The Dockers officially hit rock bottom, West Coast failed on the road once again and Adelaide looked like flag material after an intense Friday night clash with the Hawks.
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Our crack(pot) panel returns to dissect round five of the AFL season.
The panel:
Brendan Foster (WAtoday resident grumpy old man), David Prestipino (WAtoday wine writer, footy tragic), Fran Rimrod (WAtoday senior producer, Freo lover), David Baker (WAtoday deputy editor)
Fossil:
1. Melbourne young gun Jack Viney has already proven he is going to a future champion. But he won a few more accolades for remonstrating with Tigers defender Alex Rance after his cheap hit on Demons forward Jack Watts.
2. The quarter-time slap and tickle between Port and Geelong players was not a melee. I've seen harder hits at my son's kindy class.
3. Watching Fremantle over the last five weeks is like having to endure a series of Police Academy movies. At some point you know you should chuckle, but they are just so damn awful.
Presto:
1. Hawthorn and Adelaide are in finals-like form if Friday night is any guide, and Paul Puopolo's performance was scarier than a Game of Thrones plot twist. The Hawks have now won their past three games by three points after coming from behind in the last quarter of each. Crazy.
2. West Coast hasn't won away from home since July 2015. They should take care of Port Adelaide on the road in round nine, Brisbane in round 13 and Carlton in round 17 but bigger scalps are needed if they want to impress in September.
3. Fremantle must play the kids. While the club's injury woes are genuine, the list may not be. How Ross Lyon tweaks things from here will be interesting, given their season is pretty much done.
Franny:
1. There is a silver lining to the Dockers' downfall and Nat Fyfe's broken leg. He, together with Sandilands, should now sit out this forsaken season. That gives Lyon the chance to give the younger players some game time and perhaps secure some much-needed early draft picks.
2. Classy, Channel Seven, to cut to an ad for your flagship reality cooking show while The Last Post played prior to the Richmond v Melbourne game. The ceremony was an edited package on delay, so while there are now severe apologies I can't help but think this was a calculated move
3. As a Freo supporter I think I have learnt at least five new jokes from our chardonnay-sipping West Coast friends. My two personal favourites? "Fremantle have signed Nat Fyfe's brother. His name is Owen Fyfe." And: "When I die I want to be lowered into the grave by the Dockers, so they can let me down one more time."
Bakes:
1. The hits keep coming for the Dockers and there are few places they would want to be heading to than Adelaide in round six. The Crows have been one of the most exciting teams to watch in the competition and Fremantle has to go there with no Fyfe or Johnson.
2. Given it's the most hotly-anticipated game of the home and away season, it's time to reconsider the Anzac Day game match-up. The tradition is great. The atmosphere incredible. But the game was poor. We're no closer to knowing if Collingwood are any good and we've known for some time that Essendon aren't.
3. Brent Harvey has still got plenty to give at 37, but Adam Saad made him look about 67 when he took him on with his blistering pace. It was great to see a bit of speed back in the game. Not just from him but Essendon's youngster Anthony Mcdonald-Tipungwuti. Sign them up for the Grand Final sprint now.
