What are the key takeaways and observations relating to your club in Round 7?
We have dissected each of the matches and offered a number of talking points for all 18 clubs.
The following will not apply to each club every week but form the basis of our views.
The Key Takeaway
The Undroppables
The Overreaction
The Positive
The Negative
What no one is talking about
What they need to tweak for next week
The Key Takeaway: Adelaide can see where it needs to be
The gap between the best and the rest was on display as Collingwood’s scintillating final term dominated Adelaide.
In a game the Crows had controlled for three quarters, Mathew Nicks’ troops abandoned all that made them successful early in the game and it eventually cost them the contest.
But it’s no doubt a learning experience and Adelaide can see where it needs to get to in order to be the top eight team it craves.
Adelaide needs to lose these games now in order to have the experience for finals. But are they good enough to get there? We still don’t know.
What no one is talking about: Chayce Jones is playing like a top draft pick
It’s taken a few years, but we know now that Chayce Jones can be a star for the Crows with a little more consistency.
Jones didn’t start the year in Matthew Nicks’ best 22, but he’s since recorded three games with 20+ touches. He’s only had four in his 63-game career.
Matched up with Steele Sidebottom, Jones did more than a serviceable job on the wing and finished with an influential two-goal, 20-disposal game against the Magpies.
He can have a big say on Adelaide’s fortunes in the coming year.
What they need to tweak for next week: Last quarter fadeouts
In Adelaide’s three losses this year, in final quarters the Crows have kicked a collective five goals to the opposition’s 13.
Strong final terms were crucial in wins over Port Adelaide and Hawthorn, but if Matthew Nicks isn’t careful his side will be branded one that doesn’t have the mental strength to run out games.
There should be a key focus at three quarter time for the rest of the season for the Crows to keep playing their brand and not go into their shells.
Seb Mottram
The Key Takeaway: The Lions are genuine premiership contenders
Albeit beating up on a Fremantle side that has been putrid this year, the Brisbane Lions are putting together a block of footy that will stack up deep into September.
Their midfield mix is arguably the best in the comp, they've finally got the balance right with inside grunt and outside class and wasn't it on show on Saturday.
Their big test comes this Friday night against Carlton at Marvel Stadium, too often Chris Fagan's side fails to show up in Melbourne in games they should be winning and on paper, they should beat the inconsistent Blues.
Tipping a workman-like performance from the Lions this week to make it five on the trot.
What no one is talking about: The injuries to Dayne Zorko and Daniel Rich
The only dampener to Brisbane's Saturday was injuries to their star veterans.
Both failed to finish the game due to hamstring and calf injuries respectively in what is a big blow considering their experience and ability to play all over the ground.
They might get away with it this week against Carlton given their lack of small forwards, but going forward, they'd want those soft tissue injuries to be short ones.
The Undroppable: Noah Answerth will start on Friday night
Lock-down defender Noah Answerth will start for the Lions on the big stage this Friday.
With Zorko and Rich set to miss, Fagan will look to Answerth to play on the likes of Corey Durdin, Zac Fisher and Josh Honey.
He hasn't been putting up great numbers this year but you just feel like this selection is based purely on needs.
Hugh Fitzpatrick
The Key Takeaway: Job done, but the real tests are ahead
The Blues flew over to Perth coming off two losses and needing to bounce back – they did that and with style, smashing West Coast by 100 points.
The ball movement was more direct, Charlie Curnow was dominant and found space inside 50 and the on-ball unit won the battle around the ground.
But the real test will be this coming Friday night against Brisbane. Can they prove their finals credentials against a genuine top eight side off a Perth trip and six-day break? We will find out.
The Undroppables: Brodie Kemp and Alex Cincotta
The Blues rested Lachie Cowan in favour of Brodie Kemp, who had put together a strong season at VFL level, and his extra drive off half back was noticeable on Saturday night.
The same could be said for Alex Cincotta who has slotted in at the top level and looked immediately at home, finding 17 disposals in game two.
Both will be there on Friday night for the clash with the Lions and should get a fair crack at it in the senior side.
The Positive: Saad and Docherty straighten up the ball movement
Carlton looked lost against St Kilda without Adam Saad and Sam Docherty. They found themselves stuck at half back often and looked disorganised with their ball movement.
Injecting both back into the side at the same time, along with a career-best game from Nic Newman and some extra pace in the game with Cincotta and Kemp, gave the Blues a different defensive dynamic.
If Carlton wants to contend with the top teams, they need this mix of runners and better ball users in the side regularly.
Nic Negrepontis
The Key Takeaway: They just refuse to lose
Out of the last 13 times Collingwood have trailed at three-quarter time, they’ve come back to win 10 of them, and this one might have been the best.
Just like last week against Essendon, the Magpies know it’s happening, the fans know it’s happening, and even the opposition knows it’s happening as Collingwood continually find a way to run over teams late.
This time though, they had no right to win - down key players against a side at full-strength, away from home, off a short break and with the umpires seemingly against them - surely this was a stretch too far.
But as we’ve seen for the last 18 months, this side just believes.
You must bury Collingwood when you’re on top … otherwise, it appears no lead is safe.
The Overreaction: Nick Daicos is easily taggable
Adelaide would have been thrilled that Ben Keays limited Nick Daicos’ influence with a tag, but it didn’t shut the young superstar out of the game completely.
Daicos still left the Adelaide Oval with 27 disposals, but his performance wasn’t poor, it was simply okay - which is clearly below his typical standards.
On top of the conditions not suiting the young Magpie, he was clearly banged up as he had his calf worked on for most of the game, and not every team has a Keays type to play on Daicos.
This week he’ll face another tough task in Ryan Clarke, but after that, there’s a world where the perhaps 15 other teams don’t have the right matchup for him.
It was a down week for the second-year gun, but don’t expect this to be the new norm.
What no one is talking about: Moore and Murphy heroics
With Jeremy Howe out and Billy Frampton playing ruck, Darcy Moore and Nathan Murphy have been huge down back for Collingwood.
After a huge performance as a duo in the game against St Kilda, the pair backed it up on Sunday with Murphy returning to the side after exiting concussion protocols.
The pair came in for criticism at the start of Craig McRae’s tenure as they were often too far off their opponents, but it appears they’ve found the right mix of playing tight and peeling off their matchup at almost every contest.
Moore is tracking for a second All-Australian blazer, and on current form there’s no doubt Murphy would be polling well in Collingwood’s best and fairest.
In roles that probably don’t suit either of their skillsets completely, they’ve been huge as soldiers around them are struck down.
Lachlan Geleit
The Key Takeaway: Essendon simply needs to get better starting games
It was a great shock that the Bombers started slowly against the reigning premiers, giving up the first six goals to essentially end the game as a contest before the quarter time siren.
Brad Scott’s side has overdelivered so far this season and are in the midst of a tough stretch of fixtures and were more than competitive against Geelong after half time, but they’re making a habit of starting slowly this season – something Scott will be looking to fix moving forward.
Geelong lead the game by 27 points at quarter time and landed up winning by 28 points.
That’s the game right there.
What no one is talking about: Essendon needs to make Ben McKay an offer he can’t refuse
Essendon entered this season already undersized down back and they were found out as Tom Hawkins kicked a career-high eight goals.
And that’s before Jayden Laverde’s shoulder injury sidelined him ahead of the Round 7 clash against Geelong.
The most important prospect at the Bombers right now is Zach Reid – picked up with pick 10 in the 2020 draft but so far has managed just eight games due to injury.
Even if Reid does turn into the player may expect and hope he will be, the Bombers will remain undersized.
With Ben McKay out of contract and a free agent, list manager Adrian Dodoro should be all over trying to lure him to Tullamarine.
The 201cm key defender would be a perfect foil for Ridley, Redman and Reid down the track.
Laurence Rosen
The Key Takeaway: A different looking Fremantle?
Fremantle’s disappointing season continued for another chapter, being handily dismantled by the Lions in what was their fifth loss for the year.
While the Dockers had plenty to worry about from that match, the biggest takeaway is actually something more on the positive side.
The biggest criticism of Fremantle all season has been their stagnant ball movement, with Justin Longmuir’s game plan looking ineffective and outdated.
The Dockers clearly heeded that criticism on Saturday, as they came out of the gates playing a completely different style, relying on handballs and quick movement to take the fight to Brisbane’s midfield.
While this ultimately didn’t work, Fremantle looked more threatening at multiple points than they have all season, proving that the successful side we saw last season is still somewhere at the club.
If the Dockers are to miraculously pull their season out of the gutter, trying different things is the only way to go.
What no one is talking about: Jaeger O’Meara
Jaeger O’Meara quietly had a strong performance in his 150th match, despite the heavy loss.
The veteran collected 18 touches and 2 goals in what was one of his best showings for the season, providing much-needed experience and leadership to a Fremantle side that seems to be sorely lacking it right now.
What they need to tweak for next week: Don’t shy away from the change
Fremantle need to go all in on that handball-happy game style they put together against the Lions.
It didn’t lead to a win, but it looked leagues better than the sluggish, uninspired brand of footy they’ve played this season.
Facing off against a struggling Hawthorn side for their Round 8 clash, there’s no better time for the Dockers to keep experimenting.
Jack Makeham
The Key Takeaway: Geelong is certified contenders
This was Geelong’s first genuine test in four weeks and Chris Scott’s men passed with flying colours.
Essendon hadn’t conceded more than 90 points in the opening six rounds, making the Cats’ ability to pile on 20 goals all the more impressive.
Geelong took the foot off the pedal in the second half, but the 23 was firing on all cylinders.
Games against Adelaide, Richmond, Fremantle GWS and the Western Bulldogs are to come – all of which the Cats will start favourites in - before the bye and Geelong would expect to be at worst 7-5.
The premiership defence is well and truly on.
What no one is talking about: Tom Hawkins can still win the Coleman Medal
For a player who’d kicked three goals in the opening three rounds and was facing calls to undergo a mini pre-season, it’s a remarkable turnaround from Tom Hawkins.
Two, four, five and eight goals across the last month are numbers befitting a Coleman contender, although they’ve been against lacklustre competition.
But given Geelong’s ability to isolate Hawkins and the fact he’s one of the best key forwards of a generation, the competition should be on notice.
Eight goals against Essendon has him only eight behind teammate Jeremy Cameron on 30 in the lead. In a long season, he’s every chance to claim his second Coleman Medallist.
The Undroppable: Sam Simpson is staying in the best 22
Chris Scott had suggested his side is better with Simpson in it after the win over Sydney and he was proven correct again against Essendon.
Simpson only had 10 possessions but used the ball beautifully across half-forward, finishing with two goals and three inside 50s.
The 24-year-old has plenty of power and the disposal efficiency to match. If he’s given an injury-free run, he’ll be the future of Geelong’s midfield.
Seb Mottram
The Key Takeaway: Gold Coast is only one win outside the eight
Staggeringly, Gold Coast is only a win and percentage out of the current finals line up.
For a team that’s endured some of the worst losses of any this season, the Suns will be thrilled to be within striking distance seven rounds in.
The Richmond win was one typical of the Suns under Stuart Dew. It was gritty and tough with plenty of tackles and in the end, a thoroughly deserved win.
If Gold Coast can take out Melbourne at Heritage Bank Stadium on Saturday it’ll be three wins on the trot and the Suns will have re-established themselves as finals contenders, a position that seemed squarely out of reach just three weeks ago.
What no one is talking about: Wil Powell is developing into a star
Eyebrows were raised at the 2017 national draft when Gold Coast took Powell as a bolter at pick 19, but it’s starting to become clear what the Suns saw in him.
Powell has arguably been his side’s best in the last two games as a rebounding defender and his form has no doubt played a role in Gold Coast’s revival.
Clubs will start putting time into Powell if he keeps this form up.
The Positive: Ben King’s improved output
Ben King is another top draft pick who’s found some sublime form for the Suns in recent weeks. Five goals against the Kangaroos and another four against Richmond has the 22-year-old back in the form that has him labelled one of the league’s brightest young talents.
Suddenly, King is marking more balls than not, and he’s got an air of confidence back around his performances.
He’s another one of the pieces that have come together in the last two weeks for Stuart Dew. But can he do it against Steven May this Saturday? That will be the big test.
Seb Mottram
The Key Takeaway: The Giants will never surrender
Adam Kingsley has very quickly turned the Giants into a highly competitive side.
Nine months removed from their 73-point drubbing at the hands of the same venue and same opponent, it was GWS who took it up to their cross-town rivals.
Despite giving up the lead early in the third quarter and trailing by as much as 24 points in the last, GWS never threw in the towel and continued to plug away at the Swans’ makeshift backline.
Their one-point win was just reward for the effort they have put in over the last month.
The positive: Toby Greene will be remembered as the Giants’ best
Remarkably, Greene won his first Brett Kirk medal after a match-winning display at the SCG on Saturday despite often being the thorn in the Swans’ side.
Not only did Greene boot four goals but he set up two others and racked up 22 touches.
It was one of the most inspirational performances from a GWS captain in their brief history.
He is quickly approaching 200 career games and one could make the argument that he is the best player to represent the orange and charcoal.
What no one is talking about: Aaron Cadman’s reaction to being subbed
The no.1 draft pick largely struggled to find the ball in his first Sydney derby and was subsequently subbed off in the fourth quarter.
The 19-year-old looked visibly upset and disappointed at the decision and was seen shaking his head in frustration at being replaced by midfielder Harry Rowston.
Commentators noted Cadman’s poor body language at the decision and after collecting just four touches for the afternoon, his spot may be in question for next week’s clash against the Western Bulldogs.
The undroppable: Ryan Angwin
In just his third match in the AFL, Ryan Angwin put in a respectable performance on the wing for the Giants.
The 20-year-old had 10 disposals, three marks, three clearances, two tackles and a goal assist.
Angwin even held his own against his direct opponent in Chad Warner for large periods of the contest.
Easily the best game of his short career.
Charles Goodsir
The Key Takeaway: Welcome back Mitch Lewis
What a return from Mitch Lewis.
He took nine marks in the first half and 11 for the match and was immense, particularly in the second term.
Despite kicking 1.4 (could easily have kicked 4 or 5 goals), it was great to see the Hawks’ main man back. He completely changes the structure of the forward line and makes them a much better side.
Hopefully he can stay fit for the remainder of the season and play close to 15 games.
The Undroppable: Josh Weddle
Despite only having the eight touches on debut, Weddle, who the Hawks traded up for in last year’s draft (pick 18), showed he belonged at senior level.
With matches against the Dockers (away) and Melbourne at the MCG, Weddle should remain in the side, where he can utilise his elite running to his and his side’s advantage.
The Positive: Ned Reeves
After struggling in the opening rounds of the season, Reeves had by far his best game as a Hawk.
He comprehensively beat Tim English in the ruck, who was the form ruckman in the competition.
Reeves finished with 15 touches, three marks, six tackles and a massive 43 hit-outs.
The Negative: Lack of scoring power
Despite Lewis returning, the Hawks again struggled to kick a winning score, finishing with only nine goals, seven of which came in the first half.
In their last 11 games, the Hawks have returned 80+ plus only once and are averaging just 64 points a game.
What they need to tweak for next week: Not a lot
If the Hawks play the way they have in the previous three weeks, they should beat a struggling Fremantle team.
There were some impressive performances for the Box Hill Hawks on the weekend, most notably Lloyd Meek, who will look to return to play against his former team and Connor Macdonald, who could return.
Brad Klibansky
The Key Takeaway: Melbourne’s best got rolling again
Melbourne were always going to beat North Melbourne, but to win in such a fashion would have been pleasing.
After losing to Essendon and narrowly edging Richmond in the past fortnight, perhaps this win showed the Demons what they’re capable of.
Looking at Melbourne’s percentage of 143.5, it’s obvious that when this side clicks they’re a juggernaut that simply thrash their opponents.
Since the back end of last season though, they haven’t been as dominant as they were at the back end of 2021 and early 2022, and they’ll hope to regain that sublime touch.
Yes, it’s only against the Kangaroos, but that’s the blueprint for the Demons going forward in almost every facet of their game.
It’s always good to see what your best can look like and with games against Gold Coast and Hawthorn in the next fortnight they’ll get more opportunities for that to bed in.
The Positive: Petracca’s performance
Christian Petracca was absolutely immense on Saturday night.
The star midfielder had 35 disposals, kicked three goals, had 14 score involvements and nine inside 50s - genuine video game numbers.
While he’s clearly one of the best players in the competition, it feels as though the Demon has flown under the radar somewhat so far this season and his outing against North was a reminder that he's one of if not the AFL’s best.
If he keeps this form up, he’s headed for a fourth-straight All-Australian blazer, a remarkable feat given the star players that play a similar position to him in modern football.
Watch out next week, Gold Coast.
What no one is talking about: Kade Chandler’s season
Small forward Kade Chandler has well and truly embedded himself into Simon Goodwin’s best 22.
After kicking three goals and picking up 21 disposals against North, Chandler’s season tally is now at 13 majors from seven games.
Having entered this season without an AFL goal to his name, to average nearly two is probably something that the Demons weren’t expecting from the 23-year-old.
His 13 goal tally puts him one ahead of star teammate Kysaiah Pickett on 12, while he’s only one behind Adelaide’s Izak Rankine, a player many think is headed for All-Australian honours.
It’s been some season for Chandler, let’s hope he keeps it up.
Lachlan Geleit
The Key Takeaway: Do the Roos go even younger?
Deep in a rebuild, you need fringe older bodies surrounding youngsters to take a few hits and help show the way at training and on the park.
North Melbourne are doing this with the likes of Aaron Hall, Liam Shiels, Darcy Tucker and Daniel Howe.
However, they may need to potentially shift the balance slightly, moving on from someone like Howe or Tucker and getting an additional younger body in. At the end of the day, getting an extra handful of games into the likes of Josh Goater, Miller Bergman, Flynn Perez or Blake Drury will be more beneficial long term.
And please for the love of god let George Wardlaw’s knee be okay.
The Negative: Comben injury is shattering
Charlie Comben had impressed so far this season as North Melbourne’s secondary key forward.
He showed he has the potential to make it at AFL level with his competitiveness and aerial talent.
Unfortunately against the Dees, he suffered a horrific looking ankle injury and will seemingly be out indefinitely. An awful blow for a player who has already had his fair share of injury setbacks.
The Positive: Aaron Hall back, but not impacting Sheezel
The key for North Melbourne this season is to get as much experience and as many opportunities as they can into their younger crew and chief among them is Harry Sheezel.
Even with Aaron Hall returning and picking up 30 disposals, he did not hurt the young stud, who found 30 touches of his own.
Sheezel remains the brightest light for the Kangaroos this season.
Nic Negrepontis
The Key Takeaway: Port Adelaide have found their formula
Port Adelaide notched the most impressive win of their season on Friday night, breaking through the seemingly impenetrable defence of St Kilda to hand them just their second loss of the season.
While the Power have notched gritty wins multiple times this season, this was the grittiest of the lot, clawing their way back from a 19-point deficit.
St Kilda’s defensive wall was in full effect at Marvel Stadium, yet Port used a blend of patient, precision kicking and their trademark surge style to break through the Saints’ barrier multiple times.
This resulted in a rare instance of Ross Lyon’s men looking disjointed, something which the Power should take pride in.
On the defensive side of the ball Port looked comfortable, bouncing back from the initial onslaught to limit St Kilda for the remainder of the contest.
Playing with this exact mix of intensity and patience has been when Port have looked their best.
With the win over the Saints making it four straight for the Power, Ken Hinkley would not be wanting to change a thing.
The Positive: Jason Horne-Francis’ response
Jason Horne-Francis was faced with quite the hostile crowd at Marvel Stadium, and he couldn’t have responded any better.
The young gun dominated stretches as he was showered with boos, almost single-handedly keeping Port alive in the early stages as he used his elite burst to cause damage through the middle.
Horne-Francis finished with 25 touches and 11 clearances in what was one of the best performances in his young career.
The Negative: Xavier Duursma’s injury
Xavier Duursma’s luckless run of injury in recent years has continued, with the young gun set to miss months of footy with a PCL tear.
Duursma left the game in the first quarter after a heavy collision with Rowan Marshall in a marking contest, damaging his knee in the process.
While the club has yet to establish a timeframe for Duursma’s return, expect the wingman to return sometime after the bye rounds.
Jack Makeham
Key takeaways: Another error-riddled defeat
The Tigers gave away easy goals to the Suns early, some in calamitous circumstances.
Noah Balta and Tylar Young’s simple turnover kicks were glaring mistakes and these fundamental mishaps must stop if the Tigers are to start finding wins somewhere along the way.
Mistakes happen in games of footy, of course they do, but the manner in which these are occurring is troublesome.
Taking nothing away from the Suns, but to kick 6.12 under the roof is not good enough and to cough up easy goals to the opposition is unforgivable.
The Positive: Thank god for Taranto
The club has been pilloried for recruiting Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper, with some believing they’ve gambled away the future.
But imagine the mess they’d be in if it wasn’t for the presence of Taranto.
He had 32 disposals, a team-high eight clearances, a game-high eight score involvements, 564 metres gained (second overall for the game) and kicked a goal.
He would be comfortably leading Richmond’s best and fairest.
The development of emerging ruck/forward Samson Ryan is also a positive among all the negatives.
He kicked two goals from 11 disposals, won 12 hit-outs and took five marks. His finish on the run from an acute angle in the second quarter was quality.
The Negative: Marvel hoodoo continues
Richmond’s hatred or disdain for Marvel Stadium must change.
They have been woeful at the venue in recent times, losing five of six with the other being a draw.
The Tigers have to get over the fact the atmosphere might not be as vibrant as it is at the MCG. They never play this poorly interstate and something must change when they ‘travel’ to Docklands.
What to tweak: Forward line connection
The forward line connection is at a new low.
The Tigers had 53 inside 50s, as many as the Suns, but could only conjure a paltry score of 6.12.(48).
It was the second lowest score of the round which is nowhere near good enough if you want to be competing for finals.
They rank eighth in the league for total inside 50s, but that hasn’t transferred to scores in which they rank 16th with an average of 71.8 points per game.
Of course the absence of Tom Lynch leaves a gaping hole, but the connection between the mids and forwards simply has to be better.
Andrew Slevison
The Overreactions: The Saints received a little reality check
To say the Saints copped a mini reality check is such carry on.
Ross Lyon said it perfectly post-match, the scoreboard didn't represent their dominance in the first quarter with the Saints not getting the bang for their buck.
In what was a high-pressure game, some costly errors in their defensive 50 saw them cough up four goals that really hurt them.
To Port Adelaide's credit, they were hungrier and harder for longer and deserved the four points. But to say the competition has done the work on the Saints and has them figured out is a bit much.
Max King says hello as well, he'll be back amongst it in two weeks, handy player!
What no one is talking about: How well Seb Ross is going
St Kilda veteran Seb Ross has had a terrific start to the year.
Averaging over 25 disposals, 12 contested possessions, five clearances and five score involvements, Ross had wound back the clock in his 12th year in the AFL.
A two-time Trevor Barker award winner, Ross has reaffirmed his position as one of the club's best midfielders and you get the feeling he's a favourite of Ross Lyon.
His ability to put the clamps on the opposition's best midfielder whilst running off them in attack is a dream for midfielder coach Lenny Hayes.
He'd be up there in their best and fairest voting after seven rounds.
What they need to tweak for next week: Their forward 50 entries
Too often St Kilda's midfielders are dishing up shallow entries to their forwards and you could tell it was frustrating both coach and forwards on Friday night.
Yes, they lack a genuine key forward, but they're shooting themselves in the foot by bombing it on the heads of Jack Higgins, Mattaes Phillipou and Zaine Cordy.
Lyon addressed it post-match so you should expect that to be changed against North Melbourne.
Friday night was the first time this year that you felt the Saints desperately needed Max King and the signs are looking positive with the star tall expected to play against the Crows next week.
Hugh Fitzpatrick
The Overreaction: The Swans over achieved in 2022
The 81-point defeat against Geelong in the decider proved where the Swans are at.
Their young players including Chad Warner, Errol Gulden and Braeden Campbell grew in confidence on the back of nine consecutive wins on their way to the Grand Final.
Expectations were high to start this season but after a 3-4 start and several injuries to their backline, the Swans have been grounded back to Earth.
The positive: Buddy back to his best
It was a classic Lance Franklin performance on Saturday, 3.2 including a set shot that went out on the full.
It may not be the gargantuan numbers we have come to expect from Buddy but almost immediately, the 36-year-old was switched on and far more involved in the action than in previous weeks.
Franklin also registered his 257th career game with multiple goals; the most of any player in the history of the AFL.
The Key takeaway: The Swans lack the killer punch
That is now two games in a row at the SCG where the Swans controlled large chunks of the game but were unable to put their opposition away.
Port Adelaide came for the clouds in Round 4 and the Giants refused to lie down in the final quarter despite trailing by as much as 24 points.
The Swans had plenty of chances to kick a goal late in the fourth quarter and seal the match but wasted their opportunities up forward.
What they need to tweak on: Figure out how to close out a game
The Swans should be 5-2 and deeply entrenched in the top four but have thrown away two games at home that should’ve been sewn up well before the final siren.
John Longmire admitted that the Swans “stuffed up a few things” in his post match press conference but he must look at how the Swans are handling pressure moments in the fourth term and implement them in the case they have a lead in the final quarter.
What better team to try that against than the masters of close finishes, Collingwood.
Charles Goodsir
The Key Takeaway: 2023 is a lost season
This goes without saying, but any potential feeling that the Eagles would climb back up the ladder in any capacity is gone.
They sit 18th on the ladder with a percentage of 64 and it’s tough to see where their next win comes from.
Despite being one of the competition’s biggest teams, the Eagles remain completely incapable of managing their injury list, something that has completely cooked their season.
The Positive: Oscar Allen’s season
Considering West Coast’s season so far, Oscar Allen’s return to the Eagles this season has been excellent.
He sits sixth in the Coleman Medal with 18 goals and has found his feet once again as a key forward.
Given everything going on around him, he deserves some credit.
What no one is talking about: Draft capital
Does West Coast need to trade out somebody with value in order to grab more draft capital?
If the draft was now, they would hold picks 2, 21, 27, 40 and 46 – but they need to load right up and try to get their hands on multiple first round picks.
The Eagles aren’t even in year one of this rebuild yet and may need to consider moving on a Jeremy McGovern, Andrew Gaff, Dom Sheed or Jamie Cripps if they still have any value.
Nic Negrepontis
The Key Takeaway: Everyone is a threat
Hawthorn exemplifies what happens when a team has a real crack.
The Hawks gave the Bulldogs everything they had in the first half, and for those opening two terms, they truly gave the Dogs a run for their money.
Yet having a crack can only take you so far when matched up against a side with as much talent as the Bulldogs.
Luke Beveridge’s men handled the upstart Hawks easily after half-time, ensuring that the milestone 200th game for skipper Marcus Bontempelli would not fall flat.
While the Bulldogs will be happy with the resilience they showed to secure the win after a tough first half, they’ll be even happier to put this match behind them completely and look ahead to their next clash against the Giants.
The Positive: Good vibes all around!
While the game itself mightn’t have been ideal, there was a lot to celebrate for the Bulldogs on Saturday.
A player’s 200th game always deserves plenty of fanfare, and when it comes to a player of Marcus Bontempelli’s stature, it’s almost rude for the club not to make it a huge deal.
Rookie forward Arthur Jones also found himself with plenty to smile about, kicking his first goal in what was his best game yet, serving as a lovely feel-good moment to cap off the Dogs’ victory.
The Overreaction: The forwards have clicked
The big name forward trio of Aaron Naughton, Rory Lobb and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan combined for eight goals against the Hawks, exactly what Luke Beveridge has been expecting from them.
It was one of the most potent games they have played as a unit all season, and Bulldogs fans will be wanting more of it going forward.
There’s plenty of talent between Naughton, Lobb and Ugle-Hagan, they should be able to break a game open.
Jack Makeham