In this week's Eight things we learned, brought to you by Haier, the world's No.1 appliance maker, we look at the Tigers' troubles, a young pup's big step forward and why Collingwood needs a slice of American Pie.
1. Jacob Weitering might be an All-Australian by year's end
Alex Rance has retired, Jeremy McGovern is injured... is Weitering ready to take on one of the key defensive spots in this year’s Virgin Australia AFL All-Australian team? On the back of the first three rounds the Carlton backman would be right in the mix. The Blues' No.1 pick from the 2015 NAB AFL Draft looks set to deliver on the promise he showed in his first season, backing up the improvement from the second half of last year to be one of Carlton’s best players in 2020. In the Blues' surprise win against Geelong on Saturday night, the 22-year-old beat Cats star Tom Hawkins in an important job. Weitering is backing himself in the air, penetrating with his kick and clearly has the confidence to take on and overcome the game’s best tall forwards. - Callum Twomey
BARRETT What happens next in the season of 'unknown unknowns'?
2. A Richmond reinvention might be needed
Few would have expected Richmond to come out of the (re)starting blocks so shabbily. After managing only five goals in round two's draw with Collingwood, the reigning premiers backed that up with another five in their loss to Hawthorn. Scoring, clearly, has become hard work for the Tigers, with Jack Riewoldt battling to impact and penetrate when near goal, and their fleet of small forwards struggling for spark. And their pressure style has been lacking, with Richmond managing only nine tackles in the first half against the Hawks. The bigger worry is that, after three dominant seasons with a trademark model, opposition clubs have found a solution to unlock the yellow and black. Over to you, Dimma. - Callum Twomey
3. Collingwood needs a slice of American Pie
The Magpies don't have a great deal to be concerned about three rounds into one of the strangest seasons on record. However, that doesn't mean Nathan Buckley can't be picky. Brodie Grundy, like the AFL's other top ruckmen – Max Gawn and Todd Goldstein – takes the lion's share of ruck contests in this year's abridged version of the game. That means whomever Collingwood picks to back Grundy up needs to have another string to his bow. Mason Cox looks to have shaken a knee issue and appears primed for his senior return. The man keeping him out, recruit Darcy Cameron, had a modest two disposals in 86 minutes' game time on Saturday. Cox is a superior forward option and offers a point of difference in the Pies' attack. - Marc McGowan
4. Is it time to revisit the Weller trade?
It was the bombshell last-minute trade that raised eyebrows across the competition back in 2017, but Gold Coast's decision to part with a top-two draft pick for Lachie Weller is paying dividends. The Suns copped some grief for giving up the second selection, along with Brandon Matera, in order to secure Weller and pick No.41 a couple of seasons ago. However, while some thought it was a panic last-gasp decision, internally they retained faith in their long-term plan. And with good reason. The speedster has developed into a fantastic prospect, who the Suns will have locked down for his best years. He had 21 disposals, five clearances, five tackles and a goal in Sunday's emphatic victory over Adelaide, just a week after he won 24 disposals, five clearances and kicked a goal in the side’s win over West Coast. Meanwhile, just over two seasons on, the jury remains out on the top talent in the 2017 NAB AFL Draft. But Weller, at 24 years of age, is flourishing. The trade looks all the more successful when you also factor in the club recruited 196cm defender Charlie Ballard, another key piece in its blossoming backline, with the later pick it received as part of the deal. - Riley Beveridge
5. 'The Big Chilli' takes a big step
Tim English has shown glimpses of the potential that made him a first-round draft pick back in 2016, but on Friday night he perhaps showed for the first time his ability to put it all together against a respected opponent. Now into his fourth year in the senior system, English's start to the year hadn't moved the needle too much. But against Sam Jacobs in a 24-point win at Marvel Stadium, the 205cm youngster proved an influential figure in a gritty Dogs victory. Not only was his ruckwork vastly improved, but it was the mobility and agility around the ground that was reminiscent of what English had shown in junior footy to excite recruiters across the competition. He finished with 15 disposals and 12 hitouts, but also claimed seven strong marks as he left Jacobs in his wake. A number of those were up forward, as he racked up a team-high five score involvements to go with a couple of frustrating misses from set-shots. But just as many were drifting into defence, where he won a game-high six intercepts. It's something to build on for English and Luke Beveridge. - Riley Beveridge
6. Florent can't fly under the radar much longer
Sydney's Ollie Florent is quietly but rapidly developing into a genuine top-liner in his fourth season of senior footy. The 22-year-old has always had the pace and footy smarts to impact games but he is now doing it on a regular basis. After three games of the stop-start 2020 season, Florent is averaging almost 24 disposals and five clearances a game - well up on his 2019 numbers of 19.2 disposals and 2.8 clearances. With an ageing midfield core still led by warriors Josh Kennedy and Luke Parker, the Swans are a far more dangerous side with Florent's zip around the stoppages. Coach John Longmire's certainly a fan: "We really like what he gives us," coach John Longmire said after the win over North Melbourne. "His footwork's really good, he's hard, he's a very smart player." - Michael Rogers
7. The Eagles need to get their mojo back
For a team very much in the premiership window, West Coast looks anything but a flag contender at the moment. Playing in the Queensland hub will no doubt be tough to manage but that shouldn’t be used as an excuse for poor form. Saturday night's loss to Brisbane was an improvement on last week’s shocker to Gold Coast but there are still plenty of concerns. Outside of Nic Naitanui and Andrew Gaff, the star-studded midfield was soundly beaten by the Lions, who were without Dayne Zorko. Skipper Luke Shuey, Elliot Yeo, Dom Sheed and Jack Redden were well down on their usual output, while Josh Kennedy and Jack Darling combined for just five marks and two goals. At 1-2 there is still plenty of time to turn things around, but next week’s clash against the high-flying Power is looming large. - Ben Sutton
8. J-Lo's Dockers go from wow to how in torrential rain
Fremantle had not led a game for even a moment across its first two games of 2020, but that stat changed when Justin Longmuir's men jumped out of the blocks against Port Adelaide with a bang. Then it started pouring. Fremantle's backline had dealt with minor leaks early, but they would have had more luck fighting a flood with a bucket in the second quarter. The Dockers went scoreless in the second term and didn't even register an inside 50 entry until the final minute. The Power bagged five goals and four behinds from 22 entries as Ken Hinkley's men adjusted to the conditions perfectly. - Jourdan Canil
