The Dockers have a trophy that nobody has ever seen, the Eagles copped a rude awakening, Carlton showed the job ahead of Brendan Bolton and a few players were left nursing sore Jatz crackers.
Our crack (pot) panel returns to run the rule over round 22 of the 2015 AFL season.
The Panel:
Steve Allen (Radio 6PR producer, The Interchange podcast); Brendan Foster (WAtoday's resident grumpy old man); David Prestipino (WAtoday wine writer, footy tragic) Paul Entwistle (rant merchant extraordinaire); Rhys Wolf (ex-WAtoday video journo, Eagles fan); David Prestipino (WAtoday wine writer, footy tragic).
Steve-o:
1. I don't know many people who think Freo can go all the way... but the Dockers are doing their best to prove doubters wrong by winning the minor premiership. It's not the most impressive trophy given I still don't know what the McClellan Trophy looks like after a Google search. But it's a trophy nonetheless.
2. Melbourne would want to improve significantly if it intends to keep Jesse Hogan at the club beyond his current contract, which ends at the end of 2017.
3. Adelaide has all the tools to make a difference in the finals. But those tools will find it tough work if the Crows can't secure a home final.
Fossie:
1. Ever since the Eagles lost a couple of key tall defenders before the start of the season, opposition coaches have spoken about "stretching" West Coast's diminutive defence. No one was able to do it until the Eagles ran into the Crows. Adelaide's power forwards monstered the Eagles backmen.
2. The Dockers will rest a string of players for the dead rubber against Port Adelaide - although feeder club Peel might not be stoked, with a number of players likely to be plucked on the eve of a first finals appearance. With Freo expected to put players on ice, bookmakers reacted swiftly placing Port as raging favourites at $1.30 straight after the Dockers thrashed Melbourne.
3. After waiting 1450 days to play his 22nd game, Cats player Daniel Menzel (he had four knee reconstructions) may run like a bloke who looks like he's been on a horse for a year, but what an amazing comeback.
Vent-wistle:
1. It was more like Simpson and his donkeys rather than three-times premiership club West Coast at Adelaide Oval. Even though the Crows probably can't win the premiership from outside the top four they certainly showed everyone else how to beat Eagles as West Coast went from premiership contenders to pretenders in just one quarter.
2. Fremantle securing top spot will put a damper on Peel's first finals campaign as it looks like Ross Lyon could rest any player over the age 21 for the final round. Port Adelaide will easily account for Peel but Freo will be fresh for the start of the finals.
3. Even without knowing what Brendon Bolton is being paid, he is not being paid enough to coach Carlton next year. Pathetic is the most polite way to describe how the Blues looked on Saturday and with an expected exodus of players next year it is going to be tough.
Woolf-man:
1. It's not panic stations yet with a top-two spot all but wrapped up, but the Eagles would be concerned about their undersized defence being exposed for the first time this season. If they want to knock off top-four teams come finals they need McGovern and Schofield fit and firing.
2. It's always funny when it happens to someone else, but the amount of players who suffered a Sherrin to the crown jewels throughout the Eagles and Crows clash had me sitting cross-legged for the majority of the game.
3. The Dockers scraped into a triple figure score for the first time in 12 games. They also did it without Michael Walters, Nathan Fyfe and Matthew Pavlich (for a half). However they also only did it against Melbourne, so not too much to get excited about.
Presto:
1. Only one person "down at Kardinia Park" wouldn't have liked Daniel Menzel's four-goal haul on Friday night after four knee reconstructions - and that's Steve Johnson. The comeback Cat's incredible performance could fast-track Stevie J's exit from Geelong.
2. The final quarter of Saturday's Bulldogs v Kangaroos match was fast footy at its best. After a measly 12 goals in three quarters under the Etihad roof, the sides slammed on another 12 in a pulsating final quarter thriller.
3. Adelaide making the finals is nothing short of remarkable given the tragic events mid-year. Emotions in footy can go either way on the field but the Crows are channeling them the right way and could surprise in September. Scott Camporeale and John Worsfold have done an amazing job.
