Jarryd Roughead has had a recurrence of skin cancer. Photo: Getty Images

It's going to be an emotion-charged affair at the MCG on Friday night when Hawthorn play great rivals Sydney. With the footy world still reeling from the shocking news that Jarryd Roughead has had a recurrence of melanoma, getting up for this match could very well be one of the toughest things the Hawks have had to do in the Alastair Clarkson era – and they have had their fair share of challenges in recent times, so that is saying something. This match could also have a huge impact on the double chance at the end of the year with the loser set to slip a game outside the top four. Add the fact that Lance Franklin is returning to Melbourne to face his old side again, and these two sides enjoy one of the great modern-day rivalries, it promises to be a memorable encounter.

Blockbuster in no man's land

Shane Mumford, right, battles with Saints' Tom Hickey. Photo: Getty Images

If Hawthorn v Sydney isn't the match of the round, then surely Greater Western Sydney v Western Bulldogs is. Too bad, then, that there'll only be 47 people in attendance at Spotless Stadium to witness it! Like the Hawks and Swans, the Giants and Dogs are battling each other for a top four spot come Sunday evening. The Bulldogs are up against it with their depleted defence and the crucial absence of suspended duo Matthew Boyd and Jack Redpath. But Will Minson has been included in the squad of 25 to possibly play his first match of the season. After spending 2016 in the VFL, he could all of a sudden become the Dogs' most important player on Sunday as they try to negate the influence of arguably the most important player in the GWS line-up – Shane Mumford.

A streak of success will continue

Zach Tuohy celebrates the win over Port Adelaide. Photo:Getty Images

Either way, there will be a result of historic significance at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night when North Melbourne face Carlton. If the Kangaroos win, they will go 9-0 and achieve the greatest start to a season in their history, eclipsing their previous best of 8-0 in 1978. And if the Blues continue to defy the odds and bring an end to the Kangas' undefeated run, it would be the first time they win five games in a row since 2000 when they won 13 straight. As a sidenote, North Melbourne's biggest ever winning streak is 11 games (set in 1998), so that carrot is also dangling in the distance. The loss of Matthew Kreuzer and Levi Casboult will definitely make things tough for Brendon Bolton's men.

Is the Richmond revival officially back on?

Sam Lloyd celebrates with Alex Rance. Photo: AFL Media/Getty Images

As the old adage goes, 'a week is a long time in football' – just ask Richmond ! It's amazing what a win can do, especially when achieved with a kick after the siren. There's a spring back in the Tigers' step but are they about to embark on yet another mid-season revival that ends up with them storming into the finals equation? Well, they're only two games outside the top eight, so they definitely would like to think so. But all of the heroics of last week's thrilling victory over Sydney will count for squat if they can't travel to Perth and knock off the winless Dockers. Captain Trent Cotchin also returns this week, so there does seem to be a bit of momentum gathering at Punt Road Oval.

No quick fix for Queensland clubs

Dejected Lions players  after the thumping by Collingwood. Photo: AFL Media/Getty Images

The dire state of Queensland footy is showing no signs of improvement any time soon, especially when you take a look at the outs for both Gold Coast and the Brisbane Lions this week. The decimated Suns head into their clash with Adelaide minus four of their best players in Gary Ablett (concussion), Adam Saad (hamstring), Touk Miller (ankle) and Aaron Hall (shoulder) with Steven May (suspension), David Swallow (knee), Jaeger O'Meara (knee), Trent McKenzie (ankle), Rory Thompson (ankle), Matt Rosa (hamstring), Alex Sexton (arm) and Danny Stanley (hamstring) all still sidelined. The Lions have been forced to leave Dayne Beams (knee), Darcy Gardiner (finger) and Claye Beams (groin) out of their team to face Melbourne with Tom Rockliff (hamstring), Harris Andrews (foot) and Michael Close (wrist and foot) still unavailable. Yes, the pain looks set to continue in the Sunshine State.

Pies, Cats to buck worrying crowd trend?

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley with his players against Carlton. Photo: Getty Images

Footy has been slightly on the nose in its traditional heartland recently, with Victoria producing just one match that has attracted more than 50,000 people since the traditional Anzac Day meeting between Essendon and Collingwood in round five – the round six meeting between the Pies and Bues. While the Hawks-Swans match should breach that figure on Friday night, Collingwood v Geelong at the MCG on Saturday looms as a litmus test for how serious the crowd problem really is. The Pies are fresh from a demolition job on the Lions and the Cats probably haven't been purring like this since 2011. The match starts at 1.45pm with perfect footy weather forecast, so anything less than 60,000 people should be viewed as a huge worry for the league.