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It's that magnificent time of the year again where the AFL community recognises the incredible contribution Indigenous players have made to our great game over the years. From humble beginnings in 2005 with the standalone Dreamtime at the 'G clash, we now have a whole round dedicated to indigenous players named after Sir Doug Nicholls - one of the most prominent Indigenous figures in Australian history and a handy footballer as well. Each club now has a unique Indigenous round jumper and the weekend is a great tool to not only heighten social awareness around issues such as racism but also strengthen reconciliation.
Blockbuster of a different kind for Swans, Hawks
When two of the game's modern-day superpowers usually meet, they're either jockeying for spots at the pointy end of the ladder or it's finals time. Well, these days Sydney and Hawthorn find themselves in different parts of the ladder than what they're used to, but Friday night's match at the SCG is still a big one. The winners could find themselves a game outside the top eight at the end of Round 10 after a horrendous start to the season which saw them win one game between them from the first six rounds. Hawthorn will be buoyed by the fact they have won five of their last six games against Sydney in Sydney.
Champion Indigenous players Shaun Burgoyne, Cyril Rioli and Lance Franklin. Photo: Getty Images
Nothing in it as Dogs, Saints fight for top eight spot
The Western Bulldogs and St Kilda are set for a huge match at Etihad Stadium on Saturday. It's eighth versus ninth with both teams 5-4 and desperate to stay in/re-enter the top eight. The Dogs (103.7) and Saints (103.1) also have very similar percentage, so there is hardly anything separating them. The reigning premiers have failed to adequately get going this year and find themselves in a bit of a rut staring down the barrel of three losses in a row. The Bulldogs have won their last seven games at Etihad Stadium but the Saints were the last team to beat them there, although on that particular occasion the Dogs were down to one man on the bench after Mitch Wallis (broken leg), Jack Redpath (ACL) and Dale Morris (hamstring) all injured themselves.
Freo earn top billing against the odds
After two rounds, if someone was to insist that Adelaide and Fremantle would meet in a top-of-the-table clash later in the season, they'd be laughed at. At that stage, 16 spots separated the two sides and the Dockers appeared headed for another long year following back-to-back thumpings at the hands of Geelong and Port Adelaide. But amazingly, Freo have won six of their last seven to sit just a game behind ladder-leading Adelaide. The prospect of two of the game's best midfielders Rory Sloane and Nat Fyfe going head-to-head at Adelaide Oval is a tantalising one.
Daniher and Rance in heavyweight bout
The Dreamtime at the 'G match is fast-becoming one of the biggest on the footy calendar and with both Essendon and Richmond hovering in and around the top eight with 5-4 win-loss records, there is plenty at stake for the two Victorian powerhouse clubs. But fans look set to be treated to a mouth-watering contest within a contest with superstar Richmond defender Alex Rance lining up on Essendon's next big thing Joe Daniher. Rance's form this year suggests that he is on track for a fourth consecutive All-Australian jumper while Daniher is emerging as one of the most exciting young forwards in the game with three best-on-ground performances in his last five matches. The winner of that duel could go a long way to deciding which team comes out on top.
Glimmer of hope for Lions against the Magpies?
Collingwood's next assignment against the hapless Brisbane Lions on Sunday appears to be a fait accompli for the under-pressure Magpies. Nathan Buckley's men are riding high following their stirring comeback win against Hawthorn while the Lions have lost their last eight games by an average of 50 points. However, Collingwood fans with long memories would know all too well about the Lions' impressive record against the Magpies at the MCG. Brisbane have won seven of their last 11 encounters against Collingwood at the home of football - it's enough to make any Magpies fan feel a little bit jittery.