1. The Magpies have a serious tackling issue in their forward line
Collingwood won the inside 50s convincingly on Friday night – 48-39 – but far too often the ball bounced straight back out in the hands of Tigers Oleg Markov and Alex Rance, who combined for 19 of their team's 36 rebound 50s. Coach Nathan Buckley has put the heat on his forwards at different times this season, but no matter the personnel issues the problem hasn't been solved. On Friday night, forwards Mason Cox, Jarryd Blair, Jesse White, Travis Cloke and Ben Crocker combined for one tackle in the first three quarters. They finished with four between them. Buckley's hands are tied at selection in the forward line, with injuries to key players, but it is a concern that players whose spots in the team hang by a thread are not able to apply the defensive pressure demanded at the top level. - Nathan Schmook 

• Around the state leagues: Who fired for your club's twos?

2. The MCG holds no fears for St Kilda
When teams become accustomed to playing under the roof at Etihad Stadium, there can be concerns about how they would fare on the larger expanses of the MCG. Twice this season the Saints have taken to the field that hosts the Grand Final, and twice they have won. It was a courageous victory in round three against Collingwood after Nick Riewoldt, Paddy McCartin and Dylan Roberton were forced off with injury, while Alan Richardson's men were relentless with their pressure versus the Blues on Sunday. Their speed and use of three tall forwards might suit indoor football, but this Saints team does not appear to have any issues with outdoor footy either. - Dinny Navaratnam

3. Darcy Parish should be equal favourite for the Rising Star
Geelong's whitewash of Essendon on Sunday didn't prove much we didn't already know about the Cats. They did what they needed to and with a minimum of fuss. The Bombers served up what they have for most of the year as well, with the effort there but execution missing. The performance did underline, however, that Darcy Parish should be getting more attention as a favourite for this year's NAB AFL Rising Star award. The midfielder gathered 24 touches against the Cats (and five clearances) to be one of Essendon's best players. The first-year midfielder is third on the line of betting for the award according to Crownbet, behind Sydney Swans defender Callum Mills and Western Bulldogs midfielder Caleb Daniel, but on form should be level. He's played all bar one game for the season in the competition's worst side and averaged 21 disposals. - Callum Twomey 

• The run home: Predicting the week one finals match-ups

4. Lions have hit a new low
Having played in one finals series since 2004 (in 2009) it’s hardly worth mentioning that the Brisbane Lions have become synonymous with poor performance. The memory of their early 2000s brilliance that led to three consecutive premierships has long faded and, troublingly, it appears as far away as ever from again proving genuinely competitive. Yet while the 12 years since the 2004 Grand Final have delivered little of meaning for fans to smile about, this weekend reached a new low. Saturday began with the Lions reserves suffering a 135-point NEAFL hammering and ended with the seniors 'bettering' that, going down to the Crows by 138 points. - Harry Thring

5.The Bont is made of the right stuff
Marcus Bontempelli was always going to be targeted by North Melbourne on Saturday night after he labelled Roo Lindsay Thomas' high tackle on teammate Lachie Hunter in round six malicious. North veteran Michael Firrito went straight for Bontempelli before the opening bounce and there was hardly a Roo that missed the opportunity to bump, jostle, shove, block or sledge the emerging star at some stage during the Bulldogs' 14-point win. But Bulldogs fans would have been delighted to see Bontempelli not only stand up to North's 'welcome', but thrive. The 20-year-old was the most influential player on the ground on Saturday night, finishing with 19 possessions, eight marks, nine tackles and one goal. Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge knows in Bontempelli he has a youngster who can stand up to whatever is thrown his way during the finals. "He's made of pretty special substances, Marcus," Beveridge said post-match. We can't help but agree. - Nick Bowen

• Fantasy form watch: round 20

6. Melbourne is on the fast track
Without Jesse Hogan but with Sam Weideman up forward, the Demons hoped to beat Hawthorn for the first time since 2006. They did so in style, breaking a run of 13 losses to the Hawks who have won four premierships in that time. Led by Max Gawn, who took 11 marks (eight contested) in a second-half performance Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson described as one of the best he had seen for a decade, the Demons' midfield looked exceptional with Nathan Jones, Dom Tyson, Bernie Vince and Jack Viney tough and unrelenting. It is taking shape but work lies ahead. - Peter Ryan

7. Steven May is an All Australian calibre defender
He might not earn the honour this year, but Steven May is fast proving himself one of the best defenders in the competition and worthy of All Australian consideration. Against the Giants, he was phenomenal. Alternating the captaincy duties with Tom Lynch since Gary Ablett's season-ending shoulder surgery, May continued to take his game to another level with 27 disposals and 14 marks – many of them intercepts. May's bravery, both in going back with the flight of the ball and running off his man to influence a contest, was on show on numerous occasions. He missed five weeks through suspension, but the 24-year-old is having a brilliant season that not many defenders could top. - Michael Whiting

8. John Longmire has some tall selection headaches
In the absence of injured ruckmen Kurt Tippett and Callum Sinclair, youngsters Sam Naismith and Toby Nankervis have stepped up admirably, so much so that the Swans coach has some thinking to do. Tippett is due back in round 22 after having surgery on his hamstring tendon, and is a massively important player, so he's sure to resume his role leading the ruck and playing as a key forward. Sinclair is no such certainty, with Naismith impressing so much over the past month, that the former Eagle might find it tough to get back in once he's over his own bout of knee surgery. Sinclair might not play again before the start of the finals, so the Swans could choose to go with a combination of Tippett and Naismith in September, leaving Sinclair out of the side. It's a tough call for Longmire but a good problem to have. - Adam Curley

• After the siren: Dees get it right, Hodge shows his age

9. Michael Apeness shows there's life after Matthew Pavlich
The Dockers' tall forward stocks have been a source of major concern. They dropped Matt Taberner this week after sticking fat with him throughout the year. Michael Apeness replaced him and despite some concerns that he might be underdone he has shown plenty in just his fourth AFL game and first Western Derby. He took three contested marks and kicked his first AFL goal. But more than that his competitiveness in the air and follow-up at ground level created two more goals. At 200cm and 101kg he has all the attributes to become a serious power forward. He has re-signed for two more years and if he can stay fit the Dockers will have a very exciting focal point for years to come. - Alex Malcolm

• Forecast the road to the flag with the AFL Ladder and Finals Predictor