1. If they can't be in form, the reigning triple premiers might as well be lucky
Alastair Clarkson admitted his side had ridden its luck to secure Saturday's victory over St Kilda and suggested the Hawks had scrapped to an unlikely win against the 'better side' for the second week running. But while the Hawks are far from their best at present, the clear silver lining is they're winning and have firmed to a 3-1 record in spite of some questionable form. Early in 2015 it was a different story as the Hawks staggered through the first eight rounds 4-4. Once they found form, however, they steadily improved and ran out convincing premiers on Grand Final day. With key personnel missing and given both victories have come against up-and-coming sides, these 'lucky' wins might just look more like hard-fought and extremely valuable as the Hawks strive for something truly special by season's end. – Stu Warren

• Five talking points: Hawthorn v St Kilda

2. Port Adelaide has forgotten what 'Port Adelaide football' means
Sunday's loss to the Giants wouldn't have been so bad if the Power players had made the match a contest, but they rolled over against a fellow top eight contender. Some of the words to come from coach Ken Hinkley's mouth post-match tell the story perfectly and honestly of a sub-standard effort from his men. "It was embarrassing", "we just weren't up for it", "we need to be mentally stronger"… it paints a damning picture of how his club has started the season. Contested footy, hard running and never giving in are the hallmarks of 'Port Adelaide football' but two of their last three performances have been non-competitive, with their effort and fight to win non-existent. – Adam Curley

3. The Magpies' mindset is a bigger problem than their medical woes
Before the start of the season, many good judges tipped Collingwood would rise and become a finals calibre team. At 1-3, the Magpies are anything but. Yes, injuries have played their part in Collingwood's struggles, particularly Dane Swan's broken leg and Jamie Elliott's absence. But the position they find themselves in cannot be put down to the overflowing medical room. Rather, it boils down to the mindset of the playing group, who have too easily given opposition sides the belief they can take the contest away from them. At the moment, the Magpies are prone to irreversible drop-offs at certain junctures, while they lack the confidence and conviction to take the game on.

Next week's traditional Anzac Day blockbuster against a suspension-ravaged Essendon suddenly shapes as an even contest. Can Nathan Buckley and co turn things around? As skipper Scott Pendlebury said post-game, "We're about to find out". – Ben Guthrie

• After the siren: Grim reality comes calling for Buckley's Pies 

4. Daniel Wells is on a tackling mission
The North midfielder has returned from two injury-riddled seasons with what appears to be a new defensive mindset and a determination to chase down opponents. So much so, he can be put in the same bracket as a tackling machines Andrew Swallow and Jack Ziebell in the Kangaroos' midfield. Wells had an equal career-best eight tackles in Sunday's entertaining clash with the Dockers, matching his previous mark by early in the third quarter and setting up goals with his tenacity. He is averaging almost seven tackles a game this season in a sharp spike. Wells had previously only averaged more than three tackles a game in one season (3.8 a game in 2011), and laid more than five tackles only once in injury riddled seasons of 2014 and 2015. There's no doubt it has helped his team make an undefeated start to the season.
- Nathan Schmook

5. The Blues could have found a defensive pairing for the next decade
After going at pick three in the 2012 NAB AFL Draft, there were never any doubts about Lachie Plowman's talent and, on Saturday night, he showed that the Blues might have found a long-term defensive partner for Jacob Weitering. Plowman helped blanket emerging Dogs star Jake Stringer, held goalless from 17 touches, and impressed with his composure under a barrage of early pressure. The 21-year-old was part of a trade that also saw three of his Giants teammates lob at Carlton for a bunch of picks and swapping of a future round one pick. After Plowman's debut in navy blue, it already looks like a steal. – Travis King

6. If Josh doesn't get you, Jack will
Richmond defender Alex Rance did a terrific job on Coleman medallist Josh Kennedy on Friday night holding him to just two goals given the ample supply. Hawthorn and Fremantle held Kennedy to just one goal respectively after he bagged eight against the Brisbane Lions. But with teams focusing on Kennedy, Jack Darling has come to the fore. He was magnificent against the Dockers with three goals and backed that up with four against Richmond. He also hauled down five contested marks and chased and tackled ferociously. Adam Simpson said he was really happy with Darling's form and he was showing the benefits of a full pre-season after missing the first half of last season with a stress fracture in his foot. – Alex Malcolm 

• Around the state leagues: Who starred for your club in this weekend's twos?

7. Reports of Adelaide's demise have been premature
Remove Patrick Dangerfield from engine room, the theory went, and the Crows would be unable to match it with quality teams in the midfield and a fall down the ladder would follow. We are only four rounds into the post-Danger era at Adelaide, but the Crows' performances in their opening four games provide compelling evidence that they won't suffer without their one-time superstar. Midfield grit and a genuine team performance underpinned the club's excellent win over the Sydney Swans on Saturday night. An away appointment with Hawthorn on Friday night shapes as the match of round five. Win that and Crow fans may already be asking: Patrick who? – Harry Thring

8. Pearce Hanley is still the most crucial Lion
In a game that threatened to tip past boiling point, it was flying Irishman Pearce Hanley that settled down quickest and engineered the Lions' comeback victory. Hanley has had a patchy start to the season and without influential midfielders Dayne Beams (knee) and Tom Rockliff (calf), the vice-captain had to step up. He did just that, particularly after half-time. His running goal to open the third term set the tone for the Lions' revival and he finished the job with a long range right foot snap late in the fourth. Those that watch the Lions closely know Hanley doesn't get the biggest numbers, but he has the biggest influence, and he proved that again against the Suns. – Michael Whiting

9. Lachie Henderson has strengthened the Cats' defence
Geelong coach Chris Scott said a "lot of negatives" came out of the Cats' scrappy win over Essendon, but one of the positives was their ability to hold the Dons to 1.2 in the second half. The Cats' key defensive unit was crucial to that effort, a team within a team that has been bolstered by the addition of former Blue Lachie Henderson. Tom Lonergan was given the key job on Joe Daniher on Saturday and kept the Bomber spearhead goalless. But he had a lot of assistance from Henderson and Harry Taylor, who in addition to keeping Mitch Brown and Patrick Ambrose to a combined tally of one goal, drifted off to help Lonergan in marking contests whenever they could. With three genuine key backmen at their disposal, it's hard to see the Cats being exposed for a lack of height and muscle in defence this season. – Nick Bowen