Given Richmond's proven ability to recover from slow starts, it would probably be a stretch to say their season is on the line against West Coast on Friday night, but a loss would certainly deliver a devastating blow to their top-four aspirations. If they lost to the Eagles, at 1-3, the Tigers could probably only afford to lose another three games for the season to secure a double chance – quite a tall order. But they will be buoyed by the fact that they have the best record of any visiting team at Domain Stadium since 2013. They've won their last three games there and their match in Perth before that streak began was a one-point loss to Freo – decent form!

The Tigers need to find their form quickly. Photo: Getty Images

Crunch time for Collingwood

The other big Victorian club under the pump this week is Collingwood. The Tigers are probably expected to lose to the Eagles but for the second week in a row, the Magpies are warm favourites to collect the four points. Last round they were humbled by the less-fancied Saints to continue their woeful start to 2016 and given how Melbourne performed in last week's Tassie classic against the Kangaroos, the Dees might be scratching their heads as to why the punters aren't showing them any love. If you thought the Pies were feeling the heat in a week where president Eddie McGuire publicly declared for the first time that he would have no qualms in sacking coach Nathan Buckley, then just imagine if they slump to 1-3 following a pre-season full of hype, expectation and chatter of a top-four finish ... The Pies' cause will be boosted by the return of Travis Varcoe while big American Mason Cox is in line for a debut after being named in the extended squad.

Time for the Pies to spark up, Adam Treloar. Photo: Getty Images

Dockers on the ropes ...

Fremantle's season is teetering on the brink at 0-3 and the undefeated North Melbourne could deliver them an early knockout blow at Etihad Stadium on Sunday. It's amazing to think that four games ago, the Dockers were playing for a spot in a grand final. But they now appear a shadow of that preliminary final team and have a huge challenge ahead of themselves to defeat one of the competition's in-form sides on the quick deck at Docklands. Making matters worse for Freo is the absence of Aaron Sandilands (ribs) against the game's best ruckman Todd Goldstein, who is fresh from a five-goal game.

Todd Goldstein is a tough task to tackle. Photo: Getty Images

Will Jed Adcock take his chance?

Footy is full of sliding door moments and Brisbane Lions discard Jed Adcock looks set to be the beneficiary of one this week. The AFL community was almost in a state of mourning when Bulldogs skipper, and all-round nice guy, Robert Murphy suffered a season-ending knee injury against Hawthorn. But when one door closes, another one slides open and the former Lions captain, who was thrown a lifeline by the Dogs in this year's rookie draft, has taken Murphy's spot in the line-up against Carlton. He now has the chance to be part of a team that could go very deep in September just six months after his footy career hung in the balance.

A door has opened for Jed Adcock at the Bulldogs. Photo: Michael Willson/AFL Media

Crows, Swans in match of the round

The match of the round takes place on Saturday night when the red-hot Crows host the unbeaten Swans at Adelaide Oval. This is a battle between the highest and third-highest scoring teams in the competition so footy fans look set to be in for a treat. After comfortable wins against Collingwood, Carlton and GWS, this match serves as the first real challenge for Sydney who have re-established themselves as a premiership contender following a disappointing end to last season. Swans co-captain Jarrad McVeigh is also set to play his first game of 2016 after overcoming a knee injury.

Kurt Tippett and the Swans feature in the match of the round against Adelaide. Photo: Getty Images

He-Man Hodge returns for Hawks

Did anyone really believe Luke Hodge would be sidelined for at least a month when he broke his arm in round one? Initially the club said their tough-as-nails skipper would miss four-to-six weeks, but unsurprisingly Hodge has defied that prognosis and is back in action this week a mere 18 days after having surgery. St Kilda have a tough task against the Hawks who have won their past 15 matches at Aurora Stadium and 22 of their last 23 at the venue. The Saints haven't beaten Hawthorn since 2009.

The ice pack applied to Luke Hodge's right arm in round one. Photo: AFL Media/Getty Images