Round 8 has come to a close, with the season well and truly underway.

The ladder is starting to take shape, as are the premiership, and wooden spoon, favourites.

In this series though, we like to look beyond just who banked the four points over the weekend and instead take a look at some of the biggest winners and losers from around the competition.

WINNERS

Cashing ceks

Round 11, 2018. In his debut as a Magpie, Brody Mihocek would stamp his authority against the Dockers, slamming home four goals for the first time in his career.

1800 days later, the feat would remain a career-high for the former intercept defender. A feat that he would match a further 11 times, almost setting records as he went.

However, by sundown on Sunday, the Tasmanian had silenced critics, slamming home his first bag of five, with the piรจce de resistance coming by way of this Ronaldinho-esque effort in the final term.

Post-game, Mihocek opened up about being the butt of locker room jokes for never once kicking on, but with five on the board, the forward line linchpin will be the cock of Collingwood's walk on Monday.

Taking your time to perfect the beat

The flag waving. The tiny scorecards. The close proximity to cheer squads that wouldn't mind if your head was on a pike. It's not an easy gig being a goal umpire.ย Add in the incessant whining from those in the commentary box regarding the frequency of goal reviews, it can often feel a heck of a lot harder.

But even after drawing Brian Taylor's ire for using five reviews during Sunday's โ€˜Battle of the Birds', umpire Dylan Bucknell's choice to admit that he didn't have all the answers should act as a lesson to all of us.ย While offering an opinion each time, the dead ringer for comedian Luke McGregor taped in his mates up in the ARC, rather than puffing his chest and firing bullets in the dark.

The review technology is there so umpires don't have to go a buck each way, so while BT mightn't like it, Bucknell is well within his rights to read the form before throwing his money down.ย And having been proven correct each time, we call on Bucknall to take a bow.ย Go off, King.

Embed from Getty Images

Lace out delivery

Speaking of kings, check out this ball boy in the ivory Sambas.ย This piece of play between him and Sam Switkowski was absolutely textbook.ย If only every one of the Dockers' thrusts forward were this tidyโ€ฆ

Oscar Allen

After missing the entirety of the 2022 season with a foot injury, Allen has already booted 22 goals from eight appearances this season. The key forward, who has been touted as a future captain of the club, is perhaps the only shining light in the perpetual darkness that is West Coast's season.

While the Eagles have been ravaged by injury and have won just one game for the season so far, Allen has at least shown the form plenty knew he was capable of, booting four majors in Saturday's 46-point loss to Richmond.

Throughout his six-year career, the 24-year-old's highest season tally of goals is 28 in 2021, now trailing close behind that with plenty of footy left to play in 2023.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - JULY 12: Oscar Allen of the Eagles celebrates after scoring a goal during the round 17 AFL match between the West Coast Eagles and the Collingwood Magpies at Optus Stadium on July 12, 2019 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images )

Matteas Phillipou's leap

The young Saint didn't play the game of his life on Sunday afternoon, finishing the 30-point win with 13 disposals and four tackles, but did manage to take the mark of the round in the fourth term.

The crowd within Marvel had been stunned into a confused kind of silence after watching the Sunday twilight affair, with the 18-year-old's grab earning perhaps the biggest cheer of the afternoon, closely followed by the pandemonium of North's first goal, which came in the third quarter.

For managing to produce perhaps the only highlight of a game we're all hoping to never see again, Phillipou is a winner today.

LOSERS

Sydney's stage fright

Whether grounded in reality or otherwise, the Sydney Swans are spooked by the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The alternative dimensions and their stiff opposition of late haven't helped, but neither does the failure to finish their work.ย Across second halves this season, the 3-5 Swans have averaged 6.25 goals after the main break.

However, since making their way to the Home of Football for last year's decider, the Harbour City side has had the Greg Norman shakes.ย With four second-half goals in their hefty grand final defeat, six in their smoking at the hands of the Dees in Round 3 and just the one against Collingwood on Sunday, this unhealthy average slides back to 3.7 when their past three fixtures at the โ€˜G are pulled into question.

Given they won't have to return to Yarra Park until early July, Longmire and his charges were sure to have breathed a collective sigh of relief on their flight home last night.

Contrarian tippers

If you didn't tip nine over the weekend, your methods need tweaking.

Maybe you were chasing a few roughies to run up a lead or get off the bottom; maybe your favourite side let you down.ย But if you had only used the ladder as a guide, the bragging rights were yours for the taking, with every Round 8 winner sitting above their direct opponent on the ladder before Friday night's opening bounce.

The hints for your tips were staring you right in the face. Don't overthink it next time. Keep it simple, stupid.

All 22,065 fans at Marvel Stadium on Sunday

In what was billed as the "worst game in AFL history" - which sounds hyperbolic, but unfortunately, is not - 22,065 fans had the pleasure of heading through the gates at Marvel Stadium on a freezing Melbourne day to watch the contest between North Melbourne and St Kilda.

The Saints ran out 30-point winners at the final siren, but with a scoreline of 0.7 vs 3.9 at halftime, it was far from a game for the ages.

The pros for those in attendance - the stadium has a roof. That is about all though, as while they remained dry and protected from the elements, they watched a comedy of errors unfold in front of them.

Goals were hard to come by and skill errors were seemingly contagious and while sometimes things are so bad they're good, this was so bad it was terrible.

Carlton's fixture

Carlton's Friday night performance against the Lions failed to impress, with the 26-point loss leaving the Blues with a 4-3-1 record as they sit in eighth position.

For a club whose 2022 season ended in heartbreaking fashion, Navy Blue fans would have been hoping to see an improved, inspired Carlton outfit this season, but would be left disappointed after their prime-time outing.

The side is in need of some strong wins on the board, but will now be contending with quite a difficult month ahead of them. Clashes to come include dates with the Western Bulldogs, Collingwood, Sydney and Melbourne, while the Blues have already faced four of the current bottom six sides.

If Carlton is to be a part of the September action, the next month presents an opportunity to prove themselves. In good news for Blues supporters though, it is unlike the club to let their fans down when finals are on the line.