Carlton's costly loss has Michael Voss begging to remain in the hot seat at Ikon Park.
North Melbourne's Tristan Xerri is expected to "cop" a lengthy suspension for the infamous blood wipe, but where is the precedent?
Everything you missed on TV during Sunday's wrap up of Round 3...
Is Voss Gawn?
Carlton's destructive loss on Sunday is arguably the most concerning in coach Michael Voss' tenure, especially since they led by 43 points earlier on Sunday afternoon.
The Blues jumped out of the gate, but after another second-half fade out, which is becoming commonplace, they coughed up the lead and the game.
But will Voss last?
"This might be the loss that marks the cards for Michael Voss," Jay Clark said on First Crack.
"We saw in the first round, the capitulation to the Swans. They got lucky against Richmond."
Clark asked Rob Priestley, Blues president, "what does Voss need (to retain his role)?"
"He needs growth, needs to deliver improvement. They've got more wheels outside, more polish, more kickers, more flair. They didn't have that last year. He has the tools and he has a bolstered football department.
"Adam Simpson is there. Travis Boak. Chris Davies. They said, there's no excuse.
"Michael Voss needs a miracle to keep his job."
Xerri has to "cop" suspension
AFL greats James Hird and Jimmy Bartel discussed Tristan Xerri's infamous blood wipe on Essendon captain Andrew McGrath's face during the fiery Saturday night encounter.
Xerri drew blood from his nose after he copped a bump from Archie Roberts, which sparked some biff under the roof at Marvel Stadium.
The Roos ruckman, in a bid to plead his legitimacy that he got hit high, showed McGrath, literally, he was bleeding, wiping his nose and placing the blood on the Bombers skipper's cheek.
"If he had his time again, he wouldn't do it," Bartel said on the Footy Furnace.
"It's an unfortunate incident. But it's not a disgrace to the game," Hird responded. "It's not a great look. It's probably going to be two or three weeks.
"He's just going to have to cop it."
Bartel said, "it gets everyone thinking of do we have any precedence on this? They immediately think of Nathan Buckley and the big, red firetruck Cameron Ling.
"There was a blood rule, he wanted Lingy to come off, and he wiped his blood on Cameron Ling. That was a one-game suspension. You can't look back 25 years and compare, can you?
"No," Hird said. "And he wiped it on his jumper, not his face, so there's a little bit of difference."
Roo beauty
North Melbourne youngster Finn O'Sullivan took a major leap towards becoming a bonafide star in the AFL, adding a tagging bow to his arsenal on Saturday night.
O'Sullivan was tasked with stopping Essendon's Zach Merrett, and did so with plenty of class and poise, but ultimately sticking to the job at hand.
The Roos midfielder, who spent 88 minutes on Merrett, held the six-time best-and-fairest winner to eight possessions (five contested) and no clearances. On the flip side, he gathered 22 disposals and two clearances.
The AFL is 'Spinning Around' for 2026 Grand Final entertainment
The AFL has unveiled its 2026 Grand Final entertainment, with local popstar Kylie Minogue set to take centre stage on the last Saturday of September.
Minogue has long been linked with performing at the grand final, and this will mark her first performance at the AFL during the pre-game entertainment.
"The AFL Grand Final at Melbourne's one and only, forever iconic MCG? Yes please! As a Melburnian, I'm so excited to be coming home for the biggest day in the Aussie sporting calendar," Minogue said.
"I'll not only be performing, but I'll be one of 100,000 fans at the ‘G, watching the wonder that is footy."
