Steven May’s injury has no doubt unsettled the Demons’ defence, but there are worries at the other end of the ground for the reigning premiers. Ben Brown is in a rut, goalless in his past three games and offering little when he does not have the ball. He is not injured, coach Simon Goodwin said, so the inference is clear. Lift. The Dees do not have the luxury of dumping the former Kangaroo. Tom McDonald is injured, Sam Weideman is not playing “big man’s type of footy,” Goodwin said, and Mitch Brown has not shown in 14 seasons across three clubs that he is a game changer. There will be nowhere for Brown to hide in the Big Freeze on Queen’s Birthday. For the Swans, Tom Papley is back in town. The goalsneak did not play until round seven after a hamstring injury in the pre-season but after six games he has rediscovered the verve and confidence that has made him one of the best small forwards of the past few years. Papley hits the ball at speed and, in the sign of a gun player, rarely falls over under pressure. His teammates thrive on his energy, so too the fans. His two goals, both at crucial periods, were no gimmes. A forward line with him roving at the feet of Lance Franklin, Logan McDonald and Sam Reid, and with Isaac Heeney ghosting in, will present defences with plenty of headaches. - Andrew Wu

Hawthorn v Collingwood

The Magpies won’t dare to dream about finals yet, but they’re in the top eight after winning three games on the trot for the first time since 2019. Victories over Fremantle and Carlton were inspired, while Sunday’s over Hawthorn – their second nail-biter in as many weeks – saw them move to 7-5 under Craig McRae ahead of next Monday’s Big Freeze blockbuster against Melbourne. On the field, Rising Star prospect Nick Daicos produced his best game in his fledgling career, while the Hawks’ Jai Newcombe – also a leading contender for the Rising Star – did his best to get his side over the line in the second half. But off the field, umpiring again makes the news. Darcy Moore was penalised in the third term for contact below the knees to Sam Butler, which cost the Pies a goal, after the non-officiating umpire “guessed” – according to Triple M commentator Ross Lyon – from down the field, while at the other end, Jack Ginnivan kicked two first-quarter goals from free kicks before the umpires appeared to put the whistle away whenever the enigmatic small forward got near the ball. Pies coach Craig McRae said his club would seek clarity from the AFL over their interpretation of head-high contact. Jamie Elliott was a late out for the Pies due to illness, but McRae said he expected him to be fine to face the Dees. However, Reef McInnes suffered a dislocated shoulder in his return to the senior side, and looks like he’ll miss a stint of football.
- Damien Ractliffe

Fremantle v Brisbane Lions

Doubts about the Dockers surfaced after losses in heavy weather to the Gold Coast Suns and Collingwood. Those concerns can be put to bed, with Fremantle now having beaten the top two sides in the competition in successive weeks. They are in this premiership race to their ears, not least due to the staggering improvement of the likes of Michael Frederick and Will Brodie, who is surely the recruit of the year. The Lions were dismantled rather than disgraced – other sides will take note of how defensive pillars Harris Andrews and Marcus Adams were taken out of the game. With Melbourne also dropping their match against Sydney, this year’s flag race now looks wide open.
- Andrew Stafford