In the first-ever wildcard finals weekend in the AFL, Arty Jones played the game of his life, while Jagga Smith showed he's going to be a big game player. But a star Demon had his lowest-rated game of the year. 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.
Carlton
Stocks up: It was all about young gun and 2026 Rising Star winner Jagga Smith on Saturday night, who was incredible with 29 disposals, 10 clearances, and two goals -- both in the last quarter -- to sink the Dees. It was a magnificent performance for someone playing in their first final (we're going with finals here!), and should have Carlton fans salivating for what he can continue to produce in big games. Ben Ainsworth (three goals from 21 disposals and eight marks) was also instrumental and has hit form at the right time, with his two highest-rated games as a Blue coming in his two latest outings. And Jacob Weitering? A literal brick wall. The key defender completely controlled the back half, finishing with six intercept marks, 10 intercept possessions, and 11 spoils. Still arguably Carlton's most important player.
READ: The fairytale continues, and the Blues can keep rolling
Stocks down: The goalposts had their work cut out for them on Saturday night, with the Blues hitting the woodwork five times throughout their win. Matt Cottrell, in particular, can count himself unlucky, he hit it four times on his own! Lucky it didn't affect the result for the Blues, but five posters in a low-scoring game could easily come back to haunt the offending team on another day.
JAGGA SMITH SEALS IT FOR THE BLUES 🌟#AFLFinals pic.twitter.com/kPTsvPXb0S
— AFL (@AFL) August 29, 2026
Collingwood
Stocks up: The back third of the season for both Dan McStay and Beau McCreery. McStay finished with 24 goals in his final nine games, including four against the Dogs to go with five contested marks in a commanding aerial effort. McCreery was Collingwood's highest-rated player in the loss, attending a season-high 53% of centre ball ups and winning five clearances. Both can hold their heads high after strong finishes, while the Pies would also be encouraged by the finals debuts from Sam Swadling (32 disposals) and Angus Anderson, the latter slotting two big goals in the final term.
Stocks down: It's every kid's dream to kick the winning goal after the siren. It's every kid's worst nightmare to get that chance and miss it. That's what Tim Membrey now has to live with over the offseason, his kick after the siren sailing right for a behind as the Pies went down by three points in the AFL's first-ever wildcard final. It was a mixed bag from the usually reliable Membrey, who butchered a set shot earlier before nailing the hardest of his three chances in the final term. But that wasn't all it came down to. The Pies were crushed out of the middle, going -10 in centre clearances and conceding 5.3 (33) from centre bounce. Lachie Neale, anyone?
Melbourne
Stocks up: It's always difficult to pinpoint the upside in a disappointing loss, but a pair of players yet to play 50 AFL games were among the Demons' best. Koltyn Tholstrup has reinvented himself in the back half and as a defensive-minded player, and doesn't need a stack of the ball to have a positive impact. He played 24 games this season after just nine in 2025 (and many more at Casey) and looks to be a walk-up best 23 player now. And Harvey Langford was also impressive, racking up 21 touches and kicking a classy long goal in the first quarter as he played his seventh-best rated game of his career.
Stocks down: Melbourne seem to hate the big stage, don't they? Since winning the 2021 premiership (in Perth) the Dees are still yet to win a final, dropping out in straight sets in both 2022 and 2023, before falling to Carlton in the newly-created wildcard round after a 15-win home-and-away season. Undermanned at the MCG, Melbourne really needed its stars to fire if they were going to get past the in-form Blues. But Kysaiah Pickett didn't. Copping attention from Cooper Lord, Kozzy produced the lowest-rated game of his entire season, largely due to recording 0.3 in front of goal and finishing his night with an overall disposal efficiency of 31.6%. Only Jake Melksham (16.7%) had lower. Yikes...
Western Bulldogs
Stocks up: It was the usual suspects coming to the fore for the Bulldogs, but the more we talk about Marcus Bontempelli's all-round brilliance and Aaron Naughton's reliability in front of goal, the less we can talk about Arty Jones -- and that just wouldn't be fair! Jones was outstanding on Friday night, kicking four goals at key stages throughout the contest and proving the headache he has emerged as all season long. He provides a spark and energy in the forward line, with 17 disposals and nine score involvements at the MCG showing just how important he's become.
READ: AFL might have 'got lucky' with the wildcard success
Stocks down: Didn't the sub rule die?! Luke Beveridge pulled a selection surprise by bringing Tim English back from his MCL sprain, but an even bigger surprise was keeping swingman Ryan Gardner in the side as insurance. He didn't step onto the field until the second half and finished with just three disposals from 16% game time. But it did give the Dogs -- who have been undersized at each end most of the season -- some much-needed structure, allowing English to power away in the ruck and Rory Lobb to play more suitably as a key forward, after filling in for the absent English. Unfortunately, they'll head to Adelaide without Matthew Kennedy, who has entered concussion protocols.
