Digby Beacham’s AFL Grades: 9th – 18th Posted on September 24, 2020September 24, 2020 | Posted by Digby Beacham MELBOURNE (9th, 9-8, 107.8%) Pros: Christian Petracca had a breakout year after promising much and delivering sporadically previously. Defensively, Steven May and Jake Lever were extremely reliable. Cons: Butchered winnable games like only they can. No club gets as impressed with its own work as often and as quickly as Melbourne does. Grade: C – GWS (10th, 8-9, 95.6%) Pros: Nick Haynes and Lachie Whitfield were resolute all season, while Toby Greene donned his Superman cape at stages in the first half of the season. Cons: Jeremy Cameron was really poor and gave off negative vibes for the most part. Leon Cameron’s game plan is in desperate need of an overhaul. Grade: D CARLTON (11th, 7-10, 94.3%) Pros: The second-year blues didn’t apply to Sam Walsh, who was magnificent. Recruit Jack Martin delivered and Jacob Weitering rediscovered his best. Cons: Carlton’s inability to stem the bleeding in matches under David Teague remains a major issue. A lack of midfield depth is holding them back. Grade: C FREMANTLE (12th, 7-10, 93.7%) Pros: Justin Longmuir. Had a profound impact in a challenging year. Young Caleb Serong is a ripper, Griffin Logue came of age in defence, while Luke Ryan went from reliable to elite. Cons: An extensive injury list proved problematic and led to Jason Weber’s exit mid-season. Grade: B – ESSENDON (13th, 6-10-1, 79.2%) Pros: Jordan Ridley was superb and a deserving club best and fairest. Zach Merrett and Andy McGrath also enjoyed excellent campaigns in the prolonged absence of skipper Dyson Heppell. Cons: Incessant friction inside the four walls and externally is tearing the club apart. Someone needs to grab hold soon and get the house in order. Debatable whether Ben Rutten is that man, however. Grade: D GOLD COAST (14th, 5-11-1, 90.6%) Pros: The start to the season when Stuart Dew had access to a healthy squad was encouraging. Matt Rowell, Noah Anderson and Izak Rankine are dripping with talent. Cons: Their inability to win matches consistently after the midway part of the year was disappointing given they played primarily in Queensland. Grade: C – HAWTHORN (15th, 5-12, 84.1%) Pros: Jack Gunston was a factor most weeks in a forward line that didn’t see a lot of ball and had to function for the most part with minimal input from big boppers Jon Patton and Mitchell Lewis. Tom Mitchell’s comeback from a broken leg was solid. Cons: An inability to adjust to hub life proved problematic, as did Alastair Clarkson’s negative game plan and regular whining. Grade: D SYDNEY (16th, 5-12, 82.6%) Pros: The rebuild took further shape with several of the club’s youngsters again exposed to the elite level. Cons: No matches from Lance Franklin compromised their finals ambitions, especially factoring in other injuries to key personnel Josh Kennedy, Isaac Heeney and Dane Rampe. Grade: C NORTH MELBOURNE (17th, 3-14, 71.2%) Pros: Todd Goldstein and Shaun Higgins carried the torch in a gloomy season. Cons: Too many injuries, coupled with a lack of dare and a clunky system conspired to make Rhyce Shaw’s first full season in charge a nightmare Grade: D – ADELAIDE (18th, 3-14, 64.4%) Pros: The finish to the year was strong. Matthew Nicks held the club and playing group together in the face of adversity. Reilly O’Brien handled the No.1 ruck role like a seasoned pro. Cons: Football director Mark Ricciuto’s willingness to comment on too many things publicly. Grade: C
Shayne Williams’ Wednesday Greyhound Best Bets October 29, 2025 CANNINGTON Race 7 No. 1 Trunkey Bling Don’t mind the map here for Trunkey Bling draw the inside box and with a few moderate beginners… Read More
Scott Embry’s Thursday Northam Preview October 28, 2025 RACE 1 EXCEED THE BOOM has drawn tricky first-up and second-up (8/9 and 9/10). This is the first race this prep that Holly Watson can… Read More
Scott Embry’s Wednesday Belmont Preview October 28, 2025 RACE 1 SPIRITED STRIKE burst through traffic to break his maiden at Northam over 1000m and then held his own from leader’s back when splitting… Read More
Glenn Ingram’s Wednesday Bendigo Preview October 28, 2025 RACE 1 The race experience appear to have a slight edge. THANKS GORGEOUS has the right formlines to figure coming back from a good 2YO… Read More
Matt Young’s Tuesday Gloucester Park Preview October 27, 2025 Race 1 NITE SNIPER (10) looks a nice type and trialled well, if anything the draw was probably the only one connections wouldn’t have wanted… Read More
Matt Young’s Monday Pinjarra Preview October 27, 2025 Race 1 GRUMPEE (10) creates a lot of interest with some decent form from the eastern state, must be respected and has form from the… Read More
Shayne Williams’ Monday Greyhound Best Bets October 27, 2025 NORTHAM Race 5 No. 1 Star Zitto Recent form says no, and it’s hard to argue with that, she’s been mixing tracks and distances of… Read More
Shayne Williams’ Saturday Greyhound Best Bets October 25, 2025 CANNINGTON Race 4 No. 6 Our Ozzie Salute Thought it looked a great map for this fellow tonight, drawn the green rug, with a moderate… Read More
TIPS – Greyhound Jet Set Podcast October 24, 2025 Mandurah Friday David Shortte 6-6 Spooky Hook 7-8 Boiler Maker 8-3 Another Jimmy (3&5 Quinella) 9-2 Hera (1&2 Quinella) ROVING BANKERS : 3-7 Cheers Cobber… Read More
Scott Embry’s Sunday Northam Preview October 24, 2025 RACE 1 LOVE OF FAR FA was a serious improver first-up to second-up after being beaten nearly 11L behind Old Mate Henry to then get… Read More
Scott Embry’s Sunday Laverton Preview October 24, 2025 RACE 1 BLOWIN’ SMOKE beat home CASINO ROYALE when they met in a 1200m maiden at Leonora to kick off this three week Eastern Goldfields… Read More
Weekend Tipsters October 24, 2025 Moonee Valley Saturday Glenn Ingram Quaddie 3 4 5 7 – 3 5 8 9 – 1 3 – 6 Best Bets 4-1 Salty Pearl… Read More