1. Are Port the real deal?
So, um, how about the Power? Their 50-point round-one triumph over Fremantle at home was clinical, but they're not going to be the only team that enjoys a comfortable victory over the Dockers this year. Beating Sydney in Sydney is the type of win that makes people take notice and their second-half was elite. They kicked 10 majors to four after the long break and looked potent up forward with nine separate goal scorers. Bring on the Lions next week.
2. Buddy running hot
If the first two rounds of 2018 are anything to go by, Lance Franklin is in for a massive season. The superstar Swan backed up his eight-goal haul against West Coast last week with four against the Power. Among Buddy's many strengths is that he reads the play so well. Early in the second term he zoned off his opponent Dougal Howard and waited for the ball to skip through two defenders before running in and slotting his second major. Too good.
3. Ruck headaches
Both sides went into this contest a ruckman down. The Swans were missing Sam Naismith (knee) while the Power got a taste of what life will be like while Paddy Ryder (Achilles) is on the sidelines. Charlie Dixon and Justin Westhoff shared the heavy lifting for the visitors and were among their side's best. Callum Sinclair took the taps for Sydney, who dominated the hit-outs with 44. The clearances were more evenly split, and the stoppages were an intriguing battle that both sides will take some positives from. But based on Sunday's form, these talls could be exposed by the competition's premier big men.
4. Flying Florent
Before this week, the most number of touches Swans tyro Oliver Florent had gathered in a game was 13. Against the Power, the 19-year-old racked up 20 touches, including 10 contested possessions. His night was better than getting a few kicks – he will have learnt plenty during a stint running with Port star Ollie Wines in the third term, while a bone-crunching second-quarter bump on Brad Ebert showed there was a hard-edge to his game.
5. Marshall magic
When Port's Todd Marshall got smashed into the signage during the second term his night could easily have been over. Marshall cannoned into the advertising on the wing after a heavy contest with Swan Lewis Melican and was in the hands of trainers. But playing just his fifth game for the Power, the 19-year-old tall forward returned to the field and slotted back-to-back majors in the third term to help spark his side. He finished with three.
