What's the big question your AFL club must answer in Round 8? Can Christian Petracca handle a tag? Is it time to blow the Lions' program up? Are the Swans the best team in New South Wales?
We've looked at every club and answered their biggest question ahead of this week's action.
Adelaide
vs. Port Adelaide, Adelaide Oval
Can the in-form Crows mids take advantage of Port's injuries?
With Port Adelaide skipper Connor Rozee likely to miss this week's Showdown, the midfield pendulum should be swinging in favour of the up-and-down Crows. It's not to say Zak Butters, Willem Drew, Ollie Wines, and Jason Horne-Francis can't get the job done, but Jordan Dawson, Rory Laird, Matt Crouch, and Jake Soligo have one fewer stars to contend with on the other side, and based on what we saw last week, should be up to the challenge. Dawson played his best game of the year in Round 6, while Laird turned in his top effort in last week's win over the Kangaroos. They're primed for this.
Brisbane
vs. Gold Coast, Gabba
Is it time to blow the entire program up?
A loss to the Suns in this weekend's Q-Clash could be utterly devastating for Brisbane. Not only would it have the club slumping to a totally unforeseen 2-6 start -- making it a near impossible task of recovering to play finals -- it may also signal a changing of the guard in Queensland. The Lions have looked anything but a side that fell agonisingly short of lifting the premiership cup last year, and no matter what the club says, you just know Chris Fagan's head is on the chopping block. They simply must find a way to get back on to the winners' list and avoid falling four games outside the top eight.
Carlton
vs. Collingwood, MCG
Was the loss to the Cats an anomaly or did it highlight a serious issue?
Blues fans can rage at the umpires, but they can't be too upset with a 13-point loss to the undefeated Cats. Carlton dominated many areas of the game, +35 in disposals, +21 in inside 50s, +6 in clearances, +19 in contested possessions, and even had more shots on goal. But they lost. Nobody would be surprised if they played a similar type of game against the Magpies this week and walked away with the four points, but if they fall short, again, more and more questions around the club's efficiency forward of centre will be asked.
Collingwood
vs. Carlton, MCG
Can the Magpies start from the opening siren?
Two weeks in succession we've seen the Magpies absolutely jumped in the first quarter. In Round 6, Port Adelaide kicked six goals in the opening term, before Collingwood got going and overran them. Last week, on Anzac Day, Essendon booted four goals in four minutes to enjoy the fastest of starts. Like Port, the Bombers also finished the first term with six goals on the board. Livewire Bobby Hill admitted the slow starts are an issue they are trying to resolve, and something they simply cannot afford this week against the Blues.
Essendon
vs. West Coast, Optus Stadium
Have the Bombers really turned the page?
Are the 2024 Bombers really a better team? Is the Essendon Edge something fans should actually get excited by? Last season, in Round 21, the Bombers very nearly lost to these Eagles -- they probably should have -- and that's when they were as dire as can possibly be. They've turned the corner in recent weeks, but should still be easybeats for an Essendon side that's consolidated a place inside the top eight and appears to have turned the corner. If they really have, and they are on the right path, this game should be over by three-quarter time.
Fremantle
vs. Richmond, MCG
Is Nat Fyfe, once again, a top 20 player in the league?
Dockers fans would have been smiling ear to ear every time Nat Fyfe possessed the ball last weekend against the Bulldogs. The two-time Brownlow Medal winner wound back the clock with 37 disposals, 18 contested possessions, 10 score involvements, and seven clearances, backing up from his 27-disposal, 13 clearance game against the Eagles the previous weekend. It's a welcomed sight after a few years plagued by injury. It's also the first time Fyfe has had at least 25 disposals and seven clearances in back-to-back weeks since 2019. More of that, please!
Geelong
vs. Melbourne, MCG
Can the Cats keep winning despite being battered in the midfield?
It's hard to be critical of a side that's 7-0, but it's quite evident Geelong's midfield has some serious room for improvement. The loss of superstar Patrick Dangerfield to a hamstring injury only makes the unit more inexperienced as they prepare for a date with Melbourne and its star on-ball brigade. Instead of winning it on the inside, the Cats have had success with using speed on the outside, but will that formula continue to hold up as the year progresses or will Chris Scott be forced to shuffle the magnets to find answers in the middle of the park?
Gold Coast
vs. Brisbane, Gabba
Are the Suns the best team in Queensland?
It might sound like a dramatic, knee-jerk reaction, but it really isn't. The Lions are reeling, having slumped to 2-5 with a shocking loss to GWS on Anzac Day, while the 4-3 Suns are enjoying their best start to a season in a decade. Another loss for Chris Fagan's men could have them four wins outside the top eight and all but end their season. A win for Gold Coast and they likely jump into the top eight, a foreign position for this club, even at this stage of the year. When you think about it, there's more on the line in this Q-Clash than ever before!
GWS
vs. Sydney, SCG
Can the Giants take advantage of the extra rest?
GWS will have enjoyed an eight-day break by the time Round 8's game against cross-town rival Sydney rolls around. Contrast that to the Swans, who played on Sunday afternoon against the Hawks in the final game of Round 7, and there's a real advantage in favour of the Giants. The extra break should allow Adam Kingsley's side to welcome back star defender Sam Taylor, who missed the last two contests with concussion, while Toby Greene will also return from suspension. When the fixture breaks your way, as it has here for the Giants, you've got to take advantage.
Hawthorn
vs. Western Bulldogs, Marvel Stadium
Is it time to drop Finn Maginness out of the side?
We've been real admirers of Finn Maginness and the value he's brought to the Hawks with his excellent shut down jobs, but when they aren't coming off, it's hard to find a place for him in the struggling side. This past weekend, Maginness was sent to rebounding Swans defender Nick Blakey, and had no luck curtailing his influence. He was also unable to slow down Brownlow Medal favourite Isaac Heeney when Sam Mitchell opted to shake things up. Maginness needs to rediscover the formula that made him the most impactful tagger in the game ... and fast.
Melbourne
vs. Geelong, MCG
Can Christian Petracca handle a tag?
He's been such a brilliant player for a number of years now, but facing a tag is something relatively new for Melbourne gun Christian Petracca (that in itself just proves the value of the tagger and why every club should have one). On Anzac Eve, Petracca was well contained by Richmond's Marlion Pickett, though he did finish with 23 disposals and a goal. This is a copycat league, after all, so expect more tags to come Petracca's way, likely starting this week when they face the unbeaten Cats.
North Melbourne
vs. St Kilda, Marvel Stadium
Can the Kangaroos concede fewer than 100 points?
In all seven games this year, North Melbourne's opposition has topped 100 points. Five times those scores have been over 110 points and four times over 120. St Kilda, under the ultra defensive Ross Lyon, is not a high scoring team -- they average 72 per contest in 2024 -- so there's an opportunity for the Roos to have a mini win this weekend and prevent yet another triple-figure score from being posted against them. And, who knows, maybe it's a game they could pinch. Are they up for the challenge?
Port Adelaide
vs. Adelaide, Adelaide Oval
How do the Power cover their injuries?
Last week's win over St Kilda at Adelaide Oval came with a hefty price tag: injuries to several key players. The biggest loss is that of captain Connor Rozee, who looked to tweak his hamstring late in the third term. But that's not all, livewire Sam Powell-Pepper suffered a heartbreaking, season-ending ACL tear, and reliable key defender Aliir Aliir was also unable to play out the contest after suffering a concussion. The trio will all miss this week's Showdown against Adelaide, so can Port's depth step up and deliver in a game many would still expect them to win?
Richmond
vs. Fremantle, MCG
Can the Tigers play four quarters?
It sounds simple, but to this point in the season the answer has more often than not been a resounding 'no'. Last week, on Anzac Eve, the Tigers pushed the Demons for three quarters before falling away in the last, ultimately losing by 43 points. Adem Yze's side has also given up six goal terms against the Saints, Power, and Suns, periods that blew those respective games out. If Richmond can play consistent footy for 120 minutes, they're every chance of beating this one-minute-up, one-minute-down Dockers side.
St Kilda
vs. North Melbourne, Marvel Stadium
Can the Saints get their percentage back over 100?
St Kilda has played seven games for a disappointing 2-5 record, but there's a real opportunity to turn things around over the next few weeks. Games against the Kangaroos, Hawks, and Dockers are all winnable; in fact, they will likely start favourite in all three. But if the Saints are to return to the top eight, they must improve their percentage of 89.3. To get it back in the positive, they need to beat the Roos by 61 points, and that's certainly not out of the question. Right now, 13 teams have a better percentage than St Kilda.
Sydney
vs. GWS, SCG
Are the Swans the best team in New South Wales?
The Swans and Giants have been two of the most impressive sides to start season 2024, and you cannot have a serious premiership credential discussion without including both teams. But who is better? It's a fascinating question we've argued ad nauseum on the ESPN Footy Podcast over the last month, and we will soon learn the answer. The winner won't just be seen as the best club in New South Wales, they might also be the best in the land and the one to beat for this year's premiership.
West Coast
vs. Essendon, Optus Stadium
Have the Eagles figured things out?
We're not sure what was said on the plane ride over to Gather Round, but West Coast has looked a totally different side ever since touching down in Adelaide at the beginning of April. They gave the red-hot Swans an almighty scare, beat the Tigers and Dockers, and looked the likely winners for a large portion of its most recent game against the Suns. Is this the new standard and what we can expect moving forward? Or after a month of giving it their all, plus the impact of last week's longest road trip in football, does water find its level?
Western Bulldogs
vs. Hawthorn, Marvel Stadium
Can the depth stand up for the Bulldogs?
Even at full strength you have to worry about the last few Bulldogs players picked and whether they can perform to the level required. When they are missing some key soldiers, that fear only grows. This week, they should regain star inside midfielder Tom Liberatore, but they will be without key small forwards Cody Weightman (injury) and Rhylee West (suspension). So, who can stand up, fill the boots and play a role? There should be opportunity, too, against a leaky Hawks side that's conceding almost 100 points per game this year.