1. Sicily sizzles
Hawthorn entered Friday night's clash with North Melbourne as the worst ranked team in the competition for marks inside its forward 50. The absence of Jarryd Roughead for the season has meant the club has needed to change its front half, with Ben McEvoy starting at full forward against the Roos, and youngsters James Sicily and Tim O'Brien taking on key posts. With Robbie Tarrant keeping Hawks star Jack Gunston out of the game, it left Sicily and O'Brien with more responsibility and they grabbed it. O'Brien flew for his marks and crashed packs, while Sicily starred to kick five goals and was a real spark for his team in the second half, when he booted four of his majors in the Hawks' spirited nine-point win. His sure hands, vertical leap and elite finishing skills around goal makes him a star of the future.

Full match coverage and stats

2. Ziebell in MRP strife?
North's stand-in skipper Jack Ziebell looks set for a nervous wait over the weekend after his first-quarter bump on Hawthorn champion Sam Mitchell. Mitchell was drifting back with the flight of the ball three minutes into the game when he took a chest mark, before Ziebell, running in Mitchell's direction at top speed, collided heavily with the premiership midfielder's chest and chin. The huge hit saw Ziebell swamped by angry Hawks and a melee ensued, before Mitchell got up and ran away to take his 50-metre penalty. His pass to Isaac Smith set up the opening goal of the game for the Hawks. Clashes between these teams have been fiery in recent years, including Brian Lake's notorious 'choke hold' on Drew Petrie in 2014 and separate incidents involving Jordan Lewis and Luke Hodge last season. Ziebell's bump was the first of many in a spiteful but entertaining battle at Etihad Stadium. 

3. Was that really the Hawks in the first quarter?
Hawthorn's ruthless, physical streak has become such commonplace over the past three years that when it gets turned on them it is difficult to comprehend. But that's what happened in the first term, as the Roos went out of their way to assert themselves on the contest and man. It had a clear impact, with the Hawks restricted to one of the most un-Hawthorn type of quarters in recent memory. Alastair Clarkson's men managed only 65 disposals in the first quarter, with only four Hawks picking up five or more disposals. They had 18 fewer contested disposals, five fewer clearances and 10 fewer free kicks (13 to three in the Roos' way), showing North to have set the tone. But as we knew they would, Hawthorn responded thereafter to match the intensity in a brutal contest. It was the Hawks' 10th win of the year and again underlined their brilliance in tight games. 

4. Wood's breakout night

With Jarrad Waite out injured and North's forward half featuring some new personnel, Mason Wood saw his chance to establish himself in the Roos' attack. The 22-year-old, in his 14th senior game for the club, went on to produce his most complete AFL game to date. Across half-forward the athletic Roo jumped for his grabs, weighted passes nicely to teammates, and late in the third term showed all of his tricks with a flying mark in the goalsquare, which he converted for a major. Unfortunately his goalkicking was the only thing stopping him from enjoying an even better night, with Wood kicking 2.3 from 20 disposals, including a snap with five minutes to go that put the Roos within two points. He was one of a numbers of Kangaroos who will rue their inaccuracy, with the Roos having 29 scoring shots to Hawthorn's 23 in their defeat. 

SHOWREEL: Unsociable football

5. A hot start for Wagner
Corey Wagner didn't take long to impress when he walked into Arden Street last year. The first-year midfielder was sharp on the training track, and took on every challenge that was thrown his way. He has been steadily building form at VFL level throughout the season and on Friday night was picked for his first AFL game after the Roos' spate of injuries. The tasks don't come much tougher than facing the three-time reigning premiers first up, but the Brisbane Lions academy product, who the Roos drafted with pick No.43 last year, was up for the battle. He smartly roved a pack late in the first term and kicked a goal, but it was overruled by the video review system when it showed the ball had crossed the line before spilling into Wagner's hands. He finished with seven disposals, but very valuable experience about what it takes to be the best.