The Limestone Coast is well represented in the AFL with plenty of home-grown players starring on the national stage.
The SE Voice’s sports journo Will Boston takes a look at how our locals fared in Round 4.
Jordan Dawson
With the Crows having a disappointing start to the 2024 season, captain Jordan Dawson continues to lead his team by example and gives it his all every week.
In the first game of the Gather Round weekend Dawson had 23 disposals, 15 kicks and five tackles.
Dawson also finished the game with a snag for good measure.
Robe’s favourite son and the other Adelaide mids had a tough time against the Melbourne mids who have been really good to start the season.
With one of Adelaide’s biggest struggles this year being their kicking and ball usage, Dawson used the ball well, having a season high 73.9% disposal efficiency.
This week the Crows have a really tough game against the Blues at Marvel on Saturday afternoon.
As I said last week this is a must win game for the Crows if they want a chance at finals footy – even though that chance is slim.
Darcy Fogarty
This game was probably one of Darcy Fogarty’s better games this year.
The Fog had 10 disposals, eight kicks and two goals in the game.
In the forward line Fogarty had a goal assist as well as six score involvements.
This year has been tough for the Crows’ tall forwards as they have struggled to get going this year due to the team’s poor performance.
This week Fogarty will have to get going early if they want to take down the undefeated Blues.
Mitch Hinge
Although the Crows are having a rough season Mitch Hinge has been flying under the radar and is having a very underrated season.
Hinge had 24 disposals, 16 kicks and five tackles in the game.
In stoppage play Hinge had a season high four stoppage clearances, which is a good sign for things to come this year.
Hinge also did a good job at getting the ball out of the back line, having five rebound 50s in the game.
This week Hinge has a tough task against the Blues and their twin towers of Curnow and McKay.
Tom McDonald
Tom McDonald had a quiet game on Thursday night against the Crows.
His numbers did not pop off the page but he did his job well of holding the Crows’ tall forwards of Walker and Fogarty to a combined three goals.
In the game he had nine disposals, nine kicks and three intercept marks.
With the footy McDonald finished the game with a 100% disposal efficiency and helped move the ball out of the backline with three rebound 50s.
McDonald and the Dees have the Lions tonight at the G which should be a good challenge for them with the Lions picking up their first win last week.
Lachie Neale
Lachie Neale had another impressive game in the Lions first win of the season over the Roos at Norwood Oval.
Neale had 27 disposals, 12 kicks and 15 handballs.
In stoppages Neale was a crucial piece in the Lions’ midfield at moving the ball forward.
The Kid from Kyby had a game high seven clearances which helped set up goals for Daniher and Hipwood.
Tonight Neale has a tough game against the Dees who have one of the best midfielders in the league right now.
Lincoln McCarthy
This game against the Roos was probably Lincoln McCarthy’s best game of the season so far.
McCarthy had 14 disposals, 12 kicks, eight marks and two goals.
McCarthy also had five score involvements and a goal assist.
This game was a good sign for McCarthy and the other Lions forwards as McCarthy has been getting better every week.
Tonight McCarthy will face a very hot Demons team that are looking like a real flag contender this year.
Mason Redman
Mason Redman and the Bombers had a rough night last Friday against the Power.
This was Redman’s worst game of the season so far and was an overall bad game for the Bombers.
Redman had 15 disposals, nine kicks and six handballs.
Moving the footy Redman had three rebound 50s in the game and had a 80% disposal efficiency.
Tomorrow night Redman and the Bombers take on the Doggies at Marvel which will be a big game for both teams.
Jeremy Cameron
Jermey Cameron had a huge game on Saturday night against the Doggies.
It was a “Darty Party” as he had a season high 27 disposals, 21 kicks and two goals.
Cameron was a key player for the Cats in the forward line, recording 12 score involvements in the game.
Late in the game Jezza spent a bit of time down back to help the Cats slow down the Dogs from taking the lead in the nail-biting game.
Cameron’s goal kicking was not at his best on Saturday night as he had seven shots at goal and finished with two goals and four points, but had a huge impact around the ground.
This week the Cats have a pretty easy game in front of them as they face the Roos in Geelong.
Brad Close
This was not one of Brad Close’s best games of the year, but he still had a decent and underrated game.
Close had seven disposals, five kicks and five tackles in the game as well as kicking a goal too.
Playing at half forward Close does not get a lot of the footy, with his main job being a target for mids to hit.
The former Northie did a good job at setting up goals as he had four score involvements and two score launches in the game.
Close was also putting in the hard yards on Saturday night, finishing third best for the night in total distance covered with 15.2km.
This week should be a good game for Close as North Melbourne has been a struggling side this year.
Rowan Marshall
Rowan Marshall had a big game against the Tigers at Norwood Oval on Sunday afternoon.
Marshall had 23 disposals, 13 kicks, 10 handballs and seven tackles.
He also had a great battle against veteran ruckman Toby Nankervis where Marshall recorded 24 hitouts.
Marshall kicked off the fourth quarter with a big goal which helped the Saints distance themselves from the young Richmond side.
Marshall did a good job at moving the ball out of stoppages, racking up five clearances in the game.
Late in the game Marshall came up big as he had some crucial intercept marks in the Richmond forward line which slowed down their momentum.
Marshall and the Saints have a big challenge against the undefeated and first placed Giants who have been very good this year.
