Western Bulldogs v Hawthorn 
ES , 7:25pm AEST Saturday, July 7, 2018

  • Bulldogs: Resurrection. It’s too late for finals but Beveridge has got these pups believing again. Their last two games were excellent.
  • The Giants ended Hawthorn’s mini-winning streak and the Dogs at Etihad are going to be a hell of a task if they keep bringing the intensity they’ve shown over the last two weeks. Bad timing for the Hawks.
  • The Rioli Effect. It’s hard to know what effect Cyril’s retirement is going to have on the playing group. They might have already sensed what was going to happen or could have been waiting for his return to bring them up another notch. Might be impossible to gauge watching the match but it is fascinating.

North Melbourne v Gold Coast Suns 
ES , 1:10pm AEST Sunday, July 8, 2018

  • Easy run? Earlier in the year this residency at Etihad looked like the dream run for North. But they just pinched one against the Dogs and the Dons really took the wind out of their sails. Injuries are building and confidence might be dropping.
  • A drier rematch. Under the roof at Etihad will be about as different a game as possible compared to the water polo match we saw at Cairns in rd 1.
  • Life after Lynch. It’s looking less and less likely that Tom Lynch stays with the Suns. He’s now out for the year with a knee injury and it’s really time for Gold Coast’s other forwards to start impacting.

West Coast Eagles v GWS Giants 
OS , 2:40pm AWST Sunday, July 8, 2018

  • Giants in another eight point game. They’re gunning right for your spot Eagles. Bring your best or be left behind.
  • More forward woes. West Coast will now be without Liam Ryan after his mysterious car crash last weekend as well as Josh J Kennedy, Jack Darling and Mark LeCras. Hard to see where their goals will come from.
  • Debut and return. To replace the missing forwards first round pick Josh Allen will debut and former Geelong ruck/forward Nathan Vardy plays his first game for the season.

Essendon v Collingwood 
MCG , 3:20pm AEST Sunday, July 8, 2018

  • 12th v 2nd but this game seems to represent a lot more. Both sides are in brilliant form at the moment and should attract a monster crowd at the G.
  • Stephenson v Saad. Could be the quickest battle we’ll see all year. Interesting to see if Buckley will use his speedster to try and restrict Saad’s impact on the rebound or if Worsfold will play Saad deep as one of the few players in the league fast enough to potentially beat Stephenson on the lead.
  • Small ball. Buckley has forgone bringing in a tall to replace defender Lynden Dunn. Instead Greenwood will likely play forward and mature ager Brody Mihocek has been named full back.