1. Dogs book their spot in September
With so much riding on this contest between 7th and 8th, it was no surprise that goals were at a premium. It was finals-like physicality from the outset between two hardened, if understrength, sides and the Western Bulldogs' gutsy victory has all-but guaranteed them finals football for a second-straight season, with a home elimination final at the very least within grasp. But the loss keeps the pressure on North - which has a tough run home against Hawthorn, the Swans and Giants – to secure a finals berth and the door remains ever-so-slightly ajar for teams below, particularly St Kilda, if the Saints are good enough to win all four of their remaining games.

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2. Never-say-die Bullies turn the tables
The Western Bulldogs' scoring woes have been well documented, with Luke Beveridge's men topping the ton just once in the past seven games and only averaging the ninth-most points in the competition. Last time they faced the Roos in round six, the Dogs managed just six goals in a hard-fought 16-point defeat, but this time roles were reversed as they strangled the life out of North, 9.7 to 7.5. Brad Scott's side wasn't helped by an early knee injury to leading goalkicker Ben Brown, while Jarrad Waite – who kicked four of the Roos' nine goals last time – and Mason Wood were also missing. How long ago North's unbeaten 9-0 start seems now.

3. Spud's long memory
It was a spicy affair when North Melbourne and the Dogs last went toe-to-toe, and Marcus Bontempelli's post-game comments slamming Lindsay Thomas' 'malicious' high shot on Lachie Hunter weren't forgotten by Michael Firrito. The Roos veteran tangled with Bontempelli before the opening bounce, wrestling the star pup and exchanging words, and the Roos took every chance to bump and unsettle the 20-year-old. It set the scene for another tense encounter, with spotfires breaking out all match. For Firrito, it was perhaps the ideal warm-up for Hawthorn next round, with the backman also the chief antagonist last time those sides met in a brutal bout in round 13. 

4. Anderson in trouble?
It's fair to say Jed Anderson's first season in blue and white hasn't quite gone to plan, and the ex-Hawk could be facing another stint on the sidelines for his high bump on Lin Jong in the second quarter. Anderson, who damaged a hamstring tendon in round one and was only in his fifth game back, collected Jong – albeit without much force - as he tried to shepherd and went straight into the umpire's book, with a potential suspension the last thing he, or North, needed.

5. Roos' walking wounded list just gets longer
If there was one player the Kangaroos didn't want to see go down, it was key forward Ben Brown. With Jarrad Waite (hip) in doubt to play again this season, and Mason Wood (knee) also sidelined, Brown has become North's focal point in attack. But the Roos will be sweating on scans after their leading goalkicker limped from the field in the second quarter, going into the rooms and emerging only to have his left knee – reconstructed when he was 17 – iced up. The Dogs' injury curse struck again, too, with tough nut Clay Smith concussed in the first term and out of the game after his head was driven into the ground in an Aaron Mullett tackle. Neither team can take a trick.