IN THIS week's Things We Learned, we discover the Dees will be stretched, just who is the competition's best young key forward plus much, much more.

Check out what we learned from round 24 of the 2026 season.

*This article will be updated after the West Coast v Hawthorn match on Sunday night

1) The market for Jake Stringer should be competitive

Jake Stringer gave Victorian clubs plenty to think about in his final game for the Giants. After announcing he would return home at season's end for family reasons, 'The Package' kicked six goals against Adelaide to finish 2026 as Greater Western Sydney's leading goalkicker with 48 majors for the season. The prolific forward will turn 33 in his 15th AFL season and, while he won't be expected to fill a No.1 forward role, should arrive back in Melbourne with no shortage of finals fancies fighting for his signature. Stringer fits in seamlessly at Collingwood, Hawthorn, Carlton or North Melbourne as an X-factor capable of kicking a big bag on any given day. – Bede Briscomb

2) The Dees will be stretched without 'Jeffo'

Melbourne hearts will be in mouths this weekend. The Demons already looked light on tall forward options without the suspended Jacob van Rooyen for Saturday's upset defeat to the Bulldogs, only for fellow key-position target Matt Jefferson to hyperextend his knee midway through the third quarter and fail to see out the game. He'll have scans in the coming days to determine the severity of his issue. Harrison Petty battled bravely without them, while Tom McDonald also proved an unlikely target, but another absence could leave Steven King's side painfully short of targets for next week's wildcard clash with Carlton. The Demons kicked just five goals from 33 entries in the first half against the Dogs and couldn't generate much bang for their buck on a frustrating afternoon. - Riley Beveridge

3) Logan Morris is the best young key forward in the competition

It's often Bulldogs gun Sam Darcy, Docker Jye Amiss or Bomber Nate Caddy that draw the headlines, but Logan Morris is a genuine superstar. The scary part? He's just 21 years of age. Morris had a career-best outing against the Pies, becoming the first Lion to kick eight goals on the MCG ever in what was a scintillating display. The youngster has now booted 63 goals for the year and is well and truly in the conversation for a maiden All-Australian blazer. Having already won two premierships, it's hard to believe the Western Jets product is only just getting started. He's a great mark, is incredibly athletic and has a great goal nous, so he really does tick all the boxes for a modern-day key forward. The sky is the limit for Morris and it looks like he'll have a big say in this year's finals series. - Dylan Bolch

4) This Saint has been the highlight in 2026

In a season where St Kilda brought in much talked about recruits Jack Silvagni, Tom De Koning and Liam Ryan, Max Hall has been the standout this year. A mid-season draftee in 2024, his emergence last year was impressive, but this year he has become arguably the club's most dangerous midfielder, with his work ethic, physical attack on the footy and power out of stoppage. And as the cherry on top, he is a midfielder who reliably hits the scoreboard and he starred again against Gold Coast on Thursday night. In a team with star names, Hall should be considered among them. – Gemma Bastiani

5) The Blues are the team to beat this finals season

With wins against reigning premier Brisbane and minor premier Fremantle in recent weeks, Carlton is the in-form team heading into finals. The Blues’ 37-point win against the Dockers in round 24 will leave the players chock-full of confidence, as well as giving them the momentum to roll into next week’s Wildcard Round. With their troubled start to the season firmly in the rear-view mirror and plenty of excitement around the club with the permanent installation of Josh Fraser as head coach, the Blues are full of belief and now have the runs on the board to prove their credentials. With winners all over the ground who appear more than ready to take finals by the scruff of the neck, anything is possible for this side that has already done the unthinkable in 2026. - Sophie Welsh

6) This young Bombers forward is tracking nicely

In a tough season for Essendon, Nate Caddy's campaign deserves recognition, and he capped it off with a career-best six goals in the loss to Port Adelaide on Sunday. Caddy's growth has been clear this year and he would have enjoyed an even bigger campaign if not for some inaccurate goalkicking. He finishes the season with 46 goals, well and truly bettering the 20 he managed last year. Caddy kicked goals in 21 of 22 games, only failing to hit the scoreboard against Greater Western Sydney in round 19 when he was ruled out early due to an elevated heart rate. In a team that won just two games this year, Caddy was a shining light. - Dejan Kalinic

7) Resilient Swans prove their coalface steel holds fast under pressure

Even without five key players amid off-field turmoil, Sydney showed that will do little to derail its contest work or structural integrity when under pressure. Even as North Melbourne staged a spirited third-quarter push to slice the margin back, Sydney held firm behind its work at the coalface even in the absence of the likes of Isaac Heeney and Chad Warner. By continuing to control contested possession, Sydney stemmed the Kangaroos' growing momentum and successfully protected their lead. The Swans finished +26 in contested possessions to highlight their resilience after a tough week. - Emily Patterson

8) Spearhead forward will likely play back in September

When last year's Coleman medallist Jeremy Cameron started off half-back in Saturday night's game against the Tigers many thought it was just Chris Scott's way of easing his star forward back into the highest level since injuring his AC joint in round 18 against Greater Western Sydney. Playing off half-back would allow the five-time All-Australian to get his hands on the footy, get some run in his legs and potentially keep him away from the physical pressure applied by a young defender in an uneven game between a finals contender and a team that will finish near the bottom of the ladder. But in his post-match press conference Scott said it's something he had planned even before the injury and it will happen again… in finals. When asked the probability of Cameron lining up in defence in September, Scott was quick to answer, "high". - Phoebe McWilliams