1. The bottom line may not suggest it, but the Saints have improved in 2026 and will be better in the next few years.

They only scored 100 points once in 2025. This has been achieved seven times so far this season. While they have not been outstanding, the off-season recruits are going OK. Liam Ryan is a reason the attack is better, with 11 goals in his past three games. Tom De Koning is getting better as the year goes on. Hopefully, his rib injury isn’t too bad, and Jack Silvagni has been defensively sound. But the biggest win for the Saints is the improvement of their young players. Max Hall is a star. Darcy Wilson has gone up a level and must be re-signed ASAP. But to me the biggest win for St Kilda is Hugo Garcia. I’m not sure many people other than the most rusted on Saints fans could believe how good he can be. Hugo is a bona fide clearance midfielder with great spread from the contest. He is averaging six clearances a game, the most of any midfielder aged 22 or under in the competition. That’s a big tick for the Saints’ recruitment and development. St Kilda are going to be fine.

2. Game of the round for me is the Fremantle against Gold Coast match on Sunday.

The Dockers are chasing 14 wins in a row. They are getting into rare areas now; there have only been six streaks of 14 wins in a season since 2000. Essendon (2000), St Kilda (2009), Geelong (2007, 2008 and 2022) and Collingwood (2011). All these teams went on to play in the grand final. They should win to join this elite club on Sunday. The Suns are getting desperate after four straight losses. But I thought they put to bed any signs of a fractured, non-committed team last Friday night. They played well in a lot of areas. They simply have to fix up centre clearances against Luke Jackson and co in the middle. If they break even at a minimum in this area and get better connection inside 50, they are a chance to cause an upset. Fremantle on the other hand show no signs that they will have a lull as they put together a potentially historic season.

3. I may be naive to the goings on between players, their managers and the media.

It obviously happens quite a bit and as they say, where there is smoke there is fire. But if you have a player at your club that is leaking things about your inner sanctum and is detrimental to your own club then I guarantee you won’t be a successful team or organisation. I’m positive of that.

4. Clayton Oliver is having a very good season.

I think with all the issues he had during his last 18 months at the Demons we have forgotten how incredibly consistent he has been right from the beginning of his career. This is a player that has averaged nearly 15 contested possessions and 6.5 clearances a game. They are remarkable numbers. He is No.1 in the competition this season in both those areas again. He is an inside beast of a player. The Giants would feel very lucky to have picked him up with Tom Green’s ACL injury. I missed him in my mid-year All-Australian team. If he continues at this rate, he should be in the team at season’s end and will probably win the Giants’ best and fairest to go with the four best-and-fairest awards he won at the Demons. An absolute gun.

5. Why are we not a big enough sport to allow players to critique and share opinions on things they think are a problem in the game.

Jy Simpkin did this after teammate Paul Curtis was suspended for a dangerous tackle. He stated players were confused and unsure what to now do in these situations. I would have thought that’s a problem if players think this way. Surely him saying this should open an honest discussion with head office and the players. He probably should have been a bit more measured in his criticism, but surely the AFL don’t want players being unable to speak their minds. Simpson should not be muted for expressing this opinion. He should be heard, and players should be encouraged to voice their honest opinions around the rules of the game and any confusion they have.

6. What a recruit Jack Martin has been for the Cats and what a bargain he was as well.

Geelong took him as a de-listed free agent for nothing after starting at the Suns for six seasons and then spending five injury-interrupted years at Carlton. Every other club could have taken this highly talented player but didn’t. Why? The risk factor was too high for most clubs, and they were not willing to risk a list spot. Not so for the Cats, as their incredible success over 20 years makes these risky selections a viable and calculated choice. They were prepared to get Martin in and allow him to rebuild his injury-prone body. Martin is now duly paying them back. A win all round.

7. I don’t think Mason Cox has ever got enough love for what he has been able to achieve in Aussie Rules football.

He is due to play his 150th game in a few weeks. Which includes a premiership at the Pies in 2023. This is staggering achievement considering he knew nothing about the game until he was 23 years of age. The skill set to be an AFL player is the broadest in any sport in the world. So many skills to master, let alone the athleticism required as well. He not only picked it all up but continues to play at the highest level at age 35. He is providing great ruck support and is allowing Luke Jackson to thrive in a full-time ruck role by providing him a viable chop out. Jackson is playing career-best footy since Cox came into the team. Mason’s own tap work in the ruck remains very good as well. Well done big Coxy but I can’t forgive you for the 2018 demolition of the Tigers in a preliminary final lol.

8. Last Thursday night was rough when the news of Tony Modra’s accident came through.

It was hard falling asleep wondering if he was going to be OK in the morning. Thankfully he is on the mend after that terribly unlucky truck crash. The love that has been sent his way in the aftermath wasn’t a surprise. Tony is a universally loved figure in the AFL. A champion who has remained humble right through his career and life after footy. You have to remember there was no bigger rock star in footy than Tony in the 1990s in Adelaide. His nickname was “Godra”. He had it all. The looks, charisma and freakish talent on the field. His marking was spectacular. His goal kicking was deadly accurate; he kicked an astonishing 129 goals in 1993. Everyone in the footy community is wishing him well as he recovers. Talking of spectacular marking, I think Modra has the best highlights reel possible but Fremantle’s Shai Bolton is putting together a nice speccy CV himself. His mark against the Cats last Thursday was an absolute ripper and he has already taken a couple this year. He also won mark of the year in 2022 at the Tigers and back in 2018 he won mark and goal of the year in the VFL competition for the Tigers. He is having an amazing year.

9. Carlton fans are some of the most passionate and loud in the AFL.

They have won five games in a row and should make it six against the Eagles on Saturday at Marvel. The fans want caretaker coach Josh Fraser appointed as the next senior coach. It’s hard to disagree at the moment. Surely the taste of success and winning is starting to sway Josh to at least go through the process Carlton has put in place. I for one am starting to think if he wants it that it’s going to be hard to not appoint the young coach. The drums are beating loudly in the stands.

10. This has nothing to do with footy, but my last week has been made a lot better by the news that the US band Faith No More are going to be back touring in 2027.

It’s been a long hiatus. This was one of the first bands I loved back in high school. They were on high rotation on my Walkman. If you’re too young to remember them and like punk rock give them a listen. I’ve never seen them live and thought the chance was gone. I’ll be front row and ready to take my ageing body into the mosh pit in 2027. You only live once!