This AFL season has provided many memorable moments – from Brisbane’s meteoric rise, to Nat Fyfe and Dustin Martin’s return to eminence, via Geelong’s stubborn refusal to lie down and let someone else have a crack.
But what of the vanquished? What of the teams who missed the eight, variously promising much, threatening to achieve but in the end leaving fans unfulfilled, unhappy and with no plans for September.
What went right for the also-rans, what ultimately went wrong, and what can be done to reverse their fortunes next year?
Hawthorn (ninth)
If we were talking about most clubs, a second failure to reach September in three years – sandwiched by a straight-sets finals exit in 2018 – would be cause for concern. But not in Hawthorn’s case. The Hawks were horribly inconsistent this season but arguably no team finished the campaign in better form, with masterful wins over GWS and West Coast a reminder not only of Hawthorn’s class but also the tactical brilliance of their coach, Alastair Clarkson. Now, onto 2020. The return from injury of 2018 Brownlow medallist, Tom Mitchell, speaks for itself, while in-demand Giant Stephen Coniglio will need the mental resolve of a monk to resist Clarkson’s overtures. It’s not often he doesn’t get his man. No doubt Clarkson and his list management team will have a few bunnies in their hats come trade week, a period in which Hawthorn always do outstanding work. The Hawks still have an abundance of experience in their ranks but are also bringing through the greenhorns, James Worpel the shining light amongst them. So bank on them to recruit smartly and return to the finals next season.
Port Adelaide (10th)
Fans of all clubs listed here endured a season of dwindling fingernails and hair follicles, but none on the scale of Port supporters. At their peak, the Power were able to beat Geelong and West Coast in Perth, but no two weeks were alike. The club drew stinging rebukes for their inability to defeat inferior opponents, the week after beating the cream of the AFL – which in turn had followed a loss to a team Port were expected to best. And so the cycle continued for a team that knows how to respond, but can’t bring the heat when they only have four points, and not pride, to play for. Port had their injuries, and curious turns at the selection table, but ultimately they have nobody to blame for a wasted campaign but themselves. While doubts persist over their talls and an ageing engine room, young guns such as Connor Rozee and Xavier Duursma ensure a positive outlook. The spotlight, however, must be shone on Ken Hinkley and his coaching staff. Hinkley has the support of the right people, but unless he can turn the Power into a consistent outfit, or at least one capable of playing finals, 2020 looms as the last year of his tenure.
Adelaide (11th)
This season is ample proof that Adelaide’s excuse-riddled descent in 2018 was not down to injuries or mind-bending pre-season camps. The Crows were expected to return to their 2017 best this year, even contend for the flag, but the truth has been laid bare in 2019 and that truth is they are not good enough. That they failed to qualify for September after sitting in fifth spot after round 14 is an indictment on both the players and coaching staff. It seems Don Pyke is safe for now, but given his rigid coaching style and the talent of the list under him, should he be? The last time the Crows missed the finals two years running, it cost Brenton Sanderson his job. An ageing group, the time has come at the Crows for an uncompromising clear out. The club will also have a strong hand at the draft, so if they recruit wisely, eschew boldly and show greater faith in their younger brigade, there is reason to think Adelaide can return to the eight in 2020.
North Melbourne (12th)
See Carlton. Well, not exactly, but there was symmetry in the fortunes of these clubs in 2019. North’s worst this season was wretched, but their best was good enough to rub shoulders with the competition’s best. And it’s no coincidence that the Kangaroos performed at their optimum once Brad Scott vacated the coaching seat and Rhyce Shaw took his place. As was the case with Carlton, the change in leadership seemed to invigorate the playing group. While North’s playing style hasn’t altered markedly under their new coach, Shaw’s “I’m not Brad Scott” comment hinted at a shift in mentality. Certainly, Kangaroos players looked a happier bunch as they went about winning seven of their 12 matches under the coach who started on interim terms but became full-time (Shaw was the only person interviewed for the top job). There is much to like about North – their commitment, spirit and hunger for the contest … and Ben Brown – but what they lack is quality across all lines. Fixing that is easier said than done.
Fremantle (13th)
Did the Dockers do the right thing in sacking Ross Lyon? We’ll have to wait until 2020 to find out, but in this case perception looks to be the equal of reality. Put simply, with the tide of opinion out west so violently against him, Lyon could not continue in his role one second longer. Why else would you sack a head coach with one game still to play? The Dockers’ season was essentially one of unfulfilled promise – they were as high as sixth after round 13 before the rot set in – but it wasn’t all doom and gloom, with triumphs over Greater Western Sydney, Western Bulldogs, Brisbane, Collingwood and Geelong showing that their best is good enough. Nat Fyfe returned to his imperious best in 2019, but, with a stack of experience now out the door, the skipper will need greater assistance from below if Fremantle are to make significant headway under their new coach next season.
St Kilda (14th)
The Saints have become dab hands at promising much but delivering very little. It’s now eight seasons since the Saints have marched into September, and worryingly for all concerned the drought doesn’t look like ending any time soon. It wasn’t all bad – after round five, with a 4-1 record in the bank, St Kilda were second on the ladder – but as injuries mounted (at one stage, the Saints had 14 players unavailable) and the competition heated up, the Saints were found wanting, prompting Alan Richardson to quit after almost six years in charge. St Kilda battled away manfully under interim coach Brett Ratten, but 14th is a true indicator of where they sit. Supporters will hope an exhaustive recruitment process finds the right coach to take the club forward. Just as pressing, however, is a list that is developing young talent – Hunter Clark, Rowan Marshall and Ben Long can springboard off impressive seasons – but is still very light on A-listers. Things can change quickly in the AFL, but it’s unlikely they’ll change quickly enough for St Kilda in 2020.
Sydney (15th)
It might be more prudent to laud the fact that Sydney played finals for nine straight years, rather than lament their bottom-four finish in 2019. In political parlance, we might look back on this season as the slump Sydney had to have. The Swans gave a nod to the future when bidding farewell to experienced duo Dan Hannebery and Gary Rohan at the end of 2018. And the departures have continued, with Kieren Jack, Jarrad McVeigh, Heath Grundy and Nick Smith – or in currency terms, 1,000-plus games – calling time on their careers. The ‘R’ word won’t be heard at Moore Park but the Swans are now in a rebuild phase, or at least their version of one. But there isn’t a semblance of panic at the Swans. John Longmire’s long-term future has been locked away, and the overwhelming feeling is that both club and coach have a clear view of where they are heading. With the likes of Tom Papley, Isaac Heeney, Oliver Florent, Callum Mills and Nick Blakey fronting the revolution, it’s unlikely the Swans will be staying long in the lower reaches of the ladder.
Carlton (16th)
Scarcely has a club finished 16th with such a big grin. Carlton’s season can be divided thus: BT (Before Teague) and PT (Post Teague). The first bit was risible, defined by ex-coach Brendon Bolton’s no-risk, almost apologetic style of football. And the proof was in the pudding. Bolton had won 16 of 77 matches as senior coach, and just one of 11 in 2019 when the board put him and Blues supporters out of their misery in early June. Enter David Teague, who immediately broke the shackles, demanded fluid, high-octane footy – and achieved results. Now full-time, Teague will enter 2020 with a winning record as senior coach (6-5) but also with rare levels of expectation. Teague has clearly inspired confidence in his players, but they, like their leader, will start the new season officially out of the honeymoon period. It will be a fascinating watch.
Melbourne (17th)
Forget Adelaide or Sydney, Melbourne are the flops of 2019. Preliminary finalists last year, the Dees looked to be the team with most upside and one capable of threatening for ultimate honours. But the reality was nothing like it. Oftentimes Melbourne looked chronically short of confidence and not quite sure what their game plan was, or what they stood for. They had no problems winning the ball – the Dees ranked top-five for both contested possessions and inside-50s – but their forward structure was dysfunctional at best. Indeed, it’s an indictment on what appears a capable list that Melbourne were bottom of the pile for efficiency inside-50 and top-four in turnovers. For much of the season it just didn’t look like the Demons could kick a score. Contested-ball king Clayton Oliver had a good season and can hold his head high, but that’s just about it. On the plus side, Melbourne will have an early draft pick but their report card is stamped “Must do better”, and if they don’t do so in 2020, one wonders how long the board’s good will for Simon Goodwin will last.
Gold Coast (18th)
After years of sustained mediocrity it’s hard to know what constitutes a pass mark for the Suns in 2019. However, a second wooden spoon and 19 consecutive defeats to close out the season isn’t it. Gold Coast’s 3-1 start to the year was the falsest of false dawns, a mirage that disguised a unit stripped of quality – think Lynch and May – and fielding the youngest, least-experienced list in the AFL. The Suns will again be key players at the national draft, where they will have the No 1 pick for the first time since 2010 – and, possibly, a priority pick if the AFL yields to the club’s request. Gold Coast will need to choose wisely, and hope for instant results, for while Stuart Dew has the backing of his paymasters and is talking a positive game, nothing is guaranteed in this results-driven business.
