Another round done and dusted and another one that saw Sydney and Hawthorn slip further off the pace.
The Swans have become the first team in history to start a season 0-6 after playing in the grand final the previous year, while Hawthorn aren't faring much better having lost six of their last seven matches -- including three by over 75 points.
In what was possibly a grand final preview, the Giants and Bulldogs locked horns in a Canberra classic. GWS managed to hang on by just two points avenging last year's preliminary final loss.
West Coast took the honours in Derby 45 as Fremantle's three-game winning streak drew to a close. Josh Kennedy starred for the Eagles with six goals which earned him the Ross Glendinning Medal.
Adelaide made a monster statement to the rest of the competition after thrashing the previously undefeated Tigers by 76 points. Rory Sloane did his Brownlow Medal chances no harm with 33 disposals and three goals.
Sunday also saw the Cats drop their first match of the year as the under-pressure Magpies rebounded in style while Melbourne overran an inaccurate Bombers side.
HEROES:
Giant revenge: It was billed as the greatest AFL match to ever be played in Canberra and it certainly lived up to the expectation. Greater Western Sydney -- the preseason flag tip for many -- locked into an enthralling, seesawing battle with the reigning premiers. Jonathan Patton was the hero on the night with his late bomb from the boundary putting the Giants in front at the death. Despite the loss, the Bulldogs can be pleased with what was easily their best performance of 2017, while for the Giants it may not be as sweet as a preliminary final win, but they'll certainly be thrilled to have atoned for what was a heartbreaking loss.
Great Gaz: It was only a few weeks ago the entire footy fraternity was urging Gary Ablett to hang up his boots and call time on his illustrious football career. The two-time Brownlow Medallist was down on form and many doubted if he could ever reach his best again. But on Saturday night Ablett hit back in emphatic style, turning in one of the most dominant individual performances in history. Against North Melbourne, Ablett racked up 45 disposals at 80 percent efficiency, had a career-high 18 clearances as well as 10 inside 50s and nine tackles. Lesson learned: Never write off a champion.
North supporting should be "baaarrr'ing" not booing... the GOAT goes baaarrrr ##baaarrr #🐐 #Gaz #AFLNorthSuns
— Patrick Dangerfield (@dangerfield35) April 29, 2017
Pendlebury's response: Superstars rarely play poorly two weeks in a row and Scott Pendlebury was always going to made amends for his ordinary Anzac Day performance, one that he described as his "worst game in 10 years". The Magpies skipper picked up just 20 disposals and failed to hit the scoreboard against the Bombers but turned his form around on Sunday afternoon with a damaging display to help Collingwood get over the previously undefeated Cats. Pendlebury was best on ground with 33 disposals, nine tackles, three goal assists and a classy goal of his own. The Magpie army has voice, once more.
VILLAINS:
Joe's kicking: There's no doubt Joe Daniher is a rising star of the competition but the young Bomber forward had an absolute shocker in front of goals on Sunday as his side went down to Melbourne. Daniher booted six behinds and one out on the full in the first half alone, had he kicked straight it may have been the Bombers celebrating instead. He finally kicked a goal in the third term but not before he had played on and missed only for the umpire to call it back as the mark had not been set. The horror show comes just five days after he was adjudged best afield in the Anzac Day clash. He's certainly got the talent, he just needs to find consistency.
Hawks/Swans dynasty: It was a surprise after two rounds, a shock after four and now, after six, it's horrific. Combined, Sydney and Hawthorn have just one win from 12 matches and both look a mile off their powerhouse best. The Swans were a huge favourite to finally get off the mark against the lowly Blues but another scrappy performance saw the home side inflict more misery on John Longmire's winless team. Down in Tasmania, St Kilda obliterated Hawthorn by 75-points. Make no mistake, the changing of the guard is happening.
The numbers crunch:
Hawthorn's loss to St Kilda was the first time in five years and 19 matches they had lost in Launceston.
Dan Hannebery averaged 30.85 disposals per match in 2016, this year he has dropped to 23.1.
For the first time in Lance Franklin's career he is on a seven match losing streak.
Toby Greene: Just a week after escaping punishment from the match review panel, Toby Greene again finds himself in hot water thanks to an ordinary spoiling act on Friday night. Late in the third quarter in Canberra, Caleb Daniel took a mark on the 50m line only for Greene to arrive late and strike him flush in the face. The contact gave away a 50m penalty -- which resulted in a goal -- and saw him reported. Greene has been in terrific form in 2017 and is one of the hottest small forwards in the game, however he needs to learn to control his aggression otherwise he'll be watching on from the stands.