AFL Roundup: Brisbane get the 'threepeat' they didn't want as Freo march on

Aaron Murphy

This Eagles fan was especially pleased with his team's fourth victory of 2026.JANELLE ST PIERRE / AFL PHOTOS / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP

Fremantle dished out another statement win, whilst at the other end of the ladder, Essendon reached a new low under new management.

The numbers that matter

The big winners of Round 11

Three more accurate shots for goal in Round 1 against Geelong and the Fremantle Dockers would have been enjoying a 12-0 start to 2026 after their comprehensive dismantling of reigning Premiers Brisbane at the weekend.

A bout of illness ran through the club at the back end of April and first weekend of May, leading to some nailbiting victories over lowly Carlton and the Bulldogs, but as they move closer to a full strength 18, we're really beginning to see just how far they have come under Justin Longmuir.

Captain Alex Pearce returned in Round 11, slotted into his usual full back position and kept Brisbane's front three almost entirely out of the game.

Cam Rayner went scoreless whilst his colleagues Cody Curtin and Sam Draper booted just one each.

Pearce's presence forced Brisbane to kick for goal from a little deeper than they are used to and centre half-forward Logan Morris had a dreadfully off day with 1.4.

They can expect another couple of big ins next weekend after Sean Darcy made his return via the WAFL for Peel Thunder, whilst Caleb Serong is inching closer to a comeback from his calf injury.

Best of all, they've got just a two-hour bus ride south to Bunbury for an "away" game against North Melbourne next weekend, which will be most welcome as they head towards some stern tests at home to Geelong and Gold Coast thereafter.

The big losers of Round 11

There are just four points between fifth and tenth on the ladder at present, and with the exception of Carlton, the eight clubs outside the expanded top-ten appear at some risk of falling away.

The St Kilda Saints have a little to be encouraged by, such as the continuing development of Max Hall, Darcy Wilson, Hugo Garcia and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera in particular, but it appears that they're still a long way off being a polished finals contender.

For the first time in his long and illustrious AFL coaching career, Ross Lyon had to give a half-time address to a club that was goalless at half-time.

The comforts that usually come with playing under the Marvel Stadium roof were put on hold when the turf was unusually dump, creating plenty of frustration for Lyon, but it was no excuse given that Hawthorn were able to kick 8.7 in the first half and then 5.0 in the fourth quarter to ensure that their 50-point half-time margin was held despite St Kilda coming out after the break with a little more vigour and purpose.

Either side of an easy win over cellar dwellers Richmond, St Kilda have suffered three defeats at the hands of three clubs inside the top-five at the end of the road (Fremantle, Hawthorn and Gold Coast), highlighting just how much further they still need to go.

Who kicked big bags this week?

In a clean break from the last couple of rounds, there was some seriously impressive sharpshooting from some of the league's big hitters this weekend.

Sydney recruit Charlie Curnow is beginning to justify his big bucks, eclipsing his 7.2 against the Bulldogs with 8.1 in the 114-point thrashing of Richmond.

He propelled himself back into the top-five of the Coleman Medal race, which is now headed by Jack Gunston following his haul of 5.2.

Isaac Heeney (Sydney) also kicked five, whilst there were four each for Blake Hardwick (Hawthorn), Jeremy Cameron (Geelong) and Fremantle duo Jye Amiss and Patrick Voss.