What's the big question your AFL club must answer in Round 11? Will the Bombers maintain the rage against the Tigers? Can the Suns equal their best ever start to a season? Should Cats fans be worried?
We've looked at every club and answered their biggest question ahead of this week's action.
Adelaide
vs. West Coast, Adelaide Oval
How many points can the Crows win by?
It's not a matter of 'if' for Adelaide this weekend, it's a matter of 'by how many'. And that's no disrespect to the Eagles, who have taken some steps in the right direction over the last month. But, after a tough start to the season, the Crows have been one of the form teams in the competition, even if their record doesn't totally reflect it. Since Round 5, they've beaten the Blues, Kangaroos, and Power, drawn with the Lions, and only lost to the Bombers and Magpies by three and four points, respectively. They are sneaky good, these Crows. Keep an eye on them...
Brisbane
vs. Hawthorn, Marvel Stadium
Can the Lions be stopped at their home away from home?
Much has been made in recent years about Brisbane's inability to win games of football at the MCG, but down the road, at Marvel Stadium, Chris Fagan's squad has been near perfect. The Lions have won eight of their last nine games at the venue, dating to mid-2019. The only blemish being last year's Round 3 16-point loss to the Bulldogs. The Hawks will have their work cut out -- especially given the Lions look to have found form in last week's blowout of Richmond -- but they too enjoy Marvel Stadium and are a perfect 2-0 at the venue this year.
Carlton
vs. Gold Coast, Marvel Stadium
Can the Blues find some non-Jacob Weitering defensive answers?
All year Carlton has felt like one of the genuine sides, but there's no denying its reliance on star defender Jacob Weitering. Last week, against the Swans, Weitering was subbed out at halftime with a corked thigh, and the Blues became a sieve defensively. Michael Voss hasn't confirmed whether his star defender will play this weekend, but regardless, if they are to be a team with premiership hopes, they must find some answers in the backline and players that can ably assist Weitering. If not, conceding over 90 points per game just isn't going to cut it.
Collingwood
vs. Fremantle, Optus Stadium
Can the Magpies continue to roll on the road?
Everyone loves to stick the boots into Collingwood and complain about how they seemingly never have to travel, but have you ever stopped to think maybe that wouldn't be such a great thing for the rest of the competition? The Magpies have won eight of their last nine games on the road; the only loss coming in Opening Round this year to the Giants, when they were firmly in the midst of that dreaded premiership hangover. They will start favourite this week against the Dockers, and you'd be surprised if they didn't collect another four points.
Essendon
vs. Richmond, MCG
Can the Bombers maintain the rage against a poor team?
Essendon managed to get the better of North Melbourne late after a slow start, and put on some much-needed percentage with a 40-point win. Arguably, the Tigers are going worse than North, with an injury crisis nearing the biggest in the competition. If Essendon wants to separate itself from the pack, it needs a big win on Saturday night during the Dreamtime match, and a win by 60, 70 or more points would be a surefire sign they're ready to compete come the end of the season.
Fremantle
vs. Collingwood, Optus Stadium
Can anyone stop Nick Daicos?
It was a -- relatively -- slow start to the season for Nick Daicos, but the 21-year-old has certainly made up for it in recent weeks. Our Brownlow Medal predictor has given him a near-perfect 8.5 votes from his last three games. Last week, Daicos played a starring role against the Crows, finishing with 41 disposals, 22 contested possessions, 14 clearances, and over 500 metres gained. The Dockers simply cannot afford to let him find the footy with ease. They must put attention into him from the opening bounce.
Geelong
vs. GWS, GMHBA Stadium
Should Cats fans be worried?
After a perfect 7-0 start, losing one game is no big deal. Losing two straight isn't ideal. Losing three straight has to be concerning. If the Cats lose to GWS this weekend, it will be FOUR loses in a row for Chris Scott's side, and fans will rightly be concerned. That fast start will be for naught with Geelong slipping back into the pack before the bye rounds. The biggest concern? The midfield, which was utterly embarrassed last weekend against the Suns. It doesn't get much easier with the Giants this week...
Gold Coast
vs. Carlton, Marvel Stadium
Can the Suns equal their best ever start to a season?
This sounds like hyperbole, but it definitely isn't! Gold Coast's best record through 11 games is 7-4, achieved in 2014 when the club looked destined to play finals, only for Gary Ablett to suffer the most untimely shoulder injury which would be their undoing. Nevertheless, a win over the Blues this weekend would equal that 7-4 mark and have Suns fans not just dreaming of a maiden final series, but reasonably confident their side can carry on the momentum and lock up that spot in the top eight.
GWS
vs. Geelong, GMHBA Stadium
Can the Giants' love affair with Kardinia Park continue?
To state the bleeding obvious: GWS needs a win. We probably didn't expect to be saying that after their blistering start to the season, but here they are at 6-4 having lost four of their last five games. Adam Kingsley's squad needs to get back on the winners list, and fast, and maybe a trip to Geelong will provide the remedy -- something you can't say for many sides. The Giants have won their last three games in Geelong, a record that's the envy of the competition. If ever they needed to extend a streak, it's now!
Hawthorn
vs. Brisbane, Marvel Stadium
Are the Hawks getting the Lions at the wrong time?
It's been an inconsistent start to the year for Brisbane, but after last week's training run against the hapless Tigers, things might now be clicking for Chris Fagan's men. And that doesn't bode well for the Hawks this weekend! The Lions put Richmond to the sword at the Gabba, booting their highest score in 15 years (163 points) as a number of key players struck form. Brisbane is now unbeaten in three games and this might just be the infancy of a charge back up the ladder.
Melbourne
vs. St Kilda, MCG
Are the Demons a good side?
They've had some impressive wins this year -- think Port Adelaide in Round 3 and Geelong in Round 8 -- but then some periods of play -- think the first 40 minutes against the Blues and then Sunday against the Eagles -- have you wondering if they are even worthy of a spot in the top eight come season's end. A win over the lowly Saints this weekend won't guarantee us much, but if Melbourne is the good side most of us believe they are, then they win, and win well. Good sides simply don't lose back-to-back games against bottom six opposition.
North Melbourne
vs. Port Adelaide, Blundstone Arena
Will Tassie fans rally around the Kangas, or has Devilsmania taken over?
Anyone in Hobart who wants to see some AFL footy will have the opportunity this week, but the big question is 'will they turn up'? This is a terrible North Melbourne team, welcoming a top four side in Port Adelaide, all while the AFL community has hitched its Tassie wagon to the Devils. Crowds in Hobart have been underwhelming for years now (can you blame them?), so how many show up on Saturday?
Port Adelaide
vs. North Melbourne, Blundstone Arena
Could a let down be on the cards for the Power?
When you go through the emotions of one of the club's all-time great, unlikely, and simply mind-boggling wins, backing up the following week becomes a monumental challenge. The fact this week's opponent is the winless Kangaroos, down in Tasmania, only makes it trickier and this clash looms as a real banana peel game for Port. They will likely be without several key players, too. Ken Hinkley needs to stress the importance of a fast start this week. You don't want to be playing catch-up to a side desperate for its first win.
Richmond
vs. Essendon, MCG
Can the Tigers notch even a half century?
Fifty points. It's a score you hope to be on at halftime, not a target you continually fall short of after four quarters of football. Staggeringly, Richmond has failed to score 50 points in each of its last four games. In that stretch, they Tigers are averaging 44 per game, while coughing up 121. For context, North Melbourne has failed to hit 50 points just once this whole year! It's a dire situation at Richmond right now and if fans are only getting four of five goals per game, you can't blame them for not showing up.
St Kilda
vs. Melbourne, MCG
Can the Saints keep their season alive?
It may sound a tad dramatic, but it certainly isn't. St Kilda, currently 3-7, desperately needs a win this weekend. If they fall short, it could spell the end of the season before we've even hit the bye rounds. With another loss, Ross Lyon's side would likely find itself four games outside the top eight. Sorry, but this team simply isn't good enough to make up such a monumental deficit in the back half of the year. No excuses, go and beat a good side this weekend and prove you can turn things around.
Sydney
vs. Western Bulldogs, Marvel Stadium
Has James Jordan just become Sydney's full time tagger?
It was former Demon James Jordan who played a starring role in quelling the influence of Carlton's Sam Walsh last weekend as the Swans put the Blues to the sword at the SCG. Walsh had been averaging over 33 disposals, 13 contested possessions, six inside 50s, and six clearances per game since returning to the side in Round 6, but was held by Jordan to just 20 disposals and three clearances. Does John Longmire opt to give Jordan another role this week? Keep your eyes on Marcus Bontempelli, or perhaps Adam Treloar.
West Coast
vs. Adelaide, Adelaide Oval
Will West Coast's fun forward line mix cause a headache for the Crows?
We saw last week what an unpredictable forward line can do to a good team. The Eagles won the inside 50 count, were chaotic moving the ball inside 50, but then clinical with their pressure, laying 22 tackles inside their forward 50 to kick a winning score against Melbourne. Can they repeat the dose against the Crows? Resting Harley Reid forward is working, Jake Waterman has been a revelation, Jack Darling is bobbing up with scores, and confidence is sky high. Let's see if they can continue!
Western Bulldogs
vs. Sydney, Marvel Stadium
Which Bulldogs side is going to show up?
There hasn't been a more up-and-down team in 2024 than the Western Bulldogs. They've enjoyed the highest of highs and then, a week later, the lowest of lows. This year, they've had a 45-point loss followed by a 48-point win. They've also had a 29-point loss followed by a 60-point win, followed by a 24-point loss. Is their absolute best enough to worry the Swans? Probably. Can we be sure they will deliver that standard? Absolutely not. With that said, we'll know pretty early on if we have a game on our hands...