Mick Malthouse: Question time for best of the rest

[Ulquiorra]

WHEN you are expected to make the eight, and you don’t, it is a bitter pill to swallow.

But there is always something to learn from it.

It is no real surprise that Melbourne, Hawthorn and Collingwood are competing in September as they each have enough credentials to own their place in the eight.

But it is perhaps a surprise that Adelaide, Port Adelaide and Essendon have missed out.

DON AND DUSTED
ESSENDON promised so much last year.

Its recruiting was outstanding with the inclusion of Devon Smith, Adam Saad, and Jake Stringer.

But early form — two wins from eight — killed off an easy ride into the finals.

An injury to Joe Daniher was a crucial loss as were injuries to two players with pace, Orazio Fantasia and David Zaharakis.

The Bombers’ best this year was very good. Good enough to beat the top teams with the use of pace, spread and quick ball movement.

But their worst was very poor and losing to Fremantle and Carlton was deadly.

There is very little wriggle room for inconsistency in today’s football. But I expect them to bounce back next year.

The board’s faith in John Worsfold with a contract extension is excellent, and there is no doubt they have the player quality required to challenge for a top-eight, or even top-four finish.

ROOS NEED ANOTHER MID
NORTH Melbourne has been thereabouts all year, but against the top teams it was found short of class, particularly through midfield.

Ben Brown was magnificent all season, and when Jarrad Waite was fit, they were as good a forward combination as any.

But Waite has been vulnerable to soft tissue injuries and again missed too many games, leading to this week’s retirement.

Captain Jack Ziebell was superb, but he needs to be in and around the ball as often as possible, but as a dynamic, hard-hitting target they also need him forward.

He can’t play two positions at once. Brad Scott has done a fantastic job. The players respond to him and seem comfortable with the game structure. They generally have a crack and rarely get blown away.

They built on their six wins from last year to finish with 11 and one more game today. It is an outstanding result.

The club made no secret of chasing Giant Josh Kelly and Tiger Dustin Martin last year. Another top quality midfielder would boost North’s chances.

CROWS TOO PREDICTABLE
ADELAIDE has perhaps been the biggest surprise in dropping away so terribly from last year.

The loss of Jake Lever didn’t hurt the club as much as it would have without the improvement of Tom Doedee.

But the Crows weren’t able to replicate a player to take the place of Charlie Cameron.

This had a dual effect on the team, firstly by missing his speed and goalscoring power, and secondly by placing the leftover heat on Eddie Betts which along with injury stifled his influence each week.

Tex Walker was hot and cold and injuries didn’t help, but it all made Adelaide very predictable in how it played.

The big three in the forward line — Walker, Tom Lynch and Josh Jenkins — were rarely in sync.

And the Crows’ midfielders, as good ball-getters lack genuine pace and make the team too one-dimensional.

Even its home ground lost its advantage.

The hurt of last year’s grand final loss should have been a catalyst to go harder this year, but that hunger was barely witnessed. Losing four games straight from round 10 to 13, including one to Fremantle, showed them up for lack of passion.

Don Pyke is an excellent coach and I just hope the faithful don’t turn on him.

POWER MUST COPY TIGERS
PORT Adelaide last year couldn’t beat a side in the top eight.

This year it was able to knock over the reigning premiers in round 12, but then lost to Fremantle.

Port is an enigma. It has quality players, but they seem to choose on the day how they will play, and Port has paid a massive price by losing six of its last seven games when it has been in a winning position in a few of them.

There is something fundamentally missing from the Port Adelaide make-up.

Whether it’s in the club’s DNA or part of the modus operandi, they lose the ball too often in a turnover by over-using it, always happens in a critical position or time. They would do very well to view Richmond’s current game style closely. The Tigers in 2016 averaged about 400 disposals a match.

In its premiership year it was down to about 330 by eliminating overuse.

It has continued the same trend this year. If Port did the same, it could be a genuine threat to the top eight.

AND THE REST
OF the rest of the bottom 10, without a doubt the Saints have been the most horrible.

After winning its first game St Kilda didn’t win again until round 13. Its 41/2 wins this year is less than half last year.

The Saints are one of the worst sides for turnovers and their goalkicking accuracy has deserted them.

Alan Richardson rarely shows emotion in the coaches’ box but he dropped his guard when he viewed turnover after turnover against Hawthorn last week.

St Kilda cannot afford to mess up this draft and trade period in its hurry to make the eight. It must be patient and pick and trade correctly.

Brisbane, Gold Coast, Carlton, Fremantle and to a lesser extent, the Western Bulldogs were all expected to win more games, but the gap between the better and the lesser teams has been highlighted this year.

Next week, every club I’ve mentioned will ask itself several questions: Did we improve? Were there games we should have won? Did we meet our own expectations?

Who let us down? Do we need to go to the trade table or look at free agents? Are we on the right track or do we need to change tack?

The answers can be confronting but it is the only way to improve. Once they’ve analysed what went wrong they must act.