If you were unsold on the lucrative offers aimed at free agents Dustin Martin and Josh Kelly, then this weekend has surely convinced you that they're worth every cent.
Both Martin and Kelly played match-winning games for their respective sides -- both picking up 38 touches and impacting on the scoreboard. The question is, which player would you rather at your club?
The first bye round of the year also taught us a lot about Adelaide, a side that up until now had been the competition's benchmark. The Crows had their colours lowered in Geelong as the Cats totally outplayed them for a 22-point win, a scoreline which flattered Don Pyke's side.
West Coast were equally poor at Metricon Stadium, slumping to its third loss in as many weeks and could find themselves out of the top eight at the conclusion of the bye rounds.
Elsewhere, Port Adelaide continue to impress and loom as a real threat to the top four, while Collingwood have kept their season alive with a gutsy win over Fremantle in the west.
HEROES:
Charlie's night out: After last week's shot clock debacle that potentially cost the Power a win at Simonds Stadium, Charlie Dixon responded in style with arguably his best performance in a Port Adelaide jersey. Dixon sparked his side early with two opening quarter goals against the Hawks, eventually finishing with four majors, along with six tackles and 20 disposals as the Power thrashed Hawthorn. The 26-year-old has been in career best form in 2017 where he's averaging four shots on goal per game and 15 disposals. Make no mistake, the Power are the real deal in 2017 and Dixon, along with Paddy Ryder, are proving to be their two most important players.
Selwood's unrivaled courage: There aren't too many footballers you'd prefer to run through the banner each week with than Joel Selwood. The Cats skipper was inspirational early on against the ladder-leading Crows where he twice went back with the flight of the ball and wore serious contact -- the first of which resulted in a dozen stitches to the side of the head. However, he wasn't to be deterred and ended the night with 35 disposals (including 21 contested) at 89 percent efficiency, nine clearances, four tackles and a goal. Partner in crime Patrick Dangerfield was also at his best with 31 disposals, seven tackles and three goals. Geelong has now taken three consecutive wins over sides many believe are top four material in the Western Bulldogs, Port Adelaide and Adelaide. Time to get excited, Cats fans.
I can't believe people call @joelselwood14 soft or a ducke !!! He is hard as nails.
— Luke Hodge (@LHodge15) June 2, 2017
Chris Judd says "Joel Selwood is the closest thing we've got to Chuck Norris!" Is there a more courageous player in the AFL? #AFLCatsCrows
— Triple M Footy (@triplemfooty) June 2, 2017
Tigers' spread: Dustin Martin may well have banked another three Brownlow votes after tearing North Melbourne apart with 38 disposals, nine clearances and two goals, but it was the collective midfield effort of the Tigers which will please Damien Hardwick most. Five Richmond midfielders picked up 30+ possessions -- North Melbourne's highest was Jamie Macmillan with 26. Dion Prestia played his best game for the club with 35 disposals, five clearances and five tackles. Skipper Trent Cotchin had it 32 times, laid 12 tackles and kicked a goal, while Bachar Houli and Brandon Ellis also passed the 30 possession mark. Hands up who had Richmond in the top four at the bye.
VILLAINS:
Eagles forwards: Yet another Eagles road trip has resulted in a loss -- this time to the 16th-placed Suns, a side they had previously never lost to. With two-time Coleman Medallist Josh Kennedy out with a calf injury, the West Coast forward line failed to step up and were restricted to 11 goals. Jack Darling was awful picking up just eight touches and failing to take a shot on goal. Mark Le Cras didn't fare much better with 10 disposals and zero tackles. Josh Hill kicked two late goals, but before three-quarter time was virtually non-existent. Things don't get much easier after the bye with the Eagles tacking on Geelong.
Lack of Crows contributors: Friday night at Geelong was alarming for Adelaide. They were absolutely belted around the stoppages -- Geelong had 108 more disposals and 34 extra contested possessions -- and in the end fortunate to only walk away with a 22-point loss. Rory Sloane has taken his game to extraordinary heights in 2017, but when he's not having his best night, neither are the Crows, who had nine players finish the match with 12 disposals or less. Adelaide's biggest concern going forward is that when they can't get their game going they are generally well beaten. In fact the Crows have coughed up 98+ points in 14 of their last 15 losses.