1. The Saints' forward line can be built around their new man
St Kilda will be a club to watch during the AFL's player exchange period as the club moves aggressively to inject new talent into the side. But the Saints would be pleased with the past fortnight of Tom Lee, the Claremont key forward they grabbed in a pre-draft trade with Greater Western Sydney at the end of last year. Lee has kicked three goals in each of his past two outings and could have been looking at a bag of five or six against the Blues on Saturday night had he been a bit better with his hands. But he presented well and Saints coach Scott Watters said he will likely play for the rest of the season ahead of a monstrous summer to build his strength and fitness. St Kilda has a stack of holes to fill, but have found a full-forward for the future. – Ashley Browne
2. Josh Caddy is starting to look at home at the Cattery
When Geelong snared the former Gold Coast midfielder during last year's trade period, he was immediately feted by the club and its supporters as a star of the future. But the 20-year-old, who was the No.7 pick in the 2010 NAB AFL Draft, found himself running in the VFL for a few weeks in May and June after a slow start to the season. On Saturday, however, Caddy demonstrated his enormous upside when he played his best game for the Cats in their big win over Melbourne. He finished with 22 possessions and kicked two goals, and his effort drew high praise from his coach Chris Scott. - Adam McNicol
3. The Lions have got some game-changers
Since their premiership era, the mantra facing the Lions has been the same - stop Simon Black and you go a long way towards winning. But without Black (groin) and his midfield running mate Brent Moloney (calf) on Saturday night, it was left to others to turn match-winner. Pearce Hanley eventually shook a Taylor Hine tag to kick three brilliant goals and turn the tide. The Irishman is becoming one of the most damaging run-and-carry players in the competition that can finish on both sides of his body. Daniel Rich also cut loose in the second half, while rookie Sam Mayes continued his brilliant first season with 21 touches, three goals and four goal assists. The Lions suddenly have a handful of damaging ball users. - Michael Whiting
4. No Buddy, no worries
Speculation continues to build as to whether superstar Hawthorn forward Lance Franklin will sign on or off with the Hawks next season. The good news for the club is that after a combined 10-goal haul to Jarryd Roughead and Jack Gunston against Port Adelaide on Saturday, Hawthorn doesn't need 'Buddy' to remain the attacking powerhouse of the AFL. Roughead and Gunston booted five goals each, while Isaac Smith and Shane Savage added three each in a display that could suggest the Hawks have more to gain by offloading the star than keeping him. - Harry Thring
5. The Magpies' fab four could fire a flag charge
Collingwood has rarely looked like a premiership contender this season, but that could be about to change. Dayne Beams' return from a quad injury in the win over Adelaide on Friday night saw Beams, Scott Pendlebury, Dane Swan and Luke Ball on the field for the first time since round three last year. The impact was profound, with all four amassing 25-plus disposals, headlined by Pendlebury's career-best 42, as the black and white midfield dominated. With such centre line depth now at his disposal, coach Nathan Buckley should be confident his team can once again match it with the competition's best – as long as it can correct those dodgy starts. - Mark Macgugan
6. Daniel Jackson has become an offensive threat
No longer a pure lockdown tagger, the Richmond midfielder can hurt his opponent the other way as he demonstrated on Saturday night, taking the points in his battle with Brownlow medallist Gary Ablett. Jackson had 24 possessions at Cazalys Stadium, including a game-high eight clearances and two goals in a best-on-ground performance. While Ablett still finished with 26 possessions, it was a below-par performance for the star midfielder. The key to Jackson's recent development has been shaking hamstring tendonitis and doing extra work on his disposal efficiency and decision making. – Nathan Schmook
7. Jason Winderlich has still got it
Given he spent most of 2011 and 2012 on the sidelines, first with a torn achilles and then with persistent hamstring problems, it was easy to forget just how important to Essendon Winderlich could be. But the 28-year-old is now fit again, and is providing increasingly compelling reminders of his talent. On Sunday against the Western Bulldogs, the versatile forward had a blinder, booting four goals, gathering 23 disposals and laying seven tackles. He has now kicked 10 goals in his last three games, and provides a crucial point of difference as a lead-up/crumbing option in an Essendon forward line packed with talls. - Mark Macgugan
8. Playing the Swans is like death by a thousand cuts
Even with forward targets such as Adam Goodes, Sam Reid and Lewis Roberts-Thomson on the sidelines, the Swans are still finding plenty of avenues to goal. As they did in last year's premiership-winning campaign, the Swans don't rely on one or two key forwards, they enjoy an even spread. But they have even more depth in 2013. Kurt Tippett has produced nine goals in his first four games, including three against GWS on Sunday. Yet he was only one of 13 goalkickers at the SCG. Seven of them kicked multiple goals, with Tom Mitchell, Mike Pyke and Jesse White matching Tippett's three-goal haul. Some of their other main weapons in front of goal like Dan Hannebery and Kieren Jack weren't even required to kick majors against GWS, while their leading goalkicker for the year, Ben McGlynn, went off with a hamstring problem at half-time. The premiers have options aplenty. - James Dampney
9. Tackling Freo is the way to go
Fremantle is the best defensive side in the competition and one of the most ferocious tackling teams, along with the Sydney Swans. But it's become apparent in the past two weeks is that the Dockers are vulnerable if their opponents give as good as they get in the tackle count. A severely undermanned St Kilda laid 77 tackles to 47 against Fremantle last week and tested the superior Dockers for three quarters. West Coast, with eight of their first-choice 22 missing, laid 60 tackles to 37 in the first half to lead the Western Derby at half-time. Although Fremantle's class shone through in the end, the top four teams will certainly be taking note of how the Dockers respond to such fanatical pressure. - Alex Malcolm
