AFL.com.au's Callum Twomey takes a look at the chance awaiting Izak Rankine, the Demons' shopping list and more in Cal-culations

CARLTON'S NEW BATMAN AND ROBIN COMBO

CARLTON'S push up the ladder is being supercharged by having one of the most in-form players in the competition in career-best touch.

And in many ways it has gone under the radar until now.

Sam Walsh's brilliant finals record continued with a best-on-ground showing on Saturday night against Melbourne and the Blues' vice-captain is in a rich vein of form. So much so that he was a clear unlucky omission from the All-Australian squad last week.

Walsh's 39 disposals, seven clearances, seven score involvements and five inside 50s continued a brilliant second half of the season that has gone somewhat under the radar. Quietly, Walsh is not only in career-best form, but he is one of the most in-form players left in the finals series. 

Walsh is averaging 29.1 disposals across the season, his most since 2022, and his average of 370 metres gained and seven score involvements are career-highs. An All-Australian and best-and-fairest winner in 2021, Walsh has found a new level in the second half of this season.

Together with Jagga Smith, who was also outstanding on Saturday with two goals and 29 disposals, the pair have made Carlton's midfield more dynamic, more versatile, more quick-footed, more agile and less Patrick Cripps focused. Cripps' slight step back has seen his team step forward.

Some wondered about Carlton handing Sam Walsh an eight-year extension and the biggest deal in club history earlier this season but he did that even despite the doubts on Michael Voss' long-term future, instead committing without meeting other clubs who were knocking and hoping he held out in his free agency call. But he had seen Smith and known he was a partner ready to ride with for the new Blues era.

Under Champion Data's rankings, in the six games Smith has been rated a top five player for the Blues, they have won five times this season. Walsh is at a 70 per cent win rate when he's been in the top five for the Blues across the past two years.

Since Josh Fraser took over in round 10, Smith is second in the AFL for looseball gets, and has played 87 per cent of his game time as a midfield. Under Voss, Smith played 60 per cent.

In the same window under Fraser, Walsh ranks eighth in the AFL for disposals, third for handballs, equal fourth for uncontested possessions and seventh for handball receives.

Walsh has done it before in September. He won the Gary Ayres Medal as the best player in the 2023 finals series, and Geelong will have that in its thoughts this week as it prepares for the elimination final. Oisin Mullin will be spending some time in the vision room this week. 

RANKINE'S CHANCE AWAITS

THIS IS Izak Rankine's chance to atone.

After missing last year's finals series through suspension after his homophobic comment to Collingwood's Isaac Quaynor, Rankine can set the tone for the Crows.

He couldn't be better prepared, having had perhaps the best month of his career leading into September: 23 disposals and three goals against Essendon in round 21, 36 and one goal against Richmond in round 22, 39 and one goal against Fremantle the following week and four goals and 35 disposals against the Giants in the final round of the season.

Now comes the test on the biggest stage and he will feel a sense of owing the Crows after watching them bungle last year's finals series while he was in the grandstands.

But it won't be easy. Adelaide's first game this season against the Western Bulldogs in round two – a six-point loss at Adelaide Oval – set off alarm bells.

The Crows' second game against the Dogs – a 57-point win at Marvel Stadium in round 14 – came in their best patch of form of the season.

Their third game against the Western Bulldogs may well define the era of Matthew Nicks as coach.

There is significant pressure on the Crows to break through for their first finals win since 2018 – and under Nicks – in next Saturday's elimination final.

Nicks has a contract for 2027 but a seventh year without a finals win would bring serious questions about whether Adelaide has gotten the most out of a talent-laden group and list primed to challenge, like it did last year with a minor premiership before its finals breakdown. Nicks is a realist who knows the expectations thrust upon his club with him at the helm and the do-or-die final gives many of his players a chance to right their finals fadeout of 2025.

Nicks and the Crows have the pieces to play with. They have upped the ante on defence this year but have weapons to get it done when they turn them on up the ground.

A soft final month saw them clinch wins over Essendon, Richmond and Greater Western Sydney and drop a four-goal defeat to Fremantle, but the Dogs present a different challenge after a confidence booster in the wildcard stage.

DEMONS READY TO GO SHOPPING 

DEES fans must have thought they had jumped in a finals time machine and pressed the rewind button.

After being unable to score in their past four finals – their straight sets exits in 2022 and 2023 – Melbourne again hit the finals and the scoring dried up.

After booting four goals in the opening term of Saturday night's wildcard loss to Carlton, Melbourne only managed another three goals. After averaging 15 goals a game this season and being one of the most exciting, watchable teams in the game, the Demons kicked seven in the knockout game. And they were duly knocked out.

Things turned a fortnight ago when Jacob van Rooyen's swinging arm on Aliir Aliir saw him suspended for three games, and it was followed by Matt Jefferson's knee injury. Of course, they had missed Brody Mihocek since mid-season with his fractured neck. 

Coach Steven King said it best post-game when he pointed to the Demons more than doubling their win tally from last year to this season – seven to 15 – and Melbourne becoming an attractive place to play once more. 

Now the Dees will go shopping, and their shopping list is long.

They have a four-year deal in front of Hawks forward Calsher Dear and are leading the race for him, alongside Geelong, while as revealed on Gettable earlier this month, North Melbourne's No.5 pick Zane Duursma is expected to leave the Roos and request a move to the Demons. They are also right in the frame for Brisbane's medium forward and regular goalkicker Will McLachlan as he considers his trade options, while they also have an offer on the table for Hawks defender Bailey Macdonald.

This on top of the Demons holding picks No.6 and 10 – a dangerous hand for a recruiting team that has already had six first-round picks over the past three years and future-proofed themselves against Tasmania's impending draft dominance.

All of this adds to the view that Melbourne's run back into the finals was a big tick for this season. But King would have woken up on Sunday and felt there was still a couple more weeks of the ride left for this year. 

IS THIS COLLINGWOOD'S NEXT COACH? 

SCOTT Pendlebury's shift to Gold Coast might eventually be the stepping stone to bringing him back to Collingwood as its next senior coach.

The champion Magpie's confirmation that he was departing the club to join the Suns as an unrestricted free agent came after the Pies' wildcard loss to the Western Bulldogs. 

It had been simmering for some time, with AFL.com.au reporting on Friday the move was growing closer as Collingwood became aware of his plans.

The two-year playing and two-year coaching deal he has at the Suns carries little risk for Gold Coast – they get an on-field coach to assist with leadership while he builds his own coaching credentials. 

Some of his motivation for the move has been to see another club, work under another coach, and understand another system which will enhance his senior coach credentials down the track.

Will the timing line up for a return to be Collingwood's next coach? McRae has signed at the Magpies until the end of 2028, which would be the end of his seventh season at the club. 

The 2023 premiership coach has previously stated he didn't see himself being a career coach at Collingwood and Pendlebury's forthcoming playing then coaching initiation at the Suns will build up his credentials for a potential return down the track.

Pendlebury's exit marks a changing of the guard at Collingwood, with fellow Pies star Steele Sidebottom retiring after Friday's loss. 

Collingwood is favourite to land Lachie Neale as an unrestricted free agent and the Pies were again crunched at the clearances against the Bulldogs, so Neale's expertise in that area will help. They lost the clearances by 19 against the Dogs, which was the worst result of their season in that statistic in a year of alarmingly red data rather than green in numbers around the ball.  

They are also looking at Jesse Hogan as a trade freebie, with Jeremy Howe and Tim Membrey to play on. 

There have been recruiting finds over the past 18 months, with Sam Swadling a star on the rise and Will Hayes showing promise, as well as some mature-age role players who have fitted the bill.

The Pies will hold pick No.9 at the draft which, provided they hold onto the selection, will be their earliest non-tied draft pick since Jaidyn Stephenson in 2017. They have to make it count. 

NAUGHTON TAKES HIS MOMENT

THE DISCUSSION is often about what Aaron Naughton doesn't do. It's time we talk more about what he does do.

Another four goals for Naughton in Friday night's epic wildcard round win over Collingwood saw the Western Bulldogs key forward hit the 50-goal mark for this season. That followed his 60-goal haul.

Yes, Naughton would probably be a fantastic centre-half back with his aerial strength and bravery. But he's also a very good forward, who is extremely courageous in marking contests, has been more than steady in front of goal this year (50.31 for the season) and has done it without Sam Darcy by his side for most of the season.

The 26-year-old was excellent for the Dogs as they clinched their first finals win since 2021, working in tandem with Arty Jones, who kicked four goals himself in a career game. Jones knows where to be – usually at the feet of Naughton – and it worked wonders against the Pies as his out-of-contract stocks rose once more.

It's rare a player kicks four in a final and then departs his club, but the Dogs are battling against Brisbane's real interest to have Jones be their Charlie Cameron successor with a decision expected soon. Free agent Buku Khamis is also now looking more likely to stay at the club. 

Naughton's past six season goal tallies show his consistency: 47, 51, 44, 35, 60 and 50 so far this season. He is up to 336 goals across his career and at this rate could easily challenge Simon Beasley's record of 575 goals as the most of any Bulldog. 

Not bad for a centre-half back. 

THE McVEIGH WAY BEGINS

RARELY has a new coach had such a blank canvas to work with.

At least three assistant coaching vacancies to fill. A new back-to-basics game plan with a defensive focus being promised. Neither of the club's football boss roles filled (officially, anyway). A No.1 pick to choose. Millions and millions of salary cap dollars to spend. Coffees with free agents underway. Changes already in mind to make to The Hangar facility. 

Essendon's appointment of Mark McVeigh came with the Bombers at their lowest ebb – at the end of a season where they recorded their fewest wins in their history.

McVeigh's first week in the job, following AFL.com.au revealing last Sunday he was set to land the role, has seen him acknowledge the only way is up. He has been clear and punchy, realistic and personable. It has been an impressive beginning. 

But the real work properly starts now and the Bombers' former No.10 knows there is plenty to do. McVeigh's message was clear in Essendon's big show announcement on Tuesday as he told his players they were about to get back into the classroom, that they needed to improve their football IQ and get their heads around his plan.

A second pre-season under fitness boss Mat Inness should also have a focus on building the strength of the Bombers, who were physically overpowered far too often even against other lowly teams through this year.

Adelaide is at the other end of the ladder but the difference in body sizes in the Bombers and Crows season late in the season was stark. The Crows are renowned for their work in the gym, even to the point of telling prospective draftees they better be ready for big summers in the weights room if they land there.

The McVeigh way has started at Essendon and he will take control of a football department that couldn't have been more dispirited, or depleted, by the end of this season.