THEY SAID IT: "The competition will punch you in the face if you take your foot off the pedal." Essendon coach Brad Scott is trying to temper the excitement among long-suffering Bombers fans, who are in collective full voice after rising to third on the ladder with a defeat of Greater Western Sydney.
PLAYER OF THE ROUND: Melbourne's Christian Petracca kicked five goals, had 21 disposals and four clearances, and laid seven tackles - but despite his heroics, the Demons fell one point short of Carlton.
THE MOMENT: There were plenty of tears before Fremantle's game against Sydney as the sides paid tribute to the late Cam McCarthy, who died on Thursday night. Dockers Nat Fyfe, Alex Pearce and Luke Ryan were particularly affected by the tragic loss, given their close relationship with McCarthy. After the match, Fyfe and Pearce walked to the goal square to lay down flowers in honour of their former teammate, who played 49 games for Fremantle between 2017-20 and 21 matches for GWS in 2014/15.
TALKING POINT: Geelong coach Chris Scott and St Kilda's Ross Lyon turned heads by voicing their opinion on umpiring issues, perhaps as a planned distraction after narrow losses. Lyon was particularly strong after a defeat to Hawthorn, describing coaches as being "like neutered dogs" when it comes to delivering messages to players under new restrictions on how many times runners can be sent on the ground. Scott wasn't happy with the application of the advantage rule after Jeremy Cameron was controversially denied a late goal in the Cats' loss to Port Adelaide.
STAT THAT MATTERS: Zero. Melbourne were held scoreless in an opening quarter against Carlton for the first time since 1942, and for the first time against any opposition since 2008. Meanwhile, Geelong conceded 8.2 (50) to Port Adelaide in their first term - the highest score in an opening quarter against the Cats on home turf at Kardinia Park since 1983.
TRIBUNAL WATCH: Hawthorn's Jack Scrimshaw has copped a one-match ban for rough conduct but Carlton pair Lachlan Cowan and Nic Newman escaped with fines for striking and rough conduct respectively in incidents involving Melbourne's Alex Neal-Bullen. Geelong midfielder Tom Atkins has been fined for tripping Port's Jason Horne-Francis.
INJURIES: A Cerra (Carl, hamstring), J Cameron (Geel, delayed concussion), N Blakey (Syd, head), L Vandermeer (WB, shin), M Rioli (Rich, ankle), J Graham (Rich, hamstring), S Banks (Rich, concussion), J Archer (NM, foot), J Howe (Coll, groin), H Harrison (Coll, ankle), J Bytel (Coll, concussion), J Petruccelle (WCE, ankle), J McGovern (WCE, ribs), J Worrell (Adel, suspected broken wrist).
WHAT'S NEXT: Gold Coast open round 10 with a nominal home game against Geelong in Darwin on Thursday night, with a Friday night blockbuster between ladder-leaders Sydney and Carlton to follow. On Saturday, Collingwood host Adelaide; GWS welcome the Western Bulldogs; St Kilda are at home against Fremantle; and the Brisbane Lions play struggling Richmond. In Sunday's fixtures, Essendon face North Melbourne; Port Adelaide play Hawthorn; and West Coast host Melbourne.
