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IN TODAY'S AFL Daily, star journalists Damian Barrett and Nat Edwards join all the dots on football's big issues.

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- If Essendon is still a chance to make the top eight, can this up-and-down star be the difference?
- This engine room is going to be one of the best young midfields going around ... but one key cog has to stay 
- It’s really hard to see the Giants actually winning this game. Cats are the team to beat
- The Sun who's set to join a rare club

In this episode ... 

0:43 – Jake Stringer’s impact in 2021

1:55 – Stringer’s midfield time paying off

4:20 – Andrew Brayshaw’s 'career-best form'

5:35 – The elite midfield the Dockers could have for a decade

7:20 – The Giants' chances of victory against Geelong have been cruelled by injury

9:25 – Jacob Townsend plays for his fourth club

10:50 – Maurice Rioli jnr makes his debut for Richmond

12:32 – What Damian Barrett and Rioli have in common

14:08 – Maurice Rioli – a great name in more ways than one

15:00 – A 'miracle' that only one game has been impacted by COVID in this round