1. The Swans need help for Buddy Franklin, and Sam Reid is the answer
Three goals in three minutes against the Hawks showed Buddy Franklin is still a match-winner - the only problem is he was the Swans' only forward target. Adam Goodes had 23 touches but most of them were up the ground, while Kurt Tippett spent the night in the ruck with Mike Pyke injured. Sam Reid has been used at both ends of the ground for the past two seasons but looks dangerous every time he goes forward, and takes contested marks. Reid kicked 31 goals in the Swans' 2012 premiership season, and if they're any chance of making it back to the Grand Final this year, John Longmire's men have to find help for Franklin, so the 23-year-old has to head inside 50 again. - Adam Curley

2. West Coast's tough month just got a whole lot tougher
A hard-fought first win over Collingwood in Melbourne since 2003, which could have been much bigger than 31 points if not for inaccuracy, was an ideal way for the Eagles to kick-off the most challenging five-week stretch of their season. But the loss of emerging star Jeremy McGovern to a serious hamstring injury was a major blow. West Coast now has three first-choice key defenders sidelined, with coach Adam Simpson mulling whether to throw the yet-to-debut Tom Barrass into the furnace against Swans stars Lance Franklin and Kurt Tippett (if he recovers from a hand injury) on Sunday. The Eagles' defence has found a way all season, but with Hawthorn and Fremantle looming on the horizon, this will be their most difficult hour. - Travis King

3. Todd Goldstein could break the stranglehold on the 'midfielders' medal'
He probably needs a number of things to go his way, not least red-hot Brownlow Medal favourite Nat Fyfe dropping out of the running through suspension, but Goldstein is in good enough nick to be right in contention for the game's highest individual honour. The North ruckman totally dominated Essendon's Shaun McKernan on Friday night, finishing with a season-high 27 touches, 55 hit-outs and a remarkable seven free-kicks for. In Goldstein's favour is that he has been clearly the Roos' best player this year, with few teammates likely to take votes from him, and AFL.com.au's writers ranked him equal fifth on the Brownlow leaderboard before his likely three-vote effort against the Dons. North will probably start favourites in five of their last seven games so, if he maintains his stellar form, he could come home with a rush on Brownlow night. - Travis King

4. The Cats could still cause havoc on the way to September
They'll get some confidence out of Saturday's win over the Western Bulldogs, having managed it without captain Joel Selwood and without playing their best. The absence of Selwood also enabled them to discover another layer to their midfield, with Josh Caddy and Mitch Duncan embracing more responsibility that resulted in eye-catching performances. With five winnable games in their future, as well as fixtures against five teams also vying for finals berths, the Cats can play a big part in shaping the top eight if they can capitalise on the gritty victory over the Dogs. - Jennifer Phelan

5. There's life in an old Crow
He hates being referred to as a veteran, and Adelaide champion Scott Thompson showed why on Sunday evening, putting together a classic contested performance to take home the Phillip Walsh Medal for best afield in Showdown XXXIX. The 32-year-old collected 36 possessions, laid eight tackles, booted a goal and cleared the ball 13 times. He's out of contract at the season's end and while external talk of retirement raged at the start of the year it's now difficult not to see him going round for a 16th season and surpassing the magical 300-game mark. - Harry Thring

7. Touk Miller is the real deal
It's been a terrific first season for Gold Coast's Miller, but his game went to another level against GWS. Given more time in the midfield, the No.29 pick from last year's NAB AFL Draft excelled, finishing with 27 disposals (18 contested), nine clearances, two goals and three goal assists. He is a terrier defensively and his work in close – as shown by pick-pocketing All Australian Ryan Griffen in the first quarter – is exceptional. In as complete a game as you'll see from a first-year player, Miller goaled from 55m, fed a handpass to Gary Ablett for one of his goals and weighted a kick beautifully into the path of Alex Sexton for another. He already looks a steal from last year's draft. - Michael Whiting

8. Jon Griffin and Aaron Sandilands are a viable ruck duo for Fremantle
Griffin and Sandilands played together on Saturday night for the first time since round 23, 2012. Griffin was playing just his second game since his knee reconstruction in May 2013. Zac Clarke had established himself as Fremantle's clear number two behind Sandilands and it was felt that Griffin would only play in Sandilands' absence. But Ross Lyon said the duo could play together and they provided a good combination on Saturday. They had 66 hit-outs between them. Griffin took three marks and kicked a goal following on from some good form in the WAFL. He may keep Clarke out of the team heading towards the finals. - Alex Malcolm  

9. Pain is no match for Nick Riewoldt
The St Kilda captain has been defying adversity all season since the death of his sister Madeleine, and on Sunday he played through a calf injury that could well have sidelined him. By the third quarter, Riewoldt was hobbling but willed himself to contests and had a shot from 50m on the three-quarter time siren that he missed. In the opening minute of the fourth term he finally had his goal, winning a contested ball and spinning towards the boundary line to snap on his 'good' left leg. The champion forward's celebration was muted, but the crowd of 45,772 said it all on an emotional day for Riewoldt and his family. – Nathan Schmook