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1. To rest or not to rest … that is the unanswered question
If there's one game we learned nothing from this year, it was Richmond's 41-point win over the 'Resting Roos'. The dress rehearsal for next Sunday's elimination final saw North Melbourne rest nine senior players, so the team it fields then will be almost unrecognisable to Friday night's 22. Of the Roos' nine replacement players, only Kayne Turner seems a strong chance of retaining his spot and he'll have to prove he's recovered from the heavy head knock that saw him stretchered from the ground late in the game. The Tigers would have been heartened by Alex Rance's effort to keep Drew Petrie to one goal and Dustin Martin's ability to shake Ben Jacobs' tag late in the game. But mostly Friday night left us with unanswered questions. Will North's resting policy help it over-run Richmond when it counts? Or will the Tigers prove that you shouldn't flirt with form a week out from the finals? We won't know until Sunday evening. - Nick Bowen

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2. 'Chip' Frawley is another ace recruit up Alastair Clarkson's sleeve for finals
In the past two seasons the Hawks have successfully added full-back Brian Lake and ruckman Ben McEvoy, with both big men playing key roles on Grand Final day for the back-to-back premiers. And ex-Demon James Frawley shapes as another vital player in this year's finals campaign, the first of his nine-season career. In the past two games, Frawley has ventured forward and booted six goals when there have been few suitable match-ups for him down back. While his chief roles in finals are likely to be in defence – starting with a match-up on West Coast's athletic big man Jack Darling – coach Alastair Clarkson would be confident from what he's seen to swing the big man into attack, giving the AFL's most potent and flexible side yet another avenue to goal. If Frawley handles the step up to finals footy – as you would expect an All Australian would – he looms as a critical piece to the premiership three-peat puzzle. - Travis King

3. Sam Reid won't be heading back into defence any time soon
The Swans have a dynamic forward set up with Reid in form and taking grabs, so coach John Longmire's experiment of using him as a defender looks done for 2015. The mobile big man took 11 marks against Gold Coast and should have kicked six goals, but his finishing didn't quite match his aerial prowess. With Reid and Kurt Tippett firing and taking contested marks, Adam Goodes and Isaac Heeney dangerous on the move, and Lance Franklin slowly working his way back to full fitness, the Swans might finally have their number one forward line for the finals. If Ben McGlynn can return to join Gary Rohan in adding manic defensive pressure to the opposition inside 50, it will add even more bite at ground level, and the Bloods look more than capable of kicking some big scores at finals time. - Adam Curley

4. Opposition sides need to target Mark LeCras in the finals
Josh Kennedy attracts the most attention in the Eagles' formidable forwardline but Mark LeCras remains an equally important cog and a player opposition sides will need to stop in September. He kicked another bag of four goals against St Kilda on Saturday night, three of them coming in the first half. He's kicked 41 goals for the season and has only been held goalless three times. The Eagles have lost two of those games, to North Melbourne and Hawthorn. – Alex Malcolm 

5. It's a good time for the Pies to go shopping
Despite a tight finish that netted interim Bombers coach Matt Egan his first win, Sunday's game at the MCG wasn't much to write home about. Taylor Adams continued his run of form as the Pies' best, along with Steele Sidebottom, who was also prolific against the Dons. While Scott Pendlebury wasn't at his influential best, we know what he's capable of, and with a fit Dane Swan going around again next season, the potential arrivals of Greater Western Sydney's Adam Treloar and the Brisbane Lions' James Aish loom as timely reinforcements for the Pies' ball-moving brigade. With a weak draft predicted, the Pies could stand to accelerate their next-generation midfield by spending some high picks if that sort of ready-made talent is on offer. - Jennifer Phelan

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6. A grinding year has got the better of the young Giants
GWS coach Leon Cameron said his team hadn't checked out of 2015, but his young team struggled to get to the finish line on Sunday. A hard-running team, the Giants were beaten in handball receives 119-152. A top-eight team for tackles, they were beaten 60-74, despite having 61 fewer possessions. Cameron said it felt like Melbourne was hungrier than his team and that is how it looked. "I know the last game can be interesting because you aren't playing for much as time … but you don't check out after (round) 21 or 20, and I don't think we checked out all game," Cameron said. Young players who have excelled this year, like Jeremy Cameron, Cam McCarthy and Lachie Whitfield were all flat on Sunday. Even Adam Treloar, who had 26 possessions, didn't have his usual spark. Whether he is with the Giants or not next season, much more can be expected of this group in 2016. – Nathan Schmook 

7. Jed Adcock might have some good footy in front of him yet
It was his farewell game from the Brisbane Lions after being told he wouldn't be needed next year, but Jed Adcock's performance against the Western Bulldogs was a decent reminder he can still play at the top level. Adcock, 29, finished with 21 disposals, nine marks, five tackles and kicked 4.2. A half-back for most of his career, the former Lions skipper has been used in a defensive half-forward role in the back half of 2015 and has shown he can adapt. He also kicked four goals against Geelong in round 18. With 206 games to his credit, Adcock is keen to play on, and despite losing a yard of pace, he is smart, is a good leader and has shown he can still contribute at the top level. - Michael Whiting

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8. Adelaide's midfield is the key to its finals hopes
Despite 52 hit-outs from Sam Jacobs, Adelaide's midfield failed to fire in a 39-point loss to Geelong on Saturday. The Crows were smashed in contested possessions (148-124), clearances (40-29) and tackles (70-50). Granted, the Crows players had one eye locked on next week's elimination final against the Western Bulldogs, however the loss emphasised the notion that Adelaide relies heavily on its onball brigade to generate much of its attack. If the Crows are to salute against the Dogs next weekend, it will take big games from Patrick Dangerfield, Rory Sloane, Scott Thompson, Richard Douglas and Matt Crouch to heave them over the line. - Ben Guthrie

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9. Port's other Gray demands notice
The emergence of fringe players has been about the only thing Port Adelaide can hang its hat on in season 2015. Brendon Ah Chee took a significant stride in his development and Karl Amon made his debut, but by far the biggest improver was Sam Gray. The 23-year-old averaged 35 possessions a game from his final three outings and, despite his 176cm frame, appears a legitimate AFL midfielder. He's always been an incredibly smart footballer at SANFL level and he'll start pre-season well inside the Power's best 22. - Harry Thring