North Melbourne face another tough test. Photo: Getty Images/AFL Media

With another week comes another test of North Melbourne's premiership credentials – and they don't get much tougher than the red-hot Crows at fortress Adelaide Oval. The Kangaroos began the year with all guns blazing on the way to a record-breaking 9-0 start. But times have been tougher recently for the former ladder leaders, who have lost three of their past four matches to slip down to third position. Of more concern for the Roos is that those three losses have all come against flag fancies in Sydney, Geelong and Hawthorn. That patch of form has served as a big 'I told you so' for the pundits who questioned the Kangas' legitimacy through their nine-game winning streak. Another loss to Adelaide, who are also in the premiership conversation, on Thursday night would not only serve as a further blow to North's credibility as a flag hope and embolden the naysayers, but would almost certainly see them slip out of the top four. Heading into the contest off a six-day break against the Crows who have enjoyed a 12-day break could be a crucial factor.

Plenty at stake for struggling Pies

It seems as though every time Collingwood run onto the field this year, coach Nathan Buckley is placed fairly and squarely under the microscope. Friday night will be no different as the Pies face the lowly but resurgent Dockers at the MCG. After losing their first 10 matches and languishing in last position, Fremantle have won their past three games and are now just a win behind Collingwood on the ladder. Ross Lyon's men are a genuine sniff of making it four in a row this week and if they do, Buckley's grip on his job will loosen again. It would be nigh on impossible to make the finals from 4-9, which means Collingwood would be on course to miss the September action three years in a row for the first time since 2001 – a fact the club's board would find very hard to tolerate.

Injuries may tilt contest in Pies' favour

Helping Collingwood's cause is the fact Fremantle currently have one of the longest injury lists in the competition. The Pies have their own share of personnel issues, with Dane Swan (foot), Taylor Adams (hamstring), Jamie Elliott (back), Alex Fasolo (shoulder) and Darcy Moore (collarbone) all unavailable, but Freo have been ravaged and have only 28 fit players to choose from. The Dockers will again have to make do without Nat Fyfe (leg), Michael Johnson (knee/hamstring), Aaron Sandilands (ribs), Harley Bennell (calf), Matt de Boer (knee), Clancee Pearce (concussion), Jon Griffin (hamstring) and Tendai Mzungu (hamstring).

Tigers' season on the line

Richmond have the opportunity to keep their faint finals hopes alive this week when they face the struggling Brisbane Lions at the MCG. The Tigers made a disastrous start to 2016, losing six of their first seven matches. But they have won four of their past five and a win against easy-beats Brisbane would not only improve their win-loss record to 6-7 but get them to within two games of the top eight. Given their recent knack of qualifying for the finals from seemingly hopeless positions, Richmond supporters would have some level of optimism that they could do so for the fourth consecutive year, if their team do what is expected of them on Saturday. But an upset loss would see Richmond three games outside the top eight and needing to win seven of their last nine games to make the finals.

Hawks closing in on familiar territory

Hawthorn are an amazing team, aren't they? All year their bona fides have been questioned. The critics will tell you they're a shadow of the three-peat-winning sides and even the great Jason Dunstall has ruled them out for a historic fourth consecutive flag (at least publicly). Their restructured forward line has had to do without Jarryd Roughead, and Luke Hodge has missed eight games. Yet if they beat Gold Coast on Sunday at Aurora Stadium, and Adelaide win on Thursday night, they will enter the top two after 14 rounds. They could even claim top spot if a minor miracle occurs at Etihad Stadium and the Saints upset Geelong on Saturday night.

200 up for Bryce

Former No.1 draft pick Bryce Gibbs will become the 35th player in Carlton's history to reach 200 games when he runs out onto Spotless Stadium on Saturday to face Greater Western Sydney. Maligned at times throughout his career, even by his own supporters, Gibbs has turned the corner and is enjoying arguably a career-best year in 2016. He is yet to receive an All-Australian jumper, but with an average of 26 touches (nine contested), five tackles and four clearances a game, as well as 12 goals, that could change this season.