Jonathon Griffin is looking more and more at home as Freo's number one ruckman. Aaron Sandilands (hamstring) hasn't played a game this season, and while Ross Lyon would love his rucking giant back, Griffin showed on Saturday night he is more than just a stop-gap replacement. Not only did he have the better of Gold Coast duo Zac Smith and Charlie Dixon in the ruck, but Griffin then went forward and kicked a career-high three goals. With skipper Matthew Pavlich also injured (Achilles), his presence up forward could be more than handy in the coming month. - Michael Whiting
2. Waite is Carlton's most influential player
He isn't the Blues' best player but Jarrad Waite is right up there in importance. He marks, he kicks goals, he creates a contest and gives Carlton's surging midfielders a target when they stream forward. All of that was on show in Waite's first game of the season against Melbourne on Sunday, when he pulled in 10 marks and kicked two goals. Waite is 30 and has had his injury battles over the years but he needs to stay fit if the Blues are a chance to sneak into the top four for a premiership assault this season. Sunday's win over Melbourne was a positive step for him and Carlton. - Callum Twomey
3. Crows look back to go forward
Life after Kurt Tippett was going to be hard enough for Adelaide, but if the Crows are to succeed without Taylor Walker as well, they will need to look further up the ground for a match-winning score. Coach Brenton Sanderson said the club's defenders and midfielders would be required to contribute more than their fair share, and Matthew Jaensch and Sam Kerridge spent more time in attack against Hawthorn. But the answer could come in the form of star on-baller Patrick Dangerfield, who kicked two goals against the Hawks and looked dangerous every time he got the footy in the forward half. - Harry Thring
4. The Cats are difficult to curtail
Geelong has had at least eight goalkickers in each of its six wins so far. Against Richmond, the Cats once again spread the load with 12 players kicking goals. And the list of goalkickers contained the mix of old and new that Geelong is becoming famous for as the golden era just rolls on. Allen Christensen – best on ground against Richmond – kicked three, then it was the old stagers Jimmy Bartel, Corey Enright, Mathew Stokes and Steve Johnson mixed in with the next generation Billie Smedts, Tom Hawkins, Mitch Duncan, Trent West, Jordan Murdoch, Joel Selwood, Mark Blicavs and, of course, Christensen. Throw in young defenders Cameron Guthrie and Taylor Hunt and you begin to realise why the Cats are so outstanding. - Peter Ryan
5. Daisy blossoms in defence
Collingwood has had an unsettled start to 2013, juggling its line-up to cover injuries to key players Dayne Beams, Luke Ball, Nick Maxwell and, most recently, Alan Toovey. Toovey's knee injury on Anzac Day has robbed the Pies of their best small defender for the rest of the season, but midfielder Dale Thomas showed against St Kilda on Friday night that he can help cover the loss. Thomas showed his trademark run and flair against the Saints, but defended resolutely when he had to in his best performance since returning from post-season ankle surgery. Pies coach Nathan Buckley says Thomas won't necessarily become a fixture in defence, but he should at least spend more time there after Friday night's effort. - Nick Bowen
6. Cameron hasn't got the second-year blues
The young Giant was front and centre as GWS challenged Essendon on Saturday, booting four first-half goals at Etihad Stadium and finishing with a club-record six. He has worked extensively with Hawthorn champion Dermott Brereton on his leading patterns and his accuracy was exceptional, booting 6.0. Kevin Sheedy described him as a "scary" player from Sydney's west, and so is his potential as the Giants develop around him. - Nathan Schmook
7. Roo backs are tough to crack
Scott Thompson is North Melbourne's usual shutdown expert in the back half but as good as he was against Jay Schulz on Saturday, the miserly Nathan Grima was arguably better. A product of the Tassie Mariners, Grima was given the task of restricting Power talisman Justin Westhoff and he did it with aplomb. So impressive was his job in blanketing the dangerous Power forward that he earned special praise from coach Brad Scott. With a pair of wins on the board now, the Roos can also count on their pair of reliable defensive pillars – great news for coaching staff and supporters alike. - Stu Warren
8. A favourite son is treading water
Following a 10-win 2012 campaign, the Lions marched through an undefeated NAB Cup to signal to many they were about to arrive as a genuine September aspirant. But their start to the season proper has been less than impressive, combingin a 28-point win over Melbourne and a two-point victory over Gold Coast with losses to the Bulldogs, Crows, Kangaroos and Swans. Unfortunately for coach Michael Voss, who is off contract at the end of the year, there is no relief in sight. Their next seven games include five finalists from last season – Geelong, Hawthorn and Collingwood among them – plus ladder leaders Essendon and an improving Carlton outfit. If Voss can't find some victories soon, his coaching days may well be numbered. - James Dampney
9. Wellingham was a worthy target
In 2007, West Coast lost a 24-year-old premiership player to a rival club. In 2013 they have gained one in return. Although Sharrod Wellingham is not at the level Chris Judd was when he joined Carlton, the former Collingwood player has played in three Grand Finals and joins the Eagles in the prime of his career. He showed against the Bulldogs what a valuable acquisition he is. Having missed the first five games due to an unfortunate trampoline incident, Wellingham gathered possessions at will and showed his elite running capacity and smarts to find space against the Bulldogs. - Alex Malcolm
