State of Play hosts Joe Pignataro and Gemma Bastiani preview the big topics ahead of this weekend's VFL and VFLW action.

St Kilda’s switch up in form
After losing to Carlton in Round 7, St Kilda languished at the bottom end of the Smithy’s VFL ladder with a 1-5 record. However, something in that five-point loss to the Blues provided the Saints with the glimmer of hope they needed to reassure themselves they were on the right track. Since then, they've won four matches in a row and are staring down a fifth when they head to Arden Street Oval to take on North Melbourne on Sunday. In the same period, the Kangaroos have gone win, loss, win, loss and have been far from consistent. A victory against the Roos could propel the Saints into the top 10 for the first time this season.

A rematch of the 2025 preliminary final
North Melbourne Werribee has picked up where it left off, producing the same scintillating form in 2026 that won it back-to-back VFLW flags. Box Hill confronts the Roos this weekend after throwing everything at them in last year's preliminary final. The Hawks will need to do the same again if they're to come away with the four points at Box Hill City Oval on Saturday. New Kangaroos’ coach Alex McKenzie spent four years at Box Hill and will know his former side inside out, but the Hawks will be fresh coming off a bye and have had ample time to plot the downfall of the competition's invincibles.

The must-watch midfield battle
The midfield battle at Barry Plant Park on Sunday promises to be an all-out attack. Over his past three matches, Frankston's Darby Hipwell has averaged 31 disposals, five clearances and a goal, while Coburg’s Jack Bytel remains an accumulator's dream in the middle of the ground. Although the pair will do much of the heavy lifting for their respective sides, Flynn Gentile and Joel Trudgeon will provide terrific support for Bytel, while Trent Mynott and Pat Dozzi will play similar roles alongside Hipwell. Will the battle of the standalones be as simple as who gets on top through the middle?

Can Williamstown create a gap in the top four?
While Collingwood watches on from the stands and North Melbourne battles Box Hill, Williamstown has a golden opportunity to create a gap inside the VFLW top four should it defeat fourth-placed Sandringham. These two sides featured in the finals in 2025, but both enter this season under new leadership, with Paul Groves moving the magnets at Williamstown and Jack Frost adding new layers to the Sandringham side. History favours the Seagulls, as Sandringham has to go back to Round 10, 2022, for the last time it tasted success against Williamstown.

Tough assignments for Queensland trio
Gold Coast anchored Brisbane to the bottom of the ladder last weekend in the QClash, and the challenges don't get any easier this weekend for the three Queensland sides. The 21st placed Suns head to GMHBA Stadium to take on ladder-leader Geelong, while the Lions face the task of tackling an in-form Werribee outfit at Avalon Airport Oval. Neither visiting side has ever recorded a win in Geelong or Werribee, making the venues unhappy hunting grounds. Meanwhile, Southport returns home to take on the Sydney Swans with a place inside the top ten on the line. The Swans were upset winners when the travelled to Fankhauser Reserve in 2025.