KEY STORYLINES TO WATCH FOR IN ROUND NINE OF THE AFL SEASON
CROWS HOT, PORT NOT HEADING INTO SHOWDOWN
They say form goes out the proverbial window when it comes to clashes between South Australia's bitter rivals Adelaide and Port Adelaide. The Power will hope so after suffering a 90-point loss to the Bulldogs, which joins their 91-point drubbing from Collingwood in round one as the two heaviest defeats of coach Ken Hinkley's 13-year tenure.
PRESSURE ON JUSTIN LONGMUIR AHEAD OF HUGE PIES CLASH
Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir is a man under pressure after a humiliating 61-point loss to St Kilda and the spotlight will be firmly on the underperforming Dockers on Thursday night when they host Collingwood at Optus Stadium. The Magpies will come off a five-day break for the Perth trip and coach Craig McRae says "watch this space" about team changes. If the Magpies take a depleted line-up west and still win, where does that leave Longmuir?
CAN THE EAGLES BREAK THEIR DUCK?
West Coast are 0-8 in a disastrous start to Andrew McQualter's tenure as coach, but Sunday's clash with fellow strugglers Richmond (2-6) at the MCG gives the Eagles a chance to get off the mark. Co-captain Oscar Allen is set to play in defence for a third straight game, and the responsibility on him will be huge after Jeremy McGovern was ruled out with concussion.
THE BULLDOGS HAVE CIRCLED MAY 22
Former Western Bulldogs player Bailey Smith has had a dig at his old club, saying he'd rather be playing for Geelong in front of a huge MCG crowd than at the Ballarat construction site. It sparked a cheeky war of words with Marcus Bontempelli, three weeks out from red-hot midfielder Smith's first game against the Dogs since his high-profile switch.
HOW DO THE BOMBERS HANDLE THEIR INJURY CARNAGE?
Essendon looked all at sea against North Melbourne when defensive chief Jordan Ridley went down with a hamstring injury. The Bombers will have to take on rejuvenated Sydney - and face several weeks - without key interceptor Ridley, while Harry Jones and Jade Gresham are also injured.
ARE THE DEES REALLY 'BACK'?
Melbourne's revival from a horror 0-5 start has so far included wins over Fremantle, Richmond and West Coast - all sides who sit outside the top eight. But the challenges quickly get far more difficult, starting with red-hot Hawthorn at the MCG in round nine. That test is followed by a tough trip to the Gabba to face reigning premiers Brisbane.
