ROUND seven was one where young players across the competition stamped their credentials, some more experienced campaigners put their hand up for All-Australian selection and Brisbane emerged victorious in its crucial top-four shaper against North Melbourne. 

Each week, Gemma Bastiani will look at a key talking point in each game in this handy wrap up, just in case you missed it.

Breann Moody has one hand on her second All-Australian selection

On Friday evening against the Saints, Breann Moody put up yet another best-on-ground performance to assert her dominance as the best ruck in the competition. Against a thin St Kilda ruck division, which was already without Erin McKinnon and lost back-up ruck Simone Nalder in the opening quarter, Moody saw an opportunity and took it. Finishing the game with two goals, 22 hitouts and three strong contested marks to add to an already impressive season, Moody is forcing All-Australian selectors to take notice.

The Eagles are rich with young talent

Although they were unable to get over the line against Richmond on Friday, several young Eagles showed just how good they are going to be. In her second season, Charlie Thomas, who has become a vital cog down back, won a game-high 23 disposals, seven marks, 11 intercepts and registered 386 metres gained. Higher up the ground, Courtney Rowley has been playing an underrated but important role this season, including 17 disposals, six intercepts and a goal against the Tigers. Jaide Britton, Ella Roberts and Sarah Lakay also had good moments, and this young core is one that can be built around for the long term.

Bec Privitelli loves the wet

Typically, key marking forwards find life tough when the rain starts falling and the ball gets slippery. But for Sydney spearhead Bec Privitelli, the opposite is the case. Strong and clean in the aerial contest, she was the one who stood up when the Swans did send the ball into attack with some purpose against the Suns, while she also pushed up the field to be a linking player in attack when they needed it most. Finishing the game with the Swans' only two goals, she also left the field for a short period in the opening quarter after copping a heavy bump from Gold Coast's Ellie Hampson, who may come under some MRO scrutiny.

Deja vu on two fronts

For the second week in a row, Fremantle took it to one of the best sides in the competition only to concede four goals in the final quarter to lose the game. This week they did what no team has been able to in the last fortnight - kick a goal against Adelaide - and they did it despite losing key players Gabby O'Sullivan and Janelle Cuthbertson to injury in the first half. For Adelaide, it was a reminder of its early season form as the Crows went toe-to-toe with for three quarters before putting the foot on the pedal to pull away in the final term.

The Kangaroos are their own worst enemy

After a slow start to the season, the Roos have fought their way up the ladder and taken it to some very good sides. But against Brisbane on Saturday afternoon, it was their wayward kicking at goal that ultimately let them down. Despite registering three more scoring shots than the Lions, North Melbourne went down by seven points in a result that will shape the top four. Tahlia Randall was the main culprit, kicking three behinds to continue an inaccurate season in front of goal.

The Hawks play for each other

Hawthorn's work ethic and willingness to stand up for their teammates has put the side in good stead and has now resulted in three consecutive wins. They run in waves, tackle hard and celebrate the little wins with one another. Star players have emerged, headlined by Aileen Gilroy, Jasmine Fleming, and Jess Duffin, but it's the lesser-known names that are really propping the side up. Jenna Richardson and Ainslie Kemp combined for 16 intercepts on Saturday night, while Tamara Smith and Tahlia Fellows laid 13 tackles between them.

Chloe Scheer is a second-half specialist 

Just at Essendon had Geelong on the ropes in Warrnambool on Sunday afternoon, it was Chloe Scheer who kicked into gear and became the most dangerous player on the ground, kicking two goals in the final quarter. Save for some inaccuracy - she also kicked three behinds - Scheer could have put an even bigger gap between the sides, who were all square at three quarter time. Since crossing to Geelong ahead of last season, she has kicked 15 goals, 10 of which have come in second halves and more than once resulted in a Geelong win or impressive fightback. 

The Bulldogs' finals place looks shaky 

After starting the season 4-0 the Western Bulldogs have now lost their last three on the trot - all against genuine finals contenders North Melbourne, Geelong, and Melbourne. They have struggled to recapture the tough contested marking team that dominated early in the season, and now sit ninth behind Gold Coast on percentage. Head coach Nathan Burke was strong post game, suggesting that his side needs to be smarter both with and without the ball if they are to get back to a winning ledger, at that starts with St Kilda on Sunday in Ballarat. 

Collingwood is still a step behind the other sides in the top four 

Despite claiming a 32-point win over GWS on Sunday, Collingwood still looks to be a little behind other top four sides Brisbane, Adelaide, and Melbourne. In attack they share the load amongst a variety of small forwards and midfielders pushing forward to hit the scoreboard, but although able to dominate territory with this style of play, they just haven't been able to put opponents to the sword in the way their fellow top four teams have. Challenges come in the next three weeks, with Fremantle, North Melbourne, and Brisbane still to come, but given how valuable percentage is proving to be this season, it may just come back to bite them.