In Round 22 of the 2026 AFL season, the Dees' role players helped knock off the Dockers, and the Saints' finals hopes went down with Nas. Plus, is Bevo the most under-pressure coach?. Here's whose stocks are up and down.
Our footy experts cast their eye over the week's action to find out whose stocks are up -- whether it's a coaching masterstroke or a player having a blinder -- and whose are down.
Adelaide
Stocks up: Izak Rankine was simply enormous in the tight win over Richmond. His influence was highlighted by the fact he finished with almost double the Champion Data rating points of the next-best player on the ground. Without him, the Crows probably don't win. Rankine ended the night with 36 disposals, 11 clearances, seven inside 50s, and a goal, and somehow made the torrential conditions look dry.
Stocks down: Maybe we didn't learn a whole lot. To the Crows' credit, good teams find a way to win, and the torrential conditions made life difficult for everyone. But Adelaide was pushed all the way by a Richmond side sitting 17th on the ladder and only escaped by nine points. No need for alarm bells, but we'll get a much better gauge of where the Crows truly sit next week against ladder leaders Fremantle.
How clean was the pickup and finish from Izak Rankine in the wet?!#AFLCrowsTigers pic.twitter.com/nKMIniEQMN
— AFL (@AFL) August 8, 2026
Brisbane
Stocks up: After lacking significant firepower in the forward line against the Blues last week, Brisbane's forwards came to play against the Hawks on Friday night. First it was Logan Morris, who was far too good for Tom Barrass in the first half, kicking all four of his goals well before half time. After the break, it was Kai Lohmann, who booted four of his five in the second half to rip the game away from the Hawks in a devastating performance.
Stocks down: While others feasted, Oscar Allen still just can't quite find his feet in that Lions forward line. Five disposals, 0.1 for the former Eagles skipper.
Kai Lohmann literally hugged his opponent Jarman Impey after scoring 🤗#AFLLionsHawks pic.twitter.com/NRt5IOnxX4
— AFL (@AFL) August 7, 2026
Carlton
Stocks up: How about the career resurgence of Francis Evans? He's gone from fringe whipping boy to a crucial front half connection piece for the Blues, and was one of Carlton's best on a good night in the win over St Kilda on Sunday night. These numbers are so impressive: 22 disposals, a game-high 12 inside 50s, 10 score involvements, two goal assists, and a snag of his own. His 18.1 Champion Data rating points are a season-high, and the fourth highest of his career.
Stocks down: Sorry, Corey Enright. Apologies to Jaymie Graham. Bad luck James Rahilly and James Kelly. This is Josh Fraser's team, if he wants it. When the crowd is chanting your name at the stadium ... Wowee...
Collingwood
Stocks up: The Daicos brothers may have run amok at Optus Stadium, but Dan McStay's form is hard to ignore, the key forward putting together another strong performance in what is a career-best season for the former Lion. McStay booted three goals from 20 disposals, whilst also taking five marks (a game-high three contested) and finishing with an incredible 15 score involvements. He had a big say on the end result.
Stocks down: Collingwood's backline was always going to be up against it, the first time the club has not had at least one of Darcy Moore, Brayden Maynard, or Jeremy Howe playing since 2015. West Coast was able to expose that lack of defensive stability with their fast ball movement for most of the afternoon, which doesn't bode well for the Pies with clashes against the more talented Hawthorn and Brisbane to come.
Essendon
Stocks up: Bombers star Zach Merrett was busy in defeat, racking up 29 disposals and finishing with eight clearances, five tackles, and six inside 50s. It was also good to see Dyson Sharp (27 disposals, 14 contested possessions, seven tackles, and seven clearances) also finish as one of his side's best. The first-year Don has a toughness and desire for the contest that should excite Bomber fans.
Stocks down: Not kicking a goal until the 27-minute mark of the second term. The Bombers at least salvaged something by slotting the final two goals of the first half, but that's still a horrendous way to start a game...
Fremantle
Stocks up: Despite the loss, Justin Longmuir will be thrilled with the output from two of his three-headed monster up forward. Jye Amiss booted a perfect 5.0, while Pat Voss provided his usual spark with 4.0. Both were reliable targets throughout and finished among Fremantle's five highest-rated players on the ground.
Stocks down: Freo just didn't handle certain moments well and they'll be left to rue a couple of brain fades, particularly late. With under two minutes remaining, Karl Worner gave away a needless free kick when holding Harry Sharp without the footy along the wing, despite the Dockers having a 2-1 advantage around that contest. Then, with just 30 seconds left, Matt Johnson dropped a chest mark in what was his side's last chance to start a potential winning chain. It's harsh to single out those moments and both players actually had very good games, but in tight contests like that, those moments matter.
READ: Why Freo are staying positive despite MCG defeat
Geelong
Stocks up: Bailey Smith (38 disposals, eight clearances, and 751 metres gained) ran riot against the Bombers and looks every chance of picking up another three Brownlow votes. Oliver Henry is also in a purple patch of form. The former Magpie kicked another four goals on Saturday following three majors from five scoring shots against his former side last week, and four against the Dees in Round 20 when he was a late inclusion. He's becoming a genuine weapon at the right time of the year.
Stocks down: Gryan Miers assured everyone he was fine after hurting his knee against the Bombers. The crafty forward suffered a partial tear of his right ACL months ago but avoided surgery and has continued playing. "I've had three or four of these incidents. Pretty confident I'm fine, but it's just frustrating that it keeps showing up and limits me the tiniest bit, but I think I'll be right in the second half," he told Fox Footy at half time. He returned and finished off the game, but it's fair to say that's far from ideal!
Gold Coast
Stocks up: Take a bow, Matt Rowell! There isn't much more we need to say here. He was instrumental in helping the Suns snap their 10-game losing streak, putting together a ridiculous stat line: 40 disposals, 16 tackles, 21 contested possessions, 17 clearances, and 881 metres gained. He's the perfect wet-weather midfielder, tough, relentless, and happy to get his hands dirty, and he absolutely dominated the Giants through the middle.
Stocks down: Not to shoot him while he's down, but Jy Farrar had a tough return after being brought into the side for his first game since Round 1, failing to record a disposal after battling injury all season. Christian Petracca also continues to see his numbers dip since moving forward, managing just 14 disposals against the Giants. In fact, it's the first time the former Demon has had fewer than 20 disposals in consecutive games in seven years!
GWS
Stocks up: Twenty-year-old Josaia Delana played his best game at AFL level in the wet conditions in Canberra and looked threatening whenever the ball came near him. He finished with 20 disposals and a goal, while also recording a team-high 10 intercept possessions and seven inside 50s. He was busy all over the field playing on the wing and looks like an exciting prospect for the Giants.
Stocks down: The loss clearly does the Giants' wildcard hopes absolutely no favours. They end the round 12th and are still mathematically in the hunt, but now it's out of their hands and a lot will need to go their way unexpectedly in the final fortnight.
Hawthorn
Stocks up: An underrated figure in the Hawks midfield this year has been Josh Ward, who had another 28 disposals, eight clearances, and six score involvements on Friday night. He's averaging a career-high 23 per game this season as he established himself as a mainstay in the middle.
Stocks down: After last week's five majors and media speculation about his ability to challenge for the Coleman Medal, Nick Watson put that argument to bed, and not in a good way! The Wizard was very well held by Noah Answerth in Friday night's loss to the Lions, kicking just 0.1 from nine touches. He had a five-minute patch during which he looked dangerous, setting up a goal, but was otherwise very well held.
Melbourne
Stocks up: There are a couple of unsung heroes in this Melbourne side, with superstars Max Gawn and Kysaiah Pickett usually stealing the headlines. But Harry Sharp and Koltyn Tholstrup were just as important in the stunning upset over Freo. Sharp booted three goals in the highest-rated game of his career, while Tholstrup had 22 disposals and six intercepts, all while putting the clamps on Freo gun Murphy Reid all afternoon. Both have had a part to play in Melbourne's unexpectedly-brilliant first season under Steven King.
Stocks down: The Demon doubters are very quiet. What an effort from this team, which has knocked off Hawthorn twice, Brisbane, and now Freo. There's a top two team in Sydney who would love to have taken down the teams the Demons have this season...
North Melbourne
Stocks up: Gorgeous George. How good is it to see George Wardlaw back in full flight?! Coming back from a hamstring injury is never easy, but Wardlaw played like a man possessed with his attack on the footy and defensive chasing efforts being sustained all night long in the win over the Bulldogs. His incredible hunting tackle of Ed Richards in the second term was an absolute beauty. A 'shinboner' all right.
Stocks down: The Roos have knocked off a top eight team, and notched their first win over the Bulldogs since 2019. Good signs, and genuine improvement this year from the Roos, but we'd still love to see more out of the skipper. Nick Larkey didn't hit the scoreboard and didn't fly with confidence for marks throughout the night. As the club captain, you just need to get involved more.
"That's one of the tackles of the year."
— AFL (@AFL) August 6, 2026
Take a bow, George Wardlaw 👏
Thanks to EnergyAustralia | #AFLDogsNorth pic.twitter.com/P4trCYKXI0
Port Adelaide
Stocks up: On a dismal day for the Power, Jase Burgoyne led the way for them through the middle finishing with 34 disposals, seven clearances, and seven inside 50s. It was career-best numbers for him, and only the second time he's recorded 30+ in a game.
Stocks down: Making the loss worse was the injury to star Jason Horne-Francis, who made his way from the field midway through the final term after twisting his knee awkwardly, limping off in pain in the hands of medicos with what appeared to be a hyperextension. Scans will confirm the extent of the injury, but fingers crossed it's not too bad!
Richmond
Stocks up: Lively small forward Seth Campbell was outstanding for the Tigers in the narrow loss to the Crows. He kicked three goals, including two crucial majors in the third term as Richmond built its lead, and looked dangerous every time the ball went near him. He wasn't the most prolific player on the ground, but his impact was obvious.
Stocks down: Gee-whiz, didn't the Tigers make some costly mistakes in the final quarter! They had a few contentious free kicks go against them, sure, but there were also too many self-inflicted wounds; ill-discipline, skill errors, free-kick reversals, and moments where they tried to be a little too cute with the footy going inside 50. Against a top-four hopeful, those mistakes get punished, and they ultimately proved the difference in the end.
St Kilda
Stocks up: On what was a dire night for the Saints, Max Hall was a shining light. His 30 disposals, 10 clearances, two goals and game-high 11 score involvements stood out.
Stocks down: It was a night of carnage on the injury front for the Saints, but the loss of Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera was "an arrow through the heart", as per Ross Lyon in his post-match presser. The Saints really needed a win to shore up the idea of finishing inside the top 10, but within 10 minutes of Sunday night's game starting, that hope was in tatters, with Nas limping off with a nasty left hammy. Throw in Mason Wood, who pinged a calf, and the sore trio of Tom De Koning, Liam Ryan, and Brad Hill, and their September hopes are now hanging by a thread; they need the Blues to lose both their remaining two games, and the Saints need to beat both Richmond and Gold Coast. Grim.
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera came from the ground clutching at his hamstring following this contest.#AFLSaintsBlues pic.twitter.com/hKe8ZAUXkh
— AFL (@AFL) August 9, 2026
Sydney
Stocks up: It's now Charlie Curnow's Coleman Medal to lose. The former Blue entered the round with a five-goal buffer over the next-best player and has now stretched that lead to nine after another five-goal haul at the SCG (also helped by a goalless Nick Watson). With just two rounds remaining, it's shaping as an intriguing race to watch in the final two weeks of the season.
Stocks down: The Swans absolutely dismantled Port Adelaide and showed the sort of ruthlessness that makes them such a dangerous September prospect. But lurking in the background is still their record against the competition's other heavyweights. They've lost to Adelaide, Fremantle, Brisbane, Geelong, and Hawthorn this season. Sydney won't care right now -- they're on track for a home qualifying final and their road to a home prelim looks clear -- but despite this 97-point demolition, there are still a few questions to answer against the very best.
West Coast
Stocks up: Eagles veteran Elliot Yeo was immense in the clinches, racking up 28 disposals, 17 contested possessions, a game-high 11 clearances, six tackles, and nine score involvements. Andrew McQualter's side genuinely threatened to cause an upset, and veterans such as Yeo played their part, standing up when the Eagles needed them most despite the loss.
Stocks down: It was a shame Harley Reid suffered a corked quad in the first quarter, which clearly hampered him for the rest of the game. He still managed 29 disposals, but 22 of those were handballs -- the most he's ever had in a single game. He battled manfully despite the limitation, but it was a frustrating afternoon for the Eagles' superstar.
Western Bulldogs
Stocks up: On a dismal night for the Bulldogs, key defender James O'Donnell was a standout. The 23-year-old kept North Melbourne skipper Nick Larkey goalless, had 13 spoils, and a team-high seven intercept possessions. It's a shame he didn't have much support in the backline!
Stocks down: Just like that, is Luke Beveridge suddenly the most under-pressure coach in the league after North shocked the Dogs on Thursday night? It was probably Alastair Clarkson not a week ago, but footy is a funny game, especially considering the Dogs are now locked into finals! Sure, there have been things out of his control, including losing Sam Darcy for the season with multiple injuries, but this is a side which was top of the ladder after Round 4. In his 12th year in charge, Beveridge is contracted for next year, but not beyond 2027.