Carlton’s Spirit Questioned After Disheartening Loss

Carlton’s loss to bottom-placed North Melbourne has raised serious concerns about the club’s on-field unity and mindset. A key moment—when ruckman Tom De Koning was roughly tackled into the fence and barely defended by teammates—was used by AFL great David King to highlight a perceived lack of fight and cohesion within the group. Senior players, including captain Patrick Cripps, failed to stand up in that moment, reflecting a broader concern about the team’s culture. With the Blues now 6–8 and under mounting pressure, coach Michael Voss admitted the team was “bullied,” and fans are beginning to question whether the club has lost its identity and backbone.

Brisbane’s Fortunes Flip in Lucky, Yet Impressive, Win

The Lions produced a big upset over Geelong at GMHBA Stadium, but expected score stats suggest luck played a major role. After being unlucky in recent weeks—particularly with poor goalkicking efficiency against GWS—Brisbane finally benefitted from their opponent’s inaccuracy. While the scoreboard showed a dominant 41-point win, expected scores actually had the Cats ahead, exposing how much randomness (like kicking accuracy) can skew outcomes. Coach Chris Scott acknowledged the numbers and dismissed the result as not a total disaster, despite the optics. Overall, Brisbane’s recent form has been better than results suggested—and this time, the bounce went their way.

Essendon’s Draft Struggles Haunt Them… but Change May Be Coming

Essendon’s development of top draft talent in recent years has been underwhelming. Picks like Elijah Tsatas, Ben Hobbs, Nik Cox, and Archie Perkins have either battled injury or stagnation. Their lack of on-field impact is a big reason why the Bombers have remained in AFL no-man’s-land. However, there’s now cautious optimism: the club’s last two draft classes appear promising. Nate Caddy has excited as a key forward, Archie Roberts looks like a Rising Star contender, and other recent picks are beginning to show AFL potential. While still early, Essendon’s recent draft strategy may finally be turning the tide.