Round 9 is headlined by the Showdown.
Here’s who need to stand up for your team to taste victory.
Fremantle
Caleb Serong will be looking to prove his performance in Round 8 against the Saints was an aberration, as the midfielder finished the game with just 15 disposals. The only positive for the 24-year-old was that he had eight tackles.
Serong has backed under-fire coach Justin Longmuir during the week, saying he has ‘got our full belief’. Actions speak louder than words, though, and it starts with the Dockers vice-captain who is known for his consistency.
Collingwood
Dan Houston hasn’t reached the heights that were expected of him thus far in his new colours, but the 27-year-old’s kicking is a feature of his game.
The Magpies have to get the ball in the former Power defender’s hands when they face Fremantle.
It won’t be long before Houston starts to impact games more than he has so far for the Magpies, having been selected as All-Australian two years in a row.
St Kilda
Callum Wilkie polled six Coaches Association votes in the Saints dominant win over the Dockers in Round 8. The 191cm defender kept Dockers forward Josh Treacy goalless for the first time this season.
Wilkiewill need to be at his best in Round 9, given Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow could prove to be a handful.
Carlton
Nick Haynes has taken a while to settle into the Blues’ team, whose form has been worrying. It’s great to watch his intercepting ability, as well as his marking and leadership, when at his best.
There’s probably no concern for the 32-year-old, as he should be a regular part of the Blues team, having had 17 intercept possessions in his last two games, so it’s up to him to bring his experience and show his wares when Carlton take on St Kilda.
Melbourne
Christian Petracca is a player whose career and life was in jeopardy last year suffering an injury against the Magpies.
The 29-year-old has had a good season so far, with an average of 7.12 score involvements per game and at least 21 disposals in all the Demons’ eight games this season.
The 187cm utility will need to contribute should Melbourne be a chance of winning against Hawthorn.
Christian Petracca celebrates kicking a goal. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Hawthorn
Massimo D’Ambrosio is a good decision maker, reads the play well and is versatile. The former Bomber looked in a fine form when the Hawks soundly beat the Tigers in Round 8, finishing with two goals, 796 metres gained and 11 score involvements.
The 21-year-old should be full of confidence when Hawthorn faces Melbourne.
Essendon
Todd Goldstein was the reason why the Bombers were victorious against North Melbourne, according to Brad Scott in his post-match press conference
“I don’t think we come away with the win without Goldy tonight,” Scott said of the veteran ruckman.
The experienced campaigner will bring some intangibles, which include his leadership. His ruck battle with Brodie Grundy could shape the result against Sydney.
Sydney
Chad Warner is a dangerous player that can change the game. In the Battle of the Bridge; the older Warner brother seemed to play with more freedom after recently signing a new deal with the Swans, as he finished with the most clearances of any player in the match with seven.
The star midfielder is a player that can burst through the middle of the ground and is tough to curtail when he’s in full flight.
Gold Coast
Ben King had just two disposals in Round 8 against the Lions in the QClash. The King twin lowered his colours, but is still leading the Coleman Medal with 24 goals, which is three more than the next best, Jack Higgins, with 21.
The 202cm key forward must bounce back from his performance in the QClash and restrict the Bulldogs from taking intercept marks.
Western Bulldogs
Ed Richards could be to season 2025 what Isaac Heeney was to season 2024.
The Bulldogs’ three starting midfielders going into 2025 probably would’ve been Tom Liberatore, Marcus Bontempelli and Adam Treloar. Two of those three were missing through injury for the first six games of the season, so it gave Richards the opportunity to spend more time in the midfield.
Port Adelaide
Jordon Sweet lowered his colours in Round 8 against Bulldogs ruckman Tim English, who polled ten coaches votes, even though Sweet finished the game with 16 more hitouts than English.
The former Western Bulldog has had the most hitouts of any ruckman in the AFL so far this season, with 311, which is 13 more than the next best, Max Gawn.
Despite that, the Power ruckman needs to be more effective and impact the game against Adelaide.
Adelaide
Jordan Dawson is so versatile; the utility kicked three goals, had nine score involvements, eight tackles and five intercept possessions in the Crows big win over the Blues in Round 8.
The Crows captain will need to bring his vast skillset to what could be a season-defining game for them in the Showdown – a game that he is synonymous with after kicking the winning goal after the siren to in season 2022.
Richmond
Seth Campbell is a player with plenty of potential; he has kicked 12 goals this season, the most of any Tigers player, and three more than the next best, Tom Lynch.
The 20-year-old is full of youthful exuberance, which was there for all to see in their Round 1 comeback win against the Blues, when the number 44 pulled out a backflip, after kicking a goal that sealed victory.
He will need to bring that energy in a winnable game against West Coast.
West Coast
Harley Reid is renowned for his bursts through stoppages and ability to mark the ball.
Sadly the No.1 pick in the 2023 national draft has only averaged the sixth most score involvements per game of any Eagles player this season.
There’s no doubt that they need him to improve on his discipline and narrow his focus to perform to his optimum level when they take on Richmond in what ‘should’ be a chance of getting a win.
Geelong
Shaun Mannagh played well against the Magpies in Round 8; the 27-year-old kicked two goals and had the most score involvements of any Cats player with nine.
Mannagh is a player that always brings endeavour and goes under the radar; having averaged the second most score involvements of any Cats player per game so far this season is pretty impressive.
GWS
Toby Greene needs to bounce back from a disappointing performance in the Battle of the Bridge; the Giants captain finished the game goalless and only had three score involvements.
Despite lowering his colours in Round 8, the 31-year-old has averaged the most score involvements per game of any Giants player so far this season, with 7.62, which is the 12th-best of any player in the competition.
Despite kicking 16 goals in eight games this season, Greene has been kept goalless twice in the past three games. The Giants need their skipper to perform to his optimum level if they are to get the four points against Geelong.
North Melbourne
Jy Simpkin is the sole captain of the Kangaroos this season; the skipper stepped up in his role and led by example in Round 8.
The 27-year-old is someone that can play on a half-forward flank or through the midfield and has averaged 5.62 score involvements per game so far this season.
In Round 8 when the Kangaroos nearly defeated the Bombers, Simpkin kicked two goals and had six score involvements; they’ll need him to be up for the contest when they take on Brisbane.
Brisbane
Jack Payne restricted the leading goal kicker so far this season, Ben King, to two disposals in Round 8 against the Suns in the QClash, which freed up Harris Andrews who had a game high 11 intercept possessions.
The 25-year-old is underrated and will have to continue to play well, with Tom Doedee waiting in the wings.
Payne will have to be at his best against North Melbourne, as he’ll probably get the match up of Nick Larkey, who is probably their most important player.
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