It’s Round 3 and there are five unbeaten teams, with Hawthorn and GWS facing off, who sit first and third on the ladder as it stands.
Collingwood and Sydney have the bye this round.
Here’s who needs to stand up for your team to taste victory.
Essendon
Andrew McGrath needs to help Zach Merrett out as vice-captain: Merrett can’t do everything. Essendon were destroyed by the Crows and it starts with their defence, with Josh Rachele, Ben Keays and Izak Rankine kicking ten goals between them in Round 2.
The 26-year-old had just one tackle and 204 metres gained. The Bombers need McGrath to bounce back against Port Adelaide.
Port Adelaide
Willem Drew is a hard worker who is known for his robust tackling and ability to play inside midfield. Drew had 12 tackles and led the way with his pressure by curtailing the impact of the Tigers midfield, which set the scene for a big win for the Power in Round 2.
The 26-year-old will probably be assigned the unenviable task of tagging Zach Merrett when Port Adelaide takes on Essendon.
Carlton
George Hewett should gain plenty of confidence from having a career high output in three categories in the Blues loss to Hawthorn in Round 2; the 29-year-old had 16 contested possessions, 11 tackles and 11 clearances in a game the Blues lost to the Hawks in Round 2.
The Blues midfielder is looking forward to the “challenge” that Carlton face when they take on Western Bulldogs.
Western Bulldogs
Aaron Naughton may have failed to hit the scoreboard against the Magpies in Round 2, but the key forward had six score involvements.
In the absence of Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Naughton and Sam Darcy could form a good partnership. When the Bulldogs take on Carlton, Naughton needs to curtail the influence of Jacob Weitering by making a contest and limiting his intercept marking.
Melbourne
Tom McDonald has averaged the equal fifth-most intercepts per game of any player in the competition, with nine. He will have to be at his best against Gold Coast with Steven May and possibly Jake Lever missing due to injury.
The 32-year-old will be aware of the danger that Gold Coast forward Ben King possesses, given he kicked six goals against the Eagles in Round 1.
Gold Coast
Jarrod Witts put in a good display when the Suns took on the Eagles in Round 1; the ruckman finished the game with 68 hit-outs, dominating the ruck battle against Matt Flynn and polling ten coaches votes.
In Round 2 Max Gawn was well beaten by Tristian Xerri; the Demons lost comprehensively, so the Suns needs Witts to bring the same intensity that he showed in Round 1.
St Kilda
Jack Macrae has proved that it was an astute move by the Saints to recruit him from the Western Bulldogs; the midfielder can be an asset for them and take the pressure off Jack Steele.
In the Saints’ upset win over the Cats in Round 2, Macrae had ten score involvements, four intercept possessions and his ball use was a feature, finishing the game with 82.3 per cent disposal efficiency from 35 disposals and he worked hard defensively with ten tackles.
The 30-year-old needs to play his role when St Kilda takes on Richmond, as Kamdyn McIntosh may get the job of tagging him.
Richmond
Toby Nankervis is a quality leader and is driving the team forward, but it may take time as Richmond are playing plenty of youth. The 30-year-old kept them in the game in their Round 1 comeback win over the Blues. Unfortunately, Richmond were uncompetitive in the first half in Round 2 against a hungry Power team.
The Tigers skipper is a competitor and should relish the opportunity in a battle against Rowan Marshall who’s arguably the most mobile ruckman in the competition when they take on St Kilda.
Toby Nankervis (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Hawthorn
Tom Barrass has been a revelation in his first three games as a Hawks player. The key defender has averaged the same average intercepts per game this season as James Sicily with 6.67.
The former Eagle hasn’t put a foot wrong in his first three games for Hawthorn. It’s rare for him to beaten in the air, which means that Sicily can play forward at times when they take on GWS, who get Jesse Hogan back from injury.
GWS
Lachie Whitfield is a two time All-Australian and a competitor. The half-back flanker is an elite ball user and the Giants love having the ball in his hands and will face a tough task to defend against a Hawthorn team that provide great pressure on the opposition.
He’ll be up against Nick Watson at times, who could prove tough to stop too.
Brisbane
Josh Dunkley is such a key player for the Lions; the prized recruit is a contested ball winner, leader and has a high football IQ. The 28-year-old has averaged 14 contested possessions in their first two games of the season.
They need him to play to his optimum level in what promises to be an interesting contest.
Geelong
Sam De Koning is an important piece of the Cats’ puzzle; he has done a good job in the ruck in the first two games for Geelong, so it will be fascinating what Chris Scott does with his magnet when they take on Brisbane, with Tom Stewart under an injury cloud in defence.
Adelaide
Jordan Dawson has polled the most coaches votes of any player in the competition so far this season with 20. The Crows skipper can play multiple roles and is damaging with ball in hand, having had 15 score involvements in two games.
The 27-year-old has averaged the second most metres gained per game of any player in the competition this season with 711.50. Whether Alastair Clarkson chooses to tag him or go head-to-head with him will be intriguing.
North Melbourne
Nick Larkey has kicked the most goals of any player in the AFL after Round 2 with eight. Along with that, the vice-captain has had 15 score involvements. The key forward is a great leader and has been instrumental in what appears to be a Kangaroo team that looks like it has plenty of upside.
The addition of Jack Darling to the team has taken the pressure off Larkey, who could expose the fact that Adelaide lacks an elite key defender.
West Coast
Liam Ryan proved hard for the Lions to curtail in Round 2, kicking three goals and having six score involvements. The 28-year-old possesses pace, goal sense and has even been selected in an All-Australian team in 2020.
Based on what we saw in last weekend’s game is that he’ll prove tough to curtail.
Fremantle
Shai Bolton had six score involvements in his first game for the Dockers, even though it was a disappointing display from the two-time Premiership player in Round 2 against the Swans. The former Tiger has plenty of X-factor, but what the Dockers need from him is to stay in the game is to hit the scoreboard, not drift out of games.
He must work harder, as he knows what it takes to have the ultimate success.
