek — compared to just Dougie Cochrane, who they can already secure with their current hand, this year.
“Then you’ve got much more chance of getting a bona fide 200-game player. As opposed to, when there’s picks that get out to the teens, they are still speculative picks,” Montagna added.
“It’s about a 25 per cent chance you’re going to get a 200-gamer, 75 per cent chance that player is not going to be what you hope and expect.
“They’ll have some decisions to make.”
Butters speaks after ‘emotional’ win | 02:02
‘ESTABLISH A DYNASTY’: ‘SUCCESSION PLAN’ IDEA WITHIN HAWKS STANDOFFS
Hawthorn’s leading pursuit of Ben King is causing strain for two in-house forwards who haven’t yet signed new deals.
But it might prove worthwhile if the Hawks can cash in on what’s been dubbed a Jack Gunston “succession plan”.
King is looking at $1.3 million per year at Hawthorn, as his future at the Suns remains in flux despite earlier reports he was set to recommit at Carrara.
The lucrative sum means negotiations revolving around new deals for Mitch Lewis and Calsher Deal continue to drag on, with no resolution in sight.
Midweek Tackle’s Jon Ralph reports “the financials (for Lewis) are not anywhere near where he or his manager would like them to be”, while Dear has put talks “on ice”, colleague Lauren Wood says.
“Ben King, that is the key factor in this,” Code Sports’ Josh Barnes said on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle.
“Speaking to people around this situation (on Tuesday), they can do the sums pretty easily – if Ben King comes in, Hawthorn already has too many tall forwards.
“One of Dear and Lewis is not playing each week as it is. You add Ben King to that mix, another one falls out. They’ve already got Aidan Schubert they just (drafted), Will McCabe can’t get a look-in as a first-round pick, Max Ramsden might be out the door as well.
“They’ve got too many talls. That’s the main reason I think these two are holding off at the moment – they can see what the possibilities are, and ‘it doesn’t look great for me’ (is their thinking).”
King booted 71 goals across 25 games last season and is on a similar trajectory this year. He’s a deadeye in front of the sticks.
But the knock has been on the non-goalkicking parts of his game – physicality, competitiveness, defence, to name a few.
The conversation will be whether bringing him in is worth potentially losing one or both of Lewis and Dear, who know Sam Mitchell’s system and have room for growth.
But while he’s been the subject of criticism as a forward who seemingly does little other than kick goals, Ralph believes King is Gunston’s “successor” – and one who can help ensure a long Hawthorn period of premiership contention.
“They want A-graders, that’s the thing, and they’re unapologetic about that,” he said on Midweek Tackle.
“And that’s why Ben King appeals to them so much … he’s been so maligned over the past couple of weeks, but I think he’s exactly what they need.
“He is that disconnect forward, and that’s the exact role that Jack Gunston plays. And Gunston will play on next year, but I think if they look at their premiership window, it’s a six-to-eight-year window they should be looking at.
“It’s a really tough thing they’ve done with Mitch, but it’s probably the right thing. They get Ben in, they get their forwards up the ground – it’s the Jack Gunston succession plan.
“There might be some confusion with both of those blokes playing that role next year, but … they’re trying to win multiple flags over the next six to eight years – they want to establish a dynasty.”
Hawks in danger of losing Lewis | 00:46
STAR’S FOUR-WEEK OPENING BEINGS… THAT COULD DECIDE TRADE CURRENCY
Rowan Marshall’s next month might end up shaping far more than just St Kilda’s season. Because suddenly, the star ruckman has the golden opportunity he thought was past him at the club.
With Tom De Koning sidelined after suffering a punctured lung and two broken ribs against the Western Bulldogs in Round 15, Marshall is set to resume as the Saints’ undisputed No.1 ruck for at least the next month. For a player who has quietly made it known he’d rather be leading a ruck division than sharing one, it’s a significant audition.
Marshall remains contracted until the end of 2027, but his first season alongside De Koning hasn’t necessarily eased the uncertainty surrounding his long-term future.
It was that very scenario that prompted Marshall to explore a move to Geelong last off-season before ultimately being held to his existing deal. And as foxfooty.com.au reported in early May, another push for a fresh start at season’s end wouldn’t come as a surprise.
Now though, De Koning’s unfortunate circumstances have handed him the chance to remind everyone, including himself, exactly what life looks like as the main man.
It begins against an underperforming Essendon on Sunday afternoon before clashes with Port Adelaide, Geelong and North Melbourne. Put simply, they’re four games where Marshall has the platform to re-establish himself as one of the competition’s premier rucks.
At 30 years of age, there’s little reason to think his best football is behind him, even with the AFL’s evolving ruck landscape. But that’s also what makes this stretch so fascinating.
Marshall already knows what it feels like to carry St Kilda’s ruck on his own. If he thrives again, it may only reinforce that his best football comes as a standalone No.1, not as part of a two-pronged tool.
And, when De Koning eventually returns, a transition back into a shared role may become even more difficult to accept than it was in October last year during trade season.
ROUND 17 AFL FIXTURE AND FOX FOOTY COMMENTARY ROSTER
GEELONG CATS vs. BRISBANE LIONS
Thursday July 2, 7:30pm at GMHBA Stadium
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 6.3opm on Channel 504, hosted by Sarah Jones, Jason Dunstall, David King and Michael Voss, with commentary from Matt Hill, Dwayne Russell, Brad Johnson and Jon Ralph.
SYDNEY SWANS vs. WESTERN BULLDOGS
Friday July 3, 7:40pm at the SCG
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 6.30pm on Channel 504, hosted by Kath Loughnan, Jack Riewoldt and Jordan Lewis, with commentary from Anthony Hudson, Gerard Whateley, Jason Dunstall, Alastair Lynch, Cameron Mooney and Jon Ralph.
WEST COAST EAGLES vs. ADELAIDE CROWS
Friday July 3, 8:10pm at Optus Stadium
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 8pm on Channel 503, with commentary from Adam Papalia, Ben Dixon, Gerard Healy, Will Schofield and Jon Ralph.
HAWTHORN vs. MELBOURNE
Saturday July 4, 1:15pm at UTAS Stadium
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 12.30pm on Channel 504, with commentary from Leigh Montagna, Gerard Healy, Jordan Lewis, Nick Dal Santo and Kelli Underwood.
GWS GIANTS vs. FREMANTLE
Saturday July 4, 1:35pm at Corroboree Group Oval Manuka, Canberra
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 1.30pm on Channel 503, with commentary from Corbin Middlemas, Jess Webster, Nathan Buckley, Brad Johnson and Cameron Mooney.
GOLD COAST SUNS vs. COLLINGWOOD
Saturday July 4, 4:15pm at People First Stadium
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 4pm on Channel 504, with commentary from Anthony Hudson, Jason Dunstall, Jonathan Brown, Alastair Lynch and Jay Clark.
RICHMOND vs. CARLTON
Saturday July 4, 7:35pm at the MCG
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 7.15pm on Channel 504, with commentary from Dwayne Russell, David King, Jack Riewoldt, Eddie Betts, Kath Loughnan and Jay Clark.
ESSENDON vs. ST KILDA
Sunday July 5, 3:15pm at Marvel Stadium
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 2.30pm on Channel 504, with commentary from Matt Hill, Brad Johnson, Nick Dal Santo, Sarah Jones and David Zita.
PORT ADELAIDE vs. NORTH MELBOURNE
Sunday July 5, 3:15pm at Marvel Stadium
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 4.30pm on Channel 503 (Channel 504 from 6pm), with commentary from Dwayne Russell, Mark Ricciuto, Ken Hinkley, Ruby Schleicher and David Zita — followed by Bounce and First Crack.
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