AFL Round 8: Nathan Buckley previews Super Saturday on Fox Footy

From what we’ve seen over the past two matches, Simon Goodwin’s game play does work – but there’s a habit the Demons must keep, writes Nathan Buckley in his Super Saturday preview.

This might just be the biggest Super Saturday of the year.

The Crows and Blues blockbsuter at Adelaide Oval

Will the Crows continue their hot start to the season? Can the Tigers maintain the rage? How will St Kilda bounce back?

It was fiery at Adelaide Oval last weekend. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos

WESTERN BULLDOGS v PORT ADELAIDE

BALLARAT, 1.20PM

■ The annual pilgrimage to Ballarat takes place for Dogs fans this week for the first of two home games there. Funnily enough, this fixture comes against a team undefeated on this ground. Port are two from two here after wins in 2017 and 2018. Both team enjoy a 4-3 record in 2025, despite taking different paths here. One game from the Top 4 and one game from the depths of the ladder … this is a true 8-point game.

■ Port’s three wins on the trot have silenced the naysayers who harped on about the coaching succession plan earlier in the season. There is little doubt it will pop up again as they look to develop their game and work to become a contending team in 2025; of which there is still work to do. Ken Hinkley is clearly in charge and energised to make the most of this final stretch with a group of players and club that he has committed tirelessly too since 2013. And Josh Carr is clearly plying his trade for the short term, week to week to get the best out of his division because that is how you make the most of any opportunities the future holds when he inevitably takes the reins.

■ Jason Horne Francis was a strong storyline out of the narrow win against North Melbourne last week. The young man wears his heart on his sleeve and didn’t enjoy the quite obvious attention he received at the hands of his former teammates. He will become more capable of dealing with this as his career progresses and, as he has for the most part, let his football do the talking. I thought he was well supported by his coach and leaders last week and that approach will bear fruit in the long run.

■ Bailey Dale continues his exceptional season as the Dogs find more and more troops to share the load. An old Dog, Jason Johannisen, and a new one, in Luke Cleary, have become excellent foils for Dale, who is one of the most consistent rebounding defenders in the competition. With this depth it reduces the reliance on Dale and maybe even his top-end numbers but ironically increases his overall impact on the contest.

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Sam Walsh is back to his best. Picture: Michael Klein

ADELAIDE v CARLTON

ADELAIDE OVAL, 4.15PM

■ The Blues would be well pleased to have taken a highly-rated scalp last week – which is their first since beating Geelong in Round 15 last year. More than that though, the consistent and shared pressure that they were able to exert on their opposition is the clear tool to unlock the rest of their game. This pressure is at the beginning of their best defence and their best offence and allowed their obvious talent to rise in its wake.

■ Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks lamented his team’s inability to handle what they knew was coming last week. They played a Freo team on their home deck and with their backs against the wall but weren’t able to handle the intensity the Dockers brought into the contest, weren’t clean enough and couldn’t find time or space for their damaging offence. They shouldn’t be under any illusions about what they will face from the Blues. It’ll be rinse repeat; so can they handle the heat this time around?

■ In my opinion, Sam Walsh has showed in the last three weeks why he is Carlton’s most important player. The skill-set that he brings to the Blues’ mix is crucial to bridge the stoppage bulls in Cripps, TDK and Hewitt with their tall forwards Curnow and McKay. His tireless workrate and uncanny ability to be the extra number at contests, both in attack and defence is elite and kills with a thousand cuts. When the Blues pressure game is on, there is more loose ball and that’s where Walsh does his best work.

■ Taylor Walker has a superb recent record against the Blues, a fact that won’t be lost on Michael Voss. He has kicked three or more goals in five of his last six games against the Blues – finishing with 14 disposals and four goals in Round 5 last year.

COLLINGWOOD v GEELONG

MCG, 7.35PM

■ Chris Scott was low key unimpressed with his charges performance last week. In his post-match press conference he all but stated that outright but realises that they are still a work in progress. The execution of the basics would have been Scott’s major lament as the Cats, young and old, are often very good in this area. Sometimes shining a light on an outlier poor performance can plant a seed in the psyche that does more damage than good. No team tests your basics more at the moment than Collingwood so a stern test awaits.

■ The Pies’ defensive shape is getting a lot of plaudits, as it rightfully should. Since the Opening Round loss to the Giants, the Pies are defending as well as any. Top 2 and allowing two fewer goals on average than the next best. The effectiveness of this element of their game is accentuating their front-half offence and their scoring profile has shifted accordingly. You need to be able to win in different ways in this competition and Collingwood continue to build that

Steele Sidebottom tackles Dylan Shiel on Anzac Day. Picture: Michael Klein

■ Jack Crisp, should he play, will assume the longest continuous streak of games in this competition’s history. Coaching Jack really was a pleasure. Every athlete requires tailored attention to blossom but on that measure Jack is a clear outlier at the low maintenance end. He is quite obviously resilient; physically, mentally and emotionally, and has an abnormally high appetite for work, even at this level of competition. His training consistency has underpinned his ability to turn up week after week and perform at a high level and his personal support team needs a lot of credit, partner Mikayla and his daughters day by day and his parents for the person they helped shape.

■ Patrick Dangerfield is almost playing as well as ever, albeit in a different manner to his Brownlow Medal-winning best. Over the last four rounds, he has won 54.5% of his offensive one-on-ones – ranked No. 1 in the

Simon Goodwin and the Dees travel west this weekend. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

WEST COAST v MELBOURNE

PERTH STADIUM, 7.35PM

■ When Simon Goodwin talks about defence being the bedrock of his team’s game plan, the last two games shows why. Most people when they hear defence, they hear safe, conservative and reactive. The fact is that modern defence is anything but. When the Demons improved their ability to put pressure on their opposition, when they increased their intensity and became more aggressive in contest and defence, it created more scoring opportunities to take advantage of ….in more dangerous positions on the ground. The best defences aren’t staid, they are bold. Now to make it a habit.

■ The Eagles have a task each week to find a level of competitiveness that gives them a chance to perform week in week out. The coaching team is still in exploration mode, looking to shift and test players in different positions to find a mix that they can build from. This takes time and balance as without exploration you can’t find better and without being settled you can’t be consistent. West Coast are not here to contend in 2025, but they do want to be in that space as quickly as they can …. that’s the challenge for them right now.

■ One part of the field they have found some prospects is in the running backs. Ryan Maric is a skilled running player who has been asked to develop behind the ball. Along with Brady Hough, who is locking down a little more, the pair have settled well into their respective roles. The requirements in that particular role can fluctuate wildly depending on the mids ability to win clearance and the front lines ability to pressure the opposition ball movement. They will find plenty of the ball and use it well, the challenge is to compete consistently regardless of what happens around them.

■ Harrison Petty’s return to the forward line has proven a winner. He’s provided an extra avenue in attack in a forward line that has looked pretty barren. Perry has kicked seven goals in the past three weeks and looks set to stay forward.