Nathan Buckley previews Super Saturday for round 11 on Fox Footy

James Sicily’s form has been on the radar for a few weeks now, but Nathan Buckley isn’t concerned as he shuts down talk of a big move.

There’s another four huge games on Super Saturday in round 11.

Every match has massive finals implications — and Hawthorn’s clash with Brisbane will further one side’s premiership claim.

See Nathan Buckley’s preview here.

Carlton's Nick Haynes faces his former side this week. Picture: Phil Hillyard

CARLTON V GWS GIANTS – MARVEL STADIUM, 12.35PM

•Two of the stingiest defences from a total points perspective meet each other in a must-win game. Both of these sides have stymied their opposition more often than not but are yet to balance the rest of their game effectively to find their best footy. They both boast strong contested ball beasts inside and those head-to-head battles could determine the outcome.

•Where these teams differ is in their ability to keep the ball in their front half. Carlton is a top four team for time in forward half and have been second best at restricting their opposition from entering their forward 50. This has been a significant issue for the Giants and they are bottom three for time in front half and have allowed the second-most entries to their opposition. The Giants simply can’t allow that level of supply if they wish to become a force this season.

•Toby Greene plays his 250th game in what has been a much speculated and hyped career. Some of this has been for playing on the edge, or being a lad, but I suspect that a lot of this is simply stereotyping and good for headlines. In my dealings with him, he is an intelligent, driven and open individual who accepts his shortcomings and works to improve them for him and the team. He has been an exceptional player in that time, a big moment player who gets it done when it matters. A loyal Giant servant, he deserves to be seen for what he is… a fantastic contributor to the club and the game off field, as well as an absolute gun on it.

•Adam Saad has shown us a different side of his game this year… he came on to the scene as a dashing half back and while he has struggled to break the lines with the same hurt factor, his defensive game has been on point. Wearing Robert Walls’ No.42, I will be looking for him to channel Wallsy’s “be bold” mantra today – and to take the game on. Wallsy would say “If you are going to make a mistake, make it a big one!”

FAST FACTS: It was one win each from the two meetings between these teams last year. Patrick Cripps and Tom Green polled Brownlow Medal votes in both matches while Harry McKay and Jesse Hogan each bagged eight goals across those clashes.

Bucks says James Sicily should stay behind the ball. Picture: Michael Klein

HAWTHORN V BRISBANE – MCG, 4.15PM

•Sam Mitchell succinctly described his team’s season when he said the Hawks were going good but not great. This feeling is clear to see for his charges as they continue to find their level in 2025. They are well positioned in a win-loss sense, despite going 3-3 in their last six games. This fixture against the Lions is an opportunity to bring their game to light.

•Like the Hawks, the Lions are battling against huge expectations from last year… not just as reigning premiers but against the amazing performance on grand final day. The Lions’ best is a high bar to reach and they have shown it in fits and starts. This match-up could be a preliminary final preview so it should be a cracker.

•James Sicily’s form has been on the radar for a few weeks now, focused predominantly on his ball use. I believe his form is indicative of the rest of the team but have no fears of it returning. The talk of him going forward permanently is ridiculous. He is one of the game’s premier intercepting defenders, an All Australian, and in that role he will impact heavily as the season progresses.

•Zac Bailey has had a sneaky good start to the year for the Lions. His speed and finish forward of the ball has become more consistent and he is currently the Lions’ heaviest Scoreboard Impact player with 17 goals and eight direct goal assists. He loves the ‘G too so will be set for a big one.

FAST FACTS: Hawthorn has won its past five games against the Lions – all at either the MCG, Marvel Stadium or Launceston. The Hawks last played Brisbane at the Gabba in 2019.

Last year’s clash between the Roos and Pies was a classic. Picture: Getty Images

NORTH MELBOURNE V COLLINGWOOD – MARVEL STADIUM, 7.35PM

•The Kangaroos were able to put a cherry on their recent form with a grinding win last week. They have played far more predictable football to each other and the fluctuations in game have been arrested as a result. This is the type of footy that allows a coach to make better decisions on where and to whom little shifts need to be made to improve. They get the sternest test here as the side they play is as ruthless as any in the game at the moment.

•The Pies have been lauded for their run and carry and finishing power at their best. This iteration can and does do that but it is prefaced on a team structure that suffocates its opposition. The Pies’ ball use is mostly organised and controlled so that it can reapply fierce pressure and contest and maintain field position. Watch to see how often they pause before entering F50 to allow their structure to be set up to lock the ball in first and score second.

•George Wardlaw is a breath of fresh air in the AFL landscape. He isn’t clean cut and tucked in and he hasn’t yet run with a fade! His raw and brutal attack on the footy is great to watch. Players can actually out-will an opponent to win the ball and that’s what Wardlaw does consistently. I’ve likened him to Paul Kelly in calls over the last year and that continues to stand out to me. Hard, tough, uncompromising… the type of player you can build a locker room around.

•Scott Pendlebury has been the pre-eminent Pie for nearly two decades now and we may witness a match up that signals the arrival of the next Pendlebury-like player. Harry Sheezel plays in a similar manner. Moving with stealth, seeing the game at a different level to most and just making good decisions time after time. He could do worse than be asked to shadow Pendlebury in this match which will have him in corridor, and slightly forward of the ball where he can do some damage for the Kangas.

FAST FACTS: Collingwood has won the past five clashes between these two and the biggest margin was 35 points. North Melbourne led by 54 points early in the third term last year and still lost by a point.

The Dockers and Power clash on Saturday night. Picture: Getty Images

FREMANTLE V PORT ADELAIDE – OPTUS STADIUM, 8.10PM

•Two of the teams with the largest variation in performance meet each other in an interesting Saturday night battle. The Power have been a top four team for years, maybe above expectations, and Freo have yet to fulfil theirs. If the Dockers of last week show up the only way they get beaten is if Port produces an emotive backs-to-the-wall performance that they are capable of periodically.

•Every team is going to lose games of football but big losses do lift the veil on what might be happening underneath. This Port team has turned its toes up too often in the last dozen matches and that’s not the Port way. The bare minimum from any player is to give consistent effort in their role and to contest hard from start to finish, no matter your talent level. Ken Hinkley will be demanding his charges return to that tonight.

•Sam Powell-Pepper has been a consistent threat for Port this year after missing most of 2024. He has been hitting the scoreboard consistently and above all I like his combative nature. The opposition back six always know when he is in the area but the thing with pressure is you can’t do it with one bloke. Modern players are too good at spreading the ball. He needs teammates to come along with him to really impose that game.

•There has been lots of talk around Luke Jackson and the ruck role. It’s been a bit of a moot point recently with Sean Darcy having a torrid run with injury and not able to stay match fit for any significant period. Jackson clearly relishes the No.1 ruck mantle and showed last weekend the different dynamic it brings to his game when he knows he is the man. That alone suggests it helps the team play better football. It’s that simple.

FAST FACTS: Port Adelaide has won six of the past seven meetings between these two. Zak Butters polled four Brownlow Medal votes last year in his team’s two wins against the Dockers.

Originally published as Nathan Buckley previews Super Saturday for round 11 on Fox Footy