• Nine things we learned from round eight
• Who starred (or sinned) for your team in this weekend's state leagues?
• After the siren: Vengeance is sweet, and a Bulldog's fall

1. Collingwood's off-season shopping is beginning to reap rewards
The Magpies lost some major pieces of their team during the off-season when they waved goodbye to midfielder Dayne Beams and running defender Heritier Lumumba. But what they got in return is really starting to pay dividends, despite an ankle injury sidelining former Kangaroo Levi Greenwood. Against the Suns, Travis Varcoe was among the best players on the field, with his 29 disposals and two goals coming at the perfect efficiency of 100 per cent.

Former Lion Jack Crisp also looked at home with his 27 touches, one goal and nine clearances. Draftee Jordan de Goey, who came as part of the Beams trade, was also solid with 16 disposals and four clearances. The new Magpies have quickly become integral members of their 5-3 season start. – Michael Whiting

2. The Metropolitan Fire Service's gain is Port Adelaide's great loss
Cornes strode out onto an AFL venue for the 300th and final time on Sunday evening, having announced he'd retire after the match to join the fire service. He believed he was past his best, though his performances in recent weeks have certainly suggested otherwise. As well as holding Hawthorn's Sam Mitchell in round four and Adelaide's Rory Sloane in round five, he completely negated Richmond skipper Trent Cotchin on Sunday. Cotchin led the Tigers to victory over Collingwood last week with 32 disposals, but against Port and Cornes he could manage just 17, while Cornes finished with 28 disposals of his own. – Harry Thring

3. Fast footy suits Smokin' Joe
Budding Essendon star Joe Daniher had kicked just four goals in his past four matches as Essendon became increasingly stagnant with its ball use and defensively minded going into round eight. On Sunday he was the star when the Bombers played with dare and speed, giving him an open forward line to work with. Daniher was close to unstoppable when his midfielders kicked inside 50 and let him leap at the ball and he finished with eight marks (five contested) and 6.2, proudly showing off an improved set shot.

The 21-year-old's work was made easier by his team's ability to force turnovers and counter-attack quickly, with coach James Hird pleased to see the Bombers' return to their preferred style of play. – Nathan Schmook

4. Geelong's youngsters are taking the wheel
Ahead of this season a popular view was that the Cats still needed their premiership champions to win games off their own boots to be a finals side. In Friday night's cakewalk against Carlton it was significant that emerging Cats Jordan Murdoch, Josh Caddy, Mark Blicavs, Cameron Guthrie and Jackson Thurlow were the team's most influential players. Murdoch had his career-best game, Caddy and Guthrie played their best games of the season, while Blicavs and Thurlow keep going from strength to strength.

Coach Chris Scott said it was now time for the club's younger players to "control the destiny" of the side. That Joel Selwood and Steven Motlop were well held in tight tags further emphasised the importance of those performances. – Ben Guthrie

5. The Eagles are centre clearance kings
Nic Naitanui, Matt Priddis and Luke Shuey first played together five years ago in round one, 2010. Their experience as the Eagles' centre unit is now paying dividends. On Saturday against St Kilda the trio racked up 13 centre clearances between them, one more than the Saints combined. In the first quarter that dominance led to scoreboard ascendancy and had St Kilda playing catch-up football during the second and third quarters. The Eagles continually won the first possession and either drew a free kick or were quick enough with their hands to put a teammate in space. At quarter time the inside 50 count was 19 to seven in the Eagles' favour and the game was virtually over. – Peter Ryan

6. An old Swan can learn new tricks
Jarrad McVeigh has made his name with the Sydney Swans as a midfielder and, in more recent seasons, as a defender. But in his 251st game the 30-year-old showed he could be just as effective as a pinch-hitting forward. Sent into attack in the last quarter, McVeigh turned the game for the Swans after a Cyril Rioli goal at the nine-minute mark put the Hawks 12 points in front. At the time Hawthorn had kicked nine of the previous 11 goals and the Swans needed a spark. McVeigh provided it, kicking the game’s next two goals before setting up Luke Parker's match-winning major. On a night when Lance Franklin was held goalless and fellow tall Kurt Tippett kicked just two first-quarter goals, McVeigh's contribution was crucial. It's a safe bet Saturday night's foray forward won't be his last. – Nick Bowen

7. Rest is best for the Bulldogs' boom recruit
Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge need look no further than Melbourne forward Jesse Hogan and how he played against the Bulldogs on Sunday when weighing up whether Tom Boyd needs a week off. Hogan was one of the Demons' best in their 39-point win with three goals and 21 touches. He attacked the ball and the man with renewed ferocity after having a rest last weekend. Boyd, who is six months younger than Hogan, struggled desperately against the Demons and was subbed off with just one handball to his name in the third quarter. Afterwards, Beveridge pondered if the young forward was feeling the pinch and said a "commonsense decision" would be taken this week. The Dogs face Boyd's former team, Greater Western Sydney, in six days' time. On form it's easy to make the case that Boyd should skip the grudge match and be given the chance to freshen up like Hogan did. - Jennifer Phelan

8. Shane Mumford is the poster boy for contested footy
GWS coach Leon Cameron loves competitors and he's got the league's best in his beast of a ruckman leading the way for the young Giants. Mumford not only took on Adelaide big man Sam Jacobs, amassing 47 hit-outs to give his midfielders first use of the ball, he was again a monster round the contest at ground level. The reigning club champion laid nine tackles, most of them pulverising, setting the standard for Cameron's men in the areas most footy clubs hold most valuable. – Adam Curley

9. Freo can play four quarters
Much has been made of Fremantle's so-called second-half fade-outs this season. Despite steamrolling the comp with an 8-0 record and a percentage of 155, the Dockers have lost the second half in four of the last five matches. That led to theories they were conserving energy for later in the year. On Saturday night they demolished North Melbourne by 73 points and won all four quarters. The kicked three goals to no score in the first six minutes of the match but instead of easing off they extended their lead at every change.

The Dockers kicked their second highest total of the season and their fifth total of 100 points or more. They also conceded their lowest score against this season. – Alex Malcolm