1. Matt Thomas won't waste his second chance
Discarded by Port Adelaide and listed as a rookie by Richmond, Thomas has made himself an indispensable member of the Tigers' midfield in just two games. The hard-nosed onballer had 11 tackles to go with his 21 possessions on Thursday night, backing up from a 29-possession game against Gold Coast in round one. List manager Blair Hartley has a stellar record recruiting mature-age players, and Thomas could turn out to be among his best. - Nathan Schmook
Matt Thomas has added a hard edge to Richmond's exciting midfield this season. Picture: AFL Media
2. Suckling is getting back to his best
When the reigning premier can welcome back a player as classy as Matt Suckling, it's a scary reminder of the depth of talent at Hawthorn. Suckling missed the Hawks' flag last year after rupturing his right anterior cruciate ligament, but the left footer showed against Essendon he's gradually getting to his best. When the Hawks were cutting the Bombers to ribbons with their unrivalled foot skills in the first half, it was Suckling doing much of the damage. His two goals in the second quarter stood out. At the 17-minute mark, he took four bounces along the wing and clinically finished from outside 50. Less than 10 minutes later, he took a handpass from Paul Puopolo and off one step screwed the ball around his body for another six points. – Nick Bowen
3. Josh Kelly shouldn't wear the green vest again this year
The No.2 overall draft selection from last year began as Greater Western Sydney's substitute in his debut AFL game against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium. The young midfielder came on with five minutes to go in the third quarter, and in just over a term of football, managed 12 disposals – six contested - three inside 50s and laid two tackles. He showed excellent composure and poise in his brief taste of AFL football, and if his first game is anything to go by, he won't be the first picked to start as their sub again this season. - Jennifer Phelan
Adelaide needs to shake things around in its forward line, becauseagainst Port Adelaide on Saturday the side didn't look like threatening inside50. In the first half, when the Crows' midfielders weren’t able to hit thescoreboard, Eddie Betts was the only forward who was able to have some impacton the contest. James Podsiadly and Lewis Johnston kicked only one goal eachand struggled to find the ball (Johnston was eventually subbed) and ShaunMcKernan had just one effective disposal – a handball – until three-quarter time.Changes are nigh, says coach Brenton Sanderson, particularly given theapproaching return of key trio Andy Otten, Tom Lynch and Taylor Walker. - Harry Thring
5. Sandi has reclaimed his mantle as the League’s best tap ruckman
During Aaron Sandilands' first game back from a severe hamstring injury last season he looked a shadow of his former self and you wondered if the 211cm giant could ever get back to his best. He proved that he could with a brilliant performance during September. Yet after two rounds this season he seems to have gone to another level. Against Gold Coast Sandilands had a career-high 58 hit-outs including 21 to advantage. He has proved unequivocally that he is the best tap ruckman in the competition and his influence on games at the moment is unparalleled. - Alex Malcolm
6. Rumours of Collingwood's demise may have been premature
Coming off a poor opening round defeat to Fremantle, Collingwood was the rank outsider in its clash against a Sydney Swans outfit most expected to hit back hard from a shock loss to GWS. Many had also expressed the opinion the Pies could struggle to reach the finals for a ninth straight season. But Nathan Buckley's men withstood the best the Swans could offer, erasing a 23-point second-quarter deficit in a stirring comeback win. With Scott Pendlebury dominating after quarter-time, Nick Maxwell playing a key defensive role and Jack Frost staring down Lance Franklin, there is hope for the present and the future down at the Westpac Centre. - James Dampney
In a wet weather game made for hard bodies and in-and-under types, Steve Johnson was not only able to compete, but excel. He wasn't baulking, taking clever marks or snapping miraculous goals, but the 30-year-old Cat was tireless, industrious and his team's best player. He had a match-high (and equal second highest in his career) 37 touches and matched it with an equal career-high 10 tackles. Throw in six clearances and six one-percenters and it was almost the complete game. "We think he's an under-rated contested player," coach Chris Scott said. "He's a big man, he's very strong and he's a very hard runner too. Sometimes in conditions where it's a bit closer, while it takes away from his flamboyance a little bit, in some ways it's not a bad thing for us because it means he's got to focus on the basics a little more." - Michael Whiting
8. The Demons are only a tiny bit better than last season
Melbourne's lowest score during its horrendous 2013 campaign was 4.4 (28) in round 18 against North Melbourne. On Sunday afternoon, the Dees showed not much has changed when they tallied a pitiful 4.6 (30) in their 93-point loss to West Coast at the MCG. There's no doubt that Melbourne is suffering from the fact that its three big forwards - Mitch Clark, Chris Dawes and Jesse Hogan - are injured, but the skill level of its players remains extraordinarily low. - Adam McNicol
9. Not every game is pretty
Let us hope the first half of the Western Bulldogs and North Melbourne match was not a sign of things to come in season 2014 and beyond, but merely a case of two sides so desperate not to lose that winning became an afterthought. Rolling mauls and scrums were everywhere and from the third tier at Etihad Stadium it had its 'under-nine' elements, like a junior game of footy where every kid on the ground is chasing the ball to get a kick. The game opened up in the second half, but even commentator and Richmond champion Kevin Bartlett labelled the first half one of the worst he has seen. - Callum Twomey
