Collingwood made it two-from-two for new coach Craig McCrae, as it dismantled Adelaide by 42 points at the MCG.
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Sporting a new role across half-forward, Tallygaroopna’s Steele Sidebottom was prolific for the Pies, gathering 19 disposals and kicking a goal.
Providing much-needed experience to a youthful Collingwood attacking set-up, Sidebottom’s ball use was particularly impressive, going at an elite 84 per cent by foot and having seven score involvements.
Euroa’s Jamie Elliott was also lively in the Magpies’ forward 50, gathering 13 disposals and kicking a major.
It seemed whenever Elliott got near the ball something positive would happen for Collingwood, with the inexperienced Crows defenders struggling to cover his speed and power.
Shepparton Swans product Josh Rachele continued the blistering start to his AFL career, kicking a goal and racking up 20 disposals to be one of few bright spots for Adelaide.
Mooroopna’s Clayton Oliver continued his dominant start to season 2022, picking up 34 disposals and kicking a goal in Melbourne’s tight 13-point win over Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night.
Challenged early by a desperate Gold Coast unit, the reigning premier rose to the occasion with Oliver being one of the main catalysts for the fightback through the middle of the ground.
Expanding himself into the prototypical modern-day midfielder, the Mooroopna product was able to hurt the Suns with his inside presence, racking up 18 contested possessions, while also making his presence felt on the outside with 521m gained.
Mooroopna’s Jy Simpkin added a valuable contribution through the midfield for North Melbourne as it recorded its first win of the season in a tight battle against an undermanned West Coast.
Looking to continue his growth as an on-baller, Simpkin picked up 16 disposals and was damaging with ball in hand, going at 81 per cent efficiency and registering six score involvements.
Echuca’s Ollie Wines was his prolific self for Port Adelaide on Saturday night as it fell to Hawthorn by 64 points in the boil-over of the round at Adelaide Oval.
While the scoreboard was going against his team from the outset, Wines battled hard all night, picking up 36 disposals, taking five marks and laying four tackles.
Shepparton’s Will Brodie continued the bright start to his time as a Docker, stepping up in the absence of club legends Nat Fyfe and David Mundy to have a big impact in Fremantle’s 10-point loss to St Kilda.
A constant in the Dockers’ midfield set-up, Brodie managed 26 disposals, six marks and seven tackles and looked a completely different player in his new colours.