Following a first-ever loss to Gold Coast and an unconvincing victory over Greater Western Sydney, many – including Giants coach Kevin Sheedy – wrote Collingwood off as a premiership threat. Then facing a three-week stretch against Essendon, the Sydney Swans and Hawthorn, some felt the Pies were vulnerable in the top eight. But they answered those questions with a thumping win over the Bombers and then a commanding victory over the Swans. With Dayne Beams hitting top form after his long layoff and Dane Swan, Scott Pendlebury and Luke Ball prominent, the Pies were scary against the premiers and didn't even need a big night from Travis Cloke (two goals). Next up are the Hawks on Friday night at the MCG and you get the impression Collingwood is right up for another test of its credentials. - James Dampney

Rumours persisted mid-season that Trent Cotchin was playing through injury, with the Richmond skipper subdued between rounds six and 13. His performance against the Brisbane Lions on Saturday, however, was a timely reminder that the cream will always rise to the top. Cotchin made a brilliant start at the MCG and forced the Lions to redeploy run-with specialist Andrew Raines. But with a tag for company, Cotchin simply readjusted and went on to finish with 30 possessions, including seven clearances and seven inside 50s. Runner-up in last year's Brownlow Medal, Cotchin has averaged 32 possessions over the past month and appears primed to make his mark in September. – Nathan Schmook    

Essendon's players have been remarkably resilient throughout the most testing year imaginable, scoring 13 wins in the face of intense scrutiny around the ASADA investigation into the club's 2011-12 supplements program. But the saga has finally taken its toll, and coach James Hird admitted as much after the 53-point loss to West Coast on Sunday. It was the Bombers' third straight loss, by an average margin of more than 10 goals, in which time they've dropped from second to seventh on the ladder. "There's no doubt the speculation, the intensity of the press, and the expectation of what's to come can't help but affect your preparation for a game, and I think that's across the board," Hird said after Sunday's error-riddled loss. "I think the players were affected today." - Mark Macgugan

Twelve months ago, the Giants travelled to Patersons Stadium and got belted by Fremantle. They went goalless in the first half, lost every quarter and finished with just five goals for the match. There were similar fears against Fremantle on Sunday after the margin stretched to 47 points early in the second term. But the Giants responded with a spell of the sort of football that has the competition fearful of what is to come. Their pressure and intensity lifted and they kicked five consecutive goals to win the quarter and put a scare through the Dockers' camp. Although it hardly affected the result, the progression is clear and the future is bright. - Alex Malcolm

Carlton had so much to play for, so fans would have expected a fired up team to hit the field. It was a winnable game, no doubt. They could have moved to within one game of the finals, if they had played the way they can. But at the end of the day, if that's the best they could produce with everything at stake, they don't deserve to play finals. Simple. You can use the injury card all you like, but the Blues didn't play well from start to finish. The Bulldogs should have belted them, really. Some serious trading and drafting needs to be done in the off-season. - Jacqui Reed

Having sensationally given up a 20-point lead with just minutes remaining in last weekend's Showdown, the instruction from Adelaide's coaching box was clear. Coach Brenton Sanderson had spoken during the week of his side's struggle to "ice" games when the pressure's on and from late in the opening term the players began chipping the ball around, trying to maintain possession. The trend continued late in the second quarter and with the margin just eight points at the 22-minute mark of the last quarter, the same possession-hogging game worked, as they held on for a well-earned win. - Harry Thring