Each club's big question: Will the Bombers back it up? Can the Cats beat a good team?

What's the big question your AFL club must answer in Round 6? Can Geelong beat a good team and prove they're the real deal? Can Essendon do it two weeks in a row? Is Luke Beveridge the man to lead the Dogs forward?

We've looked at every club and answered their biggest question ahead of this week's action.

Adelaide

vs. Essendon, Adelaide Oval

Can Darcy Fogarty come to the party?

We put the blowtorch on Taylor Walker last week, and the Crows veteran duly delivered with a four goal haul to lift his side over the Blues. Unfortunately, forward line partner in crime Darcy Fogarty failed to fire, something that's become a worrying trend in season 2024. Fogarty was held goalless against Carlton and has kicked just four majors through his five games this year. That sort of production is simply not good enough for the talented 24-year-old and if the Crows are to get their season back on track, he must lift.

Brisbane

vs. Geelong, Gabba

Are the Lions officially 'back'?

You never want to fall for the trap of believing a team is back in business after just one impressive outing -- sorry, Roos fans, but you can't take much out of that win the week before -- so we need to see it again in Round 6, against another strong opposition. With that said, Chris Fagan's Lions looked solid on their return to the MCG, putting the Demons to the sword and dominating in just about every major area. A win over the Cats and they are officially back to being a legitimate premiership threat. It's as simple as that.

Carlton

vs. GWS, Marvel Stadium

Can Carlton cast aside the 'injuries excuse'?

Uh oh, here come the injuries... in addition to Adam Cerra pulling out of Carlton's loss to Adelaide, the Blues lost Mitch McGovern and Adam Saad to soft tissue strains as well, with all expected to miss two-to-four weeks. The Blues haven't exactly been blessed by good fortune with injuries, and coming up against the Giants, Cats, Magpies, and Demons in the next month means they're in grave danger of falling back to the pack with a few losses. Can they overcome these injuries? We watch with bated breath.

Collingwood

vs. Port Adelaide, MCG

Does Scott Pendlebury play?

It's the question every Magpie fan wants the answer to, and it's one which will determine just how likely Collingwood is to knock off Port Adelaide. Club champion Scott Pendlebury injured his ribs last time out against the Hawks, and while he did have the bye to recover, he's been racing the clock to be fit for this weekend's clash against the Power. Some reports suggest he may be able to suit up and others indicate he could be set to miss his first game of the season. With a short turnaround into Anzac Day, which way will it go?

Essendon

vs. Adelaide, Adelaide Oval

Can the Bombers do it two weeks in a row?

Are the Bombers a good side? Are they an awful side? Or do they fit somewhere in between? Probably the latter, but who really knows!? We've seen glimpses of all three so far in 2024, but one thing we haven't seen is consistency. Brad Scott got things to click last time out against the Bulldogs, but can they back up against what had been, up until this past weekend, a very ordinary Crows outfit. If the Bombers really are new and improved, they beat the Crows on the road. No excuses.

Fremantle

vs. West Coast, Optus Stadium

Can the Dockers kick more than nine goals?

Under Justin Longmuir, Fremantle loves a defensive scrap -- and that's all well and good -- but to win games of football you need to score. For three weeks in a row the Dockers have been held to nine goals, and while they won the first of those games, they have fallen narrowly in the most recent two. Another goal or two here or there and Fremantle's record looks scary good. Even though the Eagles got off the mark last week, we know they are the competition's easybeats and there's a great opportunity for the Dockers to hit the scoreboard this weekend in the derby.

Geelong

vs. Brisbane, Gabba

Can the Cats beat a good team?

Say what you want about the Lions and their poor start to the year, but few will deny they are still one of the better teams in the competition. With all due respect to Geelong's opponents thus far (St Kilda, Adelaide, Hawthorn, Western Bulldogs, and North Melbourne) Brisbane is Chris Scott's first real test of the year, particularly given it's up at the Gabba. We should learn a lot about how good the Cats are this week. Beat the back-in-form Lions on the road and they might even shoot into flag favouritism.

Gold Coast

vs. Sydney, SCG

Have the Suns finally figured it out?

How much do we take out of Gold Coast's dominant win over the Hawks last weekend? It's the question we're all keen to have answered and this upcoming clash against a rested Sydney should provide some clues. The young Suns midfield, led by Noah Anderson and Matt Rowell, is proving it can go toe-to-toe with just about any, but it's the forward line that has let them down on occasion. Ben King stepped up in a big way last time out, and Damien Hardwick will be hoping that form carries on as the Suns look to string a good month of footy together.

GWS

vs. Carlton, Marvel Stadium

Can the Giants play four quarters?

They've been flag favourites, or close to it, for much of this early season, but in each of the last few games GWS has shown severe vulnerability and an inability to string four quarters of football together. Last time out, against the Saints in Canberra, Adam Kingsley's side almost blew a 35-point lead, only holding on to win by a solitary point. Now, with injuries to star defender Sam Taylor and experienced midfielder Stephen Coniglio, more will be asked of the club's depth. Is it up to the challenge?

Hawthorn

vs. North Melbourne, Marvel Stadium

Can the young midfield respond?

The Hawks were absolutely belted off the park by Gold Coast last weekend, and, if we're being honest, were lucky to only lose the game by 53 points. It all started in the midfield with Hawthorn's young but highly touted group just unable to get their hands on the ball. James Worpel (14 disposals), Connor Nash (10), Jai Newcombe (10) were all humiliated by the likes of Noah Anderson, Matt Rowell, Sam Flanders and Touk Miller. Time to bounce back and show what you can do or this season will quickly get away from Sam Mitchell.

Melbourne

BYE

North Melbourne

vs. Hawthorn, Marvel Stadium

Can the Kangaroos win a game?

Simple question? Sure. But the Roos have an ultra rare opportunity this week in which a win doesn't appear totally off the cards. North Melbourne has lost 25 of its last 26 games, but comes up against a reeling and undermanned Hawthorn side, one that produced a dire effort last week on the Gold Coast. It's Alastair Clarkson vs. Sam Mitchell. Master vs. apprentice, if you will. Can Clarkson get the better of Mitchell and lead the Kangaroos to its first win of the season?

Port Adelaide

vs. Collingwood, MCG

Can the Power handle the heat?

The Magpies' premiership defence has been rocky, to say the least. Despite winning their last two games, Collingwood hasn't really rediscovered the spark that led them to glory late last year, but what has returned is the pressure. Against the Lions and Hawks, before their bye, Craig McRae's side hunted in packs and were ferocious around the contest. Port Adelaide must be ready for more of the same and will need to match them in that area if they are to keep their winning streak alive.

Richmond

BYE

St Kilda

vs. Western Bulldogs, Marvel Stadium

Can the Saints slow down Marcus Bontempelli?

If the answer to the above is 'yes', or even 'somewhat', you'd think the Saints walk away from Marvel Stadium on Thursday night with the four points. The Bulldogs are reeling right now and will be without Tom Liberatore, who collapsed on the field late last week against the Bombers. As usual, plenty will fall on the shoulders of skipper Bontempelli, and if Ross Lyon's midfield can keep a close eye on him, and limit his influence as the Bombers did in Round 5, it's hard to see a path to victory for the Bulldogs.

Sydney

vs. Gold Coast, SCG

Is the fire still burning for Errol Gulden?

Since the Swans last took to the footy field, gun youngster Errol Gulden put pen to paper on a four-year contract extension. In doing so, he reportedly turned down a lucrative 10-year offer from the Crows. Now that his medium- to long-term future is sorted, what sort of Gulden are we going to get? Does he take his game to another level, as many expect, or does any sort of complacency begin to creep in? We're tipping it's the former!

West Coast

vs. Fremantle, Optus Stadium

Is Jake Waterman the long-term partner for Oscar Allen?

One of the standout players of Round 5 was West Coast's Jake Waterman, who booted six goals against the Tigers to help the Eagles to their first win of the season. Waterman also had 18 disposals, 10 contested possessions, and clunked a career-high eight contested marks. The 25-year-old has missed patches of footy every year in his young career, but showed he can be a serious, long-term piece for the rebuilding Eagles. Go on, Jake, prove you're not a one-hit-wonder and deliver again in the derby!