Geelong v Melbourne, GMHBA Stadium Friday, April 4, 7.40pm AEDT

Last time: Melbourne 10.14 (74) d Geelong 9.12 (66), R8 2024

What it means

Geelong (1-2) has had a firm reminder of how tight the margins can be with a pair of narrow defeats that have knocked it out of the top eight and back into the chasing pack. The Cats will now appreciate returning to their home fortress and taking on a Demons outfit that they have lost to only three times in their past 25 meetings at the venue.

Melbourne (0-3) started the season hoping for a rapid bounce back into finals contention but instead finds itself out to prove that it is not facing up to the end of an era. The Demons have suffered a pair of humiliating defeats to sides that finished in the bottom six last year and will need to find a dramatic form reversal to avoid a 0-4 start to a season for the first time since 2012.

Game shapers

Patrick Dangerfield might be entering the twilight of his career but the former Brownlow medallist remains critical to Geelong's hopes of pushing towards yet another top-four finish. The 34-year-old is now spending significant time in the Cats' attacking half, with more familiar cameos in the midfield, and should be out to hit the scoreboard more after booting 4.4 in the opening three matches.

Harvey Langford led the fight in his first start for Melbourne as its star-studded midfield otherwise failed to match the pace and power of the Gold Coast onball brigade. The 19-year-old arrived at the Demons at pick No.6 with a reputation for enjoying the contest at the coalface and gave a glimmer of hope on an otherwise dark day with 26 disposals and six clearances to earn a Rising Star nomination.

We are up tonight at home v Melbourne @Undisciplined . @grayruby pies got the win last night

The Magpies will reign supreme causing misery amongst AFL fans the world over!

Who is @Undisciplined’s adopted AFL team?

Collingwood v Carlton, MCG Thursday, April 3, 7.30pm AEDT

Last time: Collingwood 12.12 (84) d Carlton 11.15 (81), R21 2024

What it means

Collingwood (2-1) has had an up and down start to the season but was able to head into a bye ahead on the win-loss ledger after holding off the Western Bulldogs in a thriller before its break. The Magpies can put themselves in a strong position while also knocking the Blues back on the ropes with another victory after beating their traditional rivals 10 times in their past 12 clashes.

Carlton (0-3) is at real risk of falling out of finals contention before its season even gets going ahead of a crunch clash with arch-rival Collingwood. The Blues have been outscored by a combined 89 points after the main break in their three matches so far and will need to run out the game much better if they are to avoid a horror 0-4 start after being 4-0 at the same stage last year.

Game shapers

Nick Daicos has set the bar so high for himself that even while averaging 23.5 disposals in Collingwood's opening two matches it felt like the star midfielder had much more to give. The 22-year-old took a big leap towards hitting his standards when gathering 39 touches in the win over the Bulldogs and has shown in the past that he likes to save something resembling his best for the Blues.

Patrick Cripps has become all too familiar with having to shoulder the burden of an underperforming Carlton side across more than 11 seasons with the club. Last year's Brownlow medallist has been unable to carry the Blues across the line even while having his typical influence with 27.3 disposals and 8.7 clearances a game but can be expected to find another gear with his side quickly running out of chances.

Richmond v Brisbane, MCG Saturday, April 5, 4.15pm AEDT

Last time: Brisbane 26.7 (163) d Richmond 6.8 (44), R10 2024

What it means

Richmond (1-2) has come crashing back to earth after its round one heroics with a pair of chastening defeats by an average of 77 points. The Tigers might have already been handed a couple of reality checks but will now have to at least aim to limit the damage against the reigning premiers while giving their young talents time to learn from some of the best.

Brisbane (3-0) has won its past two clashes with Richmond by an average of 100 points and another thumping would hardly be a surprise this time around. The Lions have somehow flown under the radar even while starting their premiership defence with three consecutive victories and in ominous signs are closer to hitting top gear just as they host last year’s wooden spooner.

Game shapers

Jayden Short remains as one of a dwindling number of premiership winners still playing at Richmond as he turns his focus to helping to lead by example. The 29-year-old adds a touch of class to the Tigers’ defence while also finding himself in more contests around the middle of the field these days and aiming to deliver quality ball into attack for the young forwards to feast on.

Will Ashcroft had made a relatively slow start to the season after being awarded the Norm Smith Medal last year but his performance in the win over Geelong last week was worth the wait. The 20-year-old had 33 disposals in what coach Chris Fagan said was a superior display to his effort in the Lions' Grand Final triumph but in ominous signs his best is surely still to come.

Gold Coast v Adelaide, People First Stadium Saturday, April 5, 12.20pm AEST

Last time: Gold Coast 8.12 (60) d Adelaide 8.6 (54), R1 2024

What it means

Gold Coast (2-0) hosts one of the club’s biggest games yet as it takes on Adelaide with both sides on a similar trajectory and hoping to climb from outside the eight last year as high as the top four. The Suns have already secured a pair of emphatic victories but could send a warning shot across the competition with another win that would take them to 3-0 for just the second time in their 15 seasons.

Adelaide (3-0) is now living up to the promise that had been brewing across a lengthy rebuild but few could have predicted the belated rise would come with such a rush. The Crows have not only triumphed in all three of their matches so far but done so by an average 53 points while also winning every quarter, and could now claim top spot from the Hawks with a win over the emerging Suns.

Game shapers

Bailey Humphrey has been widely tipped to take the competition by storm since a hugely promising debut season in 2023. The powerful forward has now developed the tank that allows him to also spend additional time in the midfield where he can make more of his robust style and has quickly doubled the amount of ball he is finding with an average 21.5 disposals a game.

Riley Thilthorpe made the most of his time on the sidelines in recent years to develop the size and shape that will strike fear into the heart of opposition defenders. The 22-year-old looms as one of the most capable second rucks in the game but has shown across the Crows' blistering start to the season that he can do even more damage near goal with three goals in each of their three matches.