AFL round 9: Nathan Buckley’s Super Saturday Fox Footy preview

The Willie Rioli saga has dominated the week leading into the Showdown. Fox Footy expert Nathan Buckley has praised Port Adelaide’s handling of the drama.

It’s shaping as a huge Saturday of football in round 9, headlined by a crucial Showdown for the Crows and Power.

After a week of drama, will Ken Hinkley have his side steeled to make a statement?

Hawthorn will be expected to defeat an improving Melbourne, which has ridden Max Gawn’s exceptional form in recent weeks.

Sydney can show its derby win was the start of a season revival when it takes on Essendon, while Matt Rowell and the Suns will be desperate to respond after a poor week against Western Bulldogs.

MELBOURNE v HAWTHORN

MCG, 1.20PM

● Hawthorn has had its challenges dealing with expectations this year, despite holding a 6-2 ledger. But narrowing the focus of ending a long losing streak against a specific opponent is exactly what they need right now. Hawthorn would be more than aware it hasn’t beaten Melbourne since round 4, 2018, with eight losses and a draw coming since then. It’s a good focus point for them leading into this game.

● Neither the Hawks nor the Demons have found their best form this year, but Sam Mitchell’s team finds itself three wins better off than their opponents. The expansive dynamic offence that Hawthorn is capable of is something that Melbourne would aspire to. The open expanses of the MCG will be a test for both clubs to find their respective attacking mojo.

Clayton Oliver will return for Melbourne when it takes on Hawthorn.

● Jake Bowey has been as consistent as any Melbourne player across the first eight rounds. With Judd McVee back in the mix after missing the first part of the season, it adds support in terms of defending and rebounding as Bowey’s wingman. Bowey has the most metres gained of any Melbourne player this season (440) and ranks second for assisted metres gained (303.8)

● In the last month Jack Gunston has kicked 18 goals, with eight direct goal assists and his scoreboard impact for Hawthorn is greater than any other player in the competition during the same time frame. He is averaging 3.2 goals per 100 minutes of game time, which is ranked second in the AFL.

FAST FACT: Melbourne has won eight of its past nine matches against Hawthorn and the other match was a draw. The Hawks last defeated the Demons in round 4, 2018.

ESSENDON v SYDNEY

MARVEL STADIUM, 4.15PM

● Essendon hasn’t relied on its offence to win games this year, having averaged only 77.5 points in four victories to date – the fewest in the AFL right now. They have been able to hold their opposition to relatively small tallies in those wins, which shows their defensive numbers are moving in the right direction. In each of their three losses, the Bombers have conceded more than 100 points. Offensively, the Swans are a team yet to hit full-throttle, so the focus will be on squashing them again defensively.

● For me, the Swans are still looking to find their DNA in 2025. Their best footy has been pretty good, but the gap between their best and worst this season has been wider than it has traditionally been for the club in the past. Their last visit to Marvel Stadium produced a 65-point win over North Melbourne, so they will be looking to replicate that sort of effort.

Can the Swans continue their form resurgence against Essendon?

● Since round 3 when Brad Scott moved Zach Reid onto a dangerous Mitch Georgiades during the game and trusted his young defender with the main role in the back six, Reid has been exceptional and come of age as a player. That’s great coaching, even though his hand was forced a bit, as Ben McKay wasn’t quite getting the job done. Reid has kept his direct opponent goalless in each of his past five games, last conceding a goal to Darcy Fogarty in round 2.

● James Jordon has played multiple roles for the Swans this year including run-with jobs and some freewheeling ones. But the fact he has a good record on Zach Merrett will force Dean Cox’s hand to lock him down on the Essendon captain. He kept Merrett to only 10 disposals and one clearance in the 88 minutes they were matched up in round 23 last year.

FAST FACT: Sydney has won the past three clashes between these two clubs and six of the past seven. Swan Isaac Heeney collected six Brownlow Medal votes from his two matches against the Bombers in 2024.

GOLD COAST v WESTERN BULLDOGS

DARWIN, 7.35PM

● Darwin football is different to anywhere else the AFL plays. It’s always a wet weather game, whether it rains or not … humidity and precipitation have the same effect. The Suns are familiar with the challenge and have won their last six games at TIO Stadium over the last three seasons – four of them by 10 goals or more. The Dogs lost here narrowly to the Suns two years ago but have not had the same exposure to the conditions as their opponents.

● Arguably, the Dogs have been as impressive as any other team through the early stages of 2025. They have blended youth with experience, explored and developed new roles for established players and managed changing personnel through injury with a minimum of fuss. Their game is in great order and they will be ready for this fixture, which will test everything they have built in the last two months.

The Dogs and Suns will clash in Darwin on Saturday night.

● After being quelled by the Brisbane midfield, it doesn’t get any easier for Matt Rowell as the Dogs bat as deep in that area of the ground as any other club. But if I was going to back anyone in the competition to rebound from a down performance, it is a player who carries as much pride as Rowell does. The ball will spend a lot of time on the ground, so expect him to keep greater momentum through the contest as he won’t allow himself to be a sitting duck and to be leaned on like he was last week.

● Luke Beveridge’s expectations of Tim English have shifted this year. He is using English as another transition player rather than expecting him to be the combative ruckman that he was asking him to be in previous seasons. This is playing into English’s strengths, which has had a big impact on his intercepts and score involvements.

FAST FACT: The Western Bulldogs have won five of their past six games against Gold Coast. But the Suns have won their past six matches in Darwin including a seven-point win against the Dogs in 2023.

PORT ADELAIDE v ADELAIDE

ADELAIDE OVAL, 8.10PM

● Locked at 28-all across the history of the Showdowns, this 2025 match-up finds Port even with the ledger at 4-4 and the Crows one win ahead. The two-team town creates an environment like no other and the positive, happy go lucky feeling of a Gather Round gets replaced with passionate and generationally fuelled intensity on both sides. These games are worth more than four points.

● The Willie Rioli situation, in my view, has been handled well by the Port Adelaide hierarchy. I’ve no doubt that internally they have had really clear and specific conversations with Willie about what is and what is not acceptable as a Port Adelaide footballer. Publicly, they have voiced clear support of their player. Willie is a human, an imperfect one like the rest of us. I’ve no doubt the support of his club will allow him the space to reflect and learn from the things he can control and to endure the things he cannot.

● The best players stand up in the big games. Zak Butters has had to deal with a lot of speculation about his future this week, but that will blend into the background on Saturday when he resumes hostilities with the Crows. He loves playing Showdowns. He had 33 and 42 disposals in the two Showdowns last year, including the round 23 clash when he won 20 contested possessions and had 10 clearances.

● Adelaide’s offence gets a lot of credit, but its back six deserves almost as much after a strong start to the season. My views on Mitch Hinge are pretty transparent, but a guy who has really taken my eye this year is Josh Worrell. Every side needs that sort of intermediate player – like a Jeremy Howe – who can impact aerially, contribute to ground ball and use it effectively by foot, and Worrell can do all three.

FAST FACT: These two teams have met 56 times and the ledger is square at 28 wins each. It was one win apiece in 2024. Port’s Zak Butters collected five Brownlow Medal votes from last year’s two meetings while Crow Matt Crouch polled one vote in both games.