How serious are Hawthorn's pace issues?
Was Hawthorn's first-up performance against Essendon the exception or the rule? We'll get a clearer idea on Saturday when they take on the red-hot Crows who are fresh from a demolition job on premiership favourites GWS - minus captain Taylor Walker too, if you don't mind. The fleet-footed Bombers ran the Hawks off their feet last week and it appears as though leg speed could be a big problem for Alastair Clarkson's men in 2017. The Hawks are up against another zippy outfit this week at the MCG, and if they get left for dead again, the alarm bells might start ringing already at Waverley Park. Adelaide will regain Walker and the Hawks welcome back former skipper Luke Hodge from a club-imposed suspension.

Lions, Dons have come a long way
Eight months is a long time in footy. When the Brisbane Lions and Essendon faced off in Round 18 last year, both teams occupied the bottom two spots on the ladder with just a win apiece. Fast forward to 2017, the Lions and Dons have already equaled those win tallies after one round and are full of beans following their upset victories over Gold Coast and Hawthorn respectively. Hopefully, the controversial Gabba turf has fully recovered from the Adele concerts and is in an acceptable state for what promises to be an exciting game on Saturday night. Ben Howlett becomes the seventh previously banned Bomber to make his long-awaited return, leaving Tom Bellchambers, Heath Hocking and David Myers as the remaining players who are still yet to make their comebacks. Jack Frost will play his first game for the Lions since crossing from Collingwood.

Bomber Zach Merrett outpaces Hawthorn's Paul Puopolo. Photo: Getty Images

Saints face up to Perth demons
St Kilda coach Alan Richardson stated in the lead up to the season that one of his team's focuses of improvement was their interstate travels. Well, they don't have to wait long to put that to the test as they face the daunting assignment of West Coast at Domain Stadium on Saturday night. Four of the Saints' seven heaviest defeats last year took place on the road - their worst one was against the Eagles at Domain (103 points). West Coast also smashed the Saints there by 95 points in 2015 so, suffice to say, it isn't exactly a happy hunting ground for St Kilda. The Eagles have once again turned to their Mr Fix It Jonathan Giles to help alleviate their ruck crisis with Drew Petrie (hand), Scott Lycett (shoulder) and Nic Naitanui (knee) all sidelined for extended periods.

Demons aiming for best start to a year in a long time...
It's no secret that Melbourne have been terrible for the past decade but, ironically, if they beat Carlton on Sunday their prolonged ineptitude will be highlighted again. The Demons have not started a season 2-0 since 2005 and after impressively disposing of the Saints last week, they have the chance to do just that this week. But Melbourne would be advised not to take the Blues lightly. After all, Carlton inflicted an embarrassing defeat on the Demons in Round 22 last year which ended their finals hopes. The fact it was the Blues' only win in the second half of the season made the pill harder to swallow for Melbourne.

Two-up: Can co-captains Nathan Jones and Jack Viney lead the Demons to their best start in 12 years.? Photo: Getty Images

Lyon to unleash Freo hit squad?
Get the popcorn and strap yourselves in! If Fremantle coach Ross Lyon's comments during the week are anything to go by, we could we be headed for a return to the good old days of unadulterated brutality on Sunday evening. Unhappy with the off-the-ball treatment his star captain Nat Fyfe received against Geelong in round one, Lyon declared if the umpires weren't going to protect Fyfe, his team would. Those fighting words have evoked images of a purple hit squad doing whatever it took to ensure Fyfe had room to breathe against Port Adelaide. The Power are riding high after producing the shock of the year so far against Sydney but have lost their last four at Adelaide Oval so will want to start turning their home ground into a fortress again.

Sun sets on Swallow's injury problems
Gold Coast's David Swallow will finally make his return to the footy field on Saturday after spending almost two years on the sidelines. The former No.1 pick has not played a game since Round 15, 2015 due to a raft of knee and hamstring issues. When he runs out against Greater Western Sydney on Saturday, it will be his first game in 631 days. Since being drafted in 2010, Swallow has only managed 79 games. Hopefully the 2014 best-and-fairest can now get his promising career back on track.

One game does not a season make: David Swallow gets a run for Suns during the the pre-season competition earlier this year. Photo: Chris Hyde