The SCG is no longer a fortress for the Swans
The Swans have now lost four games this year at the SCG, after they suffered a shock 12 point loss on Thursday night to the Cats.
The Swans have lost this year to the Crows, the Power, the Kangaroos and the Cats. On the road it’s a completely different story with six wins and only one loss from their seven away games so far this year.
Tom Doedee has been a real find in a disappointing year for the Crows
There was real concern about how the Crows' defence would stand up this year with gun defender Jake Lever going back home to play for the Demons. In a tough year for the club, they have found a star of the future in Tom Doedee. The young gun has been superb for the Crows and is a real chance to win this year's Rising Star.
The Crows went down to the Tigers by 47 points on Friday night, however Doedee was one of their best and stood up in defence with 27 disposals, eight marks and five tackles.
The Hawks are a real chance to play finals in 2018
Hawthorn turned a two-point half-time deficit against the Dogs into a 63-point victory after a huge third quarter where they kicked 7.4 to the Dogs' 0.1. With a favourable draw for the rest of the home and away season, the Hawks are a real chance to play finals this year.
Premiership players and three of their star forwards combined for 14 goals with Luke Breust kicking an equal career-high six goals and Jarryd Roughead and Jack Gunston booting four goals each.
Eric Hipwood and Dayne Beams have finally given the Lions fans something to smile about
The big forward bagged a career-high six goals in the Lions' impressive 65-point victory against the Blues. It was the most goals for an individual by the Lions since 2012 when Daniel Merrett bagged seven against the Giants. It was also the first time since 2015 that the Lions have won two games in a row.
Beams who has been a different player since relinquishing the captaincy earlier this year had a blinder against the Blues with 40 disposals, nine marks, eight clearances and a goal.
The Bombers have been one of the big disappointments of the 2018 season
Despite recruiting three quality mature age players in the off season, Jake Stringer, Devon Smith and Adam Saad, the Bombers have failed to live up to their expectations and now after losing by 16 points to the Magpies on Sunday their finals chances have taken a big hit.
Stringer, Saad and Smith have been serviceable this year for Essendon, yet two of the club’s three All Australian’s – Joe Daniher and Zach Merrett - haven’t reached the same lofty heights which is expected of them. Daniher had only kicked eight goals in seven games before injuring his groin which may keep him out for the rest of the season and Merrett has been okay in recent weeks, however had a poor start to the campaign.
