the Crows were very good last week ...

they'll be very, very good this week now that Lynch is back.

we normally don't go overboard in acknowledging a 150-game milestone ...

we're making an exception this week. Beams has been a star at two clubs, and now developing into a fine leader.

Bolton axed Weitering this week ...

we would've understood. But we liked that he backed him, with real defiance.

the bookmakers view the Magpies as clearcut favourites against the Blues ...

we view it differently. To us, this game is a toss of the coin.

there's one thing Stringer has in his footy repertoire ...

It is a sense of theatre. In this Sunday's game against the Dogs, there are so many big storylines and subplots, and Jake is central to most of them.

there's one coaching match-up that's got us excited this weekend ...

it's Ross The Boss versus Stuey Dew. There's no doubt Dew will get inside Ross's head at some stage.

the addition of Ablett is an obvious plus ...

it won't actually have the ultimate desired effect until the backline woes are fixed. Henderson is required ASAP.

there's a better comeback story in 2018 than Sam Day ...

Well, there's not. This time last year, there were genuine fears he would never play again after an horrific hip dislocation.

there was one player in 2016 upon whom we placed a sky-is-the-limit boom ...

it was Rory Lobb. Yes, we know there have been injuries, but very disappointing since.

Sicily was available ...

we'd be confidently tipping the Hawks against the Tigers. Now we're doing so with trepidation.

since 2006 you've done something 17 times for the same outcome ...

we're predicting, strongly, a drought-breaking 18th attempt in a game against the Roos.

Jarrad Waite's body hadn't so regularly let him down since his 2003 debut ...

we'd be lauding one of the great careers right now. His all too rarely seen best is elite.

Stringer playing against the Dogs is a massive talking point of round three ...

Rocky versus the Lions is of equal note. Should be great viewing.

we don't normally get too worked up with match-scheduling matters ...

we are this weekend. The Tigers-Hawks game is wasted in the 1.10pm Sunday slot.

everything about round two was dreadful ...

everything since has been impressive. A snap players' meeting, strong public sentiments, genuine statements at selection. Now, 7.25pm Saturday night becomes the time we all get to see if actions are as important as words.

Tom Mitchell was still a Swan ...

this club would be our premiership favourite.

you were to reflect on those daydream moments you had as a kid thinking you were going to be the greatest footballer ever born ...

you were doing things like Liam Ryan actually does on AFL grounds. Hangers, attempts at every contest, goal-of-the-year cracks every time you're within range. Love it, and hope Simpson doesn't get too angry with the inevitable mistakes.

the communications issues which had messily played out off the field have now worked their way into the playing list itself, and they have ...

this now presents as Beveridge's greatest challenge.

there's one thing we'd like removed from the AFL cycle ...

it is the umpires' crackdown on a rule of the week. The protected zone adjudications of round one were all but ignored in round two.