LATE on Tuesday, the hard workers in the Media Watch office tipped the result of that afternoon's Hawthorn-Geelong game would be used to ordain Collingwood's closest challenger.
It was hardly a 'Nostradamus call', but the media did not disappoint in the wake of the Cats' 19-point win.
In the Herald Sun, chief football writer Mike Sheahan said: "It is Geelong, not Hawthorn, that is Collingwood's biggest threat. Clearly."
Sheahan said "without doubt" there was another premiership campaign left in Geelong's ageing group, but Hawthorn was now "a long way off" Collingwood.
Having rated the Hawks highly in the lead-up to the season, Sheahan now suspected he and others had overrated them.
We also recall, Mike, just weeks ago, nominating the Western Bulldogs as the side most likely to topple the Pies. But that's another matter.
The back page of The Age's sports section trumpeted: Eyes on the Pies.
"Unbeaten and ageless, Geelong unveils itself as Collingwood's chief challenger."
Greg Baum was more reserved in his accompanying article, but said Geelong's performance had been a "vintage" one and had served as a "riposte" to Collingwood's impressive victory over Essendon the day before.
The papers' excitement is understandable. The Hawks-Cats game was a cracker and the looming round eight clash between the Cats and Magpies is tantalising.
But have we not just completed round five?
At the end of round five last season the Sydney Swans were on top of the ladder. And in the first nine rounds last year, eventual premier Collingwood was beaten by both of 2009's Grand Finalists, St Kilda and Geelong.
We can't recall a raft of scribes rushing to anoint the Magpies as premiers-in-waiting at that time.
North and Port under the pump
We do not envy the loser of this Saturday's North Melbourne-Port Adelaide clash.
Both sides are already under siege from the media. The Power for becoming the first side to lose to AFL new boys Gold Coast, last Saturday night. It did not help their cause they blew a 40-point lead late in the third quarter of that game, nor that they did it at their home ground, AAMI Stadium.
Meanwhile, North's winless start to the season, and its loss after leading for much of last Sunday's game against a young Richmond side, has many questioning the quality of its young list.
In The Age, 1996 North premiership player Wayne Schwass said the Kangaroos' list had too many one-paced ball-winners, such as Andrew Swallow, Ryan Bastinac, Ben Cunnington and Jack Ziebell, and not enough "game-breakers".
"Where is their genuine outside leg speed?" Schwass asked.
"I have serious concerns about the state of their list."
In the Herald Sun, another North premiership player, David King, echoed Schwass' criticism of North's lack of midfield run but, unlike Schwass, did not think the Roos' poor start to 2011 was a portent of lean years to come.
Meanwhile, former North and current Power forward Daniel Motlop told The Age Port was at the lowest ebb he had seen in his six years at Alberton Oval.
But, rest assured, the Power will sink to an even lower ebb if they lose to North.
Likewise, the Kangaroos will feel the full blowtorch of the media if they can't breakthrough for their first win of the season on Saturday. Especially, if there is a repeat of the traditionally poor crowds between the two sides.
A side will relocate to Tasmania: Cook
With an announcement reportedly imminent that North Melbourne will play two home games a year in Hobart from next season, Geelong chief executive Brian Cook told 3AW he expected a Melbourne-based side would relocate to Tasmania within the next 10 years.
Cook also questioned whether North had made a mistake in rejecting an $100 million AFL offer in 2007 to relocate to the Gold Coast.
David King told the Herald Sun he had no doubt North had missed a golden opportunity on the Gold Coast.
King suggested Cook was on the money with his relocation prediction, saying he "knows more about the financial side of the game than any of us".
And if Cook was ultimately proven right, King strongly inferred North would be the side that makes the move.
Cook's prediction is an interesting one.
North's administration has been adamant since rejecting the Gold Coast move that it will not abandon its Melbourne home.
At the club's annual general meeting in February, North chairman James Brayshaw told members talks with the Tasmanian Government last year for the Roos to play seven home games in the Apple Isle had broken down because the club had been adamant any deal would not be the precursor to a relocation.
There is also the added wrinkle of the foothold Hawthorn currently has in Tasmania. The Hawks play four home games a year at Launceston's Aurora Stadium and are contracted to do so until the end of the 2016 season.
The Hawks would be reluctant to give up what has been a lucrative deal.
For these reasons, we suggest a Tasmanian side, let alone one formed by a relocated Melbourne side, may be further off than Cook thinks.
Dixon can see clearly now
The eyesight of umpires has been questioned for as long as the football has been played.
Fans have never been backward in recommending the men in white - or red, orange and whatever other colours they wear these days - make a visit to the optometrist whenever a line-ball decision goes against their team.
But while such advice is in jest, Gold Coast forward Charlie Dixon recently discovered his eyesight really was an old-field problem.
After struggling to hold his marks recently, Dixon told The Courier-Mail he booked himself in to have his vision checked.
After those tests revealed he was "half-blind", Dixon wore contact lenses for the first time last Saturday night, against Port Adelaide. With clear vision, he was able to pluck down two strong marks in the last quarter as the Suns surged to their first victory.
The AFL umpires are already sponsored by OPSM, perhaps Dixon should put his hand up to join them.
In short
Richmond's Daniel Jackson apologised to his teammates on Tuesday following his lapse of discipline that resulted in the Match Review Panel offering him a one-match suspension for his clash with North Melbourne's Scott Thompson, The Age reports.
Essendon youngster Dyson Heppell's mother, Ann-Maree, let it slip on Tuesday's Radio Sport National breakfast show that coach James Hird had told her son he would be rested from the Bombers' round six clash with Gold Coast.
Brisbane Lions backline playmaker Josh Drummond may be rushed back into the Lions' side as a substitute for Saturday night's clash with Richmond at the MCG, The Courier-Mail reports.
Fremantle is keen to establish its hold on an annual Anzac Day night fixture, even if the game falls on a Wednesday, The West Australian reports.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
