The AFL Finals, with the Wildcard in its rearview mirror, rolled back into a format fans were familiar with on the weekend, with the qualifying and elimination finals taking place.
There were two major upsets, with flag favourites Fremantle and Brisbane faltering at their first respective hurdles.
Adelaide outlasted the Western Bulldogs at home, to claim Matthew Nicks' first September victory in his seven-season tenure, while Geelong were ultimately too professional for Carlton, ending Fraser's first-year fairytale.
The Crows are rewarded with a road trip to Brisbane, while Geelong must also border hop, heading to Perth, where a smarting Fremantle outfit will be out to avoid fuelling some nasty narratives.
How will these four sides line up? Zero Hanger has had a crack at answering that exact question, and will continue to do so for the remaining three weeks of the season.
Fremantle
Fremantle, quite simply, could not handle Hawthorn's heat.
They were fumbly, jumpy, meek and flustered under the bright lights of finals football, in worrying signs for Justin Longmuir.
Brandon Walker is likely to be left out of the clash with Geelong. His return game was cut short by a nasty ankle roll, but even if he puts that injury behind him, his ball use was labelled haphazard, and his general disposition, rusty, in his first game since Round 1. Nick Watson had his way with Walker, who was brought in specifically to quell "The Wizard".
Essendon great Matthew Lloyd called for spearhead Patrick Voss to be dropped ahead of the Dockers' second chance, in what would be arguably the year's boldest selection statement.
Brennan Cox will again miss, setting up an intriguing decision should Fremantle proceed through to a preliminary final.
Ruckman Sean Darcy pushed his case in the WAFL on the weekend, mere days after Mason Cox was average against the Hawks, while Corey Wagner and the omitted Judd McVee are in the frame to replace Walker. Longmuir could opt for the more imposing Darcy in an attempt to monster young Cat, Mitch Edwards.
FB: Oscar McDonald, Alex Pearce, Karl Worner
HB: Jordan Clark, Heath Chapman, Luke Ryan
C: Nathan O'Driscoll, Caleb Serong, Neil Erasmus
HF: Michael Frederick, Josh Treacy, Murphy Reid
FF: Isaiah Dudley, Jye Amiss, Patrick Voss
R: Luke Jackson, Andrew Brayshaw, Shai Bolton
INT: Judd McVee, Hayden Young, Sam Switkowski, Matthew Johnson, Sean Darcy
Ins: Sean Darcy, Corey Wagner
Outs: Mason Cox, Brandon Walker
Geelong
The Cats enjoy the luxury of no forced changes stemming from the victory over the Blues.
They will, however, likely take a look at their mix, with Fremantle's three-headed monster up forward unlikely to be subdued two weeks running, on their home deck, no less.
Sam de Koning was dropped for the Blues clash, but is likely to be recalled with the likes of Patrick Voss, Jye Amiss and the sticky-mitted Josh Treacy on the horizon. De Koning also provides ruck relief, and with the Dockers likely to play Luke Jackson and one of Mason Cox or Sean Darcy, that string to his bow tips selection in his favour.
One of the Cats' "like-types" in Brad Close or Mark O'Connor is tipped to make way for the defensive cover "SDK" can provide.
FB: Zach Guthrie, Connor O'Sullivan, Jack Henry
HB: Tom Stewart, Tanner Bruhn, Lawson Humphries
C: Oliver Dempsey, Bailey Smith, Mark Blicavs
HF: Gryan Miers, Jeremy Cameron, Brad Close
FF: Patrick Dangerfield, Shannon Neale, Jay Polkinghorne
R: Mitchell Edwards, Tom Atkins, Oisin Mullin
I/C: Sam De Koning, Max Holmes, Shaun Mannagh, Oliver Wiltshire, Oliver Henry
Ins: Sam De Koning
Outs: Mark O'Connor
Brisbane
The Lions were uncharacteristically abysmal in their qualifying final bout with the Swans. The Harbour City natives got the jump on the Lions, and closed the door every time the defending premiers mounted a charge.
As is his wont and custom, Chris Fagan is unlikely to make wholesale changes to the side that had its colours lowered at Moore Park, with his coaching record littered with examples of backing in his boys, and being rewarded for such a decision.
However, if Fagan did decide to swing the axe after his side's malaise-infected first final, it would be especially bold, and based almost solely on training wares, given the VFL Lions missed finals and haven't taken to the field since August 15th, when they dominated the Suns. Will McLachlan, James Tunstill and Keidean Coleman, still eyeing their first flags, impressed in that outing.
It's unlikely Fagan will adjust his key defensive stocks, given their strength in that part of the ground, but after Logan McDonald and Charlie Curnow had their way with his charges, changes may be forthcoming. Luckless former Crow Tom Doedee represents a lever the grandfatherly figure could pull, as does Ty Gallop, omitted at the returning Hugh McCluggage's expense, while incumbent Darcy Gardiner may be sweating after a poor showing.
Another option is the omission of the likes of a Conor McKenna, despite strong recent form, to include another tall defender, like Gallop, with Riley Thilthorpe, Taylor Walker and Darcy Fogarty coming to town.
Still, expect Fagan to back in his boys, once again, as the Lions look to take the scenic route to a third consecutive flag.
FB: Noah Answerth, Harris Andrews, Ryan Lester
HB: Dayne Zorko, Darcy Gardiner, Darcy Wilmot
C: Jaspa Fletcher, Lachie Neale, Jarrod Berry
HF: Cameron Rayner, Logan Morris, Charlie Cameron
FF: Kai Lohmann, Oscar Allen, Eric Hipwood
R: Sam Draper, Josh Dunkley, Will Ashcroft
INT: Zac Bailey, Hugh McCluggage, Levi Ashcroft, Conor McKenna, Darcy Fort
Ins: N/A
Outs: N/A
Adelaide
It's difficult to change a winning formula, but there are names for Matthew Nicks to consider.
Luke Pedlar and James Peatling are likely still a week away from returning from injury, but Zac Taylor, who has played 21 games this year, is in the frame to return from a hamstring injury. It would be a bold call to include the youngster off the injury, for an interstate game, no less, but who would come out?
The Crows had very few passengers in their gritty win over the Dogs. Callum Ah Chee was damaging, even if not super prolific, and would consider himself hard done by should he make way for Taylor ahead of a clash with his former premiership teammates.
Fellow recruit Isaac Cumming put forward another outing that lacked potency, but it's unlikely this yields consequences yet.
Expect the Crows to go in unchanged.
FB: Josh Worrell, James Borlase, Max Michalanney
HB: Wayne Milera, Mark Keane, Rory Laird
C: Brayden Cook, Jordan Dawson, Dan Curtin
HF: Ben Keays, Riley Thilthorpe, Josh Rachele
FF: Darcy Fogarty, Taylor Walker, Callum Ah Chee
R: Lachlan McAndrew, Izak Rankine, Jake Soligo
I/C: Alex Neal-Bullen, Isaac Cumming, Sam Berry, Luke Nankervis, Hugo Hall-Kahan
