1. Deledio again struck by calf injury
Richmond looks set to be without Brett Deledio for at least a couple of weeks after the veteran Tiger succumbed to another calf injury in the club's 19-point win over Essendon on Saturday. Deledio, who gathered 19 disposals before the main break, failed to return to the ground after half-time as he nursed the complaint. It follows a pre-season campaign and start to the year that was ruined by a calf injury. Given the conservative approach the Tigers have taken with the 29-year-old through his most recent injury battles, if scans show the injury to be more serious there has to be some doubt about whether he will be risked again in the forthcoming weeks or put on ice for a bigger and better 2017.

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2. 'Raz' for the Rising Star nod?
One of the best things to come out of Essendon's season has been the form of Orazio Fantasia, and he continued that hot streak against the Tigers. The lively small forward kicked three goals and again showed his smarts, speed and creativity in attack. It pushed Fantasia, or 'Raz' as he is known at Essendon, up to 21 goals for the season, which is a strong return in his third AFL season. Fantasia has been close to claiming a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination a couple of times already this year but had been overlooked and will have to go close this week when it is decided on Monday morning at AFL headquarters. The 20-year-old is a success story for the Bombers recruiters, who picked him with choice No.55 at the 2013 draft.

3. Richmond's selection 'rejuvenation'
Before Saturday's game, Tigers coach Damien Hardwick told ABC radio the club was using its final seven rounds of the season to start a "mini rejuvenation" of the club's playing stocks. Their decisions at the selection table to give youngsters such as Oleg Markov, Jayden Short, Jason Castagna, Liam McBean and Connor Menadue provide an insight into the future, with a run of games giving the club a better glimpse of how the younger Tigers are placed to make an impact next year. Short (25 disposals) and Castagna (23) were probably the best of the new batch, while Markov kicked a nice running goal in the second term. They have a pretty handy player to learn off, too, in teammate Dustin Martin. The star midfielder continued his charge towards a Brownlow Medal with 43 disposals and 14 clearances against the Bombers. 

WATCH: Dusty demolition downs the Dons

4. The Lloyd end
It was an error-riddled first term but Sam Lloyd showed some skill with a brilliant goal late in the term. The Tigers forward was chasing a bouncing kick from Jack Riewoldt when he gathered the ball in the left forward pocket at the Punt Road end of the MCG. Facing the Tigers cheer squad tied up against the point post, Lloyd picked it up and swiftly turned the ball onto the outside of his right foot and dribbled it along the ground and through for a goal. For his quick thinking and delightful execution, Lloyd is the leading contender (so far) for the round 17 goal of the week. He booted another two at the Punt Road end in the third term to finish with three goals in another solid day out.

5. Prized pick set to be decided next week
Essendon has been a chance of winning three of its past four games, and next week faces the Brisbane Lions, the only other team in the competition with just one win for the year. The Sunday afternoon clash at Etihad Stadium looks likely to decide who finishes last and claims the No.1 draft pick at the end of the season, with just five rounds to follow their meeting. Unlike previous years where there is usually a standout first pick in the draft by this time of the season (and generally even before the mid-year under-18 championships), the 2016 crop doesn't have a clear choice as the first pick. Midfielders Will Brodie and Hugh McCluggage will come under consideration for whoever finishes with the No.1 choice, while Ben Ainsworth and Sam Petrevski-Seton are others likely to be in the mix.