North Melbourne v Collingwood

North Melbourne succumbed to Collingwood’s late surge, falling to the Pies by four points thanks to a late goal by sharpshooter Tim Membrey in the dying moments of their Friday night matchup.

Prior to the game, former North Melbourne great David King made a bold claim about his ex-side, stating that “if the Kangaroos don’t beat the Pies, then they might not win another game for the year" on SEN's Fireball.

Now sitting outside a wildcard spot in 11th and with the fourth-worst percentage in the competition, North’s season could very well be over.

When looking at their run home, they will face Melbourne, St Kilda, Hawthorn, the Dogs, Geelong and Sydney – six games which appear to be incredibly difficult for the Kangaroos on paper.

And even when running your eyes over their victories, the teams they have defeated are hard to brag about. Every single one of their wins have come against a team who is currently in the bottom five of the competition bar Carlton. But even still, that Carlton victory was against a Blues outfit when Michael Voss was at the helm.

With what seems like an inability to defeat teams outside of the bottom echelon of the AFL, North Melbourne are staring down the barrel of yet another season without playing finals, making it potentially 10 straight seasons with no September action.

Connor Scanlon

Fremantle v Sydney

What did we witness?

The flags favourites were held to a measly 11 points in the first half at home. 11!

Sydney Swans, stalking in second, were hemming Fremantle back at Optus Stadium with a 33-11 half-time scoreline.

Things started to turn in the third term but nobody could predict what would happen in the fourth quarter.

Justin Longmuir’s Dockers went ballistic, kicking 9.5 in the final term to make it an even 100 points in the second half.

The Swans were out of answers. And they’re second on the ladder! What hope do the rest have (Giants aside of course), especially in Perth.

Kane Cornes and David King reckon they're impossible to beat in front of their "raucous" fans.

“I think we probably laughed at Fremantle supporters over the years, they were pretty docile,” Cornes said on SEN’s Fireball.

“Now they are raucous. The edge that it’s giving them is worth at least two or three goals. Even Justin Longmuir referenced it, ‘We know when the crowd gets involved it’s daunting for the opposition’.

“Good luck to anyone that’s got to go there for a qualifying and then a prelim final on that venue.”

King added: “They’re nine from nine there this year, no one is going there and winning.”

That could pave the path for a Grand Final berth given they're almost a moral to finish top, and then get two home finals.

The Dockers are two games clear of the Swans and 4.5 clear of Hawthorn in third, so top spot seems inevitable.

Then they just have to navigate the bright lights of September which haven't been all that kind to Fremantle in recent times.

But this team looks more than equipped to deal with it in 2026.

As for the Swans, they need to find a way to get back on level terms with the contenders.

That's two losses in their past three and by fair margins - 43 to the Lions and 38 to Freo.

We spoke recently about a mid-season wobble. That appears to be the case for sure.

Are they good enough straighten up? They get the Crows, Giants and Saints next three to find out.

Andrew Slevison