The mid-season verdict: He's a star Blue, but at the moment he's just going
Carlton (12th, four wins, seven losses)
Who's hot?
In his 10th season, Jack Silvagni has been a revelation in his new role as a defender. Silvagni's ability to stop high-quality forwards, from a key type like Aaron Naughton to the medium-sized threat like Patrick Dangerfield, intercept and launch counter-attacks is one of the reasons why the Blues, for all their problems, has been one of the more difficult sides to score against. A streamlined George Hewett is having a career-best season in the midfield at the age of 29, and Nick Haynes has overcome a horror start to life as a Blue by turning the clock back to the pre-pandemic years. Tom De Koning was the best ruck in the competition in the first month, but his form has tailed off. Jacob Weitering had been in All-Australian form before two below-par games coming into the bye.
Who's not?
The Blues need more from their superstars. Patrick Cripps and Charlie Curnow are having reasonable years but are capable of finding another level. Harry McKay has struggled with consistency since returning from a mental health break, though his best has been the reason why the Blues have won. After another interrupted preseason, Sam Walsh has become just a player, unable to run opponents off their legs like he used to. The same can be said of Blake Acres, who is not having the same impact of his first two years at the club.
Verdict: So much more was expected of the Blues, who have been one of the most disappointing clubs of the season. Despite having two Coleman medallists in their forward line the Blues are having enormous difficulties scoring. Their lack of class small forwards has hurt, but their ball movement is slow and imprecise. They are as tense as a patient visiting the dentist. Similar problems were overcome in 2023 when they mounted a stunning run to the preliminary final, but they do not have the same quality on their list. A friendly draw over the next month will give Blues fans hope but a finals berth is unlikely.
Grade: D+
North Melbourne (17th, two wins, one draw, eight losses)
Who's hot?
After a slow start to the season, Tristan Xerri is again mounting a strong claim for a maiden All-Australian blazer. The ruckman, with his attack on the ball and wholehearted manner in which he plays, has become the Kangaroos' on-field spiritual leader. Small forward Paul Curtis has continued his improvement and, with 19 goals to the bye, is on track to pass his career-best haul of 30 last year. Cameron Zurhaar has rediscovered his bull-at-a-gate ways in attack to add much-needed bite to the forward line. Veteran Luke Parker has justified his acquisition on the field even if his greatest impact might be felt in the locker room.
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The Age
23 minutes ago
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Perth Now
an hour ago
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Demon sidesteps seeds carnage with Wimbledon win
Alex de Minaur has been left relieved to blast back from being a set down and avoid joining the legion of seeds who've already been scattered at this shock-laden Wimbledon. In perfect sunny conditions on Thursday morning, Australia's big hope brushed off a woeful first set against French qualifier Arthur Cazaux before regrouping, asserting his superiority and eventually prevailing 4-6 6-2 6-4 6-0 to ease into the third round again. Fifteen of the 32 men's seeds had already fallen by the wayside in the first two rounds and, momentarily, there were concerns for de Minaur after a woeful first set in which he made 14 unforced errors and couldn't find a first serve for love nor money. "It just shows you, this sport, it's not easy out there. Anything can happen on any given day," smiled de Minaur on court, after being asked about the proliferation of big names going out early. "It definitely wasn't an easy match and there some tough moments out there but I'm super excited to be back in the third round." De Minaur had never been knocked out of a grand slam by anyone as lowly-ranked as No.115 Cazaux but the alarm bells were ringing once the fluid server from Montpellier took advantage on a packed No.2 Court. But urged on at courtside by his Davis Cup captain and last Australian men's Wimbledon winner Lleyton Hewitt, de Minaur stirred, nearly doubled his first-serve percentage of 33 percent to 63 percent and swept to level the set scores. Cazaux, who'd knocked out de Minaur's old colleague from his Sydney junior days, Adam Walton, in five sets in the opening round, had banged down one serve timed at 147mph (236.5km) in that win. The big delivery got him out of trouble constantly as 'Demon' put the pressure on and earned six break points during the second set, finally earning the key break at 4-4 when the Frenchman threw in a double fault. Serving for it, de Minaur sealed the stanza with a thrilling inside-out forehand tracer, before delivering an uncharacteristic fist-pumping roar towards the crowd, who were largely rooting for the fiance of British player Katie Boulter. "It feels like a second home slam for me," de Minaur told the crowd. "The last few years, I've definitely felt the love here.' Cazaux's spirit was broken after the second set as de Minaur felt freed up to demonstrate why he's determined to surpass his quarter-final berth in last year's event, feeding the dispirited Frenchman a 41-minute 'bagel' set and progressing to the last-32 in two hours 48 minutes. In the third round, de Minaur will be up against either Czech 21st seed Tomas Machac or Danish qualifier August Holmgren, who were in action later on Thursday.
