1. Parish a top-five best and fairest chance for Dons
He might be only 18, look just 13 and have nine AFL games to his name, but the No.5 pick in last year's NAB AFL Draft has made such a strong start to his career that it wouldn't surprise if he polls well in the club award. Had 26 touches and snapped two deft goals against Richmond, one on each foot. Parish plays mainly forward but is gaining experience in the midfield that is fast-tracking his development. Dons coach John Worsfold is so excited by Parish that he revealed post-match that when the youngster went to the bench for his first breather in the opening minutes, the coaching staff lamented, "There's our match-winner coming off." - Ben Collins

2. Callum Mills is out of sight in Sydney, and out of the minds of Rising Star selectors
Last year's No.3 draft pick was one of the pre-season favourites to take out the award, but still hasn't managed to snag a nomination despite playing all 10 games in a Swans' defence that gives up fewer than 75 points per match. Mills has shown fantastic composure under pressure, his decision-making inside his defensive 50 has been outstanding for such a young player, and he's looked like a 100-gamer alongside experienced stars Jarrad McVeigh, Heath Grundy and Nick Smith. His role isn't one to attract much attention from those outside the walls of the Swans, but the 19-year-old has averaged almost 17 possessions per game across half-back in one of the competition's best teams, and surely needs to be looked at soon. - Adam Curley

3. Plenty of life in the old Hawks legs
In the bigger picture, taking care of the Lions in Brisbane is no great shakes, but the Hawks finished full of run on Saturday. Already without stars Luke Hodge and Jarryd Roughead, they were down a man (Matt Spangher) for much of the day and in danger of being upset. But at the tail end of a hot afternoon at the Gabba and leading by just a goal 10 minutes into the final term, they put the foot down. Eight goals to one later and on the back of big final terms from Cyril Rioli, Isaac Smith and Jack Gunston, they stormed to an easy win. Still far from their best, the three-time champs are 7-3 and have shown that when it matters, their big names still have plenty in the tank. - Michael Whiting

4. St Kilda's veterans are warriors
Nick Riewoldt has moved into the midfield as he gets older. Sam Fisher has taken up a key defensive post. Leigh Montagna is running off half-back. All three have become brilliant performers for the Saints in new roles as they help the club transition from their era to a new era. On Saturday when Fremantle challenged and gained the ascendancy, Riewoldt took it upon himself to tilt the game back the Saints' way. After impressing on the wing he was moved into a high half-forward role where he changed the game, winning 10 last quarter disposals to cash in on David Armitage's clearance work. These old Saints are leaving a legacy behind that is hard to value. - Peter Ryan

5. Geelong has big worries
Is it a merely flat patch or are the Cats marginal improvers rather than premiership contenders? After two unexpected losses to Collingwood and Carlton, the answer to that question will become clearer in the next three weeks with games against Greater Western Sydney, North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs. Geelong is letting the opposition score more easily than it was early in the season and opponents are winning early ascendancy around the contest. The big guns are not firing and no one has yet emerged to arrest the slump. If it can't do so in the next five weeks, Geelong will be back among the pack. - Peter Ryan

6. More bags will come for Charlie Dixon
It's hard to gauge how hard players work if you're not at the ground, but Port Adelaide key forward Charlie Dixon left nothing in the tank in Saturday's win over Melbourne. The big-name recruit hit the wings hard to offer an outlet from defence and then raced back towards goal to get on the end of the chain, making life tough for defender Tom McDonald. Even forgetting his five goals – his second handful this year - it was an impressively contested performance and perhaps an area of his game that is often overlooked, with the ex-Gold Coast forward often going unrewarded. If Dixon keeps getting to more contests, more big hauls will come and the Power look much more dangerous with the 202cm big man working overtime. - Travis King

7. Giants' top-four credentials remain intact
There may have been scribes sharpening their pencils ready to question the legitimacy of GWS after the Crows blew them away with an eight-goal-to-one third term at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night. It was the first time the Giants have been truly rattled by an opponent this season but their response in the final term emphatically dismissed questions about their ability and their ticker. Tom Scully was millimetres away from kicking the Giants' sixth unanswered goal with two minutes to go. Had the kick carried, GWS was a chance of stealing a famous win. It was as testing an examination as the young club has received in 2016 and the Giants demonstrated they can handle finals-like conditions. When you consider that Phil Davis and Ryan Griffen headline a 14-strong injury list, the final-quarter effort against the Crows becomes even more meritorious. With a bit of luck on the injury front over the next few months, Leon Cameron's side can remain very much in the top-four race. - Kym Morgan

8. Dahlhaus is becoming a top Dog
Marcus Bontempelli, Tom Liberatore and Mitch Wallis might be the Western Bulldogs' go-to contested possession winners, but Luke Dahlhaus is fast joining them. The one-time forward was outstanding against Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday, racking up a game-high 37 possessions. The classy runner had 19 handball receives but he also put in the hard yards at the coalface, winning 11 contested possessions and laying six tackles. Dahlhaus gives the Bulldogs' midfield a different look with his speed and X-factor and his continuing development as an on-baller can only help the Bulldogs' flag aspirations. - Nick Bowen

9. The flat-track bullies tag remains
Adam Simpson might not like it, but West Coast are still flat-track bullies. That's not necessarily a criticism, but the fact remains that the Eagles are destroying the lesser teams at home and struggling against the better teams interstate. Last week's victory over Port Adelaide was a step in the right direction, but not enough to shake the tag completely. Beating up on an undermanned Gold Coast team was inevitable and Simpson's side will now get the chance to finally face those demons against the Western Bulldogs. - Sean Cowan