What's the big question your AFL club must answer in Round 10? Is Ollie Wines back? Can the Bombers get their percentage up to scratch? Will Sydney exact revenge for last year's elimination final loss?
We've looked at every club and answered their biggest question ahead of this week's action.
Adelaide
vs. Collingwood, MCG
Can the Crows overcome their MCG/Magpie hoodoo?
Recent history says Adelaide is no chance of upsetting Collingwood this weekend. The Crows haven't won at the MCG since 2017, losing eight straight games at the venue over the last seven years. They also haven't beaten the Magpies since 2016, again, currently riding an eight-game losing streak to the black and white army. When you put the two together it's even more grim. Adelaide boasts just one win over Collingwood at the home of football since 2009. Will history repeat?
Brisbane
vs. Richmond, Gabba
Can the Lions flex and regain some ground in the percentage stakes?
If Brisbane belts Richmond this weekend, nobody is going to be jumping up and down arguing they're well and truly back in the premiership mix. However, they can correct one issue, a pretty average percentage -- quite literally -- of 100.3. Even with last week's draw, percentage will be critical. Four teams now have those pesky extra two points, and who knows if any of them draw again and get back in line with the others. The Tigers have lost their last four games by 39, 43, 54, and, most recently 91 points. Expect a big number here.
Carlton
vs. Sydney, SCG
Can the Blues string four quarters together?
Carlton has been the kings of the tight win in 2024, but in many cases, the games should have never been that close. Look at last week's late capitulation against the Demons! In nearly a half of football, the Blues kicked just two goals and were lucky to hold on and win by a point. If they are to travel to the SCG and knock off a Sydney side that's looking better than anyone in the competition, they must find a way to play four quarters and not suffer those debilitating down periods.
Collingwood
vs. Adelaide, MCG
Who plays forward?
The make-up of Collingwood's forward line mix this weekend against the Crows will be fascinating. Defender Jeremy Howe was the stop gap, but he will miss after suffering a groin injury. Brody Mihocek and Beau McCreery are also expected to sit out again. Does Craig McRae opt to go tall or small? Speed or height? Does the inconsistent Ash Johnson earn a recall? Or perhaps, Jordan De Goey returns to the team from a groin strain of his own and plays a larger role forward of centre.
Essendon
vs. North Melbourne, Marvel Stadium
Can the Bombers boost their percentage and therefore finals hopes?
Take a look at the top eight. Essendon is sitting third - very nice from a side not many expected to do that well this season. But take another look, specifically at the percentage of the teams in the top eight. There's a single outlier - the Bombers, with a percentage under 100. In fact, the Bombers are 13th on the percentage ladder. Usually over the course of a season, percentage is a great indication of how a side is truly travelling, and the Dons have room for improvement. That starts this week against a winless North. Boost that number, boys!
Fremantle
vs. St Kilda, Marvel Stadium
Can last week's shocker be ignored?
Was it wrong for Fremantle to have to play just hours after learning of the death of former teammate Cam McCarthy? Maybe. The Dockers played perhaps their worst game of the season, falling to the Swans by 48 points at Optus Stadium. Given the sad circumstances surrounding the game, it's tricky to read too far into it, but the club, and its supporters, will be looking to bounce back this week in what's a very winnable game against St Kilda, albeit on the road. A loss will only spark further concerns.
Geelong
vs. Gold Coast, TIO Stadium
Can the Cats get back on track?
Just a fortnight ago, Geelong was all the rage. Talks of Chris Scott's third premiership began heating up and their apparent weaknesses didn't seem to be impacting them. Since then, they've lost to Melbourne -- no shame in that -- and Port Adelaide at GMHBA Stadium for the first time in 17 years. If they want to avoid a three-game skid, the Cats will have to pass this week's tricky test: the Darwin Suns. Gold Coast has won its last five games in the Top End and last week were able to get familiar with the conditions, thumping the Kangaroos by 10 goals. Fascinating match-up.
Gold Coast
vs. Geelong, TIO Stadium
Do the Suns seriously consider relocating to Darwin?
So much has been made of Gold Coast's stunning record in Darwin. The Suns are 5-0 since mid-2022, the most recent win coming last week when they belted the Kangaroos by 68 points. Damien Hardwick's side remains in the Top End for this week's clash, and there's no doubt it's a far tougher assignment. With that said, if they can find a way to knock off the Cats, calls for the club to relocate to Darwin -- a city the AFL has expressed interest in expanding into -- will only grow louder.
GWS
vs. Western Bulldogs, ENGIE Stadium
Can the Giants salute back at home for the first time in nearly two months?
Everything was going swimmingly for GWS. Adam Kingsley's began the season 5-0, but has since lost three of its last four to Carlton, Sydney, and now Essendon. All three teams are top eight side at the present time, but the Giants would be bitterly disappointed to have one just once in the past month, even if it was a 54-point rout of the up-and-down Lions. This week they face another inconsistent side: the Bulldogs, finally back at Engie Stadium for the first time since before Easter. Can they get things back on track and solidify a top four spot with a win or will the alarm bells be sounding after a fourth loss in five games?
Hawthorn
vs. Port Adelaide, Adelaide Oval
Can the Hawks compete against a good team on the road?
The Saints in Tasmania is one equation, and they passed the test with flying colours in a low-scoring scrap, but can Hawthorn really take it up to a good side? And on the road? It's a big test for Sam Mitchell's Hawks, but an encouraging performance this week in Adelaide will go a long way to satisfying fans that the rebuild is moving along at a good pace. Remember last year? The Power piled on 16 goals in the first half to post a half time score of 105. The Hawks can't let that happen again.
Melbourne
vs. West Coast, Optus Stadium
Can the Demons start from the first bounce?
Take out the first term against the Blues last week and Melbourne win the game by six goals. Instead, their horror first term -- in which they were held scoreless -- ultimately proved the difference and the reason why they fell short by a solitary point. The Eagles are an improved side in recent times, but nobody is expecting them to upset a Demons side that has very real premiership aspirations. Instead, Simon Goodwin needs to hope for a strong start. This season, the Dees are averaging just 16 points in first terms. Need to be better than that.
North Melbourne
vs. Essendon, Marvel Stadium
Can Nick Larkey show up Ben McKay?
Little wins, right? Well, North gets the chance to face Essendon, and former player Ben McKay this weekend, and wouldn't it be sweet if Nick Larkey could get his season going with a bag against a former teammate?
Port Adelaide
vs. Hawthorn, Adelaide Oval
Is Ollie Wines getting back to his best?
In the absence of Connor Rozee last week, it was a former skipper who wound back the clocked and stepped up for his side. Many had written off Ollie Wines as a bit of a has-been - a player who had peaked and was being superceded in a stacked midfield. But his performance last week against the Cats showed he has enough in the tank to step up when his side needs it. Can he back it up? The Hawks have shown signs of improvement, and Port will need to win and well in order to keep in touch with the top four.
Richmond
vs. Brisbane, Gabba
Can the Tigers show something and keep it competitive?
Things have gradually gotten worse for Richmond over the last month. They backed up their stunning win against Sydney -- no idea how that happened -- with a tight, competitive loss against the Saints during Gather Round. Since then, they have been beaten by West Coast (39 points), Melbourne (43 points), Fremantle (54 points), and the Western Bulldogs (91 points). It's a worrying trend for Adem Yze and his side needs to find something -- and quickly -- otherwise a wooden spoon isn't out of the question...
St Kilda
vs. Fremantle, Marvel Stadium
Can the Saints kick a genuine winning score against a defensive-minded team?
Oh boy, this looks like a tough watch, on paper. Two teams which have at times this year been dire in attack, and with the Saints now languishing in 14th above only Hawthorn, West Coast, Richmond, and North Melbourne, there is significant pressure on Ross Lyon, his game plan, and his troops to post a home win over the Dockers. They managed just seven goals last week, and with Fremantle -- a notoriously stingy side -- looming, it could go from bad to worse if St Kilda lose.
Sydney
vs. Carlton, SCG
Can the Swans exact revenge from last year's elimination final?
It was Carlton who sent Sydney packing in last year's final series after an epic six-point win at the MCG. Don't think the Swans have forgotten! John Longmire's side is looking like the premiership favourite in the early part of 2024, sitting top of the ladder with an 8-1 record and a percentage over 150! In last year's final it was hard-running Blue Sam Walsh who proved the difference, so it's possible the Swans put some attention into him.
West Coast
vs. Melbourne, Optus Stadium
Did the Eagles' resurgence just end?
It's no secret West Coast has been struggling immensely in recent seasons, but Adam Simpson's side showed some signs they might have turned a corner with back-to-back wins over Richmond and Fremantle, as well as tight losses to Sydney and Essendon. But last week's 66-point loss to Collingwood -- and it really should have been more -- suggested the gap between the Eagles and the sides vying for a place in the top four remains as large as ever. A similar type loss to the Demons this week might undo all of the good work in the first two months of the season.
Western Bulldogs
vs. GWS, ENGIE Stadium
Should we read much into last week's flogging?
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. We've seen this movie before from the Bulldogs. Smash a lowly side and then embarrass themselves the following week. Rinse and repeat. On the surface, you simply can't read anything into last week's thumping of the struggling Tigers. But it could be viewed as the start of a turnaround if they are able to head north and upset old rival, GWS. Maybe, just maybe, Richmond has played the Bulldogs into form.