Mihocek’s on a roll, so give him a medal

RECRUITED as a rookie to be a back-up key defender for Collingwood, Brody Mihocek has put up his hand as a potential Coleman Medal winner for the Magpies this season — and he would become the second Tasmanian in three years to claim it.

Mihocek’s haul of 4.1 in the Magpies’ 32-point win over Hawthorn at Giants Stadium on Friday night was more goals than the Hawks scored for the whole game and half the goals kicked by Collingwood.

It was the eighth time Mihocek snagged a four-goal haul in his career and parked him at the top of the Coleman Medal table with an impressive 12.4 from six games. His return percentage of 75 also makes him the most accurate kick on the leaderboard.

On the flip side, the last Tasmanian to win the Coleman, Jack Riewoldt (nine touches, four marks), had a lean day on the scoreboard in the Tigers’ eight-point win over Sydney at the Gabba.

The 2018 Coleman medallist kicked 1.2 in wet and slippery Queensland conditions, and fellow Tasmanian Robbie Fox, a late inclusion for the Swans to replace Aliir Aliir, kept him goalless in the second half.

Fox (13 disposals, two marks, four tackles) was exceptional in the first half when he clamped down hard on Richmond’s million-dollar man Tom Lynch, also keeping him goalless in the first two quarters.

Cat Jake Kolodjashnij (11 disposals, three marks) was as solid as a rock for Geelong as it improved its premiership credentials with an impressive 27-point win over Brisbane at the SCG. Lion Mitch Robinson (11 disposals) bruised his quad in the third quarter and teammate Grant Birchall (11 possessions, three clearances) was under heavy fire in the backline.

“Mitch got a fairly decent corky so we’re lucky we’ve got eight or nine days now to prepare for our next game,” said Brisbane coach Chris Fagan.

It was another tough day at the office for Adelaide onballer Chayce Jones (11 possessions, two marks, two clearances) as the Crows went down to West Coast at the Gabba.

Jay Lockhart (four touches, two marks, one clearance) was on the winner’s list with Melbourne against Gold Coast at Giants Stadium, while Hugh Greenwood (18 possessions, four marks, 12 tackles, three clearances) was among the best for the Suns.