WELCOME to Reaction Time.
Early each week, AFL.com.au's Riley Beveridge will discuss the topic that deserves a reaction at your club and grade it on the 'Urgency Index'.
It could be anything from an issue that's got a team pondering drastic change, or the form of an underrated star that requires immediate recognition.
The gradings, which relate specifically to the topics, are as follows:
- Panic Stations.
- Simmering.
- Watch This Space.
- Green Shoots.
- Flying.
In this week's Reaction Time, we look at the midfielder who should be mentioned among the game's best, Hawthorn's record against fellow finalists, the Collingwood barometer returning to form, Gold Coast's Petracca problem, the St Kilda star in line for a big pay day, and the underrated storyline in Carlton's turnaround.
As revealed on AFL.com.au's Gettable last week, Adelaide has put a lucrative five-year deal on the table to keep Izak Rankine beyond his contract year next season and through to 2032. Performances like Friday night's display are the reason why. Another 39 disposals, a goal, 10 clearances and 13 score involvements, the latest in a six-week stretch where he's been the No.1 rated player in the competition. Now to do it when the lights are at their brightest. You could make the argument that no player is as important to their side's finals hopes, or their premiership ambitions, as Rankine is for the Crows right now.
Urgency Index:Â Flying.
Time for Will Ashcroft to invest in a bigger trophy cabinet. Two premierships, two Norm Smith Medals, two Marcus Ashcroft Medals, a Gary Ayres Award for best player in the 2025 finals series, and a Goal of the Year win. And that's not counting the Larke Medal, the Talent League flag with Sandringham Dragons, the best on ground medal from that Grand Final, and the under-18s title win with Vic Metro as well. He's 22, by the way.
Urgency Index:Â Flying.
So many Josh Fraser success stories in among Carlton's second half of the season and Blake Acres is an underrated one. Didn't play until round 12 and looked like his papers were stamped as he started searching for a fourth club. But he's turned his year, and his career, around under the Blues caretaker. Was perhaps the side's best on Sunday with 32 disposals, a goal, two goal assists, 10 marks, seven score involvements and six intercepts.
Urgency Index:Â Green Shoots.
Loads of positives for Collingwood right now. But maybe the biggest is the way things are trending for Beau McCreery ahead of September. His best game for the season on Saturday night with 22 disposals and a goal to go with a game-high 12 tackles, a game-high 29 pressure acts, as well as 10 contested possessions, 10 score involvements and two goal assists. An important piece for the Pies at his best, which he's returning to.
Urgency Index:Â Green Shoots.
There have been times this season when Essendon's brought effort and intent and stuck with good teams, even challenged them. Sunday was another reminder the Bombers could do that. Problem is, they haven't done it anywhere near enough in 2026.
Urgency Index:Â Simmering.
Another shout out to the 'Freo Flash'. Scores are level early in the final quarter and within 10 minutes, the Dockers have seven entries, kick seven scores, and grab a commanding lead. Fremantle won clearance 14-3 and centre clearance 7-1 in the final term. You just can't stop this side when it gets on a roll, particularly late in games.
Urgency Index:Â Flying.
Mark Blicavs still doesn't have a contract for 2027. But you get the sense if it was up to Chris Scott, he'd have a deal until 2030. Even at 35 and 313 games into his career, he still fills so many vital roles for Geelong. On Saturday, he equalled his career high with three goals and also had 18 disposals, five clearances and six score involvements. His move into the ruck in the second term helped the Cats get the game back on their terms.
Urgency Index:Â Green Shoots.
Damien Hardwick took ownership for Christian Petracca's struggles across the weekend, saying he's "got to find out how I can best use him". The superstar's flickering form late in the year has been another bleak point in an awful Gold Coast season. His 12 disposals against Brisbane were the fewest he'd managed in a game in more than four years, while he's now four weeks without a goal. Red lights are flashing everywhere for the Suns.
Urgency Index:Â Panic Stations.
Does this side look better in 2027 with Tom Green, Josh Kelly, Jack Buckley, Brent Daniels, Darcy Jones, Phoenix Gothard and Leek Aleer, who have all missed significant chunks of this season with injury? Or does it look worse if the likes of Toby Greene, Jesse Hogan, Jake Stringer, Kieren Briggs and Jake Riccardi – who are all uncontracted – leave at season's end? Interesting days, and interesting decisions, lie ahead for the AFL's youngest club.
Urgency Index:Â Watch This Space.
Are we slightly nervous about Hawthorn's record against the very best this season? Only two wins from the club's last nine games against this year's finalists.
Urgency Index:Â Simmering.
Just love what Koltyn Tholstrup's become this year, having settled into a role in the backline. Has mastered the lockdown part of his job, but now he's getting dangerous himself off half-back. Finished with 21 disposals and eight score involvements on Saturday night, complementing the 13 intercepts and six intercept marks.
Urgency Index:Â Green Shoots.
A bit of credit to Jy Simpkin. We know about the failed trade request last October, he then lost the captaincy as a result, has spent a lot of time this year pushed to a wing, but knuckled down and had a good season. Another 26 disposals, two goals, eight clearances and nine score involvements on Saturday. Could genuinely muscle in alongside Luke Davies-Uniacke and Harry Sheezel on the podium for the club's best and fairest as well.
Urgency Index:Â Green Shoots.
Not reading into anything that's happened to Port Adelaide in the last six weeks or so. An awful schedule to finish the year for a young, tiring side that's been beaten up and lost a host of its best players. Seen enough from the Power this year to suggest good things.
Urgency Index:Â Watch This Space.
It's been a long old season. One week to go.
Urgency Index:Â Panic Stations.
For all the high-priced investments St Kilda has made across the last couple of years, a rookie pick in the mid-season draft could be the club's best addition. Max Hall continues to be a revelation, putting the exclamation mark on another standout campaign with 40 disposals, a goal, four goal assists, 12 score involvements and 10 inside-50s on Saturday. Given the money the Saints have lavished elsewhere, Hall is matching – and probably bettering – the output of many of the side's multiple million-dollar recruits. Ahead of his own contract year next season, it makes Hall's value all the more intriguing.
Urgency Index:Â Watch This Space.
Good as Gulden. Sydney's midfield has done a complete 180 since Errol got back up to speed. A whopping 47 disposals on Sunday with eight clearances and nine score involvements, as Sydney kicked 60 points from stoppage compared to Essendon's eight.
Urgency Index:Â Flying.
The Wayward Weagles. After a bright start, West Coast kicked 2.14 in the final three quarters and paid the price. Put this one down alongside the 9.16 kicked in a narrow loss to the Bulldogs and the 9.19 in another close defeat to Richmond. Frustrating.
Urgency Index: Simmering.
Ed Richards deserves to be mentioned among the very elite players in the competition. Stood up in the absence of Marcus Bontempelli on Sunday and finished with 31 disposals, two goals, two goal assists, six clearances, 11 score involvements and seven intercepts. He's now the No.6 rated player in the competition this season, a year after he finished 2025 as the No.2 rated player behind 'Bont'. He is a genuine superstar of this League.
Urgency Index:Â Flying.
FOOTY ASIDE …
Arsenal will begin the Premier League season next week as undoubted favourites and proved as much with a 3-0 victory over Manchester City in the annual Community Shield warmup event on Sunday night. A good time for the Gunners to peak with so many contenders – including City, Liverpool and Chelsea – still going through massive periods of transition. Arsenal looks the strongest, most settled and well balanced side in it.
Urgency Index:Â Watch This Space.
