• Fantasy round review: It's time to trade a Pie
• After the siren: Be honest - who predicted this?
1. Boomer never forgets
Brent Harvey's previous trip to Patersons Stadium to face Fremantle was one any normal footballer would want to forget. He had just 11 touches as Ryan Crowley stalked him so closely that Harvey accused the Fremantle tagger of pinching him "about 300 times". Crowley was fined $1200 for misconduct after an unusual Tribunal hearing, the Dockers won the game, but Harvey did not forgive and forget. On Friday night Crowley manned Harvey again but 'Boomer' was intent on exacting revenge. He gathered 19 touches in the first half and 29 for the match in a brilliant performance. Brad Scott said Harvey has rarely been beaten in his 368-game career. But on the odd occasion he's had his colours lowered he's always bounced back with a vengeance, and Crowley and the Dockers felt the full force. - Alex Malcolm
2. Dane Swan loves the big occasion
Criticised for a slow start this season by his standards, Dane Swan saved his very best for the biggest day on the home and away fixture. The Pies star was crucial to his side's stirring come back after trailing the Bombers by as much as 37-points early in the second term. Swan amassed 26 disposals and kicked four goals, including one where he burnt off defender Cale Hooker to slot through another brilliant goal. A humbled Swan adding another Anzac Day medal to his trophy cabinet. - Nat Edwards
3. Rory Thompson is the most important player on the Suns' list
If the big red-haired fullback wasn't the most important Sun prior to the season, he sure is now. Not only is the 23-year-old the go-to man at the defensive end, but he also showed against the Giants he could do a more-than-handy job in the ruck. With Tom Nicholls a late scratching, Thompson was forced to shoulder the ruck load and did so admirably, helping the Suns to easily win the clearance count en route to victory. While he is far from coach Guy McKenna's first choice in that role, Thompson's versatility – he has also played key forward this season – make him an almost irreplaceable commodity. - Michael Whiting
4. Skipper Murphy can handle the heat
Marc Murphy's leadership came under fire when Carlton started 2014 with four straight losses. But the Blues skipper has rebounded emphatically in the past two rounds, leading from the front in the midfield to help his team down the Western Bulldogs and West Coast. Against the Eagles, Murphy was best on ground, racking up 32 possessions, nine clearances, 11 tackles and a goal-of-the-year contender midway through the second term. Murphy stood up when the game was on the line too. Taking the ball at half-back at the 24-minute mark of the final term, he took two bounces and bombed the ball inside Carlton's forward 50, setting up a Troy Menzel goal that would prove the match-winner. - Nick Bowen
5. Joel Patfull doesn't get the recognition he deserves
What key defenders had failed to do in the opening five rounds, Joel Patfull managed with aplomb on Anzac Day. Nick Riewoldt had been unstoppable before the Saints met the Lions in Wellington, with 30 AFL Coaches Association votes and 17 goals to his name. He was kept to one goal, however, by Patfull, who was exceptional for four quarters at Westpac Stadium. A former Port Adelaide rookie who took the hard road to the AFL, Patfull has won the past two Brisbane Lions club champion awards. However, he is yet to be nominated for All Australian selection. The 29-year-old was the key player in the club's first win of the season, but his talents remain underappreciated outside the Gabba. – Nathan Schmook
6. The Swans' midfield has still got it
We were given a reminder of how potent John Longmire's midfield was last week against Fremantle and that was emphasised again on Saturday night. Dan Hannebery racked up a ridiculous 13 clearances, Luke Parker had 26 touches, Craig Bird had 23 with 10 tackles, Kieren Jack kicked two goals and Josh Kennedy had 27 – and all of this happened while Jarrad McVeigh was well held by Daniel Cross and Adam Goodes sat on the bench as the substitute for two and a half quarters. We also learned that a team coached by Paul Roos playing against a team that used to be coached by Paul Roos can result in some pretty ugly football – but as Longmire said, he would rather win a game like that than lose a pretty one. - Jennifer Phelan
7. There's life left in James Podsiadly
The former Cat and now Crow has looked decidedly pedestrian at times during the past two seasons. But give him an under-sized opponent and some decent delivery and one of the old men of the AFL (he turns 33 in September) can still do a bit of damage. J-Pod's confidence seemed to go up a notch as soon as it became clear that young Bulldog Jake Stringer would be his opponent for the start of Sunday's clash at Etihad Stadium. The big forward duly took a number of strong marks and kicked two goals on Stringer, before adding another one after Stringer had been sent to the forward line and replaced by Liam Jones. Podsiadly's three-goal haul took his tally to nine for the season, and he seems likely to stay in the team even after Taylor Walker returns from his knee injury. - Adam McNicol
8. Brett Deledio can't return fast enough for the Tigers
The Tigers don't look anything like the team that finished fifth at the end of the home and away season last year, and are severely missing Deledio's run and carry. Perhaps mostly importantly, he brings some boldness to their play and style, which they clearly lacked against the Hawks on Sunday in their 66-point loss. Deledio wouldn't have been the difference but the Tigers aren't at the stage where they can afford to be without one of their genuine match winners. Coach Damien Hardwick is confident his star is likely to face Geelong after recovering from an Achilles injury. - Callum Twomey
9. The Power are a significantly more mature unit than last year
Sunday evening offered the perfect showcase of Port Adelaide's development, pitting it against its 2013 semi-final opponent in a match that looked almost identical at half-time. Last year the Cats made a mess of the second term, kicking 1.4 to Port's 4.3 to enter the main break trailing by 23 points. On that occasion they were able to turn things around and progress through to the preliminary final. On Sunday though their 0.5 to 4.1 second term was met by another Power onslaught – five goals to two in the third and the home side didn't look back … September is beckoning again. - Harry Thring
