Collingwood is flying, but ranks last in one of footy’s most important statistics — and that’s a scary sign for 17 other clubs.
Plus the Dogs’ shrewd moves, the flaw stopping Adelaide from “top of the ladder” and why a wooden spoon contender needs a complete overhaul.
Every club’s burning question ahead of Round 8, as well as commentators for every Fox Footy game in our ultimate weekly preview: The Blowtorch!
Watch every match of every round of the 2023 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
‘Fair to say I’ve not said those words’ | 01:08
CARLTON v BRISBANE LIONS
Friday May 5, 7.50pm at Marvel Stadium
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 7pm on Channel 504, hosted by Garry Lyon with Jordan Lewis, Jonathon Brown, Kath Loughnan and Jon Ralph, followed by Fox Footy Live with Ben Dixon, Cameron Mooney and Nick Dal Santo.
Blues’ burning question: Was last week about them, or the opposition?
There was plenty to like about Carlton’s 108-point win over West Coast, but the Eagles’ struggles have been apparent to all so far in 2023. The lack of effort would’ve been mightily concerning for Adam Simpson, but the Blues now face a team at the other end of the ladder, so Michael Voss’ side will be genuinely tested. We’ll know more about whether the Blues have rectified their issues by the end of that match, rather than by the result of last week’s win over what is currently an easy kill.
Lions’ burning question: Can they beat a contender away from their fortress?
Lions fans must be getting tired of the ‘win away from the Gabba’ sceptics, but the fact remains the Lions have not defeated a fellow contender away from home so far this season. Labelling the Blues a contender may be a stretch for some, but the Lions have the chance to stamp their credentials on the road against a good side, which they were unable to do against Port Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs in the opening rounds. They’re in great touch with four wins on the trot, but the next step is to do it on the road against sides that may finish near them on the ladder. With all due respect to North Melbourne, GWS and Fremantle, they’re not those sides. Carlton may well be.
Is Hardwick still the Tigers man? | 01:13
RICHMOND v WEST COAST EAGLES
Saturday May 6, 1.45pm at MCG
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 1pm on Channel 504, hosted by Sarah Jones with Anthony Hudson, Jonathan Brown, Jordan Lewis and David Zita.
Tigers’ burning question: Where do the goals come from?
Richmond has hit triple figures just once this season in worrying signs for coach Damien Hardwick. Without Tom Lynch, goals have been hard to come by for the Tigers. Interestingly, they’ve only scored four or more goals in a quarter seven times this year – that’s seven from 28 attempts. Veteran Jack Riewoldt remains the only player in double figures for goals this season, averaging just over two a game. But outside of his efforts, there isn’t another regular contributor. Garry Lyon told Fox Footy’s On the Couch: “The Tigers are in a really interesting situation.” Only West Coast and Hawthorn sit below them in worrying signs.
Eagles’ burning question: When do you ask for help?
It’s no secret West Coast are in a world of hurt in 2023 – just like they were this time last year. Injuries and Covid played their role in 2022, with the side forced to call upon WAFL top-up players just to field a team. Again in 2023, the side finds itself scraping the barrel for fit players. At what point does this proud and once powerful club hit the brakes and solve their woes? We’ve heard Adam Simpson talk repeatedly about doing the best they can and trying to manage their injury run, but what is going on off-field? It’s not only their AFL side in the doldrums – their reserves side in the WAFL has been smacked by three-straight 100-point losing margins (in only four games). This is a club that needs answers fast and a complete overhaul.
Sloane & Tex to be rested against Cats? | 00:38
GEELONG CATS v ADELAIDE CROWS
Saturday May 6, 2.10pm at GMHBA Stadium
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 2pm on Channel 503, with Leigh Montagna, Kelli Underwood, Nick Dal Santo, Brad Johnson, Cameron Mooney and David Zita.
Cats’ burning question: Have Geelong found their premiership form?
The Cats were slow out of the blocks in 2023, becoming the first reigning premiers in 47 years to start a season 0-3. More alarmingly, no side has ever come back from 0-3 to make top four, let alone win the premiership. But four weeks on and the Cats are purring along nicely, looking “scary and ominous”, according to Fox Footy’s Garry Lyon, who addedL “Their firepower is back. They are building something again that should have the rest of the competition sitting up.” But are the Cats really back? Their wins have come against last (West Coast) and second last (Hawthorn), an undermanned Sydney and most recently Essendon, in which they only put the Bombers away in a 20-minute blitz. This week’s clash with the Crows should give us a clearer picture on where they stand form-wise.
Crows’ burning question: How do the young Crows respond?
There’s no doubt Adelaide were left heartbroken by their thrilling one-point loss to Collingwood in Round 7. The Crows led for all but the final 20 seconds in the brutal defeat. Given the Crows’ young age, can their players shrug off the heartbreak and bounce back against Geelong? “They’ll take massive confidence from this performance, but it’s a win that’s fallen out of their grasp,” David King lamented on First Crack. Now, they’ve got one of the toughest tasks to travel to Geelong and beat the Cats. The Crows also need to address their goalscoring woes after another shocker last weekend. “They’ve had two horrible kicking games … They should be sitting on top of the ladder (if they’d kicked straighter),” Jonathan Brown lamented.
King thinking of staying with Suns | 01:15
GOLD COAST SUNS v MELBOURNE
Saturday May 6, 4.35pm at Heritage Bank Stadium
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 4.30pm on Channel 504, with Dwayne Russell, Jason Dunstall, David King, Ben Dixon and David Zita.
Suns’ burning question: Have they turned a corner?
They very nearly got over the line against Fremantle before comfortably defeating North Melbourne and Richmond. Granted, all three are not very daunting opponents at this stage, but neither was Gold Coast heading into those matches, so to perform as they have is very impressive, particularly without Touk Miller for a large part. Those underneath Miller have lifted in his absence, while Ben King looks like he has rediscovered his confidence. It would be a huge shock if the Suns defeated Melbourne, but in theory this match should be more competitive than it would’ve seemed a month ago. Stuart Dew cops a lot of the pressure when the side loses, so it’s only fair he’s given a pat on the back for helping them turn their season around in the last fortnight.
Demons’ burning question: What’s their best forward mix?
It’s a question we’ve asked often about Melbourne, but it’s worth asking again given they tried Josh Schache in the forward 50 in his first game for the club last week. Ben Brown has battled with injury and hasn’t played in the senior side since Round 3, while Jacob van Rooyen has come on in leaps and bounds but is still just 20 years of age. It seems to be a delicate balancing act for Simon Goodwin and his coaching staff and one they’re open to learning about in the coming weeks. It does seem like that key forward role is a difficult one to nail down, particularly now with the presence of one of Max Gawn or Brodie Grundy. Goodwin told AFL 360 last week his preference is to have two key forwards and a resting ruck inside 50. Who those two key forwards are, though, remains unclear.
How ‘cleverly constructed’ Tas plan won | 04:07
GWS GIANTS v WESTERN BULLDOGS
Saturday May 6, 7.30pm at Manuka Oval
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 7.15pm on Channel 504, hosted by Kath Loughnan with Brad Johnson, Eddie Betts and David Zita.
Giants’ burning question: Can GWS keep its cool?
The GWS-Bulldogs rivalry is one of modern day footy’s most spiteful, stemming back to the 2016 preliminary final thriller that sent the Dogs on their way to the flag. But arguments could be made that the bad blood between the clubs stemmed further to the controversial Callan Ward recruitment or the Tom Boyd trade. Either way, clashes between these two clubs are sure to get fiery. But as we saw when the Bulldogs went to Perth and touched up a Fremantle side too focused on trying to bait former teammate Rory Lobb, distractions can throw a side off their game. The Giants will have to keep their cool if they are to upset a Bulldogs outfit that is quietly building.
Bulldogs’ burning question: Can their “back to the future” moves continue to pay off?
There’s still a lot of the season left to play out, but it’s clear a few positional changes made by Luke Beveridge’s have already paid dividends. In the 2016 Bulldogs premiership campaign, Jason Johannisen won the Norm Smith Medal for his big game off half-back, while Caleb Daniel was highly influential in the front half with stints on the ball. After stints at the opposite ends of the field, Johannisen and Daniel in the past month have moved back to the positions during the Dogs’ flag season — and it’s helped turn the tide for the Dogs. Johannisen has returned to defence, averaging 23.8 disposals and 5.8 intercepts from his oast four games and providing more drive off half-back. Daniel has spent more time forward of centre and on the ball where his class has shone through, averaging 24.3 disposals, 5.3 score involvements, 4.7 inside 50s and 4.0 clearances. Dual All-Australian Leigh Montagna said the Bulldogs had gone “back to the future”, telling Fox Footy’s First Crack: “I like how they’ve mixed it up. They’ve gone back to what worked for them a few years ago. I think it’s helped their offence and put them in a better position.”
Fyfe shaping to return against Hawks? | 00:33
FREMANTLE v HAWTHORN
Saturday May 6, 7.30pm at Optus Stadium
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 7.25pm on Channel 503 with Adam Papalia, Matthew Pavlich, Dermott Brereton, Will Schofield and David Zita.
Dockers’ burning question: At what point do Fremantle concede?
Yes, we are only at Round 8, but already the signs are not great for Fremantle in 2023. Their forward line isn’t functioning, their mids are getting beaten comprehensively and their once rock-solid backline is leaking like a sieve. Coach Justin Longmuir has issues all around the ground, which is not where he wants to be after leading the club to a semi-final finish last year. And given there are so many issues to overcome, it’s hard to see how the club can magically fix them all and get enough wins to make top eight. Nat Fyfe has managed just one game this season as his injury woes continue. But should the Dockers do the unthinkable and lose to Hawthorn at home, it might be time for Longmuir to turn to the kids – the likes of Jye Amiss, Neil Erasmus and more.
Hawks’ burning question: Is their ladder position misleading?
They’ve still won just one game for the season, but the Hawthorn we’ve seen in recent weeks is far different to the one we saw get destroyed by Geelong on Easter Monday. They were desperately close against the Giants and Adelaide then faded late despite an impressive showing against the Western Bulldogs. They may be down the bottom of the ladder, but they arguably enter this match in better form than Fremantle. On form, it is well and truly a line ball match, ramping up the pressure even further on the Dockers on their home deck.
How ‘caretaker Ken’ has transformed Port | 03:25
PORT ADELAIDE v ESSENDON
Sunday May 7, 1.40pm at Adelaide Oval
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 1pm on Channel 504, hosted by Kath Loughnan with Anthony Hudson, Dermott Brereton, Gerard Healy, Mark Ricciuto and Jon Ralph.
Power’s burning question: When does Ken Hinkley get the respect he deserves?
It was only four weeks ago Port’s only premiership skipper labelled Ken Hinkley’s time as coach of the club “untenable”. Since then they haven’t dropped a game. From 1-2 to now be 5-2, at what point do we applaud Hinkley’s tenacity and fight? Statistics show there are only three coaches in the game with a better winning record than Hinkley (59% win rate): Craig McRae, Chris Scott and John Longmire. Hinkley’s willingness to go the extra mile to support players like Jason Horne-Francis hasn’t gone unnoticed, and with his coach’s backing, the teen is starting to show exactly what he can do. Horne-Francis is one of two Port players — the other being Connor Rozee — currently ranked in the top three for centre bounce returns scores differential in great signs for Hinkley’s midfield. His game plan to allow Aliir Aliir to marshall the backline is also proving a master stroke. So when do we ease up on the out-of-contract coach and let him get to work?
Bombers’ burning question: Is the decision to move Dylan Shiel forward Brad Scott’s biggest masterstroke?
Brad Scott has turned the Bombers’ game around, fixing their obvious defensive woes and turning the side into a finals contender early in 2023. But it’s his decision to use Dylan Shiel more as a forward that is paying off in spades. “I love what Brad’s done with him,” Fox Footy’s David King said. “Just throwing him round a little bit … a midfielder who can go forward. He’s super clean.” Against the Cats, Shiel had 11 score involvements and 14 disposals in the forward half. Leigh Montagna believes the shift of Shiel forward allows the likes of Jake Stringer to push into the midfield for patches in another game-changing move. In just seven games, Shiel has kicked 6.1 – his strongest average goals per game since he debuted back in 2012 with GWS.
Longmire wants NSW to stay in AFL sights | 02:02
COLLINGWOOD v SYDNEY SWANS
Sunday May 7, 3.20pm at MCG
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 3pm on Channel 503, with Kath Loughnan, Jonathan Brown, Nick Dal Santo and Jon Ralph.
Magpies’ burning question: Can Collingwood sort out their scoring from intercept woes?
There’s no doubt the Magpies are one of the most dangerous teams in the competition to come up against, with their never-say-die attitude winning praise across the nation. But Champion Data’s Daniel Hoyne still warns there is “significant room for improvement” in Collingwood, in alarming signs for their rivals. Statistics show in the last five weeks, Collingwood is ranked last for points from turnovers, yet they remain fifth for points from clearance and first for midfield intercepts. “No team is better at winning the ball back between the arcs – tick. But ability to punish? Cross,” Hoyne said. “The turnover game is still king … to be 18th at scoring from intercepts, that is a huge concern, a huge room for improvement.” Hoyne said the Magpies have taken 65 intercept marks between the arcs in the past five weeks – 12 more than another team.
Swans’ burning question: Is there a lesson to be learnt from the GWS loss?
The Swans head into the clash with Collingwood off the back of a heartbreaking loss to rivals GWS. To make matters worse, that loss came off the boot of Giants star Toby Greene, who was allowed to get the snap away at a forward 50 stoppage – despite the skipper looming as the biggest dangerman. The fact no Swan went to him to ensure he couldn’t get his hands on the footy should be ringing alarm bells for coach John Longmire. We know the Swans’ backline is currently undermanned, but they remain the worst side in comp for coughing up stoppage points in their defensive 50. Statistics show Sydney has conceded 85 points inside the opponent’s forward 50 in an area they’ll need to tighten up moving forward.
Saints eyeing Round 9 for King’s return | 00:37
NORTH MELBOURNE v ST KILDA
Sunday May 7, 4.40pm at Marvel Stadium
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 4pm on Channel 504, hosted by Sarah Jones, with Dwayne Russell, Garry Lyon, Nathan Buckley, Ben Dixon and Jon Ralph. Followed by Bounce and First Crack with Anthony Hudson, David King and Leigh Montagna.
Kangaroos’ burning question: How do they respond to their worst loss of the season?
It’s a far cry from the Kangaroos side that won its first two games, with two of their last three losses right on the verge of triple figures. The defensive lapses for the side are considerable and now effort is being questioned, which is something Alastair Clarkson will need to stamp out just seven games into his tenure. St Kilda is another side that will show little mercy if it smells blood in the water, so the Kangaroos have their work cut out for them. Luke Davies-Uniacke was a crucial withdrawal from last week’s side and they’ll be desperate for his grunt in and around stoppage.
Saints’ burning question: How ruthless are they?
They smashed the Dogs and Suns this year after getting a sniff. Now, with North Melbourne a side that’s hapless at the moment, how ruthless can the Saints be? The same question was asked of Melbourne last week before they demolished the Kangaroos by 90 points and the same challenge will now be put to the Saints, who are coming off just their second loss of the season. A response is expected and North Melbourne presents the perfect opportunity for just that. How Ross Lyon primes his players for this week will be a fascinating insight into the senior coach.
