1. Jordan De Goey’s 2018 form was no fluke. The medium forward was in ominous form against the Tigers taking six marks and booting five goals. The once maligned Pie has now kicked 55 goals in his past 23 games after only scoring 36 in his first 50.
2. John Longmire’s perfect record making finals every year with the Swans is in danger. After their Adelaide loss Sydney now sit 0-2 and history tells us their chances of making finals from here are slim.
3. Essendon’s midfield problems persist even with the addition of Dylan Shiel. Like Sydney the much hyped Dons are still winless this season, after going down to the Saints. Shiel has been a strong addition but no other Bomber midfielder is yet to hit form.
4. Footy is a cruel game. Jack Watts had the pre-season from hell with multiple scandals making headlines. Last week was his redemption as he played one of the best games of his career, remade as a third tall defender, helping Port to an unlikely win over the Demons. On Saturday he broke his leg against Carlton and is most likely out for the year. Gotta feel for the bloke.
5. Melbourne have been overrated. There’s just no other way to put it. Losing at home to a young Port Adelaide team last week could have been put down to round 1 unpredictability but an 80 point drubbing like they received from the Cats at GMHBA Stadium is impossible to ignore. Their ball use leaves much to be desired and a lack of scoring ability isn’t something that can be achieved with a quick fix.
6. Dom Sheed has hit his prime. With 28 touches against GWS the Grand Final hero has averaged 30 disposals a game over his last seven matches (three of those being finals). His emergence into the league’s elite alongside Luke Shuey, Elliot Yeo and Andrew Gaff has made the formerly weak Eagle’s midfield into their strongest line.
7. Brad Scott has coached North Melbourne to 25 wins out of their last 60 games. He added five senior players from other clubs to the Roos squad last year, all of them played on Sunday and they lost to Brisbane at Docklands for the first time since 2009. Massive pressure should be on the coach, the club is currently spinning its wheels in the mud.
8. The Giants look to have miscalculated on Tom Scully. After being hastily traded for well below market value the hard-running mid only missed one game for Hawthorn before his debut. Previously one of the Giants most important players he could still have a lot of very good football left in him if his ankle holds up.
9. Jack Martin is on the verge of turning a corner. The prodigiously talented Sun has done little in his career so far to live up to how much he was hyped as a junior. On Sunday though playing the Dockers he was sensational (apart from some costly goal kicking). Martin recorded 24 disposals, 9 marks (2 contested) and had four shots on goal for one major.
