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Digby Beacham’s AFL Grades: 9th – 18th

Posted on | 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




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