Round 3 of the 2018 season brought some teams back down to earth and confirmed the seriousness of others.
The Western Bulldogs bounced back while St Kilda suffered another big defeat.
There are still plenty of unknowns surrounding a lot of teams for this season but we are sure to learn more by the end of this round.
Adelaide vs Collingwoodย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
Adelaide Oval, 7:20pm Friday April 13
Team news: Jamie Elliot, Jordan De Goey and Alex Fasolo are all chances to return to the Pies line-up after impressing in the VFL on the weekend.
Injury Watch: Adelaide will be without the Crouch brothers for a few more weeks. Andy Otten will return in the SANFL this weekend.
Prediction: Collingwood looked good against Carlton last week but wonโt beat Adelaide at home. Adelaide by 35
GWS vs Fremantle
UNSW Canberra Oval, 1:45pm Saturday April 14
Team news: The Giants are likely to regain Toby Greene and Ryan Griffen to the side.
Given the trip to Canberra, Fremantle might wait one more week before bringing Brad Hill back into the side.
Injury Watch: Sean Darcy (Fremantle) injured his PCL in the WAFL and will be sidelined for an extended period of time.
Prediction: Fremantle have played well at home the last two weeks but GWS will be too good all over the ground. GWS by 30
Richmond vs Brisbane
MCG, 2:10pm Saturday April 14
Team news: Dayne Beams was a late withdrawal last week due to illness so he should walk straight back into the side.
Josh Caddy and Nathan Broad will both be available after serving suspensions and Dion Prestia could return from glute soreness.
Injury Watch: Richmondโs injury list only features Daniel Rioli whose return date is still unknown.
Brisbaneโs Daniel Rich has been โone week awayโ for three weeks now.
Prediction: Brisbane pushed the Power all the way until the final siren last week but the Tigers at the G' are a hard task. Richmond by 33
Bulldogs vs Sydney
Etihad Stadium, 4:35pm Saturday April 14
Team news: Sydneyโs Sam Reid has gone down with a serious hamstring injury and Darcy Cameron could come in to replace him.
The Bulldogs have lost Zaine Cordy to a one-week suspension and his obvious replacement is premiership defender, Fletcher Roberts.
Injury Watch: Sam Reid will miss at least eight weeks with an injured hamstring but Zak Jones is not far away from returning from a calf injury.
Jordan Roughead and Jackson Trengove are touch and go to be available to play this week.
Prediction: Itโs hard to know what the Bulldogs will bring this week after their big win over Essendon. Were they good or were the Bombers just very bad? Sydney showed they are still the big dogs of the AFL in NSW after their win over the Giants. It will be a tough contest, but the Swansโ class will prevail. Sydney by 10
North Melbourne vs Carlton
Blundstone Arena, 7:25pm Saturday April 14
Team news: Robbie Tarrant must pass a fitness test to return to the Kangaroos lineup after being a late withdrawal last week due to hamstring soreness.
Jack Silvagni played well for the Northern Blues last week and could earn himself a sport back in the senior side.
Injury Watch: Caleb Marchbank will miss a month of footy for the Blues after injuring his right ankle against Collingwood last week.
Prediction: North Melbourne have been better than what people thought so far this season and with this match at their home away from home in Tasmania they should get the win. North by 13
West Coast vs Gold Coast
Optus Stadium, 6:10pm Saturday April 14
Team news: Josh Kennedy could return for the Eagles this week which helps ease the loss of Liam Ryan.
Injury Watch: Pearce Hanley (Gold Coast) could be facing a premature end to the season with possible shoulder surgery on the cards.
Prediction: Gold Coast donโt have any travelling to do this week as they stayed in Perth after their clash with Fremantle this week. Gold Coast have shown signs of improvement this year but West Coast will be too good. West Coast by 36
ย Essendon vs Port Adelaide
Etihad Stadium 1:10pm Sunday April 15
Team news: Essendon lose Conor McKenna to suspension for biting but Patrick Ambrose has been taken off the injury list and could help the Bombers defensive issues.
Port Adelaideโs Ollie Wines and Dan Houston will have to prove their fitness before playing on Sunday.
Injury Watch: Jasper Pittard (Port Adelaide) could be ready to return but will likely come via the SANFL.
Matt Dea (Essendon) was a late withdrawal last week and will miss 2-3 weeks.
Prediction: Essendon havenโt lived up to expectations so far this year and were poor to say the least against the Bulldogs last week. They belted Port Adelaide at Etihad last year but Port are serious contenders this season. If the Bombers donโt sort their defensive issues, it could be a bad loss. Port Adelaide by 22
Hawthorn vs Melbourne
MCG, 3:20pm Sunday April 15
Team news: The Hawks will get James Sicily back from suspension and after a good game in the VFL last week, Jonathon OโRourke could make a return.
Injury Watch: Ryan Schoenmakers could return from an achillies injury but would most likely play in the VFL
Jack Viney and Tom McDonald are still 4-5 weeks away for the Dees.
Prediction: The match of the round on Sunday afternoon and its hard to say who will win. The Demons should be thinking about who theyโre sending to take care of Tom Mitchell. Hawthorn by 7
Geelong vs St Kilda
GMHBA Stadium, 4:40pm Sunday April 15
Team news: Mitch Duncan will play but there are still question marks around Rhys Stanley and Zac Smith.
Itโs a big week at the Saints selection table after another poor performance, itโs time to cull a few more.
Injury Watch: Tim Membrey (St Kilda) is unlikely to play after sustaining a knee injury and Billy Longer (St Kilda) must prove his fitness before he can play.
The Cats have lost Ablett to another hamstring injury and his return is unknown. Cam Guthrie and Nakia Cockatoo will also miss.
Prediction: Thereโs not many tougher tasks in footy than taking on Geelong in Geelong. Cats by 40
Point to prove:
Nat Fyfe. Many thought we wouldnโt see the form of 2015 Browlow Medal winning Nat Fyfe again after he has battled multiple injuries since, but after some blistering form to start the season it appears that he is back in a big way. After a quiet round one, he dominated against Essendon and Gold Coast and this week his Dockers take on GWS. The Giants have an outstanding midfield and this could be the week where we find out if 2015 Fyfe is back.
Struggle street:
Essendon. Before the season started, people were talking about Essendon being a genuine top four chance. Based off current form, they wonโt even make finals. The run and ball movement is still there but their defence isnโt. If there is anyone that can get the Bombers back on track, its John Worsfold. The leaders need to step up, the midfield needs to get hungrier and the team must defend better. James Stewart has shown he is good enough to hold up the forward line with Joe Daniher so maybe it's time to send Cale Hooker back to defence? Michael Hurley is a star but he canโt do all the work back there.
Quote of the week:
"I'm a bit on the fence because Tom Mitchell's the captain of my supercoach!! He's a genuine star. His ability to win the ball at contest is superb. He's almost untaggable." โ Max Gawn on tagging Tom Mitchell
Photo of the week:
@CollingwoodFC How's the footy review going ? ๐ pic.twitter.com/A1vlapUI4X
— Wayne Ludbey (@WLudbey) April 7, 2018
