It has been 44 years since both Sydney -- or South Melbourne as they were -- and Hawthorn started a season 0-2, but at the conclusion of round two that's exactly where the two powerhouse clubs find themselves.
Despite some late Buddy Franklin magic, the Swans fell short in their grand final rematch against the Western Bulldogs while the Hawks were overrun by the Crows at the MCG, begging the question, is their dominance over?
Greater Western Sydney responded in style from its shock first round loss to Adelaide. The Giants demolished a dreadful Suns outfit by 102-points, the biggest win in the club's history. Over in Adelaide, the Power continued its red-hot start to the year with a massive 89-point win over Femantle.
However, match of the round honours had to go to Geelong and North Melbourne. The Cats, trailing by as much as 32-points late in the third quarter, stormed home to win by a solitary point and keep their perfect record in tact.
HEROES:
Brisbane's spirit: For a team that seemed to be a unanimous pick for the wooden spoon before the season got underway, you have to admire what the Lions have dished up in the opening fortnight. A stirring win over the Suns was almost backed up on Saturday night when they hosted the rejuvenated Bombers. Eight straight goals for Essendon saw them open up a commanding 42-point lead, but it was Brisbane's response which will please coach Chris Fagan and fans. The Lions fought back into the match, taking the lead in the final term, only to eventually be outrun. Dayne Beams was terrific finishing with 33 disposals and two goals, while young forward Eric Hipwood also kicked two and impressed with some strong lead up work.
Trent Cotchin: The Tigers skipper silenced his critics on Thursday night with a breathtaking display against Collingwood. Cotchin stamped his authority on the match with the opening goal before finishing with a flurry to prove that he is still one of the competition's premier midfielders. The 2012 Brownlow medallist kicked two important goals and picked up team-high numbers in disposals (26), clearances (7) and inside 50s (8), but it was his two game-changing tackles he laid in the final term that prompted coach Damien Hardwick to label him 'outstanding'.
Prolific Power: Make no mistake, Port Adelaide's round one win over Sydney was no fluke. Ken Hinkley has taken this team back to its devastating 2013-14 form and on Sunday they put on a clinic at Adelaide Oval. The Power mauled the Dockers by 89-points, dominating in a number of key areas including contested possessions (160-125) and inside 50s (69-42). Sam Powell-Pepper has slotted in seamlessly and looks set to become a star of the competition, while Robbie Gray, Chad Wingard and Charlie Dixon continue to form a dynamic attacking trio, booting 12 goals between them. With the Showdown next weekend, and both Adelaide and Port Adelaide occupying the top two spots on the ladder, it's fair to say footy in South Australia is looking very good.
VILLAINS:
Thursday's low quality display: Yes, it was closely fought and a relatively entertaining encounter, but the skills on display at the MCG on Thursday night were nothing short of appalling. Both Richmond and Collingwood found it almost impossible to convert set shots in the opening half, between them kicking 1.7 and two out on the full. But it didn't stop there. The match was littered with atrocious field kicking and poor skill execution that left coaches Nathan Buckley and Damien Hardwick pulling their hair out and Tony Shaw voicing his disapproval on social media.
Win,lose or draw with 11 mins to go last quarter don't blame Bucks. Half these players skill faults are nearly uncoachable.
— Tony Shaw (@TonyShaw22) March 30, 2017
The deliberate interpretation: It has been a contentious topic for a number of seasons now and it again reared its ugly head in Friday night's grand final rematch between the Western Bulldogs and Sydney. With the Swans trailing by four points in the final quarter, Callum Mills was penalised after punching the ball through, a controversial decision that led to a Bulldogs goal and effectively snuffed out Sydney's late comeback. Over the course of a weekend this type of rushed behind is seen a dozen times, but for some reason is rarely called. The fact that players and fans don't know when one will be paid has become a blight on the game. It's time for the AFL to clarify the rule, either pay them all or don't pay any.
Woeful Suns: Coming up against a GWS side that had suffered a shock round one loss was always going to be a challenge for the Suns, but their effort throughout the match was sub-AFL standard. The Giants kicked nine of the first 10 goals and seemed to be treating the match as a training session as Gold Coast continually had no answer. Jeremy Cameron finished with six goals in the rout while Toby Greene, playing his 100th match, kicked five. Gary Ablett looked a mile off his devastating best and had little midfield support for the Suns. It's certainly back to the drawing board for Rodney Eade.