REIGNING premiers Geelong Falcons have found themselves outside the eight this season, registering four wins from 14 games. Missing many of their top-agers due to Vic Country duties, the Falcons have been up-and-down at times, but when full-strength, have challenged the top sides. They have a strong midfield when it’s on song, and have been able to watch a number of bottom-age players develop through the season, while looming as a danger side for any team in the remainder of the season.

Wins: 4
Losses: 10
Draws: 0
Position: 10th
Points For: 771 (10th)
Points Against: 974 (7th)
Percentage: 79
Points: 16

Fixtures:

R15: vs. Dandenong Stingrays – MARS Stadium
R16: vs. Calder Cannons – MARS Stadium

National Combine Invitations: [5] Oscar Brownless, Connor Idun, Ned McHenry, Charlie Sprague, Sam Walsh

State Combine Invitations: [1] Brayden Ham

Rookie Me Combine Invitations: [1] Sam Conway

The Falcons face two tough teams in the final fortnight up against the Stingrays and Calder, but both could be wins, or both could be losses. It is hard to say with their stars back on the park, and when Sam Walsh is out there, anything can happen. The likes of Ned McHenry and Oscar Brownless form a strong midfield core, while Brayden Ham has been a revelation this season at both ends, and Charlie Sprague has been a huge loss up forward. Baxter Mensch keeps finding the football, while Connor Idun and Dane Hollenkamp have held down the defence with Cooper Cartledge. They could face any number of teams in the Wildcard Round from the Western Jets, Calder Cannons or Northern Knights, but one thing is for sure – they are one bottom four side no team will particularly want to play in the run to the finals.

Top Fives:

Disposals:

1 – Baxter Mensch – 309 (4th overall)
2 – Sam Walsh – 268
3 – Brayden Ham – 220
4 – Oscar Brownless – 206
5 – Doyle Madigan – 199

Marks:

1 – Brayden Ham – 71 (8th overall)
2 – Baxter Mensch – 52
2 – Blake Schlensog – 52
4 – Dane Hollenkamp – 43
5 – Sam Torpy – 41

Contested Possessions:

1 – Baxter Mensch – 154 (3rd overall)
2 – Ben Morton – 100
3 – Sam Walsh – 98
4 – Brayden Ham – 87
5 – Doyle Madigan – 87

Tackles:

1 – Ben Morton – 84 (5th)
2 – Doyle Madigan – 69
2 – Oscar Brownless – 69
4 – Baxter Mensch – 46
5 – Logan Taylor – 44

Hitouts:

1 – Sam Conway – 161 (10th overall)
2 – Blake Schlensog – 117
3 – Jack Grigsby – 95
4 – Dane Hollenkamp – 30
5 – Thomas Richardson – 29

Clearances:

1 – Baxter Mensch – 55 (8th overall)
2 – Ben Morton – 43
3 – Oscar Brownless – 40
4 – Sam Walsh – 30
5 – Doyle Madigan – 29
5 – Ed McHenry – 29

Inside 50s:

1 – Brayden Ham – 45 (eq. 17th overall)
1 – Sam Torpy – 45 (eq. 17th overall)
3 – Baxter Mensch – 41
4 – Sam Walsh – 35
5 – Oscar Brownless – 34

Rebounds:

1 – Charlie Harris – 40 (eq. 8th overall)
2 – Keidan Rayner – 30
3 – Cooper Cartledge – 28
4 – Dane Hollenkamp – 27
5 – Jesse Clark – 25

Goals:

1 – Brayden Ham – 19 (eq. 5th overall)
2 – Blake Schlensog – 10
3 – Sam Torpy – 8
4 – Connor Idun – 7
5 – Oscar Brownless – 6
5 – Baxter Mensch – 6
5 – Fletcher Wilson – 6