IN THIS week's Things We Learned, we discover a young Lion is surging towards and all-Australian blazer, Caleb Serong is ready to launch plus much, much more.

Check out what we learned from round 23 of the 2026 season.

1) Collingwood's kids are developing fast

It might have taken an onslaught of injuries to blood them this year, but Collingwood's next generation is holding up its end of the bargain. Ed Allan's power and strength around the footy has bolstered the club at stoppage, Will Hayes' goal nous makes the forward line harder to defend, Sam Swadling can win the footy like nobody's business and Roan Steele is mighty dangerous close to goal. With the group having developed together through the VFL in recent years and now progressing to the top level, its capacity to impact – and stand up in big moments – is an exciting prospect for what the next version of Collingwood will be in the coming years. The Pies have been questioned for not pushing more youth through their side as they look to remain in flag contention with their 2023 premiership stars, but the second half of this season has seen them re-balance the age profile of their best side. - Gemma Bastiani

2) This midfield star is ready for a massive September

Caleb Serong's finals performances in 2022 and 2025 were elite, and the midfield star showed on Friday night that he is primed again to deliver on the big stage. Serong has played a selfless role in 2026 and allowed others to flourish, but when the Dockers needed him to assert himself against Adelaide, the three-time All Australian was supreme, with his centre square goal a highlight in a 29 disposal, 12 clearance game. Serong has averaged 34 disposals and 9.3 clearances from his three finals, racking up 35 and 13 against Gold Coast last year. The Dockers haven't needed that output from him this year to win games but if they do in finals, the gun onballer will be ready. - Nathan Schmook

3) Will Ashcroft is storming towards a first All-Australian blazer

Two-time Norm Smith Medal winner Will Ashcroft had an inconsistent start to 2026, but his past nine weeks have been nothing short of stunning. Although compiling a handful of match-shaping performances in the first half of the year, the 22-year-old really got going in round 14 against Richmond where he flipped that close match with a devastating third quarter. Since then, he has been on a tear, topping 30 disposals in each of the nine matches, culminating in his 31-touch, one-goal outing against Gold Coast on Saturday that netted him a second Marcus Ashcroft Medal, named after his father, for best afield. There are always plenty of midfielders vying for All-Australian selection, but Brisbane's young star sits alongside almost all of them this season and is right in the frame for his first green blazer. - Michael Whiting

4) This Power ruck is going from strength to strength

It has been a challenging year for Josh Carr in his first season at the helm of the Power. There have been green shoots though, one of them being the emergence of Jordon Sweet as a genuine No.1 ruck. On Saturday night, Sweet was engaged in an interesting battle with Max Gawn. The soon to be nine-time All-Australian was terrific, but so was Sweet, who finished with 18 disposals, 25 hitouts, seven marks, six clearances, two goals and a team-high seven score involvements. The former Bulldog has been a great pick up for the Power and continues to improve. - Tom Wyman

5) This in-form Swan is in rare air 

Few midfielders have averaged 22+ disposals and kicked 30+ goals in a season more than once since the turn of the century. Dustin Martin and Isaac Heeney have done it three times, while Patrick Dangerfield, Gary Ablett Jnr and Marcus Bontempelli have each done it twice. At 25 years old, Chad Warner is now on the verge of joining them for his second such season. Since round 12, Warner ranks behind just Nick Daicos in Champion Data's player ratings, and is second in the league overall for inside-50s, first for goal assists and the No.1 goal-kicking midfielder with 34 majors. With eight games of 20+ disposals and 2+ goals for the 2nd-ranked Swans in 2026, 'The Chad' will almost certainly earn an All-Australian spot for the second time and enters finals as the most dangerous goal-kicking midfielder in the competition. - Bede Briscomb

6) This Blue has risen from the footy scrapheap

On the outer last year and on the verge of being delisted, Mitch McGovern is a new man this season and a crucial part of Carlton's newfound finals push. McGovern has played every game this year and since round 16 against West Coast, he has goaled in every game and offered a real settling presence to allow Harry McKay to get involved without carrying the weight of the whole forward line on his shoulders. Now with a contract extension in hand and a confidence on field not seen from him in recent years, McGovern could be Carlton's weapon come finals. - Gemma Bastiani

7) North Melbourne should really challenge next season

The Roos have now been ruled out of contention for wildcard round after losing to Geelong by 15 points, but did everything they could to push the perennial contender right to the final siren. Chris Scott said North Melbourne is the Marvel Stadium expert, and the way the Roos play the ground and move the footy is a significant advantage over visiting sides. Very few teams have piled on seven goals in a quarter against the Cats as North Melbourne did, and pleasingly for the Roos, they didn't go back into their shells when the Cats charged, all but matching them goal for goal in the second half. Say what you will about North Melbourne's 'easy' draw, but the last two weeks have shown off next year's baseline standard. In the final year of Alastair Clarkson's contract, his young Roos should be ready to rise. – Sarah Black

8) This Saints veteran is not slowing down

St Kilda veteran Brad Hill isn't showing any signs of slowing down as he heads into his milestone 300th match next week. The hard-running Saint had 15 disposals in the first quarter alone against Richmond on Saturday, finishing the match with a game-high 41 touches and winning the Ian Stewart Medal for best on ground. The 33-year-old former Hawk and Docker stood up in the absence of star midfielder Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera to keep the Saints' slim wildcard hopes alive, albeit they were snuffed out by Carlton's draw on Sunday. Hill has enjoyed a career-best year for disposals this season (26.7) and while it's been a disappointing campaign overall for Ross Lyon's side, their veteran has shown he's ready to go again in 2027 in what will be his 16th season. - Phoebe McWilliams

9) These young Giants offer exciting glimpse beyond 2026

The pairing of Aaron Cadman and Max Gruzewski is showing immense promise for Greater Western Sydney in the closing stages of the season. During Sunday's dominant 54-point victory over West Coast, the young tall duo provided an exciting glimpse of the club's future. Cadman booted 3.1 while Gruzewski finished with 1.2, with both dominating aerial contests and bringing a physical presence to the forward line. With veteran key forwards Jesse Hogan and Jake Stringer facing uncertain futures at the club, Gruzewski recently rejected rival interest to sign a two-year contract extension. As the Giants brace for a major list transition, this emerging one-two punch ensures their forward line will remain potent. - Emily Patterson