The middle tier of the 2023 AFL ladder is hotly contested, with finals spots up for grabs. (Getty Images)
An emotional rollercoaster for Carlton, Richmond party like it's 2017 and Sydney reach their tipping point in a potentially defining round nine.
Welcome to the AFL Round-Up, where we digest the week that was.
Bulldogs plunge Blues into crisis
Having endured the first half of Saturday night's Blues-Bulldogs match, who could have expected the drama that was to come?
A turgid first two quarters gave way to Bulldogs dominance in the third, at which point it felt safe to draw up the narratives for the week to come — the Dogs had rediscovered themselves, and the Blues were in freefall.
The Bulldogs refused to get sucked into the Blues' momentum in the last. (Getty Images: Michael Willson)
But then Carlton caught life. Not by way of slick football or a rekindling of the confidence that inspired so much of their good 2022 work, but with pure elbow grease and force of will.
The Blues, to their credit, fought like their season depended on it. Goals were celebrated with a thrusting of the club badge, players desperate to prove to skeptical fans that it means as much to those inside the fence as it does to those outside it.
Carlton hit the front, not once but twice. It was Sam Walsh and Charlie Curnow kicking those goals, their young stars meeting the moment and driving the team to an emotional win.
Or so it seemed. The Bulldogs extinguished the flame so quickly, the crowd didn't really know how to react. A night that looked to have been set up for one thing became something else entirely in an instant.
And so those third-quarter narratives were dusted off again. The Bulldogs are on the rise, looking every bit the top four threat so many predicted they would be.
Carlton have fallen out of the top eight, and face a tough task to get back in there. (Getty Images: AFL Photos/Michael Willson)
But Carlton's regression is now plain to see. They have now fallen out of the eight and will likely start as underdog in each of their next four games. Externally the Blues are managing expectations, but should they be cut adrift by the bye, not even the most optimistic Carlton figure could be satisfied.
The Tigers of old
Did you hear? Richmond are getting the band back together for one more big tour.
The Tigers came abruptly back to life on Friday night, reviving their season with a win over Geelong as familiar as it was surprising.
Dustin Martin enjoyed his best game of the season so far against Geelong. (Getty Images: Michael Willson)
Famous wins under the lights against the Cats were a hallmark of the Tigers' dynasty, culminating in that Gabba grand final triumph in 2020.
Before Friday, that was the last time Richmond had beaten Geelong. Much has changed at both clubs since then, but in watching this game you certainly wouldn't have known it.
To watch Dustin Martin, Trent Cotchin and Jack Riewoldt combine for nine goals — so many of them coming with the game still in the balance and there to be seized — was to be taken briefly back in time to the years when these three were untouchable.
The big games are becoming more scarce, but against a Cats side whose list of absences has become crippling, they played the greatest hits. And in doing so lit the fire under the group entrusted with carrying on the legacy.
The old boys turned back the clock against the Cats. (Getty Images: AFL Photos/Michael Willson)
Tim Taranto was fantastic again, the run of Jayden Short and Daniel Rioli irrepressible. Every week there are more glimpses of the player Samson Ryan could become, and the mere presence of Riewoldt is playing a large part in bringing that potential to the surface.
It was a night to savour for Tigers fans, who were treated to some gold from the new album but plenty of old favourites too. The weeks and months to come will prove if it was the start of something big or just one more for the road.
Freo push Swans beyond their tipping point
It's all become a bit too much for Sydney.
Heads have never dropped, effort has never dipped, but the Swans have reached a point where the weight of their injuries — almost all of them concentrated in one area — has become too heavy to handle.
The Freo talls were dominant on the day against the undersized Swans. (Getty Images: Matt King)
Sydney are almost out of talls. Their defence has been wiped out for weeks, and it has cost them games, but they are running on empty in the forward line now too. For all the fantastic work of young mids like Errol Gulden and Chad Warner, they are being beaten up by bigger bodies all over the ground.
It was there that Fremantle took a hold on their game from the outset, with Sean Darcy grinding Sydney's bones to make his bread from the first bounce. He wasn't alone — Luke Jackson, Jye Amiss, Josh Treacy and Alex Pearce were all dominant.
It was a game that felt like a tipping point for both sides. The Swans started the season fresh and optimistic after a summer of post-grand final reflection, but at 3-6 and with an ever-growing injury list, it's tough to see them playing finals this year, let alone impacting them.
And then there's Freo, who we asked some questions of here a few weeks ago. There was promise even in defeat to Brisbane, then a routine drubbing of Hawthorn at home. This win represented their best of the season, and the closest thing we've seen yet to the Dockers of 2022.
Josh Treacy was a beneficiary of Sydney's depleted back line. (Getty Images: Matt King)
Relentless pressure, midfield combativeness and control, bravery with the ball and a commitment to attacking at the right moments. All had been frustratingly dormant in the early weeks of the season, but all were back in a big way at the SCG.
The list profiles of both the Swans and Dockers suggest they'll be running into each other in plenty of big games in years to come, but as it stands only one of these sides look to be capable of making a noise in 2023.
Live Moment
Look back at how ABC readers and other Australians responded to this live moment.
Live moment closed
Thanks again for your company, comments and questions this week. Sir Doug Nicholls Round is already looking absolutely loaded for next weekend, so there will be plenty to dissect and and discuss this time next week.
Hope to see you then!
Old boys were good for Tiges but Taranto was the real star
- John
It was the perfect blend for Richmond really. Tim Taranto carried on his fantastic form, as did Daniel Rioli, Liam Baker and co, but then you had the Martin-Cotchin-Riewoldt triumvirate on hand to make the real telling blows.
They're probably coming from too far back and are still relying on those old boys a little too much, but there is life in the Tigers yet. This won't be their last upset win of the year.
The Blues players look like they're scared of making mistakes.
- Viscount Bradford
They do at times. It's not really a fair comparison, but when held up against Collingwood - who are almost encouraged to make mistakes in the name of relentless attack - the Blues do look far too conservative.
You need to be completely confident in your defensive structures to attack in that sort of bold manner. Carlton don't look to have that confidence in the whole at the moment.
Who is more of a real deal? St Kilda or Adelaide? The Saints were found out on the weekend and I can't see both of those team making the finals. It will be one or the other.
- Mark
This was a setback for St Kilda, but I'm not off them entirely just yet. But considering their strength has clearly been defence, to be so badly obliterated by the Crows' attack is the first real red flag of the year for them.
I love Adelaide. I think they'll play finals on the back of a couple of real shock results between now and the end of the year. And I think they'll be a top four side in 2024.
Hawthorn and West Coast play next week. How can they both lose?
- Winnie
Let's get it straight before this game - Hawthorn absolutely should win this match. For all their faults, they are an excellent stoppage and clearance team. The Eagles are not. The Hawks win enough of the ball but have generally struggled to score. The Eagles are defensively the worst team in the league.
There is very little excuse for the Hawks in this one. Pick one is great and all, but this young team needs wins to sow the seeds for the future. No time like the present.
Pretty good win for freo considering you wrote them off two weeks ago
- Linda
The concerns around the Dockers after the home belting by the Bulldogs (it's always the Bulldogs, isn't it?) was justified. Since then, Freo have clearly made changes to the way they are playing and have looked a more committed and confident side as a result.
Maybe I was harsh on them because I was so enamoured by what they did last year. But that game against Sydney was the first time this year I saw what was so great about the 2022 Dockers in 2023. Thankfully there is still ample time for them to make something of this year.
The Western Bulldogs looked like one of the form teams this round, do you think they can continue like this until September and possibly throughout finals as well?
- Adam
It's a joy to watch the Bulldogs when they are clicking, and there were clear signs of that in the second half against the Blues. Obviously Marcus Bontempelli is at the heart of it, but I'm loving Tom Liberatore's season - I genuinely think he makes them a three-goal better team, and there is nobody else in the league quite like him.
There's a clear top three emerging, but the fourth spot on the ladder will be highly coveted this season. The Dogs are in that mix.
Is there a creditable explanation of why Carlton perform in fits and starts? Is it a question of playing personal? Are there too many list blockers (McGovern/Williams/Martin et al) so there’s no real competition for senior positions?
- Peter
If there is one, I'm not sure I have it - and I'm also not sure Michael Voss has it. He seems as bemused as the rest of us as to why his side is stuttering as it is.
I think confidence is now an issue, and I think too many crucial players (McKay, Weitering, Cripps) are just a little short of their best. The fightback against the Bulldogs was impressive not necessarily for the quality of the football, but for the pure desperation and force of will required to drag them back into the game. It wasn't enough, but there is still heart there.
After 28 years of less than mediocrity you'd think Carlton fans would be more patient - have people forgotten how long it took the likes of Mark Thompson and Damien Hardwick to pull together premiership sides?
- Rupert
You certainly can't question the patience of Carlton fans. I also don't think changing coaches is the answer at this point in time, even if the season ends with another missed finals series.
Again, there was enough substance to the 2022 Blues to suggest that Michael Voss can forge a winning team out of this list. At present, they have key players out of form and are struggling to concoct a Plan B. A wasted season will be immensely disappointing, especially for fans who were right to expect more this year, but wouldn't dent my confidence in Carlton for 2024 and beyond.
Missing finals would be a failure for Carlton no matter what they say
- Steve
The Blues spent all of last week managing external expectations, a move that would have played alright had they come out and beat the Bulldogs. Instead, it could be taken as a club settling for the pretty mediocre position they now find themselves in.
2022 was supposed to be the launching bad for this Carlton team, but this year's Blues are a poorer version of the side who just missed finals last year. Time is on their side to recapture the magic, but the fixture is about to get nasty. Their race could be just about run by the bye if not for an immediate turnaround.
Wondering what this is? Join us next time we're live and be part of the discussion.
The Crows have been building to Sunday afternoon all season. They feasted on the best defence in the league for a win that absolutely confirms their credibility as a September threat.
Tex Walker and his Crows had a day out. (AAP: Matt Turner)
Mason Cox is closing in on 100 AFL games, not many of them better than what he produced against the Giants on Sunday. The league-leading Pies keep finding new ways to entertain.
Jason Horne-Francis's North Melbourne reunion was an anti-climax, but an enjoyable one for the Port man. (Getty Images: Dylan Burns)
After a succession of close wins earlier in the year, Port Adelaide seemed to relish a nice comfy thrashing of North Melbourne. A timely percentage boost as the Power nestle themselves nicely in the top four.
It's easy to forget the buzz around Matt Rowell's first few AFL games, before injury got in the way. Back then he looked destined to become the game's best player — and on current form, not much has changed.
The Lions' forward line is in a groove now. (Getty Images: Chris Hyde)
Another challenge faced, another challenge conquered for Brisbane. The Bombers were better than the final score suggests, but there was a clinical and professional edge to the Lions in the second half that speaks to their ever-increasing flag prospects.
The Hawks are rock bottom, and were completely tossed aside by the Demons. But next week sits the most winnable game of their season — West Coast in Tassie. Harley Reid Cup notwithstanding, it's a must-win for Hawthorn and a game they are more than capable of dominating.
In the clubhouse
Here we take stock of who is leading the race for the season's individual awards.
The three-horse rising star race remains tight, though Will Ashcroft may have nudged ahead with another 28-disposal game for the Lions.
Tough field for mark of the week, but we're going with Patrick Parnell ahead of Josh Treacy for this week's gong. A real treat to watch the second smallest bloke on the ground take a hanger over the smallest.
Paul Curtis takes goal of the week nod for the dummy, the fend and the dribble against Port Adelaide.
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