1. The injury curse continues
Nic Naitanui and Jonathon Ceglar require knee reconstructions after hurting themselves on Friday night, Paddy McCartin broke his collarbone on Saturday, North Melbourne's Scott Thompson's groin played up and Darcy Moore and Sean Lemmens joined the long list of casualties from this week's footy. The Sun was knocked out after a collision with Jesse White while Moore's right hamstring was injured as he slid for a mark. It could mean Travis Cloke has one last chance to prove his worth, after the premiership player kicked four goals earlier on Saturday in the VFL.

Full match details and stats

2. Fair to say the Melbourne experiment didn't work
The Suns spent the week in Melbourne after they played Essendon last Sunday. The combination of a six-day break, and the club not being in finals contention, meant they were prepared to stay in Victoria to do some sponsor and media work, and to let the players experience the footy-mad environment. They responded by not kicking their second goal of the game until halfway through the third term in a listless display. It came on the back of a poor effort versus the Bombers, and Gold Coast looks to be running on fumes. It's hard to determine how much impact not returning home had on the Suns' display, but they're unlikely to try it again.

Jesse White takes flight

3. Jesse White – the ultimate tease
The 28-year-old has long had a massive gap between his best and worst, and he was excellent against the Suns, although it came in a contest where both teams were out of finals contention. He finished with 17 disposals, 10 marks and registered 3.4. Some of his work in the air was brilliant, with his best effort coming at the end of the second term, when he took a grab between Rory Thompson and Steven May. It just happens too rarely for the liking of Magpies fans. This is the final season of a three-year deal for the former Sydney Swan, and it remains to be seen whether White will earn another contract.

4. Fans in short supply
There was nothing riding on the game, and the supporters weren't prepared to spend their Saturday night at the indoor arena. Just 17,644 people were in attendance, which was the lowest-ever number at Etihad Stadium for a Collingwood match. It's hard to blame anyone though – the Pies have had a disappointing season after being touted as potential finalists following the arrivals of Adam Treloar, Jeremy Howe and James Aish. Making the top-eight has been the minimum standard set by Nathan Buckley for 2017, or as he himself acknowledged on Friday, Buckley will be looking for a new job. 

5. Howe flies, but Brodie's braids capture attention
Footy fans have become accustomed to Howe taking a speccy a week, but against the Suns, he delivered two. In the second term, he flew over all two metres of Peter Wright to bring excitement to a lacklustre game. His effort over Steven May early in the third quarter was arguably even better. Brodie Grundy was the only person on the field who could match Howe in terms of being eye-catching, with the in-form ruckman sporting braids – a hairstyle not often seen in the AFL.