1. Collingwood's best 22 looks very different to pre-season predictions
The Magpies had 10 different players in their line-up in round nine compared to the 22 that ran down the race in the opening rounds. Yet they managed to dismantle the premiership favourites Geelong. Mason Cox continues to make important contributions, bringing the MCG crowd to its feet with a contested mark against Harry Taylor when the Cats were threatening in the third quarter, before slamming home the sealer in the fourth. Steele Sidebottom, Scott Pendlebury, Adam Treloar and Taylor Adams are now back and fit while Ben Reid and Travis Varcoe's return should not be underestimated. Whether Saturday's character-filled win becomes a season turning point remains to be seen. But the wheels on the black and white bandwagon at least seem steadier now than they did two weeks ago. - Peter Ryan

2. The Giants' defenders can't take a trick
Co-captain Phil Davis (hamstring), and fellow tall backs Caleb Marchbank (ankle) and Aidan Corr (ankle) were already watching from the stands as their side beat the Western Bulldogs, and they saw Matt Buntine (concussion), Tim Mohr (hamstring) and Nick Haynes (concussion) add their names to a growing injury list. Davis is a chance to face Adelaide next week and Haynes should also be right to travel, but the Giants' defensive stocks are running ominously low. With the likes of Josh Jenkins and Taylor Walker to combat in round 10, then Geelong's Tom Hawkins, and Sydney Swans' stars Lance Franklin and Kurt Tippett to follow over the coming weeks, GWS will be sorely tested. Haynes, Joel Patfull and Davis will be crucial to the side's chances of maintaining their spot in the top four. - Adam Curley

3. Taz is the man for a Buddy big job
He might have been up against an undermanned Carlton forward line, but North Melbourne's Robbie Tarrant underlined on Saturday night that he is now one of the best key defenders in the competition. Tarrant rotated between a variety of Blues opponents, primarily standing Liam Jones, who took just one mark for the match, and the smaller and quicker Andrew Walker. The 27-year-old cut off countless Carlton attacks with his one-grab overhead marking and racked up 22 possessions – only Nick Dal Santo had more touches for North – to be one of the Roos' best. It was a performance that might have earned him the big assignment on Sydney Swans superstar Lance Franklin on Friday night. Franklin is in rare form but Tarrant's strength and speed could make him North's best hope of keeping the three-time Coleman medallist in check. - Nick Bowen

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4. Jack Watts can help carry Max on a down day
One of the most improved players this season, Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn was subdued against the Brisbane Lions on Sunday, finishing with seven possessions and one mark. It was his 29 hit-outs that coach Paul Roos was interested in, however, and Jack Watts' ability to give him a chop-out in the ruck. Watts played the unfamiliar role well, winning seven hit-outs and allowing the Demons midfielders to compete when he was thrust into the stoppages. It probably won't be a regular trump card that Roos pulls when Cam Pedersen returns from illness, but it at least gives the Dees 'a different look' if they're getting predictable. On Gawn, the external noise is loud after a superb start to the season, but Roos said the Demons were keeping his expectations in check. - Nathan Schmook  

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5. Sam Mitchell can be stopped
Before Friday night's clash with the Sydney Swans, Hawthorn champion Sam Mitchell's lowest tally of disposals this season was 26, which he collected in rounds six and eight. In recent years the midfielder has proved to be nearly unstoppable, but Swans on-baller Tom Mitchell was up for the challenge on the weekend. The young Swan, himself a very capable ball-winner, kept Mitchell to just 15 disposals while gathering 21 himself. He kept a close watch on the four-time flag winner throughout the night but was also able to help his team in its important 14-point win. It will be interesting to see what lessons some of the other premiership hopefuls take from the Mitchell v Mitchell contest as the season unfolds. - Callum Twomey

6. St Kilda's forward succession planning is on track
Saints fans have long fretted about how their team will cope when skipper Nick Riewoldt finally retires, but on the evidence presented on Sunday evening, they will at least be well-equipped to cope from a key-forward perspective. Admittedly, the Saints were only playing against the topped-up Bombers, but the combined work of tall trio Paddy McCartin, Josh Bruce and Tim Membrey broke the game open. After missing several shots in the first half, they piled on six goals between them in the third term. Most impressively, the fire-starter was youngster McCartin, who was an imposing presence and showed maturity beyond his 20 years. - Ben Collins

7. Critics of Trent Cotchin's captaincy are off the mark
Tigers captain Cotchin's leadership has been under fire this season but his performance on return from a fractured cheekbone on Saturday should have doused any flickering flames. Tigers coach Damien Hardwick said Cotchin wanted to play the previous week but got overruled by his surgeon. He was forced to wear a helmet against Fremantle in order to play. He gathered 39 disposals, 18 contested, had 10 clearances, laid seven tackles and delivered five inside 50s on a stormy, wet night that demanded players to stand up in the contest. The Tigers' leader stood tallest for his side and was instrumental in their 38-point win. - Alex Malcolm 

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8. Footy's the toughest of games
It’s been a long time since the brutal nature of football has been on display as prominently as it was on Saturday night. Port Adelaide and West Coast threw everything at each other from the opening contest, when Shannon Hurn kept low and ploughed into Power skipper Travis Boak. Hamish Hartlett, Chris Masten, Scott Lycett and Mark Hutchings all felt similar pain, while Andrew Gaff was left unconscious following a hit from Tom Jonas. Australian football still has the ability to produce frightening physicality, whether legally applied or not. - Harry Thring

9. The Crows can hurt you in many ways
Coming into their match with Gold Coast, Josh Jenkins (26) and Eddie Betts (22) were among the AFL's top-six goalkickers, yet Adelaide barely needed a yelp from them to romp to victory. Jenkins kicked just one, and despite his mistimed attempt at goal of the year, Betts was goalless. But it mattered little for the Crows as captain Taylor Walker found some touch with five goals, and draftee Wayne Milera kicked three, as did unheralded Mitch McGovern. They were facing an undermanned Suns defence missing four of their six regular starters, but the diversity of options in the air and on the ground will keep most oppositions nervous as the season wears on. - Michael Whiting

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