Well, that was an interesting round of football, one that will have tipsters scratching their heads until next Friday night.
It was a weekend to forget for Greater Western Sydney and Adelaide -- with the two early season flag favourites both suffering unexpected losses. While the Giants were humbled on Friday night by the up-and-coming Saints it was North Melbourne belting the Crows in Tasmania which was the real shock.
Collingwood's 125th birthday celebrations were cut short after Carlton sent them to 2-5 on Saturday at the MCG. The young Blues impressed for the second straight week, as questions continue to be raised over the Magpies' inconsistency and Nathan Buckley's coaching tactics.
The Western Bulldogs managed to pull off yet another great escape, while the Cats dropped their second match in as many games up on the Gold Coast.
On Sunday, the Swans finally got off the mark thanks to eight goals from Buddy Franklin, Hawthorn held off the fast finishing Demons to record their second win of the season while Essendon ran out of legs in their battle against Fremantle in Perth.
HEROES:
Jack Steven: Once again, when it mattered, Jack Steven displayed his class for the Saints helping them snap an 11-game Friday night losing streak against the might of Greater Western Sydney. Steven was instrumental in setting up the win, picking up 29 disposals, seven clearances and kicking two crucial goals. The 27-year-old -- playing in his ninth season -- is averaging career-high disposal numbers (28.5 per match) in 2017, is this the year he gets his long overdue All-Australian selection?
Eagles on the road: One big interstate win is all it can take to turn a side's wretched road form around and that's exactly what West Coast will be hoping for after a stirring victory over the Power at Adelaide Oval. The Eagles -- who have been criticised for terrible form away from Domain Stadium -- were terrific on Saturday night both in setting up an advantage early and keeping their heads when under extreme pressure and facing a barrage from the Power late on. West Coast have now won 14 of their last 17 home and away games, and with all three losses coming at the MCG -- a venue they do not play at again this year -- they are sitting pretty for a top four finish.
Jarrad Waite: Not even the most optimistic North Melbourne fan could have hoped for such a remarkable return for Jarrad Waite. Waite was the catalyst in helping the Kangaroos out to a remarkable 64-0 lead at quarter time against the red-hot Crows, one that they would never surrender. In his last outing, Waite booted 1.7 in a wayward display against the Eagles, but the former-Blue was back to his dynamic best kicking six goals, picking up 22 disposals and laying six tackles in a clear best-on-ground performance that stunned the ladder leaders. Who needs Andrew Swallow and Lindsay Thomas?
VILLAINS:
Adelaide's first quarter: Premiership favourites one week, 10-goal losers the next; welcome to a week in the AFL. The Crows -- who were undefeated and averaging 130 points per match in 2017 -- were blown off the park early in Tasmania as the Kangaroos booted 10.4.64 to zip in the first quarter. Adelaide was belted in every statistical area in the first term, disposals (99-60), contested possessions (47-33), inside 50s (28-4), clearances 1(2-7) and tackles (20-9).
The numbers crunch:
Until Saturday, Adelaide had never faced a 64-point quarter time deficit in the club's history.
It was just the second time since 2012 the Crows had conceded 145+ points in a match.
The first term was North Melbourne's fourth best first quarter in history.
A dominant opening quarter by North Melbourne; the stats tell the story. Beaten in all the key indicators. #weflyasone pic.twitter.com/DKgEfdJAdd
— Adelaide Crows (@Adelaide_FC) May 6, 2017
Deliberate interpretation: This rule could almost be a villain every week, but on Saturday night it was particularly frustrating as it robbed us a grandstand finish to a hugely enthralling match. With Richmond trailing the Bulldogs by five points and less than 30 seconds on the clock, Jayden Short appeared to genuinely fumble the ball out of play inside attacking 50 only for a free kick to be awarded against him. While the AFL has introduced a stricter interpretation of the deliberate out-of-bounds rule in an effort to keep the ball in play, it seems mistakes are still being made by umpires. Please, for the sake of fans and the game, fix this one up.
Poor 'Pies: It's been 10 months since Collingwood managed back-to-back wins and their inconsistency continued on Saturday against their oldest rival Carlton at the MCG. The club's 125th birthday celebrations went horribly wrong in a match Nathan Buckley described his team as "outbodied, outmuscled, outgrunted." Nine Magpies finished with 12 or less disposals for the match including American Mason Cox who continues to struggle. Yes, he's a target, but he becomes almost non-existent when the ball hits the deck. The clock's ticking, Bucks.