AFL Round 7: Nathan Buckley previews Super Saturday on Fox Footy

Alastair Clarkson has swung the axe and will go with a new-look defence against the Power. Will it be the midfield’s turn next? Nathan Buckley runs the rule over Super Saturday.

Super Saturday is here and there is plenty of mouth-watering action to feast your eyes on.

While there is plenty of intrigue with St Kilda and Brisbane’s clash during the afternoon, as well as the twilight fixture between Port Adelaide and North Melbourne, all eyes will be on the enthralling meeting between the Giants and the Bulldogs.

It is almost 10 years on since one of the great preliminary final clashes between the two sides in 2016, and a rivalry has brewed between the sides ever since.

With both sides in fine form, it is set to be one of the games of the season.

St Kilda v Brisbane

1.20pm (AEST), Marvel Stadium

■ The Brisbane Lions have won just 12 of the 24 quarters they have played this year and have a percentage of 105. They are 5-1. At the same stage of 2024, the Lions had won 11 quarters with an identical percentage. They were 2-4 at the stage and we know how that ended. This team found their way after a bad start last year and will need to do the same to contend this year. You can’t go along expecting to flick a switch every week without it catching up to you.

■ The Saints got a lesson in all phases of the game last week against the Dogs. They have been a Top 4 team at converting their forward entries to scores and goals but that’s not much help when you only get it in there 31 times, as they did last week. Their midfield was soundly beaten and they will need to lift against a Brisbane team stacked with ball winners.

Jack Steele and the St Kilda midfield were soundly beaten last week. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

■ Charlie Cameron has had a slow start to this year coming back from injury. The last time he went back-to-back games without a goal was in 2020 and we need to go back to his time with Adelaide in 2017 to find a three-game stretch without a goal. This highlights his ‘hurt’ factor and the supply he has enjoyed for the majority of his time at the Lions. His pressure numbers are remarkably similar to previous years but that absolute hard-running break to space is not as evident … I reckon he is due.

■ St Kilda gave up too many marks in its defensive half last week, something that Ross Lyon would have no doubt addressed in the review. The Saints conceded 21 marks inside D50 – the equal third most conceded by any team so far this season. That’s a big red flag against the Lions, who have plenty of marking forwards – talls and smalls – who can make you pay.

Port Adelaide v North Melbourne

4.15pm (AEST), Adelaide Oval

■ The Power return to Adelaide Oval, having found their mojo over the past fortnight. But the fluctuation in their performance has still been considerable. Big chunks of dominance followed by long stretches where the opposition have their way. If there is one thing Ken Hinkley wants to see from his charges, it is an even and solid four-quarter performance where they can impose their game on North Melbourne.

Alastair Clarkson has swung the axe. Picture: Michael Klein

■ Alastair Clarkson has given his key backs plenty of leeway and they have had every chance to find the level. Aidan Corr and Griffin Logue have struggled to contribute in their primary defensive roles and have little to add on the offensive side. They have paid the price this week. It has been clear that any new formation of a back six was going to be worth having a look at and that’s what North are doing this week with Kallan Dawson and Charlie Comben asked to fulfil the key roles.

■ Mitch Georgiades has begun the year in career-best form. He has been consistently threatening and his aerial power stands up against any opponent. The Power have been looking for the best role for him, having played as a high forward for a period last year after returning from injury. But in Port’s current mix, he has been the clear focal point and has caused plenty of headaches for opposition defenders.

■ North was smashed in the engine room on Good Friday and if it hadn’t been for the first-up 2025 performance of George Wardlaw, it would have been even uglier. Wardlaw’s return was something to savour for Kangaroos fans, given the likes of Luke Davies-Uniacke and co had their colours lowered against the relentless Blues. Wardlaw had 21 disposals, 13 contested possessions and five clearances on his return. Second-up efforts off an injury lay-off can sometimes be tougher, but the Roos need him today.

GWS v Western Bulldogs

7.35pm (AEST), Manuka Oval

■ This matchup is a genuine grudge match and has become a low-key blockbuster on the calendar. Both of these teams find an extra level of combativeness when they face each other knowing that the in-tight “Little Circle” battle is where ascendancy is won and lost against each other. Picture a couple of ‘Bighorn Rams’ going toe to toe…again and again and again. There is very little quarter given or taken in these contests and it’ll be no different tonight.

■ The Giants allow 57.5 inside 50s on average to their opposition this year. Only West Coast, Richmond and North have allowed more. This belies the otherwise stellar defensive profile that the Giants boast. At the moment they seem to rely almost solely on their work in the back 50 where they are the No.1 team preventing opposition scores and goals from their entries. It’s here that Sam Taylor does a lot of his good work and stands as the game’s premier intercept defender.

The Giants need more from Jake Stringer. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

■ Luke Beveridge has never shied away from a shock selection call which can catch the rest of the footy world off-guard. He did it again this week by dropping one of the team’s better performers over the past few years – key defender Liam Jones – even though he knew the Giants were bringing back Jesse Hogan. In comes Jedd Busslinger for his first match, and a possible showdown with Hogan. It’s a brave and bold call.

■ You can’t jump to conclusions after four games in orange, but it’s a fair bet that Adam Kingsley would like to see more from Jake Stringer. He has kicked 3.10 in the past month but hasn’t yet provided the forward spark the Giants wanted. His team has scored a goal 4.5% of the time they have targeted Stringer inside 50m – the second lowest rate of the top 50 targets. Against his original side, he will want to be making a bigger impact tonight.

Originally published as AFL Round 7: Nathan Buckley previews Super Saturday on Fox Footy