In Round 23 of the 2026 AFL season, Ed Richards was everywhere against the Blues, and a Collingwood youngster came up with a clutch play to save two points. But a highly-paid recruit is stumbling to the end of the season. 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: Hasn't Brayden Cook had a breakout year in 2026? From the winning goal in the first Showdown of the season, to playing just about every game for the Crows this year, he's established himself nicely. He booted two goals in the loss to the Dockers from 15 disposals, both when the game was in the balance. Shoutout James Borlase, too, who looked solid most of the night on Josh Treacy and is also having himself a great season.
Stocks down: The Crows finished the night losing the inside 50 and clearance battles, and were -43 in uncontested possessions. If you do that against the Dockers, you just won't win. Now credit where it's due, they were right in this contest for much of the night, but it's clear they lack the midfield depth right now to go all the way. Outside of Izak Rankine and Jordan Dawson, there just isn't enough match-winning brilliance through the middle. Remember Josh Rachele's 31-disposal, seven-clearance game against the Cats earlier in the season? Just saying...
Brisbane
Stocks up: Make that NINE straight games with more than 30 disposals for Brisbane star Will Ashcroft, who won the award named after his father following another brilliant effort against the Suns. With the win, the Lions are now all but locked into the top four, and need to just beat the Magpies to give them themselves the chance to cause a qualifying final upset against either the Swans or Dockers. Winning nine of their past 10 matches, who would put it past them?
Stocks down: Given how much his stocks have risen this season, it's only natural they fall after a goalless game with an equal game-high seven clangers! Kai Lohmann should still be in the All-Australian squad but that just wasn't his best day. We'll back him in to bounce back. You can't kick bags every week!
Carlton
Stocks up: In what turned into a thrilling contest under the lid at Marvel Stadium on Sunday, Sam Walsh and Blake Acres stood up in the second half to keep Carlton's season alive. Walsh propelled the Blues forward from stoppages time and again in the fourth quarter in particular, while Acres ran up and down the wings with seemingly endless energy. It was a performance which will have the match committee excited; Acres has been in the wilderness for months at the Blues, but competition for spots, with the wildcard spot now secured, is a good thing.
Stocks down: Gee whiz, there were a lot of people who declared the Blues were no good when they were languishing at 1-8. A few fans on social media have kept some receipts, none better than this one involving Josh Jenkins. Enjoy the next week or so, Carlton fans.
The group stinks, respectfully
— Josh Jenkins (@JoshJenkins24) May 12, 2026
Collingwood
Stocks up: Not only was that the best game of Beau McCreery's season, it was the best of his entire career going by the rating points metric. Collingwood's pressure forward was used higher up the ground and through the middle, where his explosiveness proved highly damaging against the Hawks. They've found one in Sam Swadling, too, the teenager racking up 29 disposals to go with seven marks and seven intercept possessions playing across half-back. His draw-saving swat on the goal line after the siren was a nice heads-up play, too. Normally you'd hope your big men have that covered, but the youngster made the right call and executed well.
Stocks down: Ed Allan's decision to blast the ball forward without composure to a sea of Hawthorn defenders with around 40 seconds remaining perhaps denied the Pies the upset win over the more fancied Hawks. He had plenty of options short, and players running past. Thankfully for his side it wasn't as costly as it could've been. The Hawks did springboard the ball back the other way but Dylan Moore was unable to capitalise on his after-the-siren shot.
READ: 'A lot of players back': Magpies surging into finals
Essendon
Stocks up: Well, at least the coach announcement is imminent! Hang tight, Bombers fans, we're sure there's some good news coming. The effort against Sydney was actually quite good, and should give the Dons confidence of potentially scrounging a win against Port at Marvel next week. That is, if the Bombers truly want to win... four points would see them jump to 17th, and with the second pick in the draft.
Stocks down: The Bombers are Round 24 underdogs according to the bookies! Even against a Power side coming off a 76-point crushing at the hands of Melbourne, and a 97-point thrashing the week before that to the Swans, it seems everyone has become accustomed to the dire situation the Essendon Football Club is in.
Fremantle
Stocks up: Seriously, which stock isn't rising at Fremantle right now? Perfect home record for the season, record crowds, a healthy list, a talented squad finally performing to its potential, a staunch backline, elite midfield, and arguably the most dangerous forward 50 in the game. Yeah, it's theirs to lose.
Stocks down: Now, in saying that, they've won nothing yet. Securing the minor premiership is nice, but what does it really mean in the grand scheme of things? Given what this group has already shown, what their ceiling is, and what they're capable of, it all means nothing in the end if they're not lifting silverware next month. That doesn't mean they don't take something away from the season regardless, but these opportunities, with at least two home finals, don't come around every day.
Geelong
Stocks up: Midfielder-turned half back Tanner Bruhn has had a quietly exceptional season for the Cats. He was deployed down back again against the Kangas and continued to thrive behind the ball, finishing with 28 disposals (at 82% efficiency), eight marks, and five rebound 50s. Mark Blicavs was a constant threat all afternoon as well, finishing with three goals (his most ever in a single game!) playing a forward-ruck role.
Stocks down: The important win didn't come without a cost, with James Worpel (hamstring) and Oli Wiltshire (foot) both under injury clouds as we enter the final round of the season, where the Cats are still a top-four chance.
Gold Coast
Stocks up: Game-high clearances (eight), game-high contested possessions (19) -- just your typical day at the office for Matt Rowell! Was great to see Leo Lombard having an impact despite not finishing with a goal next to his name as well. The youngster was constantly dangerous and ended his game with 16 disposals and five tackles playing a pressure forward role. With another preseason under his belt, who knows what he'll be capable of in 2027 and beyond.
Stocks down: Star recruit Christian Petracca's form has fallen off a cliff, hasn't it? The Norm Smith medallist was dominant early in his first season as a Sun, but after being used more regularly forward, his impact has dipped significantly. He had just 12 disposals against Brisbane, following 14 against GWS, and 16 against Melbourne, and has been goalless for four straight games. Damien Hardwick admitted he needs to find a better way to utilise his superstar. That's a pretty important challenge heading into 2027.
GWS
Stocks up: How much will the Giants' topsy-turvy season, which has consisted of many unexpected losses, deter All-Australian selectors to hand blazers to a couple of Adam Kingsley's defenders? Lachie Ash starred again with his run and carry against the Eagles, finishing with 36 disposals, 11 marks, and a whopping 869 metres gained. His teammate Connor Idun's statlines never look as flashy, but he's hardly put a foot wrong all season and should also be in consideration.
Stocks down: The game meant nothing, really, in terms of finals or ladder positions, but drawing just 7,345 people to Engie Stadium on a fine Sunday afternoon in Western Sydney just isn't good enough. The Giants are 15 years into their existence, and consistently have the worst crowds of any team, despite posting reasonable results, having star players, and making finals over many years. What's the answer? Accepting that fans don't attend sports in Sydney like they do in other cities? Well, the Swans fans turn up. It's an awful look for the Giants, meanwhile Canberra (a couple of weeks ago aside, given the conditions) consistently draws more to a Giants home game. It's worrying.
Don't care about the stakes, are we still pretending 7,345 is an acceptable crowd for an AFL side in 2026?
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshMedia) August 16, 2026
Hawthorn
Stocks up: Jarman Impey played a ripping game down back for the Hawks, doing what he's done most of the season with his rebound. Impey was again the catalyst for so much of his side's movement, finishing his night with 25 disposals, seven marks, five intercept possessions, five rebound 50s, and eight score involvements.
READ: Hawks coach becomes 'glorified fan' in landmark finish
Stocks down: Mitch Lewis, Lloyd Meek, and Mabior Chol -- all there on the goal line for Dylan Moore's kick, and it took the smallest Collingwood player in the area, in Sam Swadling, to knock the ball back in play? It's not too costly, the Hawks should still finish in the top four from here, but we're sure they'll like their time again!
HOW DID THEY KEEP IT OUT? 🤯#AFLHawksPies pic.twitter.com/ou1i7BJZpv
— AFL (@AFL) August 15, 2026
Melbourne
Stocks up: They're proving to have quite the mosquito fleet, the Dees. Admittedly, there wasn't much to expect from the lowly Power, but Steven King's side still has plenty to play for and their ground-level game was on full show. After praising Harry Sharp last week, this time it was Kade Chandler who capitalised with four goals and nine tackles from 18 disposals. Bayley Fritsch also booted four, while Bailey Laurie chimed in with two.
Stocks down: Important key forward Jacob van Rooyen will miss three games after a clumsy swinging arm while flying for a mark knocked out Aliir Aliir. A Tribunal date looks likely, with van Rooyen set to miss Round 24 and potentially two finals should Melbourne play at least two. Clumsy, unnecessary, and costly.
North Melbourne
Stocks up: For so many years, the Kangaroos' list has been criticised for lacking support for skipper and key forward Nick Larkey, but Saturday was another example that the cavalry is there. While Larkey booted five goals, Cooper Trembath added three and veteran Jack Darling stood up in several key moments to finish with four. That's a pretty handy forward-line combination.
Stocks down: Unfortunately, it looks like Harry Sheezel's season may have come to an abrupt end after he suffered what appeared to be a fractured cheekbone in a nasty head collision with Geelong's Oisin Mullin during a centre ball up. The Roos star was left with an immediate nasty bruise under his eye and didn't return after half time. Absolutely shattering for one of the game's young stars!
Harry Sheezel will take no further part in today's clash 🤕#AFLNorthCats pic.twitter.com/gYBsRPKzRt
— AFL (@AFL) August 15, 2026
Port Adelaide
Stocks up: The Power fought manfully in the middle despite the 76-point defeat. Ollie Wines was busy in the clinches with 31 disposals, 15 contested possessions, eight clearances, and seven tackles. Joe Richards also took another big step forward in his new life as a midfielder. No one had more clearances (9) than the former Pie, who also finished with 29 disposals and seven score involvements.
Stocks down: Aliir Aliir's 200th game milestone ended prematurely after he copped a stray Jacob van Rooyen arm to the head just before half time. It brought an unfortunate end to a terrific campaign from Aliir, who has been at his intercepting best throughout 2026 and should be firmly in All-Australian calculations. A disappointing way to finish an otherwise outstanding season.
Richmond
Stocks up: The Tigers may have been smashed again, but there was still something to celebrate at the MCG as Nathan Broad and Dion Prestia were given the farewell they deserved. The premiership heroes were given huge cheers from the Richmond faithful all afternoon, bringing the curtain down on two outstanding careers in the yellow and black. A tough few seasons, but a reminder of what this pair has given the club.
Stocks down: The standards right now. Coach Adem Yze didn't sugarcoat the performance, calling it "really embarrassing" and saying the Tigers had "let down" Broad and Prestia on their farewell day. Richmond may be rebuilding, but Yze clearly isn't accepting a drop in effort or execution, and that's probably a good thing for this young group.
St Kilda
Stocks up: So many Saints were able to feast on the struggling Tigers. Max Hall's outstanding season continued with 40 disposals, 12 score involvements, 10 marks, and 10 inside 50s, while Brad Hill (41 disposals and 710 metres gained), and Mitch Owens (five goals) were also superb. Jack Macrae also came into the side and produced his highest-rated game in 17 months, and second-highest in three years.
Stocks down: Too little, too late. An expanded top 10 and they still can't make it. All that money spent and they're (currently) just one spot higher on the ladder. Improved? Yes, marginally, but fans, experts, and the Saints themselves no doubt hoped for and expected more. This season has been a fail, don't sugarcoat it.
Sydney
Stocks up: When Sydney's 'Big Four' play like that, you're just not beating them. Errol Gulden (47 disposals and 1034 metres gained), Isaac Heeney (29 and three goals), Chad Warner (23 and three), and Brodie Grundy (25 and nine clearances) were unstoppable at the MCG. Sure, a genuine contender might not let them get away with that in September, but it's a frightening prospect nonetheless.
Stocks down: While many Swans took advantage of the easy kill, Tom Papley didn't. It's not all doom and gloom for the star small forward, and perhaps we'll give him an out since he'd kicked 12 goals in his five previous matches after returning from a lengthy calf injury. Papley managed just two kicks from 10 disposals, and didn't hit the scoreboard for the first time since Round 1.
West Coast
Stocks up: Just one more week, Eagles fans.
Stocks down: There's one more week, Eagles fans.
Western Bulldogs
Stocks up: It's almost as if Ed Richards saw the talk surrounding the Bulldogs missing Marcus Bontempelli and Tim English and said: "I'm going to take this personally." He had 31 disposals (at 87%), seven intercepts, eight inside 50s, 11 score involvements, two majors, and two direct goal assists as the Dogs drew with the Blues on Sunday. He was the top-rated player of the round, too with 35.3 Rating Points, it was the highest rated game by any Bulldog, ever. While the result didn't really matter in terms of a wildcard berth, the Bulldogs could have shuffled ladder positions in the last couple of weeks of the year, so it wasn't so much a dead rubber, and Richards stood up in desperately trying to get his side over the line.
Stocks down: Let's not pretend like the Bulldogs didn't have their chances in front of the big sticks. Aaron Naughton, two simple set shots missed for 0.3. Arty Jones (1.3) had multiple opportunities but squandered them. Cody Weightman, too. Four points gone begging?