Every Tuesday on The Agenda Setters, AFL experts Luke Hodge and Dale Thomas reveal what they are buying, holding, and selling after the weekend's football. In Round 8, the Brisbane Lions' 'whiteboard scandal' emerged, Hawthorn's club doctor tore his hamstring during the epic draw with Collingwood, and Fremantle Dockers traveled to Victoria to defeat the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium.
Hodge: Buying Connor Macdonald
After booting three goals from 28 touches in the draw against the Pies, Hawthorn's Connor Macdonald continues to impress. 'He is having one of the best seasons he has had so far,' Hodge said. 'He got fit, he went away, and now he has had some unbelievable time in the midfield.' Macdonald, 23, ranks third in the competition for score involvements and first among general forwards in that statistic. He also leads in score assists as a general forward, ranks third for disposals, and first for kicks, averaging 22.3 touches per game. Hodge noted that Macdonald's game has elevated because Hawthorn did not secure Essendon's Zach Merrett during last year's trade period. 'There is a spot left for him that Merrett was not able to fill. He has been able to stand up. That is why I am buying him.'
Thomas: Buying Fremantle
Fremantle is enjoying an outstanding season, currently sitting second on the ladder, trailing only Sydney by percentage. Part of the reason the Dockers are thriving is their forward line. They have a groundball differential of plus-3 inside their forward 50, the only team in the competition with a positive mark in this niche statistic. Shai Bolton and small forward Isaiah Dudley lead the way, while Josh Treacy, Murphy Reid, and Caleb Serong also contribute. 'They do it in the air and on the ground as well. That is why at the minute they are a big double threat,' Thomas said.
Hodge: Holding the Medical Team
AFL clubs' medical teams are under the spotlight, and Hawthorn's head physio Andrew Lambart stole the limelight on Thursday when he slipped and seriously damaged his hamstrings. In an amusing follow-up, Hawthorn's injury list now lists Lambart's estimated return date as 1-52 weeks. 'We do not need to see the vision again. I know he is already embarrassed, but he has made the Hawks' injury list,' Hodge said. 'You know that he is going to be doing all the treatment.' Hodge also praised Adelaide's Dr Marc Cesana, who was spotted celebrating passionately at the end of the Crows' thrilling Showdown win. 'I love passion. I love all medicos that have passion about him. Look at the Adelaide medical team ... Look at the vision of the game post-Port Adelaide and what he is doing to the Port Adelaide supporters. He is up and about. Here we go. Here he comes. He does the fist pump. He is up and about. Marcy is going absolutely off tap, giving it to the Port Adelaide supporters.'
Thomas: Holding Tom Papley
All AFL fans know Sydney small forward Tom Papley loves a goal, but this year there appears to be a shift in his mindset. 'As BT would say, Papley is now a willing giver ... probably something that has not been said about him in the past,' Thomas said on The Agenda Setters. Papley ranks second for score involvements among general forwards and seventh overall. He is also equal fourth for score assists as a general forward. 'And this one down here, every chain that he is involved in, 51 per cent of the time, they go through and score,' Thomas said. 'He is now bringing others into the game. A real shift in his mindset. Think what the Cats forwards did in their successful era. Tommy Papley, well done.'
Hodge: Selling Cam Rayner
Luke Hodge, who played with the Lions at the end of his career when Cam Rayner was just starting, made the shock revelation that he is selling the club's former No.1 draft pick. Rayner was spotted during Brisbane's clash with Essendon getting in the way of a pass intended for first-gamer Cody Curtin. Charlie Cameron was about to kick a goal when he noticed Curtin in the forward line. The quick-thinking Cameron passed the ball to Curtin, who—if not for Rayner—would have had a set shot on goal and a chance to kick his first major in the AFL. 'Cam did not actually understand what to do late in the game. Charlie Cameron, he is going to kick a goal ... No ... He scanned the field. Cody is all by himself in the middle. Yes. Kick it to Cody. First game. Everyone get around him. But Cam decides to jump in the road,' Hodge said. Realising his mistake, Rayner then handballed to Curtin, but Essendon's Zach Merrett applied enough pressure to Curtin, and the opportunity was missed. 'So I am selling Cam. Mate, if you do not understand what everyone else on the field is trying to do, get out of the road.' Thomas cheekily quipped, 'Put it on the whiteboard.'
Thomas: Selling Glasshouse
Dale Thomas turned the tables on Kane Cornes after Cornes criticised North Melbourne's Colby McKercher on Monday night. Cornes took issue with McKercher having zero contested possessions from his 23 disposals against Geelong. But Thomas showed McKercher's contested possession average over his first 47 games and compared it to Cornes' first 47 games. For the record, Cornes' average was slightly better, but it was close, with McKercher at 3.9 and Cornes at 4.2. 'Oh, 47 games in old Cornholio here. Possession rate in an era that was all about contested prune ball. You only had it 4.2 per cent, point three higher than the kid ...' Cornes fired back: 'You had a crack at me for distorting numbers. That is in an era where you played 30 per cent game time.' Not backing down, Thomas pointed to Hawthorn's Karl Amon, who has the lowest average contested possession rate in the competition. 'He is a beautiful kick. He is a massive part of Hawthorn,' Thomas said. 'So go easy on the kid, mate.' Cornes stood by his hot take on McKercher's zero contested possessions, saying it was an area the 21-year-old needed to work on.
