In Round 21 of the 2026 AFL season, Sam Lalor showed genuine shades of Dustin Martin. Plus, Ollie Dempsey should be in AA discussions, and one forward-turned-defender move hasn't worked. 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: It was an afternoon for first goal scorers for the Crows, with Archie Ludowyke, Hugo Hall-Kahan, and debutant Oscar Ryan all notching their first AFL goal in the big win over the Bombers on Sunday. Ryan in particular was very impressive, tallying 19 disposals and eight score involvements in a wonderful debut showing.
Stocks down: Hopefully the hamstring injury that forced James Borlase to sit for the second half isn't too serious. The key defender has really locked down a spot in the Crows' defence this year, and has grown in confidence and skill throughout the season.
Brisbane
Stocks up: Will Ashcroft was easily Brisbane's best and a clear positive to take out of an otherwise awful night at the office. The two-time Norm Smith medallist finished with another 32 disposals, two goals, and eight clearances to keep his name in the All-Australian mix.
Stocks down: That wasn't the first time this season we've seen Brisbane's undermanned backline exposed. The Lions went in with Harris Andrews as their only genuine key pillar, with Ryan Lester playing his usual third-tall role and Eric Hipwood again used as a makeshift defender. Already without Jack Payne and Darcy Gardiner (who is nearing a return), and with Ty Gallop suspended, Brisbane could now also be without Lester after he hurt his shoulder, while Keidean Coleman will miss next week with concussion. Hipwood battled, but he isn't the long-term answer down back -- his defensive efforts aren't quite up to standard, and his disposal out of the back half are rushed, or not incisive enough. It's the one area of the ground that still raises questions as September approaches.
READ: Why the Lions are still optimistic after horror night at Marvel
Carlton
Stocks up: There's suddenly a lot of positivity surrounding this club after the big win over Brisbane. Firstly, how on earth do they overlook Josh Fraser for the permanent coaching job if he puts his hand up? Secondly, Jagga Smith, who dominated through the midfield, surely has the Rising Star award locked away. And thirdly, Carlton's finals -- or wildcard -- chances have absolutely skyrocketed. They're playing the sort of footy capable of doing damage, as we all saw. The question now is whether they can sustain it over the final three home-and-away rounds.
Stocks down: The only negative for the Blues was a nervous wait for Harry Dean, who was penalised for a dump tackle on Cam Rayner during the third quarter. It had the secondary action the AFL don't tend to like, but thankfully, Rayner did play out the rest of the game and the youngster escaped with a $3,000 fine instead of a suspension.
Collingwood
Stocks up: Two of Collingwood's big men stood tall despite the loss. Dan McStay continued his career-best campaign with five goals, nine tackles, and four marks, taking his season tally to a personal-best 38 majors. Darcy Cameron was equally influential around the ground, finishing with 22 disposals, 15 contested possessions, seven marks (five of them intercepts), and four clearances.
Stocks down: Collingwood's defensive stocks have taken another gigantic hit. Already missing Darcy Moore and Brayden Maynard, the Pies are now set to lose Jeremy Howe (broken wrist) and Harry Perryman (hamstring), both hurt in the loss to the Cats. Their spot in the 10 isn't mathematically locked in but should be safe, and they're still technically in the hunt for top six, but regardless of where they end up, the going just got a whole lot tougher.
Essendon
Stocks up: Well, the first overall pick in the 2026 AFL draft is back in Essendon's hands after the loss to Adelaide on Sunday. It now means the Bombers have the pick of the open pool, with top prospects Dougie Cochrane and Cody Walker likely to go as academy and father-sons at picks 1 and 2. Who is the top candidate? Well, it could be Arki Butler, a lifelong Dons man who is keen on bringing back James Hird to the club! Shoutout, too, Peter Wright, who had a big day in front of the sticks, kicking six majors, and is putting together a quietly solid season.
Stocks down: With the first pick in the draft, however, comes the prospect of winning the wooden spoon. The Dons are back on the bottom of the ladder.
Fremantle
Stocks up: It was another classic Josh Treacy performance on Friday night. The spearhead was a commanding presence inside 50, taking eight marks and kicking three goals from 13 disposals. And how about Oscar McDonald?! In arguably the best game of his entire career, the key defender was brilliant with his intercepting and ball use out of the back 50, finishing with 22 disposals, 12 marks, and eight spoils. While Brennan Cox probably comes back in right away after being rested, the Dockers have a more-than-capable backup ready to go.
Stocks down: Any complacency that may set in from here. The Dockers are now three games clear on top with three rounds to play and look destined to finish first, but history says that means very little come September. Only three of the past 13 minor premiers have gone on to win the flag, while Fremantle itself finished on top in 2015 before falling short. They're clearly the best team in the competition right now -- but the job is only just beginning.
Geelong
Stocks up: Oliver Dempsey could be in line for the three votes here after a stellar performance on the MCG. The versatile wingman did it all as the Cats leaped back into the top six, kicking two goals and racking up 29 disposals, 10 marks, six score involvements, and five intercept possessions. He covered every blade of grass and was influential both in attack and defence in one of the best performances of his year. Are you selecting him as a genuine winger in the All-Australian?
Stocks down: Brad Close, for the first time in his career, failed to register a single kick. He had four handballs from 64% game time and had very minimal impact, which really does come at the wrong time as the Cats launch into another September campaign with players to return.
READ: Remarkable Cats prove they might be down, but they are never out
Gold Coast
Stocks up: If Ben King does decide to leave the Suns for Victoria in the offseason, the forward line will be in the capable hands of Jed Walter. The 21-year-old has played 45 games now and is looking more comfortable, capable, and powerful as each week goes by. Against the Demons, he kicked 3.2 with all of his goals coming in a half of footy. While you'd like to see a consistent output across the game, he is but one man, and Melbourne did have a strong second half to secure victory.
Stocks down: Stalwart defender Sam Collins went off the ground with a rib injury for the Suns and didn't reappear in the second half as the Dees ran away with a crucial win. Hopefully it's not too serious for the backline leader, who has been a picture of consistency in that back six for many years.
GWS
Stocks up: We all know the Giants are severely undermanned right now, and when they needed a veteran to stand up, Stephen Coniglio delivered. Spending more time in a front-half role while also rotating through the midfield, Coniglio kicked three goals for the second straight week to help keep GWS in touch with the top 10. With so many stars sidelined, his experience and versatility have become invaluable, and his importance to this team is perhaps as significant as it's maybe ever been. .
Stocks down: The fact they have two very winnable games coming up? The inconsistency in this team has been astounding throughout the season, beating Brisbane, Geelong, Hawthorn, and Fremantle, but dropping games to West Coast and Essendon. Their next two opponents are Gold Coast and the Eagles, both at home, in two matchups they'll be expected to win, but two matchups where a failure to meet expectations just wouldn't surprise us at all.
Hawthorn
Stocks up: Hawthorn co-captain Jai Newcombe was superb in the hard-fought win over North Melbourne, finishing with 34 disposals, 21 contested possessions, a whopping 12 clearances, 11 score involvements, and six marks, in what ended up being the highest-rated performance of his entire career according to Champion data. Nick Watson's Coleman Medal chances, although slender, are an intriguing sub-story in Hawthorn's continued push to a top four berth, too.
Stocks down: Not to shoot Bambi, but debutant Aidan Schubert finished with -12 rating points in his first AFL game. The young Hawk looks to have a bright future and there's plenty to like about his potential, but that stat certainly caught the eye! There's good and bad news for Schubert here. The bad? It's the lowest rated game on record, according to Champion Data. The good news? It's only up from here! Everyone has to start somewhere -- he'll be just fine.
Melbourne
Stocks up: It's always a feel-good story when a state league player excels when givent he chance at AFL level, and for the Demons, Joel Fitzgerald is that feel-good story. Against the Suns, he gathered 23 disposals, a game-high 11 score involvements, and kicked two goals. He looks calm and at home in the Demons' midfield. A great pickup from the midseason draft.
Stocks down: Not strictly a stock falling, but the draft pick Melbourne acquired from the Suns as part of the Christian Petracca trade is looking nice and low for the Demons. Currently sitting on pick 5, the Dees are in a wonderful position, currently both in the top six, and with a top five pick!
North Melbourne
Stocks up: Well, North fans, thank goodness you've got Harry Sheezel. The young superstar again shone brightest despite another close defeat, kicking two goals from 25 disposals, eight marks, and six tackles after splitting his time between the midfield and forward line. Cooper Trembath also continues to impress, booting three goals and clunking six grabs to further prove he is the long-term key forward partner for Nick Larkey the club has long been searching for.
Stocks down: After being advised not to fly following last week's scary incident where he was coughing up blood, Charlie Comben had to make a 14-hour trip to Tasmania by ferry and car just to play. Now that's what you call doing everything you can for your teammates!
Port Adelaide
Stocks up: It hasn't been the season Miles Bergman would have hoped for, undergoing a rare surgery to fix a medial ligament in his big toe and not stepping onto a field at AFL level for eight weeks, but the 24-year-old had his most impactful game of the season against the Giants with 22 disposals, eight marks, six tackles, seven inside 50s, and one goal, as he works back towards his top form.
Stocks down: The issue Port has with a young list is inevitably they're going to have down days. While we've sung the praises of the likes of Jack Whitlock and Christian Moraes, both really struggled to test the statisticians, picking up just four and five disposals each. Moraes in particular might be more of a worry; he finds himself in and out of the team a bit, and sturggles to impact with consistency. Now more than 20 games in to his career, we'd like to see a little more.
Richmond
Stocks up: Geez the Tigers are in good hands when Sam Lalor is fit and firing. The No. 1 pick from the 2024 draft was outstanding against the Eagles, helping Richmond snap its eight-game losing streak with three goals -- including the brilliant match-sealer -- from 13 disposals, four marks, and four tackles. He'll have bigger statistical games, but his ability to impact in big moments is, and was, already obvious. And if some of Richmond's haul of first-round picks from two years ago don't all come off, at least they know they've got one genuine star.
Stocks down: From one youngster to another, Luke Trainor looks set for a stint on the sidelines after his needless gut punch on West Coast's Jack Williams off the ball. There was simply no need for it. It's one of those moments you look back on and think, "why?" A costly lesson for the young Tiger.
St Kilda
Stocks up: Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera has deserved so much of the spotlight this season, especially recently, but the Max Hall trajectory is also only travelling in one direction, and it's strange to think he may actually still be flying under the radar. Hall was outstanding against the Swans, tallying a highly-impactful 23 disposals, six tackles, and three goals from 10 score involvements. He's a gun, and is proof that there are diamonds to be found out of the mid-season draft.
Stocks down: There are a few wounded Saints coming out of Saturday's clash; Jack Silvagni suffered a shoulder dislocation when attempting a smother in the final term after doing a stellar job keeping former teammate Charlie Curnow quiet, while Tom De Koning and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera both have hip concerns and will need to be monitored ahead of next week's clash with the Blues.
Sydney
Stocks up: It's pretty hard to beat the Swans when their stars such as Errol Gulden (34 disposals, seven clearances, and 10 score involvements) and Chad Warner (25, two goals, and 11 inside 50s) are playing with such lethal dominance. We have to praise Logan McDonald, too, who booted five goals in the win over the Saints (equalling his career-best return) and stood up in several key moments throughout the contest.
Stocks down: Unfortunately for the Swans, they didn't leave Marvel Stadium without some concerns. Will Edwards left the field with a dislocated ankle and blood gushing from his head after a heavy collision during a fourth-quarter marking contest, while earlier in the match, important midfielder James Rowbottom suffered a suspected broken hand and was sent straight to hospital for scans. This isn't the time of year you want to be counting the cost of your wins...
West Coast
Stocks up: Barnstorming midfielder Harley Reid deserves plenty of admiration for the way he handles the constant attention and physical treatment he cops from opponents every week. Despite all that, the young star was again West Coast's best in the loss at the MCG, finishing with 34 disposals, 20 contested possessions, nine clearances, eight score involvements, and five tackles. He just keeps turning up.
Stocks down: Goal kicking. Goal kicking. Goal kicking. That's all the Eagles should be working on this week. Seriously, 9.19? At one stage they were an astonishing 3.17, wasting chance after chance in front of goal. Against any side, you simply can't be that wasteful. It ultimately cost them in what was a very winnable game.
Western Bulldogs
Stocks up: The Bulldogs' skeptics. They would've been feeling pretty good after this one. Yes, Fremantle is the benchmark of the competition, but the Dogs looked a rung below them and were forced into an ultra-defensive style in a game where Marcus Bontempelli was also well held by Hayden Young around stoppages. Their percentage remains the worst of any side inside the top 10, sitting in the 90s, and until they consistently beat the best teams, the doubters will only grow louder. They'll be fine, but they're just not a contender.
Stocks down: Laitham Vandermeer might want that game back. He picked up 12 disposals but kicked 0.2 and went at 50% disposal efficiency, also finishing with four clangers next to his name. A lot may be made of Luke Beveridge deciding to manage gun forwards Aaron Naughton and Cody Weightman, too, though the Dogs coach did defend his decision after the game: "Both have been a bit sore," he said. "It definitely wasn't a conservative thing where you're looking after them because you're worried about the next week ... we came here to win the game. So we definitely didn't rest them because we felt it was any sort of free hit where we give someone else a chance. We didn't do that."