There’s no comparing war to football, but there were plenty across the competition who stood up to be counted when it mattered across round seven. Here are the key takeouts from Anzac round.
Too old? Too slow? Too good
Friday afternoon, MCG
Collingwood defeated Essendon by 41 points
Justin Leppitsch, presumably, felt the heat from all directions late last year.
The Dan Houston trade is working out just fine for Collingwood.Credit: AFL Photos
Collingwood’s then-new list boss went “all-in” to recruit Port Adelaide’s sweet-kicking All-Australian defender Dan Houston for the price of another first-round draft pick.
“Another” is appropriate because the Magpies also handed over their first-rounder 12 months earlier for ex-Docker Lachie Schultz, who subsequently finished outside the top 10 of the club’s best and fairest as Craig McRae’s side failed to make finals.
Being an underperforming dad’s army is a shocking place to be, so Collingwood endured a summer of doom-and-gloom coverage centred on their future being bleak, particularly with Tasmania’s impending entry.
Houston turns 28 in May, while Schultz is the same age in November.
Leppitsch faced scrutiny for the latest trade call – with criticism focused on the ageing list demographic, and the lack of emerging stars beyond the game’s best Nick Daicos – and developed a reputation with rival list chiefs for being difficult to work with.
The Pies were considered no certainties to return to September action in 2025, then suffered an opening-round disaster, when flag fancies GWS doubled Collingwood’s score in a 52-point rout. All the fearmongering seemed well-placed.
McRae, once likened to fictional soccer coach Ted Lasso for his genial ways, also received a warning from league headquarters about a boundary-line exchange with Giants counterpart Adam Kingsley, following criticism last year for not being gracious after a loss to St Kilda.
Six straight wins later, the Magpies are on top with a percentage north of 140, having beaten Port Adelaide, Western Bulldogs, Carlton, Sydney, reigning premiers the Brisbane Lions (at the Gabba) and Essendon on Anzac Day.
One of Collingwood’s greybeards, Steele Sidebottom, 34, has wound back the clock to his prime – which was from about 2012-21 – while ex-captain Scott Pendlebury also continues to defy his 37 years.
Fellow 30-somethings Jamie Elliott, Jeremy Howe, Jack Crisp, Brody Mihocek and Tim Membrey (a delisted free agent signing in the off-season) are good-to-great contributors, while they are set to turn to American Pie Mason Cox, 34, after Daniel McStay’s latest knee injury.
Darcy Cameron will join that group in July, but is among the competition’s top handful of ruckmen. Darcy Moore, who is back to his best this year, and Jordan De Goey are stars at age 29.
There is a distinct similarity with this Collingwood side to that of Geelong’s 2022 premiership squad, which also copped external grief for being old before rattling off 16 consecutive wins to end that season.
Anzac Day medallist Steele Sidebottom is turning back the clock in 2025.Credit: AFL Photos
The Pies are not pretending to be young, or shying away from their advanced age demographic. Even so, they have unearthed a 22-year-old inside midfielder in Ned Long, who managed only five games before Hawthorn cut him two years ago.
Meanwhile, Nick Daicos has perhaps only Marcus Bontempelli as a challenger for the mantle as the competition’s No.1 player.
Collingwood also have a very useful mid-to-late 20s group, led by Josh Daicos and including Norm Smith medallist Bobby Hill, Isaac Quaynor, Houston, Brayden Maynard, Schultz, Patrick Lipinski, free agent signing Harry Perryman and Beau McCreery.
The Magpies took a risk sacrificing the chance to find a future star in the draft to load up on experienced talent – and that must be addressed at some point – but they are walking the walk.
Collingwood have contested four grand finals since 2010, won two premierships, and might add to both tallies this season. What more can a fan base ask for?
As a bonus, father-son midfielder Tom McGuane and next generation academy ruck-forward Zac McCarthy are fringe first-round draft prospects this year. It doesn’t even matter that would-be category B recruit Alex Condon is instead bound for the NBA.
Magpies – sorry for doubting you.
An ode to ‘Bevo’
Saturday night, Manuka Oval
Western Bulldogs defeated GWS by 32 points
The Western Bulldogs’ horribly disappointing round 23 defeat to lowly West Coast two years ago prompted this reporter to ask Luke Beveridge whether he was still the right man to coach the club.
Luke Beveridge has negotiated a series of obstacles and distractions to steer the Dogs inside the top eight.Credit: AFL Photos
“Absolutely,” was Beveridge’s instant response.
“If, at the moment, we’re in this sort of static area from a performance point of view, well, we’ll work out why it is,” Beveridge said. “But, from a leadership perspective, and coaching the team and the club – yeah, I’m really comfortable with my tenure.”
The Bulldogs upset Geelong at the Cattery for the first time in two decades only six days later, but Carlton’s defeat to GWS meant they missed finals.
Beveridge’s side then lost an elimination final to an upstart Hawthorn last year, so the questions about his future lingered into this season, particularly because he is not contracted beyond 2025.
A decision on extending the 2016 premiership coach’s tenure may be months away – but the time for anyone doubting him is over after a 32-point defeat of arch-rivals the Giants in Canberra on Saturday night.
The Dogs now have four wins from seven matches despite all sorts of obstacles and distractions.
Stars Marcus Bontempelli (two), Adam Treloar (zero), Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (zero), Cody Weightman (zero) and Liam Jones (four, albeit he was dropped rather than injured on Saturday) have combined for only six games this year, while Sam Darcy missed the GWS win as he prepares for a long stint out.
Beveridge pulled the right levers against GWS, swinging Rory Lobb forward after a slow start from his team and entrusting young twin towers James O’Donnell and Jedd Busslinger to hold down key defensive posts.
The way he has patiently brought along blue-chip draftee Ryley Sanders is a credit to him as well, while Joel Freijah has blossomed wonderfully under Beveridge. Once considered purely an outside player, Freijah amassed a career-most 19 contested possessions this past weekend.
The likes of Lobb, James Harmes, Matt Kennedy, Lachie Bramble, Taylor Duryea, Oskar Baker and Ryan Gardner have also thrived since crossing to the Kennel.
Something else Beveridge said during that 2023 post-match media conference – at a time his team was down, and he was wearing the heat – might help explain why he manages to maximise so many of these guys.
“The one thing you know I’ll never do is throw any of our players under the bus,” he said.
Joel Freijah has blossomed under Luke Beveridge’s coaching.Credit: Getty Images
What Bulldogs powerbrokers need to ask themselves is whether any replacement is a better alternative to a man who led them to two grand finals and only one losing season in his 11th year in charge.
Blue-ming at the right time
Sunday, MCG
Carlton defeated Geelong by 18 points
Tom De Koning’s impending free agency decision is the biggest of 2025.
Even factoring in Max Gawn’s enormous fortnight, Carlton’s 25-year-old big man has a firm grip on the starting ruck spot for the All-Australian team, albeit only seven rounds in.
The worth of ruckmen is often questioned, but in De Koning the Blues have an uber-athletic, 201-centimetre star who impacts the game aerially and at ground level. He is averaging career-highs of about 20 disposals, 13 contested possessions, six clearances and 30 hitouts this year.
Tom De Koning is playing career-best football as he weighs up his playing future.Credit: AFL Photos
De Koning was again excellent in Carlton’s win over Geelong at the MCG on Sunday, and they have now won three games in a row to leapfrog St Kilda, the team trying hardest to pry the ruckman from them.
The Blues’ revival should silence the reactionary suggestions in some quarters that the Saints’ prospects were superior. Let’s be honest: St Kilda’s monstrous monetary offer is the sole reason De Koning would swap Ikon Park for Moorabbin – and even that might not be enough.
The Saints have their own challenge to convince emerging star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera from requesting a trade to one of Port Adelaide or Adelaide.
Time for reflection
Sunday, Marvel Stadium
Hawthorn defeated West Coast by 50 points
Speaking of playing futures, West Coast co-captain Oscar Allen came face-to-face on Sunday with one of the clubs that hopes to recruit him next season.
The Eagles used Allen in defence in their heavy defeat to Hawthorn, leaving Jake Waterman – who transformed his career for the better in Allen’s injury absence last year – Liam Ryan and the Reids, Harley and Archer, to try to kick a winning score.
Allen was infamously caught meeting Hawks coach Sam Mitchell and his wife Lyndall a few weeks back.
Brisbane are considered free agent Allen’s likeliest destination if he opts to leave, but the chance to play for an ascending contender like the Hawks as a key forward would be appealing.
His former teammate Tom Barrass joined Hawthorn in last year’s trade period, and it is unlikely Allen would be needed down back in brown and gold.
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