What's the big question your AFL club must answer in Round 12? Can the Eagles handle favouritism? Can Jye Amiss find his radar? Can the Bombers win a classic 'banana peel' game?
We've looked at every club and answered their biggest question ahead of this week's action.
Adelaide
vs. Hawthorn, MCG
Can the Crows end that MCG hoodoo?
We posed a similar question a fortnight ago ahead of Adelaide's game against Collingwood, but it remains a valid point. The Crows have lost nine straight games at the MCG, their draw against the Magpies in Round 19, 2017 the last time they took premiership points away from a clash at the home of football. The other wrinkle to this game is that they're facing a Hawthorn side that's had an eerily similar year to date; slow start followed by some serious form of late. If the Crows are to play finals, this is a game they must win.
Brisbane
BYE
Carlton
vs. Port Adelaide, Adelaide Oval
Can the Blues be efficient for four quarters?
Carlton's had numerous games in 2024 where the stat sheet would suggest a blowout win. But in reality, some of those game have gone down to the wire, some they've even lost. Last week against the Suns, the Blues dominated possession, disposals, and territory, but were never able to establish a winning gap until late in the fourth term. If Carlton is to take that next step and join the competition's elite, it must find a way to not only be consistent from week to week, but also quarter to quarter.
Collingwood
vs. Western Bulldogs, Marvel Stadium
How do the Magpies back up after a trip west?
It's always tough to back up after a road trip, and there's none tougher -- for these Victorian clubs, at least -- than a jaunt over to Western Australia. Collingwood is 1-2 since the beginning of 2021 in games that have followed a trip to Optus Stadium, two of them (including the lone win) decided by just four points. The Bulldogs are a tricky opponent and Luke Beveridge's side will not only have an extra day of rest, but playing at Marvel Stadium last Thursday night means no travel fatigue.
Essendon
vs. Gold Coast, People First Stadium
Can the Bombers win a classic 'banana peel' game?
There's no bigger banana peel-type game in the AFL than taking a trip to the Gold Coast for a Sunday twilight clash. Add in the fact the Suns have plenty to prove after being well beaten by the Blues last week, and you have a real danger game for Essendon. If they are a side to be taken seriously in 2024, they win this one. No excuses. Interestingly, the last time these two teams played each other on the Gold Coast -- during the shortened 2020 season -- it ended in a 73-73 draw.
Fremantle
vs. Melbourne, TIO Traeger Park
Can Jye Amiss find his radar?
He'd been nicknamed 'Nev' for his sharpshooting -- having kicked 45 goals and 18 behinds across his first two seasons in the league -- but things have taken a turn in recent weeks for young Fremantle forward Jye Amiss. The 20-year-old is in a real slump at the minute, having kicked just two goals and seven behinds from his last three weeks, taking his season tally to 14 goals and 15 behinds. It may only take one game to break out of this funk, and Dockers fans will be hoping it's this weekend in Alice Springs.
Geelong
vs. Richmond, GMHBA Stadium
Who plays in the midfield?
The Geelong midfield has been as thin as any in 2024, and it's going to be stretched even more this week after Mark Blicavs and Jhye Clark were both suspended for separate bumps on Giants running defender Lachie Whitfield. If he passes a fitness test, the Cats could look to bring back skipper Patrick Dangerfield, otherwise players such as Mark O'Connor, Brandon Parfitt, Tanner Bruhn, Max Holmes, and Tom Atkins will really need to step up, even against a struggling Richmond outfit.
Gold Coast
vs. Essendon, People First Stadium
Can the Suns rediscover their strong home form?
Returning 'home' for the first time in just more than a month, it'll have been a long time between drinks at People First Stadium for the Suns, who have played two home games in Darwin amongst road trips to Brisbane and Melbourne. Will it be the happy hunting ground fans have come to expect? The Bombers are in ripping form, beating the teams put in front of them, and they'll be eager to prove to the competition they can beat a finals contender on their home patch. Appointment viewing this Sunday evening.
GWS
BYE
Hawthorn
vs. Adelaide, MCG
Will the Hawks start stringing together consecutive wins?
They've done it already this year, beating the Bulldogs and St Kilda in Rounds 8 and 9, but have the young and inexperienced Hawks got what it takes to start stringing together consecutive winning performances? If they win this week, it'll be five wins from their past seven matches, and considering the Crows' up-and-down form away from Adelaide Oval, the Hawks are a real shout. Can they limit Adelaide's blistering attack? This week is a doozy.
Melbourne
vs. Fremantle, TIO Traeger Park
Can Max Gawn overcome Freo's ruck duo?
He passed the Rowan Marshall test with flying colours, but Gawn will have his hands full with Fremantle's ruck duo, with both Sean Darcy and Luke Jackson once again playing a part in Fremantle's best 22. Gawn will be stretched, and you'd expect he'd be subjected to some physicality from his Freo counterparts in Alice Springs. Giving his midfielders first use of the footy will be crucial to overcoming the Dockers' talented midfield core.
North Melbourne
BYE
Port Adelaide
vs. Carlton, Adelaide Oval
Can Zak and Connor do what Matt and Noah couldn't?
After pumping up the Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson combination all week, the duo fell flat against the Blues as Patrick Cripps and Sam Walsh put on a clinic at Marvel Stadium. Zak Butters and Connor Rozee weren't required to hit top gear against the struggling Kangaroos last week, but if they're to beat the Blues this round you know they'll be, along with the rejuvenated Ollie Wines and Jason Horne-Francis, relied on heavily to get the edge in the midfield. Are they up to the challenge?
Richmond
vs. Geelong, GMHBA Stadium
Does Dustin Martin still have consistency in him?
This upcoming game will be the 299th of Martin's illustrious career, and, after turning back the clock last week against the Bombers, has a tough task in backing it up against the Cats in Geelong. The plus side? Geelong will be thin in the midfield, and it could allow Martin to find more ball and punish the Cats with his quickness and smarts. We would love nothing more than for Martin to throw back to the 2020 Grand Final with another vintage performance.
St Kilda
vs. West Coast, Optus Stadium
Does Ross' side have what it takes to kick a winning score?
Three weeks in a row now the Saints haven't kicked more than nine goals. It's three losses in that time. Is St Kilda's attack really that bad? Max King kicked three goals, and there was just not much else on offer from the Saints, who look lethargic and stagnant moving forward with ball in hand. It's a real worry coming up against the Eagles in Perth; if the Saints can't put West Coast away, and the crowd stays in the contest (as well as the Eagles), look out...
Sydney
BYE
West Coast
vs. St Kilda, Optus Stadium
Can the Eagles handle the favouritism tag?
It's been a long, long time since West Coast went into an AFL game as the bookmakers' favourite for victory. But that's the position they find themselves in this week when they host the struggling Saints at Optus Stadium. St Kilda has won just once from its last seven games, and that was against the winless Kangaroos in Round 8. Meanwhile, the Eagles have three wins in that time, and although they suffered a disappointing 99-point loss to the Crows last week, they have shown that their best is every bit on par with the Saints.
Western Bulldogs
vs. Collingwood, Marvel Stadium
Do the Bulldogs bring back Tom Liberatore?
You always want to err on the side of caution when it comes to head knocks, particularly when it involves a player who has suffered numerous concussions. Tom Liberatore has played just two game ssince Round 5 and has dealt with ongoing concussion symptoms this year. He's been cleared to return to the field, but will the Bulldogs (should the Bulldogs) bring him back straight away? Their hand might be forced with Ed Richards -- who has picked up the midfield slack in Liberatore's absence -- also suffering a concussion last week and will be unavailable to take on the Magpies.