Round 3 Report Card, highlights, every club reviewed and graded, best and worst players, stats, latest news

There was only one fail assessed from Round 3, and it should come as no surprise which team it was dealt to.

Every team’s performance analysed and graded in foxfooty.com.au’s Round 3 edition of Report Card!

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ADELAIDE CROWS

Yes, they went in very undermanned, and yes they’ve gone 23 years without a win at Kardinia Park, but Adelaide were still very lucky to walk away with only an eight-point loss to Geelong. They very briefly hit the front at the start of the last quarter, but never really looked like taking the four points in a loss that will leave Matthew Nicks frustrated, but not completely disheartened, given their lack of personnel.

In the votes

The Crows had two outstanding performers, and you’d say one of them is likely to sneak a vote come Brownlow night. Josh Rachele (31 disposals — 13 contested, seven clearances, two goal assists, one goal) was electric all night in a mostly-midfield role, and arguably played the best game of his AFL career. Not far behind him was Josh Worrell (30 disposals — 11 intercepts, 895 metres gained), who despite playing at less than 100 percent fitness, worked well in tandem with Jordan Butts (11 disposals, seven spoils) and Nick Murray (13 disposals, seven spoils, 441 metres gained, one goal) to hold down a defence that was hounded all night. Up forward, Zac Taylor (seven disposals, six score involvements, three goals) was commendable in his first AFL game of the season, while Sam Berry (22 disposals — 13 contested, nine clearances) continued his strong form through the midfield and attended 86% of centre bounces.

Room for improvement

There wasn’t much for Nicks to smile about post-game, given his side were whacked in every possible mainstream stat line. His lockdown defenders were once again excellent, and limited the scoreboard damage as best as they could’ve. The contrast in Adelaide’s forward 50 tackle pressure to Geelong’s was damning, while there was nowhere to hide when it came to contested ball and at clearance. The expected return of Jordan Dawson and hopeful inclusion of Rory Laird for Good Friday’s duel with Fremantle should go a fair way, as well as the addition of Taylor Walker who was managed from the trip to GMHBA Stadium.

Grade

C

BRISBANE LIONS

They did it ugly for the first half while they played from behind, but six unanswered goals to finish the last quarter saw Brisbane storm home to their first victory of the 2026 season, finishing 33-point winners over St Kilda. Their early inaccuracy in front of goal was thankfully shared by their opponents all day, which allowed them to stay in touch before half time despite being the worse of the two sides. Nonetheless, their excellent streak against the Saints extended to eight straight wins, and will have them feeling far more calm after a tough start to the year.

In the votes

Both in a practical sense and statistical output, there’s little doubt that Jarrod Berry (31 disposals, 10 marks, two goal assists, one goal) was Brisbane’s best-on-ground. Not only did he tear the game apart himself, but he also held Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera ultra-accountable in the first half when tagging him. Will Ashcroft (31 disposals, 10 clearances) had just one touch in the third term, but finished with a monster 16-disposal final quarter to land the hammer blow. His brother Levi Ashcroft (25 disposals — 92% efficiency, one goal assist, one goal) got a decent amount of the Sherrin, while Keidean Coleman (21 disposals, one goal assist, one goal) played his best game at AFL level for a while.

Room for improvement

The Lions’ inside 50 count was inferior to St Kilda by four entries, but beyond the tackle and hitout count, they led every other mainstream stat line. In the end, their kicking for goal was very respectable with 17.11 at full time, with improved cleanliness likely one of their bigger takeaways from the contest.

Grade

A-

CARLTON

There aren’t too many more demoralising ways to lose a footy match than what Carlton stooped to on Sunday afternoon. In the first quarter and a half, the Blues looked as dominant as we’ve seen them in a couple of years, brutalising Melbourne with their pressure and looking potent in counterpunch transition. Carlton kept Melbourne to 0.6 (6) until the 26-minute mark of the second term, yet the Dees wound up kicking 15 goals. That is unbelievable in the most reprehensible possible way.

In the votes

When the Blues were at their height, Elijah Hollands was amongst it, finishing as his side’s highest-rated player with 25 disposals, two goals and seven score involvements. Patrick Cripps had an equal-game-high nine clearances, while Mitch McGovern was involved in plenty ahead of the ball, kicking three goals with eight score involvements.

Room for improvement

Sheesh, where to start? How about conceding 14 second-half goals? The Blues looked in terrific shape early as Jacob Weitering, Harry Dean and Lewis Young held down the fort, but Carlton was wobbly as anything in the second half, particularly when the Dees pounced on transition opportunities. Michael Voss’ side caved under pressure time and time again, with more questionable decisions with ball in hand than could be counted. The Blues kicked six unanswered goals in the opening quarter yet lost the inside-50 count by 13. Their inability to run out games in second halves is as alarming as ever, and the mental scarring only looks to have gotten worse.

Grade

F

COLLINGWOOD

Nick Daicos steered Collingwood to a decisive 33-point win over GWS and the Magpies’ second win of its season off the back of their early season bye. Craig McRae’s side was much more efficient than the Giants forward of centre in a promising turnaround for Collingwood after its struggled in that area in the early parts of this season. They kicked seven goals to GWS’ three in the second half to put the game away, while Oscar Steene impressed on debut to become an instant cult hero. But it wasn’t without some injury concerns, with Scott Pendlebury (Achilles) and Darcy Moore (leg) unlikely to feature in their blockbuster Easter Thursday clash with Brisbane.

In the votes

Nick Daicos was enormous with 36 disposals, 12 contested, 770 metres gained and two goals, which both came in a dominant third term that really separated the game, to likely bag the three Brownlow votes. Tim Membrey bounced back with four goals after a quiet start to the season and Steele Sidebottom gathered 31 touches in a vintage performance.

Room for improvement

While Collingwood is defending as well as any team in the competition, its offence remains a concern and McRae would love to see his troops doing heavier damage on the scoreboard. While a score of 87 is an improved output and Collingwood’s highest total this season, it’s still not at the level of some of the best teams. It’s part personnel, part system, the latter of which, in fairness, did look much better Thursday night.

Grade

A-

ESSENDON

Despite a late challenge — kicking the game’s last four goals to make the Roos sweat — North Melbourne was clearly the better side on Saturday night as Essendon’s winless start to the season continued. And not just that; the Bombers are now without a win for 16 consecutive games. Worse? They face the Bulldogs on Easter Sunday, where a loss would tie a club record 17-straight losses, which last happened in 2016.

In the votes

Mercurial key forward Peter Wright was the equal-highest rated player on the night, kicking two goals from 15 disposals and nine score involvements to be Essendon’s most potent option forward of the ball. Archie Roberts went at 81 per cent by foot for his 25 disposals and eight intercepts, while Jye Caldwell kicked a goal from his 22 possessions.

Room for improvement

The Bombers were outpossessed by almost 80 and were beaten at stoppages, and kicked 9.15 despite recording three more forward entries. Zach Merrett was held to one of his quietest-ever performances by young Roos gun Finn O’Sullivan, managing just 10 touches for the match; his lowest tally since 2018, in a reflection of how his side is tracking. The late rally had fans briefly hoping for a miracle, but a one-goal-to-five third quarter was what broke the game open.

Grade

D+

FREMANTLE

We saw the best and the worst of Fremantle in the wet Optus Stadium clash. Despite having a sizeable ruck advantage, the Dockers couldn’t capitalise in a first half display described as “dumb” by Fox Footy’s David King. But it was a different Fremantle outfit that turned up for the second half as they finally cashed in on the dominance of Sean Darcy and Luke Jackson to kick eight goals to one after the main break. Freo finished +29 for inside 50s, +15 for clearance and +33 for contested ball – all while winning the hitout count 57-9 (!). It was a dominance by the Dockers that should have resulted in more than a 60-point victory; with wayward accuracy in front of goal to blame.

In the votes

Caleb Serong was back to his best after copping the tag last week. He finished with 32 touches, nine clearances, six tackles and two goals. Josh Treacy continues to show why he’s considered the most dominant forward in the AFL at the moment with his 16 touches, an equal career-best 12 marks (in wet conditions) and four goals. Shai Bolton was everywhere with his 33 disposals and 573m gained. Brennan Cox made a welcome return down back with his seven intercepts and more than 88% disposal efficiency.

Room for improvement

Coach Justin Longmuir joked about it post-match after Freo’s 25 behinds – “Goal kicking coach might get sacked this week …. Which is me”. The Dockers wasted a number of opportunities, and still managed a 60-point win, highlighting just how dominant they were. Luke Jackson was a chief offender with 1.4 while their tall trio of Pat Voss, Josh Treacy and Jye Amiss contributed nine behinds between them. Neil Erasmus had some moments he’d probably like back – including crashing into teammate Judd McVee.

Grade

A

GEELONG

It was far from the perfect performance, but Chris Scott’s side still managed to get the four points in greasy conditions against Adelaide last Thursday night. In reality, the Cats should’ve won by far more than eight points, but both their players and Chris Scott made several mentions of how much they respect the Crows outfit, so no doubt they’ll still walk away happy as winners. A 10-day break — coming off an 11-day break after their early bye — will be welcomed with open arms ahead of their Easter Monday blockbuster with Hawthorn.

In the votes

The most damaging of the Geelong crew was speedster Max Holmes (27 disposals, 603 metres gained, one goal), who crucially broke lines all night in tougher conditions to gain territory. His ‘Dash Brother’ in Bailey Smith (40 disposals — 16 contested, 10 tackles, 795 metres gained) was less effective with ball in hand, but will still have been seen by umpires all night. Jack Martin (14 disposals, three goals) popped up at all the right times as the Cats’ most prolific goalkicker for the night, while defensive duo Sam De Koning (18 disposals, 12 marks — six intercepted, nine spoils) and Tom Stewart (24 disposals — nine intercepts, 632 metres gained, one goal) were excellent in defence all night too. Oisín Mullin (13 disposals — five intercepts) won’t poll, but the Irishman was first-class in shutting down Adelaide’s Izak Rankine all night with a hard tag.

Room for improvement

The Cats got the ball inside forward 50 effectively, but it was how they were using it further up the ground and actually inside the attacking arc that cost them. If they had converted better in front of goal, it could’ve — and should’ve — been closer to a 40-point win, given they registered a whopping 67 inside 50s and only had 9.14 to show for it. That said, they dominated the Crows in every statistical facet, with their tackling pressure inside forward 50 the most noteworthy (25-4).

Grade

B+

GOLD COAST SUNS

BYE

GWS GIANTS

Adam Kingsley’s side is again left licking its wounds after a 33-point loss to Collingwood as it heads into its bye 1-3. Not the ideal start to the season, though partly to be expected as the club battling the most treacherous injury toll. The good news is that the Giants now get a breather and a chance to recoup some of those injures bodies. The bad news is that they won’t get them all back straight away, though Kingsley flagged that Brent Daniels, Toby Bedford, Jack Buckley and Aaron Cadman should all be back in Round 4. And you can add Ryan Angwin (burst ear drum) to that list of casualties, though he’s not expected to miss any games.

In the votes

Lachie Whitfield racked up off across half back with a season-high 39 disposals. Finn Callaghan (35 touches) was among the Giants’ prime movers in the midfield and well supported in the engine room by Clayton Oliver (37 disposals).

Room for improvement

You could really boil the game down to the contrast in the two sides’ forward half efficiency. Collingwood kicked way more accurately after getting 22 shots at goal from 50 entries (44 per cent) compared to the wasteful GWS’ 19 shots from 58 entries (33 per cent). The poor forward supply was a reason why Jesse Hogan (four disposals) was so down on form. Though you do have to give them some grace given the injury woes.

Grade

D

HAWTHORN

BYE

MELBOURNE

What better stage to put together their fifth-biggest comeback than on the afternoon that club legend Max Gawn played his 250th game? Before their first goal of the game at the 26-minute mark of the second quarter, the Demons were 0.6 (6). They finished 15.10 (100). It was an incredible turnaround. Melbourne was pushing in the second quarter but didn’t get reward for effort, but that changed with a six-goal third term and a punitive nine-goal final stanza. Despite a six-goal-unanswered first quarter for the Blues, the Dees wound up +13 for inside-50s for the game, in a sign of their territory dominance from then on.

In the votes

When the game was there to be won, Kysaiah Pickett was absolutely everywhere for Steven King’s side, finishing as the highest-rated player on the ground with 33 disposals, 10 score involvements and six clearances. Max Gawn was tremendous on his milestone afternoon, accumulating 23 possessions, six clearances and five score involvements. Jake Lever was integral in defence, totalling an equal-game-high 11 intercepts with 21 disposals. Bayley Fritsch kicked a couple of crucial fourth-quarter goals from his four total majors.

Room for improvement

Melbourne lacked intensity in the early going, evidently overwhelmed by the Blues in the first quarter and a half. The Dees succumbed to Carlton’s pressure and looked disjointed when they tried to string ball movement chains together. But it was a completely flipped script in the second half, which saw the Demons play relentlessly attacking footy and a hellbent attitude to defensive pressure.

Grade

A-

NORTH MELBOURNE

Despite more than a few moments of untidiness, the Roos did what they had to do. They came in as favourites, but up against a 12-game losing streak and hungry-to-rebound Bombers side, it wasn’t going to be straightforward for North Melbourne. But Alastair Clarkson’s side was better from the outset and led at every change en route to a 12-point victory — which was made to look harder-fought than it was. The Roos broke the game open with a five-goal-to-one third term before the Bombers rallied late with a four-goal-unanswered final period.

In the votes

Finn O’Sullivan was stellar on Saturday, wonderfully performing his role of curtailing the great Zach Merrett — who was held to an eight-year low 10 touches — while also having a notable ball-winning night. He totalled 24 disposals, seven intercepts and six score involvements to be the equal-highest rated player on the ground. Luke Parker and Colby McKercher were prolific ball-getters, too, with 33 and 35 disposals respectively, while Harry Sheezel was typically busy with 33 possessions and seven score involvements. Zane Duursma bobbed up with a game-high three goals and five score involvements from five touches.

Room for improvement

Despite outpossessing Essendon — both for contested and uncontested ball — and winning more at stoppages, the Roos recorded three fewer inside-50s than the Bombers. Clarkson’s men also committed 10 more turnovers for the match. And while it was hard to fault much of what the Roos did on Saturday night, the club’s supporters would have been feeling the pinch a little bit when the Bombers made things interesting in the final minutes. Tristan Xerri would have quickly regretted wiping his blood on Andy McGrath, as he now faces a weeks-long suspension.

Grade

A-

PORT ADELAIDE

This loss is the toughest pill Power fans have had to swallow in a while. Their recent dominance over West Coast officially came to an end via a two-point loss on Sunday afternoon, and leaves them sitting at 1-2 despite a very favourable fixture to start their 2026 season. They’re going to need to learn how to support their out-of-contract superstar Zak Butters more in the midfield in the absence of captain Connor Rozee — and quickly. He and Mitch Georgiades can’t do it all…

In the votes

There aren’t many deserving of a Brownlow vote from this match, but if there had to be a couple, it’d likely be Zak Butters (30 disposals — 14 contested, 11 score involvements, six clearances), who battled hard despite a hard tag. Mitch Georgiades (12 disposals, eight marks — six inside 50, three goals) threatened to tear the game apart at times, but ultimately didn’t have the final say.

Room for improvement

Clearance, clearance, clearance. The home side were absolutely walloped with a 15-31 clearance count at stoppage, while they were also beaten at contested ball come full time. Their pressure inside forward 50 was decent once it was trapped in there, but this really shouldn’t have been a game they dropped — especially after kicking the first four goals of the game.

Grade

D-

RICHMOND

The experts didn’t give the Tigers a chance as they headed west without a handful of stars including Nathan Broad, Tom Lynch and Toby Nankervis. But Richmond went down fighting for much of the clash with the Dockers in the wet. Two-time premiership Roo David King wanted to see something new from a Tigers midfield that was ranked highly for pre-clearance ground ball. And he got it with Tim Taranto used forward with excellent effect in the first half. A third-quarter fade-out ensured the match was over by the final change, but for a young, inexperienced side, there was plenty to like about what Richmond did despite winning just NINE hitouts for the entire match.

In the votes

Tim Taranto was everywhere for the Tigers in the first half, and finished with 24 touches, 10 tackles and two goals. He found an ally in attack in Steely Green who slotted three goals. Luke Trainor was impressive with his team-high 28 disposals and almost 500m gained.

Room for improvement

The absence of Toby Nankervis was always going to hurt – but just nine hitouts out of the 66 from the match? Teams won’t be in the contest with those sorts of numbers. Maurice Rioli is usually the one doing the rundown tackles – but against Fremantle he was caught cold three times.

Grade

C

ST KILDA

Ross Lyon’s frustrating start to this year continues, having now dropped to 1-3 after a 33-point loss to Brisbane last Saturday afternoon. It must be said that while they were blown out of the water in the final quarter by the back-to-back reigning premiers, the final margin wasn’t truly indicative of the contest. You could argue next week’s bye has come at a good time before their huge Gather Round clash with Port Adelaide in 13 days time.

In the votes

It’s unlikely any Saints will poll come Brownlow night here, but co-captain Callum Wilkie (24 disposals — 13 intercepts, nine marks, six spoils) was stellar all afternoon in defence. Liam Ryan (11 disposals, three goals) kicked all his majors in the first half to give his side the edge at the main break, while Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (29 disposals, 10 score involvements, 698 metres gained) had moments but never fully shook the Jarrod Berry/team tag from Brisbane.

Room for improvement

It was initially their inaccuracy in front of goal that cost St Kilda a head start at Marvel Stadium, but you don’t have to dig much deeper to work out they were in the end beaten pretty comfortably in a lot of the mainstream stat lines. Tom De Koning and Rowan Marshall were getting first hand on the ball at stoppage, but they didn’t have much to show for their 13 hitouts to advantage.

Grade

C-

SYDNEY SWANS

BYE

WEST COAST EAGLES

They did it! And by ‘it’, we mean win a second straight match and put an end to a number of unfavourable records — all while giving Andrew McQualter his first away win as a head coach. Their first quarter set the scene for what could have been yet another Adelaide Oval drubbing against them, but the visitors fought valiantly to win back the lead halfway through the third term, and hold on for a two-point win. Fabulous!

In the votes

There was no obvious three-vote player from the contest, but you’d suspect key forward Jake Waterman (13 disposals, eight shots on goal, four goals) will be right up there. If not him, 20-year-old Harley Reid (21 disposals, 10 score involvements, six clearances, two goals) will go close after a critical third term that flipped the game on its head. His housemate and fellow No.1 draft pick Willem Duursma (20 disposals, six marks, one goal) could have had a huge day if he converted his three behinds.

Room for improvement

The Eagles had less of their ball than their Port opponents, but made up for it with excellent efficiency going inside forward 50. There won’t be a whole lot McQualter will be hounding his side about given their last two games; the four points will trump anything and everything they have to sternly criticise until their winning streak ends!

Grade

A

WESTERN BULLDOGS

BYE