There’s just one winless team left in the AFL – and a club great fears it’s a sign they’re going backwards when it’s time to go forwards.
Plus, more of the biggest talking points ahead of Round 6, as well as the commentators for every Fox Footy game, in Foxfooty.com.au’s ultimate weekly preview: The Blowtorch!
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PUNT ROAD PROBLEMS AS TIGERS PATIENCE ‘STARTING TO WEAR THIN’
Richmond remains the only winless club in the competition, and concerns are bubbling as its first victory of the season appears as elusive as ever.
The latest in its four-match run of heavy defeats came at the hands of the Giants at Gather Round; the Tigers not only outhunted for the footy, but were a collective doormat in defensive transition.
And when they had the pill, Adem Yze’s brigade looked incapable of putting meaningful passages of play together on several occasions.
Granted, the Tigers are down troops, headlined by captain Toby Nankervis and spearhead forward Tom Lynch, as well as a suite of young talent.
But the go-long-to-contest style they’re playing at the moment lacks purpose or creativity.
Richmond ranks 14th for handball metres gained — and if we’ve learnt one thing across the early stages of this season, it’s that fruitful handball chains are conducive to good ball movement and higher-quality scoring opportunities.
Sides like Brisbane and Adelaide rank below the Tigers in the metric, but those teams have landmark strengths; the Lions opt to go by foot, and do so with quality users and incisive kicks, while the Crows score punitively off turnover. Richmond does neither.
Have Tigers taken a step foward at all? | 03:42
Triple premiership Tigers forward Jack Riewoldt believes the current circumstances are dire for his former club.
“I think patience is starting to wear thin with the supporters of Richmond,” he told Fox Footy’s On the Couch.
“They bounced (last year), had five wins, and I think there were high expectations — people were talking about them maybe getting to 10th.
“They’ve got a young list, but the caveat is that a lot of those young players have been injured.
“But at the moment, they haven’t improved at all under Adem Yze, in any facet of their game, which is really disappointing.”
Highly-touted 2024 picks Josh Smillie, Taj Hotton, Harry Armstrong, Tom Sims and Jasper Alger remain some way away from senior football, while Rhyan Mansell and Judson Clarke still don’t have timelines for returns.
Riewoldt added: “And yes, he doesn’t have the cattle out there that he’d love to have, he’s got older players injured as well, but I look at offensively, defensively and (at) contest on the weekend, and I don’t think they’ve taken a step forward under Yze.”
So far this year, Richmond ranks dead-last in the competition for chain-to-score, defensive 50 to inside-50, and score-per-inside-50.
In other words, the Tigers are the worst side at moving the footy. And on the occasions that they do get it inside their forward 50, they’re still not able to convert at an acceptable rate.
“No one rates worse, unfortunately,” Riewoldt continued.
“You want to go to the footy, when you’re in a rebuild, and I think many thought this was going to be a quick rebuild — with the draft picks that they loaded up on — but this is going to turn out to be a slow rebuild.”
Asked if he’s seen an ‘identity’ with his former side, Riewoldt claimed there’s been a lack of consistency with how the Tigers have looked week-to-week.
“I don’t see one game looking like another, after we’ve seen five this season, unfortunately,” he said.
“And we’ve just seen the Swans, arguably the best handball team in the competition — Richmond doesn’t have a handball game at all, at the moment.
“The best player for the opposition will always be the key back, because they’re bombing the ball.”
Last Sunday, Tigers players repeatedly opted to kick long to a contest instead of taking the handball option.
“Bomb kicks forward and poor skills, and from the weekend, that’s exactly what we saw — we just saw missed opportunities,” Riewoldt said.
“The handball game is king; you need to get the ball from the inside to the outside — if you bomb it, sides are so good at setting up behind the ball that they will intercept, and that turns into scores.
“A lot of heat is going onto the young forwards, it’s going onto Faull, who’s been playing undermanned — no Tom Lynch … but the opportunity for young forwards doesn’t lie in the contest.
“You can’t be a contest side with young forwards; you have to be a lead-up side. You have to be a side that generates ball movement … at the moment, just not seeing enough generated.”
North Melbourne this Sunday looms as a tough matchup, particularly as the Tigers haven’t beaten the Roos at Marvel Stadium since the naming rights still belonged to Etihad.
They’ll give themselves a chance against West Coast, though that’s in Perth. Dreamtime against Essendon is winnable, but even the Bombers have shown signs of life.
It feels as though until Lynch is right to return, scoring will continue to be a considerable struggle.
Essendon President’s bizarre move? | 01:32
RISING COACH SET FOR MEGA PAYDAY AS TASSIE LOOMS… SO HAS HE EARNED IT?
There’s been plenty of chatter around stars using Tasmania and rival clubs in general as leverage to beef up their impending new contracts. But a coach?
That’s the situation Sam Mitchell finds himself in as one of the most valuable assets in the game as he prepares to ramp up talks with Hawthorn for a new deal beyond 2027.
And it could help him earn a staggering new payday north of $1 million per season.
Hawthorn legend and great mate Shane Crawford recently endorsed Mitchell as a target for Tasmania in a potential cryptic message to the Hawks to lock their coach away.
“I think Hawthorn can very much read the signals there,” Herald Sun reporter Jon Ralph said on Fox Footy’s On the Couch.
“They’re aware Sam would like a contract, and they’d love to keep him.”
Even Jack Ginnivan cheekily suggested he’d re-sign with the club when Mitchell does.
Hard to recall when a coach, who has yet to drive a club to the ultimate success, has had so much pull or been held in such high esteem.
That’s not a knock on Mitchell, by the way. He’s doing big things for the 4-1 Hawks, who are playing as well as any team in the competition right now, ahead of a showdown with Port Adelaide.
And he’s going to be well compensated for it.
‘Shining light’ at Dons a Tassie target? | 02:12
Mitchell recently switched management groups to Bravo Talent to “maximise commercial opportunities,” according to Ralph.
His new deal could make him one of the highest-paid coaches in the game as clubs can now pay senior coaches 20 per cent of their wage outside the AFL soft cap, which has gone up $1.1 million to $9 million in total.
Senior coaches can also earn $100,000 in commercial deals, like Chris Scott’s sponsorship with Morris Finance.
Put it all together, and coaches could now earn up to $1.5 million, but only $1.1 million of that inside the soft cap.
The average senior coach is paid up to $900,000, whereas premiership coaches can earn as much as $1.2 million.
So does Mitchell, without a flag to his name, deserve to be one of the highest-paid coaches in the game?
“Normally, coaches that win a premiership probably end up getting $1 million plus,” coaching great Leigh Matthews said on On the Couch.
“It’s supply and demand, let’s face it. And how well you can negotiate.
“Sam hasn’t won a premiership yet or gotten to a grand final … the ones getting $1.2-$1.3 million are usually the guys who have won a premiership.”
Leigh doubts HUGE Butters price tag | 02:30
IS THE KANGAROOS’ DEFENCE ACTUALLY… GOOD?
There are very few guarantees in footy, but for the last few years, there was a dead certainty – North Melbourne’s defence was bad.
No matter who was coaching, the Kangaroos couldn’t stop anybody, conceding the most points in the AFL in 2021, 2022 and 2024 plus the second-most points in 2020, 2023 and 2025.
But while it’s early in 2026 – and their easy early-season fixture skews things a little bit – there are finally signs of improvement in that crucial area.
Having thus far conceded fewer points than two of the premiership favourites Brisbane and Hawthorn, it’s the underlying numbers that really suggest the Kangaroos’ defence has improved, according to St Kilda champion Leigh Montagna.
And it was actually in defeat, rather than in one of their three wins, where they impressed the Fox Footy analyst.
“We know it (their defence) has been poor for so long. But I thought even though they lost to the Brisbane Lions, they took a step forwards,” Montagna said on First Crack Preview.
“Just watching the way they’re playing now. There was talk about the change in their defensive system over the summer, and they said publicly we’re gonna go back to playing more 1 v 1, and there were some raised eyebrows saying hey, is that a bit old school? Will that work?
“But it’s been impressive the way North Melbourne have gone about it.”
‘Embarrassing!’ Gaz on juror in transit | 02:45
In the most critical area of scoring, from turnover, the Kangaroos were dead-last in all of the 2022-24 season and still a woeful 16th in 2025.
But through five games this year, they sit 6th in the AFL. And they have taken similar leaps from worst to the top third of the ladder in scores per inside 50, and in pressure rating where they’re all the way up in second.
“Playing 1 v 1 actually now allows them to get after the opposition and pressure,” Montagna said.
“Because in the past they were playing the zone-style team defence where they would come forward – and how many times did we see other teams go overlap, overlap and walk in goal?”
Kangaroos points against from turnover rank
2022: 18th
2023: 18th
2024: 18th
2025: 16th
2026 so far: 6th
Kangaroos opposition scores per inside 50 rank
2022: 17th
2023: 17th
2024: 18th
2025: 17th
2026 so far: 7th
Kangaroos pressure rank
2022: 17th
2023: 16th
2024: 13th
2025: 11th
2026 so far: 2nd
Against the reigning premiers, the style worked a treat with Brisbane restrained to just 72 uncontested marks – their fifth-lowest total over the last couple of seasons – as the Kangaroos permitted very few easy options.
“You can just see there has been a system change, and of course they’re not the finished product, they’re gonna have days where it looks really bad and they’re gonna get beaten,” Montagna said.
“But at least there’s something they can work off, and just test themselves against the best. I thought it was a great indication they are making the progress we know they needed to make.”
Prince Harry pays a visit to the Dogs | 00:51
SWANS ARE ‘KINGS OF CHAOS’… AND THEY’VE GOT A NEW X-FACTOR
Sydney is currently playing the game like no other.
Thriving in high-pressure contests and cashing in off turnover, the Swans — who just palmed off the flag-contending Suns — are playing a finals-tested brand of footy in April.
“I just think they’ve become the kings of chaos,” dual flag-winner David King said on Fox Footy’s First Crack Preview.
“The game doesn’t live in control when the Swans are playing. They don’t let you uncontested mark, and they don’t really take a lot of uncontested marks themselves.
“So, if you just look at the basic numbers, Sydney games have the fewest marks in them, and I think it’s become a real feature of why these games are watchable, because there are so many times the ball changes hands, bobbling around, pressure, all those sorts of things.”
Thus far in 2026, the Swans have applied the third-most pressure to the opposition in the competition, but receive the second-least.
“And I think ‘how does that look?’ … In the end, if you can’t punish, you can’t play in 2026,” King continued.
“And what they’ve been able to do with possession in hand to get it on the scoreboard is the best of any team.”
This season, the Swans have scored 92 points per 100 turnovers. For context, the AFL average is 74.
On the flipside, they’re allowing just 52 points per 100 turnovers. So, they can do it either way.
Showing vision from last Saturday’s statement victory over Gold Coast, King explained why the Swans could be outnumbered at a contest but still win possession due to their desire to apply serious pressure.
Swans are the kings of chaos | 03:15
“They’re extreme on offence and extreme on defence,” he said.
“This is finals footy … Swans are outnumbered 10 to six, but because they want to hunt, they want to tackle, and their desire is to put pressure on, they can survive like this.
“This is why I love it. Because they’ve prioritised the cream, not necessarily the contest. They’ll back lesser numbers on occasion … I love what they’re doing, and it’s a little bit different to watch.”
And, zeroing in on individual performance, the Swans could have an x-factor when Errol Gulden eventually returns from injury.
Dual All-Australian Leigh Montagna flagged several weeks ago that Justin McInerney could be the man to step up and fill Gulden’s void between the arcs, and the Saints great has been validated.
This year, McInerney ranks second in the entire competition for damage via ball use — a Champion Data metric measuring players’ impact with ball in hand.
At fourth is superstar Isaac Heeney, while Chad Warner (12th), Nick Blakey (18th) and Riley Bice (23rd) all rank within the AFL’s top 25.
“I think this is a really good indicator of why you put McInerney on the radar weeks ago — and the numbers are still stacking up,” King said.
“It wasn’t just a brief period of form, this is something they can really look at when Errol Gulden comes back, how they use this guy, and (whether) they maintain the status quo.”
McInerney also tops the AFL charts for total score involvements, with Brodie Grundy sitting fourth, and Warner and Tom Papley ranking equal-fifth.
“I think they’re in really good working order, because it doesn’t necessarily revolve around or rely on one man.”
ROUND 6 FIXTURE AND FOX FOOTY COMMENTATORS
CARLTON v COLLINGWOOD
Thursday April 16, 7.30pm at the MCG
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 6.30pm on Channel 504, hosted by Sarah Jones, Jason Dunstall, David King and Leigh Montagna, with commentary from Matt Hill, Mark Howard, Jordan Lewis, Cameron Mooney and Jon Ralph.
GEELONG v WESTERN BULLDOGS
Friday April 17, 7.20pm at GMHBA Stadium
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 6.30pm on Channel 504, hosted by Garry Lyon, Tom Hawkins and Jordan Lewis, with commentary from Anthony Hudson, Gerard Whateley, Jason Dunstall, Brad Johnson and Jon Ralph.
SYDNEY SWANS v GWS GIANTS
Friday April 17, 7.50pm at the SCG
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 7.30pm on Channel 503, with commentary from Dwayne Russell, David King, Alastair Lynch and Ben Dixon.
GOLD COAST SUNS v ESSENDON
Saturday April 18, 1.15pm at People First Stadium
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 12.30pm on Channel 504, with commentary from Leigh Montagna, Kelli Underwood, Nick Dal Santo, Alastair Lynch and Ben Dixon.
HAWTHORN v PORT ADELAIDE
Saturday April 18, 4.15pm at Marvel Stadium
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 4pm on Channel 504, with commentary from Mark Howard, Jason Dunstall, Adam Simpson and Lauren Wood.
ADELAIDE CROWS v ST KILDA
Saturday April 18, 7.35pm at Adelaide Oval
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 7.15pm on Channel 504, with commentary from Dwayne Russell, Anthony Hudson, Ken Hinkley, Mark Ricciuto, Kath Loughnan, Jack Riewoldt and Jay Clark.
NORTH MELBOURNE v RICHMOND
Sunday April 19, 1.10pm at Marvel Stadium
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 12.30pm on Channel 504, with commentary from Dwayne Russell, Jess Webster, Cameron Mooney, Nick Dal Santo, Sarah Jones and David Zita.
MELBOURNE v BRISBANE LIONS
Sunday April 19, 3.15pm at the MCG
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 6.30pm on Channel 503, with commentary from Corbin Middlemas, Matt Hill, Gerard Healy, Brad Johnson, Eddie Betts and David Zita.
WEST COAST EAGLES v FREMANTLE
Sunday April 19, 7.30pm at Optus Stadium
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 4.30pm on Channel 504, with commentary from Anthony Hudson, Adam Papalia, Jack Riewoldt, Will Schofield, Kath Loughnan and David Zita.