Back for another year, the SEN.com.au team gives you an insight into how every game will play out across the weekend.
Labelling something a ‘certainty’ in any sport is fraught with danger.
But we’ll attempt to find some anyway.
Here is what we consider certainties for Friday night's blockbuster between Brisbane and Melbourne.
Daniel Rich 20+ disposals
Brisbane and Melbourne played against each other three times in 2022, giving us a large sample size of what happens when they meet.
Across those games, Daniel Rich picked up 33, 22 and 30 disposals, with the Demons not putting much defensive work into him.
He also gathered 26 in Round 1 and will be there to take kick ins, getting easy kicks.
Jack Gunston to kick a goal
A modern champion, Jack Gunston will come out firing after Brisbane’s awful Round 1 loss to Port Adelaide.
There’s no doubt he will hit the scoreboard against Melbourne on Friday night and attempt to turn things around for the Lions.
Nic Negrepontis
Christian Petracca 25+ disposals
Melbourne superstar Christian Petracca fired in the club’s Round 1 win over the Western Bulldogs, picking up 30 disposals and kicking two behinds.
A prolific ball winner, Petracca has picked up 25 or more disposals in 17 of the last 25 games.
Up against Brisbane, Petracca may be tasked with being the Demons’ primary ball-winner, particularly with Jarrod Berry potentially being sent to his running mate Clayton Oliver as he did in last year’s semi-final.
Expect Petracca to have a big say in this one.
Max Gawn to kick a goal
The Melbourne ruckman proved he could be more of a goalkicker this season kicking two majors in the Demons’ Round 1 win.
With Brodie Grundy sharing the ruck duties, Gawn should float forward more often than he previously has to cause chaos for opposition defences.
Up against a Brisbane backline that already looks relatively undermanned for tall stocks, expect Gawn to find a mismatch on multiple occasions when the Demons go forward.
Surely he’ll convert one of the chances he gets on goal.
Lachlan Geleit