Here we are, the final midyear bye round of the season. The Dons have a chance to prove their finals bonafides, as do Port Adelaide at home against the Cats.
Here's What To Watch For in Round 14.
Déjà vu for Dons, Eagles?
The parallels are eerie. Last year, West Coast lost to Sydney at the SCG the game before they were due to play the underwhelming Bombers at home. That contest was a Thursday night game in Round 14. This week's Round 14 clash is set for Thursday night. Last year, it was played on June 21. This year it's June 20.
In last year's episode, the Bombers shocked the Eagles to win by 28 points - a victory that kick-started a thunderous charge home which fell agonisingly short of a finals berth.
Essendon are yet again under the pump, and while September action is not yet out of the question, it's hardly a given.
The losses can't pile up for the Bombers, even if they are up against a team with the talent of the reigning premiers on their home deck, but a win would lift them into the eight - something which seemed improbable just a few weeks ago. Coach John Worsfold might even have been out of a job had his side lost to Carlton in Round 11.
Speaking of Worsfold, his record against his former side is favourable, if from a small sample size. He has played the Eagles three times as a coach for two wins. A third on Thursday night would be a massive boost for his side, and consign the Eagles to a second straight loss and put their top four hopes in doubt.
With a full moon having just come and gone, can the Bombers once again play funnybuggers with the Eagles?
Who will win the Hogan-May Cup?
If Simon Goodwin and Ross Lyon had any sense of theatre, then surely they engineer a scenario where Steven May and Jesse Hogan are allowed to go one-on-one for the entirety of Saturday's Melbourne-Fremantle clash at the MCG.
Of course, Hogan's move from Melbourne to Fremantle and the Dees' recruitment of May from Gold Coast was one of the biggest talking points from last year's frenetic trade period.
Neither have set the world on fire at their new clubs - Hogan is averaging a tick over a goal a game in purple, although in Saturday's impressive win against Port, he looked to be edging back to his best with 17 touches, 11 marks and three goals.
May, of course, has hardly got on the park for the Demons, arriving at the club unfit, copping a suspension during the preseason, suffering an injury in his Round 2 debut in red and blue, being caught drinking during his rehabilitation and then finally breaking back into the senior side in the Queen's Birthday clash against Collingwood.
While modern footy dictates key position players rarely spend entire games matched to a single opponent, it will be fascinating to see how the duo perform when they do cross paths at the MCG.
May will likely be unable to keep up with Hogan aerobically, so does he allow the Docker to chase his own ball upfield and push back to create a spare in Melbourne's defensive 50? Or will Lyon look for Hogan to play deeper to take advantage of the Demons' unorganised defence?
Whatever happens, fans might be quick to label either Melbourne or Fremantle as the 'winners' of that trade should either Hogan or May dominate at the 'G.
Can the Lions get back on track after such a shocker?
Two weeks on from a deflating loss to cellar dweller Carlton, Chris Fagan and the Lions will be back in Melbourne and seeking redemption when they go up against the Saints at Marvel Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Before going down to the Blues -- a game they actually led by five goals in the second quarter before being overrun -- Brisbane was 7-4 and many had already penciled them in for finals.
But the loss, followed by the bye, has seen them fall from a potential top four side to one which is seventh and battling to stay inside the eight. With Richmond, Port Adelaide and Essendon lurking behind, the Lions cannot afford to slip up this weekend.
Admittedly, the Saints have slowed down after a hot start to the year, but they got back on the winners' list last week after downing the Suns in Townsville. Alan Richardson's side will also have September ambitions and certainly won't be easybeats on their home deck.
If Brisbane are to get the four points, they need to find some midfield support for Lachie Neale. The star recruit dominated in the first half against the Blues but was well held by Ed Curnow in the second as the Lions fell in a heap. The pressure is on skipper Dayne Zorko as well as Mitch Robinson to give him a chop out when needed.
This one is tough to pick but perhaps the Saints have the edge given they have won the last four against the Lions.