Nathan Buckley previews Super Saturday for round 17

There’s a few things younger players can learn from this gun Hawk. Plus, which Bomber is set to fire when the penny drops? See Nathan Buckley’s full Super Saturday preview here.

Another big Saturday of footy is upon us!

Can the favourites continue their finals push?

Or will we see some upsets shake the top-eight race?

Nathan Buckley previews every game.

Noah Anderson. Picture: Getty Images

ESSENDON V GOLD COAST 12.35PM

Marvel Stadium

•This is the first of two fixtures that are crucial to each team’s respective seasons. The Suns, with the return game against Essendon in hand, are either competing for the Top 4 or on the cusp of missing finals, so every result is absolutely crucial. The Bombers, at their best, have a style that can worry the Suns. If they can prevent feeding the fast rebound game that the Suns impose at their best then they can stay in this contest and plant some seeds of doubt in their opponents.

•The midfield battle, as always, will inform the flow of the game. The Suns have a midfield group that has become more consistent and damaging. Noah Anderson, Matt Rowell, Touk Miller and Sam Flanders have shown depth and a cross section of strengths to handle most opposition. The Bombers have opted for multiple midfield match ups where they hunt the opposition. Sam Durham, Jye Caldwell and Will Setterfield have been deployed in these run-with roles with relative success in the past. Expect to see some head to head run-with roles on Saturday.

•Archie Perkins is a promising young talent who hasn’t been able to take the next step this season. Whether it is the chicken or the egg … his form or his team’s form, he has produced his best sporadically throughout the year. Many players in his position might yearn for more midfield time or greater responsibility from the coaching group but that is only earned through demonstration. That’s not just about doing your best, or doing it for 10 minutes, it’s what you put out consistently and it needs to be earned. He seems a determined young man so once the penny drops, look out.

•While the Bombers have had a recent spate of injuries they still have some great ins. The Suns on the other hand will miss two of their most consistent leaders and physical presence players in the form of Sam Collins and Jarrod Witts. Ned Moyle comes in to fill the ruck role and Oscar Adams will make his debut. While it’s not ideal, it may well be perfect timing as the leadership load gets spread further across the group and asks them all to provide direction in their stead.

FAST FACT: It is the first meeting of the two sides after their postponed Opening Round fixture. The last time these two teams met, Mac Andrew booted one of his four goals after the siren to steal victory from Essendon. 

Shaun Mannagh. Picture: Getty Images

GEELONG V RICHMOND 4.15PM

GMHBA Stadium

•The Cats have faced teams this year that have become a little more comfortable with their ground. The Giants and the Lions have hit and run with the points this year and the Dogs game was a cracker. They will be keen to impose their style on the young Richmond team on Saturday. With what has been labelled as a favourable draw in terms of quality of opposition, the Cats need to take every opportunity to get their hands dirty and play tough hard football regardless of opposition, to set themselves for the run to finals where the level will rise. That is their challenge and their opportunity.

•While the Tigers haven’t won a lot of games, they haven’t lost any admirers. The style that Adem Yze has them playing is an attacking run and carry method that looks brilliant when it comes together. The ability to pressure in their front half has been excellent at best but needs more consistency to be able to hold the field position that they gain at times. I like that they are prepared to expose this game style against any opposition at any time, knowing that getting better at what they value is more important in the short term than changing who you are to adapt to the opposition. It breeds familiarity and confidence in what they are building and the bigger tests will come in the next few years

•In the wake of Tom Lynch’s frustrations, which I’m sure he is extremely contrite about, the majority of the leaders at Richmond deserve credit for the way they have adapted to the changing prospects of their team. Premiership contention is a heady space and they converted that into three flags and while they are a long way from it now, Nick Vlaustin, Nathan Broad, Kamdyn McIntosh and Toby Nankervis to name four, have made the transition in mindset and have not lost any of their drive and competitiveness. All credit to them.

•Shaun Mannagh has made his mark in just two seasons and his teammates love it when he has the ball in hand. The Cats retain possession of his kicks into forward 50 at 66.7%. That’s ranked alongside Marcus Bontempelli as the equal No.1 ranked player from the top 50 kickers.

FAST FACT: Richmond may have triumphed on grand final day back in 2020, but Geelong has owned this rivalry ever since. In the five clashes since, Geelong has won four of the games by an average 34 points.

Josh Dunkley. Picture: Getty Images

BRISBANE V PORT ADELAIDE 7.35PM

Gabba

•Twelve months ago a 13th-placed Brisbane took on the seventh-placed Port Adelaide, and humbled them by 79 points to confirm their late charge to the finals. Well, we all know where that ended. These teams have been consistent Top 4 teams under their respective coaches for a consolidated period. This game would seem to be easy to pick and will be run and won by the Lions but Port Adelaide remains perhaps the only potential challenger from the “Bottom 9” and this game will either keep that dream alive or end it. So the stakes are high.

•Brisbane brought a fast-paced, off the line offence against the Cats in their last fixture, displaying the run and spread from the back half that became the hallmark of their exceptional finals month. When they put speed on the game it brings their medium forwards into the contest and Cam Rayner, Zac Bailey and Kai Lohmann all benefitted as a result. Add Logan Morris’ growth and consistency as a 33-game player and the intent will continue to test the opposition back half with probing ball use and run.

•Josh Dunkley is one of only 10 players in the game this year to push through the 100-tackle tally so far. He’s such a reliable player for the Lions. His 10 against the Cats in the last game he played is the third time he’s reached double figures this year.

•The penny might have dropped for Esava Ratugolea. His confidence level is high and his 3.6 intercepts per game in 2025 make him a defender to be wary of.

FAST FACT: Two of the league’s most damaging midfields will go head to head on Saturday night. Brisbane’s Lachie Neale and Josh Dunkley had 69 touches between them last time these teams met, while Zak Butters and Connor Rozee had 63 and a goal. 

Jack Gunston slots his seventh goal against North Melbourne. Picture: Getty Images

ST KILDA V HAWTHORN 7.40PM

Marvel Stadium

•The Hawks have handled the heightened expectations going into this season very well. To be placed within percentage of the Top 4 has been an excellent achievement. Their draw on the way home is solid and while this makes wins harder to come by it also makes the rewards greater as well. With games against Collingwood, Adelaide and Brisbane left to go, the Hawks can qualify for the double chance if they step up a gear at the right time of the year.

•Despite some excellent scalps in their five-win season to date, that return has been a disappointment for those looking for more improvement from the Saints. They sit in the lower reaches of the ladder, they are just two points clear of the Kangaroos who are in striking distance of leap frogging a few teams by season’s end. Their plans worked for periods of contests but just not for long enough. It may be talent or it may be youth but they just haven’t been ready to take the next step and perform consistently over four quarters let alone throughout a season.

•Jack Gunston!!! What a season he is having after spending one season at the Lions and looking like his physical best was behind him. He is a great example of what can happen when years of collective experience meet the knowledge of how to get the best out of yourself and the ability to physically meet the game where you need to. Gunston doesn’t out-run or out-muscle his opposition but he is first to move and gets to where he needs to be as quickly as any forward in the game. It has been a pleasure to watch him in action.

•The duel between Rowan Marshall and Lloyd Meek could play a pivotal role in who brings home these four premiership points. The Saints’ ruckman has had his hands full in recent weeks up against Darcy Cameron and Luke Jackson. He’s crucial to the Saints’ hopes on Saturday.

FAST FACT: Mabior Chol plays game No.100 on Saturday, and despite playing for three teams across 10 seasons, he has only played St Kilda three times. He’s coming off a five-goal performance last week, and needs 15 goals in the remaining eight games to set a career-high tally this season.

Originally published as Nathan Buckley previews Super Saturday for round 17