1. The Dons must move Hooker back

The move to send Cale Hooker into the forward line permanently was a success last year. The All Australian defender kicked 41 goals and should have had many more if not for some inaccurate displays with his set shots. But the time has come for Hooker to go back, at least for a little while as the Bombers try to turn around their form. Essendon spoke all summer about being a more defensive side this season, but so far they have conceded more points on average than they did last year. It is a team approach more than a personnel issue, but Hooker’s steadying influence in the backline would be a big settler for the club and the best possible defensive partner for Michael Hurley. - Callum Twomey

2. Bolton won't say much all year

Brendon Bolton's Carlton coaching career is becoming as well known for losses (34 in 47 games) as him saying very little in his press conferences. Instead, the Blues coach – whether by his own design or the club's media team – loves mostly meaningless catchphrases and buzzwords. Bolton famously spoke of wanting to see "green shoots" (a fancy way of defining small improvements) when he was unveiled as coach and it's been more of the same since. This season it's all about developing "synergy", and one of his new favourite words is "catastrophise". Another line that keeps getting trotted out is: "We're going to hold them to incredibly high standards." However, while the defeats continue to mount and Bolton refuses to list any public goals, what was his answer to a question about what a pass mark this season might be? "We're aiming to win every game … we've got to now focus on some of the percentages to make sure we grow … the basic percentages that we want to get right, and I think we'll start to get some results if we can work hard in those spaces." Actions, obviously, speak louder than words, but do these sorts of convoluted quotes satisfy you, Blues fans? - Marc McGowan

PUTTING THEIR HANDS UP: State leagues wrap

3. Liam Ryan might become West Coast's biggest drawcard

Those who have seen Ryan's incredible highlights reel from his two seasons at Subiaco knew what he was capable of but the question was whether he could translate it to the highest level. Three games into his career we know he can. With every week Ryan is getting better and growing in confidence. Against the Bulldogs last round he took a trademark screamer and slotted three goals, and on Sunday he helped Naitanui ignite the Eagles' brilliant opening half. The 21-year-old only had six disposals, but he kicked two team-lifting majors and lit up the third term with a blistering run down the outer wing. He was pivotal, too, in the Eagles' barnstorming finish but finished the day hobbled with a right ankle injury. Ryan's enthusiasm and energy since he was drafted have inspired his teammates and the best is yet to come. - Travis King

WATCH: Ecstasy and agony for Ryan

4. Hulk Hogan now just as damaging as a hare

It seemed Melbourne would be robbing its forward line to pay its midfield when coach Simon Goodwin signalled spearhead Jesse Hogan would be used in an on-ball role at times in 2018. But Hogan's opening to the season suggests Goodwin's move will prove a masterstroke. After taking six marks inside Melbourne's forward 50 and kicking five goals against Brisbane in round two, Hogan was instructed to roam further up the ground against North Melbourne. The 23-year-old kicked just one goal against the Roos but only Max Gawn was more influential in the Demons' 37-point win. Hogan racked up a career-high 26 disposals – his previous best was 23 in round 18 last year – and pumped the ball inside the Dees' forward 50 five times, showcasing an elite aerobic capacity and work-rate. Melbourne coped just fine without its No.1 spearhead too, with Jeff Garlett, Tomas Bugg and Dean Kent combining for 10 goals, and midfielders Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver providing strong targets too. These early signs suggest Melbourne will be able to deploy Hogan just as effectively as a hulk and hare. If this is the case, the Demons will boast one of the competition's most lethal double-edged weapons. - Nick Bowen

FANTASY STARS COME TO PLAY - The Traders' round three wrap

5. Franklin v Davis is the best rivalry in the competition

It's not the kind of duel Wayne Carey and Glen Jakovich gave us just yet but the battle between the superstar Swan and Greater Western Sydney's co-captain is starting to reach some lofty heights. The fact that these cross-town teams play each other at least twice a season helps, and Franklin's status doesn't hurt, but in the days of modern footy where true one-on-one match-ups are rare, watching the pair go toe to toe has become the most intriguing part of the Sydney derby. Davis plays the four-time Coleman medallist as well as anyone and gives his opponent very little space, but like he did in Saturday night's classic, Franklin still finds a way to impact games. He's just that good. However, Davis wins plenty of contests against his long-time rival and if Franklin does play out his mega-contract you can bet that if the GWS skipper is fit and available, the pair will line up in every Sydney derby clash. That alone is worth the price of admission. - Adam Curley

WATCH: The best of Buddy in one jaw-dropping play

6. Port's makeshift ruck experiment nearing its end

The dominance of Brisbane big man Stefan Martin will have the Power thinking very closely about calling up one of their untried ruckman for the next month until Paddy Ryder returns from an Achilles injury. Martin had a field day against the Power's makeshift trio of Justin Westhoff, Charlie Dixon and Dougal Howard, racking up 48 hit-outs, 30 possessions and nine inside 50s. The Lions won the hit-outs 54-23, while also winning contested possessions 144-137 in giving the Power an almighty scare at Adelaide Oval on Saturday. The Power were able to roll with the Westhoff, Dixon and Howard combo against Sydney last week, but the Swans are down on troops in the ruck department themselves. Essendon at Etihad Stadium next Sunday is another matter entirely. - Lee Gaskin

LAST TWO MINUTES: Watch the thrilling finish at Adelaide Oval

7. Fyfe could reclaim his throne as AFL's best

By his own admission, it took Fyfe the majority of last season to get back to anywhere near his full capacity after re-breaking his leg, but the superstar Dockers captain has bold ambitions for 2018 and Saturday's incredible performance was a sign that he is going to play some irresistible football this season. Fyfe had a remarkable 38 disposals, 25 contested possessions, 15 clearances, eight tackles and seven inside 50s at Optus Stadium against Gold Coast. Perhaps the only blot on his performance was that he booted 1.2. But, as coach Ross Lyon noted post-game, the 26-year-old's kicking – an area that has let him down in the past – is improving and, knowing the fanatical trainer and preparer Fyfe is, he will leave no stone unturned to take his game to new heights. Fyfe wants to kick 40-plus goals this year. If he can do that, he will go a long way towards being crowned the game's best player again by season's end. – Travis King

WATCH: Freo's stars finish in style

8. Look away when the Crows play the Saints

Just days after Geelong and Hawthorn staged another classic, St Kilda and Adelaide served up another stinker. Saturday night's 49-point win at Etihad Stadium was Adelaide's ninth straight win over the Saints, and with the previous results going the way of the Crows by 57, 88, 46, 86, 79, 40, for and 19 points (an average of 52 points), these games simply are not competitive. On a broader scale, St Kilda’s form line is starting to sag. Since their remarkable belting of eventual premiers Richmond in round 16 last year, the Saints have won just three of 10 matches and when they don't bring the relentless pressure that marked that win over the Tigers, they're easy-beats. They'll start rank outsiders against Geelong, Greater Western Sydney, Hawthorn and Melbourne in the next four weeks unless something changes. - Ashley Browne

WORLD OF PAIN: Axe looms for Saints forwards

9. The Tigers are spoilt for choice

Premiership trio Josh Caddy, Dion Prestia (if fit) and Nathan Broad seem automatic inclusions for next week’s clash with Brisbane at the MCG, so there are bound to be some unlucky Tigers. It's the kind of headache selectors like having. Also, the form of the four non-premiership Tigers who took on Hawthorn – Reece Conca, Jayden Short, Sam Lloyd and exciting debutant Jack Higgins – was solid. The availability of Caddy and Prestia provide more depth to an already deep running brigade and also enables Dustin Martin to spend more time wreaking havoc in attack. - Ben Collins

WATCH: First-game Tiger lights up the 'G