What's the big question your AFL club must answer in Round 9? Are the Magpies primed for a let down spot? Can the Blues spread the goalkicking load? Has Jeremy Cameron got the 'yips'?
We've looked at every club and answered their biggest question ahead of this week's action.
Adelaide
vs. Brisbane, Adelaide Oval
Are the Crows actually a good team?
At 0-4, everyone had already marked Adelaide as the biggest disappointment of the year. But things have picked up considerably since then and the season actually doesn't look too bad. The only real shocker thus far was that 35-point away loss to the Dockers in Round 4. Since then, the Crows have notched impressive wins over Carlton and Port Adelaide. If they go and beat Brisbane this weekend, and get to 4-5, it will be hard to argue they're not one of the in-form teams in the competition.
Brisbane
vs. Adelaide, Adelaide Oval
Can the Lions get back into the premiership mix?
Does anyone really have a gauge on the Lions in 2024? They've shown some truly awful signs, but also played some great footy at times. Week to week, nobody is really too sure what they will dish up, but the resurgent Crows in Adelaide this weekend should be a nice litmus test to see exactly where they are at and if they can still live up to the pre-season expectation of many. And while the Crows might also be improved after a slow start to the year, this Lions team should still be banking the four points. Should!
Carlton
vs. Melbourne, MCG
Can the Blues spread the goalkicking load?
Carlton's dynamic key forward duo, Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow, have been sensational to start the year. The pair have combined for 47 goals and are two of the best score involvement players in the competition. But no matter how good they are, the Blues can't afford to rely on them week after week. Finding a greater spread of goal kickers -- they had just four against the Magpies last week -- is what will take this club to the next level. It starts with the midfielders, who need to find a way to hit the scoreboard with regularity.
Collingwood
vs. West Coast, Marvel Stadium
Will the Magpies rest on their laurels?
From 0-3 to 4-1-3, it's been a sensational turnaround for the reigning premier. And now, after an Anzac Day epic and a heart-stopping win over long-time rival Carlton, it feels, with their season back on track, like a little bit of a let down spot. Despite West Coast's struggles in recent years, the Magpies are only 3-3 in games against them. You could say they've been something of a bogey side for the black and white army. So, will Collingwood take them lightly or are they primed to run up the score?
Essendon
vs. GWS, Marvel Stadium
Can Zach Merrett go from Brownlow chance to favourite?
What a remarkable eight week period it's been for Essendon skipper Zach Merrett. This season, Merrett is averaging 30 disposals, 11 contested possessions, and over five clearances per game. He's also elite at gaining territory and hitting targets forward of centre. It's all seen him shoot into Brownlow Medal consideration, but if he wants to be a serious chance in 2024, he must take advantage of a depleted Giants midfield this weekend and post another monster stat line. Do that and Merrett could be the one everyone else is chasing for 'Charlie'.
Fremantle
vs. Sydney, Optus Stadium
Can the Dockers stretch the undersized Swans backline?
Sydney will be without Tom McCartin (concussion) this week, and as good as they've been going, there's an opportunity for the Dockers to stretch them and take advantage of their lack of size. The young Jye Amiss and Josh Treacy combination will be the main targets inside 50, but expect Justin Longmuir to push both his rucks into the forward line for extended periods. Luke Jackson and Sean Darcy should get favourable match-ups and can pose a dangerous challenge for the Swans.
Geelong
vs. Port Adelaide, GMHBA Stadium
Has Jeremy Cameron got the 'yips'?
Have you ever seen Jeremy Cameron shank a ball? Have you ever seen him do it twice in the space of 10 minutes? We haven't either! Geelong's star forward will feel responsible for his side's first loss of the season after blowing a pair of simple chances late in the fourth term against the Demons and failing to kick a goal for the second time in three weeks. Port Adelaide's backline has improved this season, but you'd still expect Cameron to have plenty of opportunities to make amends when the teams square off in Geelong. Does he kick straight or will the mental demons continue to haunt him?
Gold Coast
vs. North Melbourne, TIO Stadium
Can the Suns make Darwin a real fortress before taking on the Cats?
Gold Coast has played four games in Darwin over the last two years. Their record? 4-0. Once again, the Suns host a back-to-back in the northern state, beginning this weekend. It's a favourable match-up, too, with the Kangaroos making the trip to the Top End. Next week is a far sterner challenge in Geelong, but if they can win this one and improve to 5-0 in Darwin, they'll take a massive amount of confidence into the contest against the ladder leader. Not to mention they'll be used to the conditions!
GWS
vs. Essendon, Marvel Stadium
Who can step up and fill the Tom Green void?
Star Giant Tom Green was subbed out of the Battle of the Bridge early after rolling his ankle in a nasty collision with Sydney's Hayden McLean. But as star studded as the midfield unit is, nobody was really able to step up and lead the engine room. It's unlikely Green plays this week against a young and impressive Bombers midfield, so who can put their hand up this week? With Steven Coniglio also sidelined, it's going to be up to Josh Kelly, Callan Ward and Finn Callaghan, you'd think. Or does Adam Kingsley's send skipper Toby Greene in there?
Hawthorn
vs. St Kilda, UTAS
Does James Sicily get off the chain?
The Hawks played the Saints twice in 2023 for two very different results. In Round 11, James Sicily played maybe his career-best game, finishing with 43 disposals, 17 contested possessions, four contested marks, and the most score involvements on the ground as the Hawks won by 10 points. The next time they played, in Round 20, Ross Lyon made Sicily's life far tougher, sending Cooper Sharman to him in an effort to negate the Hawthorn skipper's influence. No surprise the Saints won it by 29 points. Sicily looms as the key man again.
Melbourne
vs. Carlton, MCG
Can the Demons burn the Blues on the outside?
We saw it against the Cats in Round 7 and then against the Magpies last week, if you want to beat the Blues, put speed on the ball. Carlton love it in tight at the contest, often dominating clearances and contested possession, and while the Demons can certainly match them in those areas, they're more likely to enjoy success by exploiting the Blues' lack of pace on the outside. This is a week to bring an extra speedster or two into the side and take advantage of what's become an obvious Carlton weakness.
North Melbourne
vs. Gold Coast, TIO Stadium
Can a trip to the Top End galvanize the Roos?
Who knows what happened on that West Coast Eagles flight from Perth to Adelaide for Gather Round last month, but since then, they haven't been the same (and we mean that in the best possible way)! North Melbourne will be hoping for something similar when it puts a tough loss to the Saints behind them and travels to Darwin to face the Suns. Don't forget, the last time these sides met -- Round 24, last year -- it was North celebrating at fulltime. Maybe, just maybe, they can repeat the dose, only this time it won't cost them Harley Reid!
Port Adelaide
vs. Geelong, GMHBA Stadium
Is season 2024 Charlie Dixon's last?
We almost certainly won't have a definitive answer to this question this week, but we should have far more of an idea as to whether the out of contract, 33-year-old Charlie Dixon can go around again in 2025. The Port spearhead has been serviceable at times this year, but looks slow, is using the ball poorly, and, most importantly, is not hitting the scoreboard as regularly as he should. Dixon now gets a long rest before a date with the talented Geelong backline. If he fails to fire, the writing will be on the wall.
Richmond
vs. Western Bulldogs, MCG
Can the Tigers end Luke Beveridge's run at the Bulldogs?
Does it sound extreme? Maybe. Is it totally out of the questions? Nope. Last week's horror loss to the Hawks has put Luke Beveridge on the hot seat and a loss to the lowly Tigers could prove to be the final nail in the coffin. It's an extremely tough run after this game, too, with the Bulldogs to face GWS, Sydney, Collingwood, Brisbane, and Fremantle before their bye. Wins are going to be tough to come by, so they simply must ensure they get the four points this week and keep the top eight within reach.
St Kilda
vs. Hawthorn, UTAS
Who can stop Rowan Marshall?
The Saints face the struggling Hawks this week and you'd expect gun ruck Rowan Marshall to play a monster role in determining the outcome of the game. This year, Marshall ranks elite for disposals, effective disposals, kicks, and inside 50s, and has been winning a stack of hard ball at the contest. The Hawks simply don't have an answer for him and he might very well be readying himself for a stat line that resembles his Round 6 masterclass against the Giants. Watch out!
Sydney
vs. Fremantle, Optus Stadium
Can Nick Blakey find consistency?
Consistency. It's one of the toughest qualities for any athlete to find. And for Nick Blakey, it's something that's holding him back from becoming a true A-grade player in the competition. The dynamic, running Swan can be a difference maker, but he can also fail to stamp himself on a game just as often. We saw that last week in the Battle of the Bridge with Blakey finishing the game with just 10 disposals. We won't have the answer to this question this week, but it's something on the mind of every Swans fans.
West Coast
vs. Collingwood, Marvel Stadium
Can the Eagles continue to be a bogey side for the Magpies?
We mentioned it earlier, but a split record of 3-3 between Collingwood and West Coast over the last four seasons just doesn't seem right. For some reason, the Eagles play good footy against the Magpies -- though they were rolled by 63 points in their last meeting -- and who knows, they might just fancy causing a real boil over, just as they did the last time they squared off at Marvel Stadium. Nobody will tip the Eagles, but don't be surprised if this one ends up being far closer than you expect.
Western Bulldogs
vs. Richmond, MCG
Can the Bulldogs salvage some dignity?
Nobody is going to throw Luke Beveridge or the Bulldogs a parade if they beat up on the lowly, undermanned Tigers this weekend, but the club can take the first step to repairing its battered reputation. The Bulldogs will be without star midfielder Tom Liberatore, who, sadly, will once again will miss with concussion symptoms. What they need to do is win, and win well, allow players to find form and gain confidence ahead of what looms as a crucial stretch of games against the Giants, Swans, Magpies, Lions, and Dockers before the bye.