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Sport Nation
Unheralded: The players who deserve more credit for Round 7
Andrew Slevison, Lachlan Geleit & Jaiden Sciberras • April 28th, 2025 5:11 pm
We always know who the stars are in a particular game.
But what about those who played a pivotal defensive role or were influential without stuffing the stat sheet? They may have had an important assignment or have simply just flown under the radar.
These players might be spoken about amongst the supporters of their clubs, but not discussed as widely around the competition.
Below are the players we believe deserve more credit for their Round 7 performances.
Jack Sparrow
It wasn’t a prolific outing from a disposal point of view, but Tom Sparrow’s effort and intent was excellent on Anzac Eve.
He was a demon in the clinches, laying 11 tackles including four inside 50 while kicking a goal from 16 touches.
His efforts were singled out by Simon Goodwin and we felt it right to send some praise his way after his combative display.
It was his highest-rated game of the season so far.
A tip of the hat to Jack Viney who did a very good job in quelling Tim Taranto.
He had a massive 15 tackles, six of which were inside 50, plus 19 touches
O-Mac impact
Cruelled by injury throughout his career, Oscar McDonald was afforded some joy on Friday night.
He toiled away as a forward pinch-hitting in the ruck and was instrumental in Freo’s 18-point win over the Crows.
McDonald only had nine touches but they were full of impact. He kicked two goals, provided three goal assists and seven score involvements.
No doubt he’d have been lauded inside the four walls at Fremantle, but his performance will certainly fly under the radar from a wider footy world perspective.
Curtis Coleman?
Is Paul Curtis getting enough love?
The noise around the league is getting louder and most North fans love him, but are we giving him the full credit he deserves?
In the hard-fought loss to Port Adelaide, Curtis kicked 3.2 from 16 disposals with six score involvements, five tackles, four inside 50s and a goal assist.
He has kicked 18 goals to sit equal fifth in the Coleman race alongside teammate Nick Larkey and has laid the most tackles inside 50 in the league with 18. A remarkable effort for a small/medium forward in a team with just one win.
It was a shame to see him rubbed out for three weeks for an unmalicious tackle.
He should seriously be in All-Australian consideration.
Reid about it
Essendon defender Zach Reid is quietly coming along in his fifth AFL season.
While the 23-year-old was a top 10 pick in 2020, he had only played nine games before this season due to persistent injuries.
Finally with a clean run at it, Reid is showing off why he was so highly rated and he certainly did that on the biggest stage of the home and away season against Collingwood.
Playing on Dan McStay, Reid didn’t let the key forward get into the game at all before he went off injured, controlling the air with four intercept marks and four spoils.
His tall defensive teammate Ben McKay also did well on Brody Mihocek who didn’t hit the scoreboard until late in the fourth quarter, albeit McKay didn’t have an impact himself offensively.
Even though the Magpies kicked a solid 107 points, it certainly wasn’t the fault of Essendon’s key backs.
Harmes inflicted on GWS
That might have been the best game James Harmes has played for the Bulldogs.
His four goals equaled his career-high, while he also had enough of it with 22 disposals - a stat that’s not easy to achieve as a high half-forward.
While Harmes had an out-of-the-box four-goal, 27-disposal performance last year against Richmond, doing it against GWS is a whole new level of opponent.
If the Bulldogs can keep getting this level out of the likes of Harmes, Joel Freijah and Matt Kennedy, there’s no limit on what they can achieve once a few key players return and Marcus Bontempelli builds into his campaign.
The Flying Dutchmen
Carlton's best win of the season was highlighted not by individuals, but by an array of role players standing up when called upon in a four-quarter effort.
Two of those happen to be brothers. Ollie and Elijah Hollands played by far their best contests while sharing the field for the Blues.
Combining for 48 disposals, 11 tackles, nine marks, 11 score involvements and 867 metres gained, the Hollands brothers were the epitome of what Carlton sought throughout their crooked start - heart, run and carry, and poise.
Beyond the Hollands', Nick Haynes finally repaid the Blues faithful, with a 20-disposal, 13-mark, nine-intercept performance worthy of his eight coaches votes.
The Blues will need performances like these from their role players if the club wants to continue their winning form.
