1. Ah Macrae, you’ve done it again
Jack Macrae has got the ball on a string.
Following a 31-disposal display against North Melbourne on Sunday, he’s become the first AFL player to record at least 30 possessions in 15 consecutive games.
Even more impressively, he has collected at least 35 touches on eight occasions this year, including scalps of 41, 40 and 41 again in rounds two, six and ten respectively.
His streak puts him above previous leader and Hawk Tom Mitchell, who registered 14 straight games in 2018.
Ranked in Champion Data’s ‘elite’ category with an average of 34.7 disposals this season, the 26-year-old is also travelling at 76.3% disposal efficiency, and averaging 7.6 score involvements, 461.3 metres gained and 6.2 clearances per match.
2. Top Dogs
Sunday’s 29-point win over North Melbourne propelled the Bulldogs back into top spot on the AFL ladder.
It is the sixth time this year they’ve held pole position at the end of a round.
The Bulldogs have never finished an AFL/VFL home-and-away season atop of the ladder.
Their highest standing - in the modern 18-team era - is sixth, at the end of the 2015 season.
Over in the VFL, Footscray also finds itself at the top of the table, holding onto an 11-point win over the Kangaroos to keep their undefeated streak in tact.
3. Welcome back, Wally
For the first time since round two earlier this year, vice-captain Mitch Wallis returned to the Bulldogs’ starting 22.
He made an immediate impact against the Roos, coming into the side as a late inclusion for Ed Richards (illness).
After being named the medical substitute the last two weeks, it was an impressive return to full game-time for the 28-year-old, who finished with 12 disposals, five marks and three goals.
His efforts, particularly late when North mounted a charge, also caught the eye of senior coach Luke Beveridge post-match, who praised him for his forward pressure and scoreboard impact.
