Five Insights: Lyon’s ‘Nepo Baby’ Remark on Gold Coast Rings More True Than False

The conclusion of Round 11 of the AFL season has provided us with a clearer, though not definitive, picture of the finals landscape at this early point in the year.

Collingwood, Brisbane, Geelong, Hawthorn, and the Bulldogs are emerging as reliable contenders, while Adelaide and Gold Coast are also accumulating victories, making a strong case for their inclusion in the finals discussions.

In a contrasting position is Fremantle and GWS, both of whom have been wildly inconsistent this season. Meanwhile, Melbourne has surged forward impressively over the past fortnight.

Sydney and Carlton appear to be struggling, Essendon is hindered by youth and injuries, and Port Adelaide seems resigned to meandering through 2025 in mediocrity.

Here are five key takeaways from the weekend’s matches:

The ‘nepo baby’ commentary on the Suns that the AFL may want to address

While some may brush off Ross Lyon’s light-hearted jab at Gold Coast regarding ‘nepo babies’ as mere banter, he raises a valid point that the AFL ought to take seriously.

The St Kilda coach is likely referencing the significant advantage the Suns hold over their competitors with respect to access to their academy players.

This year, Gold Coast secured first-round draft picks Jed Walter, Ethan Read, Jake Rogers, and Will Graham at a substantial discount. Such a haul should have triggered alarms at AFL headquarters, as continued success like this could propel the Suns into an unstoppable powerhouse thanks to sheer talent.

However, the league remained passive, satisfied with the influx of talent into the sport from non-traditional AFL regions.

Now, with the 2025 drafts on the horizon and the Suns set to gain another first-round selection with Leo Lombard in 2024, they could attract as many as four top talents in the 2025 draft, including the potential number one pick, Zeke Uwland.

So, it’s only fair for Ross Lyon to feel slightly aggrieved over the exceptional access the Suns—and to a lesser extent, the other NSW-QLD teams—have to top talent in the draft.

Moreover, the Suns are not struggling to attract free agents, having brought in Daniel Rioli and John Noble last year.

As for Hardwick’s rebuttal, he’s within his rights—cleverly pointing out that the opposite might actually be true, and it’s exactly what he should be saying.

The AFL should stand firm against dissenting clubs regarding a mid-season trade period

The AFL had been poised to introduce a mid-season trade period for 2025 or 2026 last year, but opposition from non-Victorian clubs quashed the idea.

These clubs expressed concerns that such a period would benefit Victorian teams, as players would be less inclined to relocate in the middle of a season.

Former West Coast coach Adam Simpson dismissed these fears during a segment on SEN on Saturday, suggesting that he would simply target Western Australian players and leverage the ‘go-home factor’ to his advantage during mid-season.

He’s right; every club would approach the trade period with their own strategies, whether to enhance their line-up for immediate success or to gain quality draft compensation from clubs in need of extra depth.

Essendon would likely be particularly disappointed over the lost opportunity for mid-year trades, as coach Brad Scott noted that every player on their list over 192cm has fallen injured.

The Bombers would undoubtedly be searching for key position depth, keeping an eye on those not getting game time, such as ruckman Ned Reeves from Hawthorn or GWS’s Wade Dersken.

Clubs like Carlton, Sydney, and Port Adelaide would be on the lookout for any spark to reignite their seasons, while a team like the Eagles could consider trading a valuable role player, such as Jamie Cripps, to bolster their upcoming draft picks.

Ultimately, not every trade will be perfectly balanced, but the league would unquestionably benefit from flexibility in mid-season moves.

Pickett and Jackson elevate their trade value

Kozzy Pickett and Luke Jackson seem intertwined in destiny. Both were early selections in the 2019 draft by Melbourne, played crucial roles in the 2021 premiership, and are both from Western Australia. Could they find themselves traded for one another in 2025?

With Jackson strongly linked to a return to the Demons and Pickett concurrently rumoured to be headed to Fremantle, this speculation is gaining traction.

Those asserting Jackson has higher trade value, given his versatility as a ruckman, would have been thrilled to see him dominate on Saturday night, achieving 38 hit-outs, 21 disposals, and kicking a goal as the solo ruck.

With Sean Darcy sidelined, Jackson is finally demonstrating his potential in this role.

However, the following day, Pickett answered back spectacularly, scoring five goals and making a compelling case as the standout player in the competition during that match.

While both players might remain at their current clubs, it’s an intriguing narrative unfolding. What might a trade look like? Which club would offer additional draft picks? Both teams would be weighing their options.

Could the Dees be this season’s late contenders?

Turning to the Demons, they’re building momentum and appearing increasingly formidable.

Clayton Oliver delivered his finest performance of the season as Melbourne defeated a 2024 grand finalist for the second week running. Christian Petracca and Max Gawn are both firing, their backline appears solid with Jake Lever’s return, and Pickett, as previously noted, was electrifying.

Additionally, they’ve scored 99 and 131 points in their last two outings, which is surprisingly high for the Demons in recent times.

They overwhelmed a Sydney side struggling to find consistency this season.

Historically, a team tends to emerge from nowhere in the second half of the season, and currently, Melbourne looks poised to take on that role.

Next, they face St Kilda before clashing with Collingwood on the King’s Birthday, a match that presents an opportunity to claim a significant victory.

A second Coleman Medal would solidify Cameron’s legacy

Jeremy Cameron has already made an impressive case for being one of the top players of the past decade, yet claiming a second Coleman Medal would undoubtedly secure his place as an Australian Football Hall of Famer.

As of the end of Round 11, he leads the competition with 33 goals, though Gold Coast’s key forward Ben King has a match in hand. King’s final match of the season post Round 24 will be against Essendon, where he will likely be given every opportunity to close the gap if he is within reach.

Cameron is set to hit the milestone of 700 career goals this year, and he certainly has a few more years left in him on the field.

With a premiership medal, four All-Australian selections (potentially a fifth this year), and best and fairest awards from both GWS and Geelong, along with the 2019 Coleman Medal, winning it again in 2025 would be a remarkable chapter in his career. This would not only underline his status as one of the game’s elite players over the past decade but also complete his outstanding legacy.