The Hawk who needs to step up in the absence of a star, and why there’s a fresh sense of urgency at Collingwood as history appears to be repeating itself.

Plus, why a rival captain shapes as the “biggest threat” to Nick Daicos in this year’s Brownlow Medal race.

Every club’s burning question ahead of Round 22, as well as the commentators for every Fox Footy game, in our ultimate weekly preview: The Blowtorch!

FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer.

AFL ROUND 22 (all times AEDT)

HAWTHORN v COLLINGWOOD

Thursday August 7, 7:30pm at the MCG

How to watch on Fox Footy: From 6.30pm on Channel 504, hosted by Sarah Jones, Jason Dunstall, David King and Leigh Montagna, with commentary from Matt Hill, Mark Howard, Jack Riewoldt, Brad Johnson, Eddie Betts & Jon Ralph.

Hawks’ burning question: Does star step up in Will Day’s absence and carry them to a flag tilt?

Sam Mitchell’s midfield has been dealt a devastating blow, with Will Day to miss the rest of the season following a setback with his navicular injury that required surgery earlier this season. And Saints great Leigh Montagna has put it on Jai Newcombe to step up in Day’s absence after being below his best form in recent weeks. The numbers tell the story. Since Round 16, Newcombe has fallen away in turning a clearance into an effective (dropped from No. 7 to No. 46), turning an effective clearance into a score (No. 2 to No. 46) and percentage of team score involvement (No. 15 to No. 315). Newcombe, who last week signed a massive six-year extension, just hasn’t looked the same player after being a force through the back-end of last season and through the finals. Montagna thinks he has to get back to some of that form if the Hawks are to do any damage this September. “(Day’s injury) puts so much more pressure on Jai Newcombe to become that man. This time last year he put on his cape and was sensational in the final couple of games and finals series. He’s not having the same impact this year … I don’t know whether he’s sore, I know he got subbed off a few weeks ago. He doesn’t look the same player we saw last year. If they are to try and push for a top four and flag tilt, he has to get back to being that man, because he’s just been off the boil,” Montagna said on Fox Footy’s First Crack.

Magpies’ burning question: History is repeating itself… so will ‘consequence’ kick them into gear?

It feels like history is repeating itself for Collingwood from two years ago. The Pies lost three of their last four games in their 2023 premiership season, though it mattered not from a seeding perspective, as they were still able to lock up top spot on the ladder. Collingwood’s current rut, also with three defeats from its last four outings, has seen the club not only drop top spot on the ladder, but suddenly its top four spot altogether is vulnerable. There’s now a feeling of urgency during the back-end of the home and away season they didn’t have in 2023, despite also dropping off late in the campaign. It sets up for a fascinating tough run home for Craig McRae’s side with clashes against Hawthorn, Adelaide (away) and Melbourne. It’ll need to rediscover a spark to set up its September run in a precarious tightrope and range of where the club could yet finish. “This is where this season gets sticky. A couple more missteps and they’ll miss the top four. Set it right and they’ll win the minor premiership and restore favouritism,” Fox Footy AFL 360 co-host Gerard Whateley said. “The margin for error has been erased. I suspect consequence plays a big role now from Thursday night. We’ll get the full ginned up version of Collingwood now. I suspect the lesson of 2023 was we didn’t get that for a period of time, and it never threatened them, they were sitting on top, and they produced in the finals. I would expect to see that now on Thursday night, there’s no loafing toward finals from here.”

Horse responds to Dees coaching links | 02:01

GEELONG CATS v ESSENDON

Friday August 8, 7:40pm at GMHBA Stadium

How to watch on Fox Footy: From 6.30pm on Channel 504, hosted by Garry Lyon, Jonathan Brown and Jordan Lewis, with commentary from Anthony Hudson, Gerard Whateley, Jason Dunstall, Cameron Mooney & Jon Ralph.

Cats’ burning question: Is Jezza’s race to 100 goals a ‘distraction’?

Jeremy Cameron kicking 100 goals is suddenly within reach. But is it becoming a ‘slight distraction’ for Geelong amid its run to the finals? Cameron has kicked 22 goals in his last three games to bring the Coleman Medal leader’s season tally to 75 — one short of his career high — and a whole 24 major ahead of Ben King in second spot. It means Cameron needs to kick 25 more goals with three friendly home and away games remaining against Essendon, Sydney and Richmond, followed by potentially two finals, as he sets out to become the first player since Buddy Franklin in 2008 to bag the ton. But Saints legend Leigh Montagna held concerns the Cats were now actively searching for Cameron, instead of playing their natural game in attack, in something he hopes Chris Scott’s side stamps out of its game before finals. “I just wonder what their plan is with this to get him to the 100. In some ways it was a slight distraction (in Geelong’s domination of Port Adelaide),” Montagna said on Fox Footy’s The First Crack. “Even Jeremy Cameron was running around at times like a headless chook trying to get on the end of a couple more. I just wonder whether they’ve got a bit of a though to: ‘Let’s try and get him as close to 100 as we can in the home and away season, so we don’t have to get caught up in the circus come finals time’. You’ve got to get it out of the way before then. You could sense it, everyone watching was looking for Jeremy Cameron. I don’t want them to flirt with their form by trying to feed him goals when they wouldn’t usually.”

Bombers’ burning question: Should defence be a priority recruitment area this off-season?

Brad Scott has reportedly met with in-demand Carlton free agent Jack Silvagni, who impressed as an intercept defender before having his season ended early due to injury. And given the Bombers have also shown interest in Brisbane’s Brandon Starcevich this year, versatile defensive depth is clearly something the club is eyeing as the off-season approaches. Crucial backmen Jordan Ridley, Zach Reid and Ben McKay have each struggled with staying healthy in recent times, while long-term prospect Lewis Hayes was struck down by a ruptured ACL in just his first AFL game and will need years in the system before he’s a mainstay in the side. But even when some of the aforementioned names have been out on the field this year, the club has struggled stopping opponents transitioning the footy end to end. Essendon remains dead-last in the league for defending opposition ball movement, it sits 18th for allowing opposition marks on the lead, 17th for opposition points from turnover, and 15th for points against.

Pavlich appointed Sydney Swans CEO | 01:33

RICHMOND v ST KILDA

Saturday August 9, 1:20pm at the MCG

How to watch on Fox Footy: From 12.30pm on Channel 504, with Leigh Montagna, Brad Johnson, Jordan Lewis & Ben Dixon

Tigers’ burning question: How does Lynch return impact structure?

Five weeks after he was hit with a ban for whacking Jordon Butts away from the footy, Tom Lynch will return to Richmond’s lineup when it hosts St Kilda, with injured first-year tall Jonty Faull ruled out for the final three games of the season. It’ll impact the way the Tigers line up against the Saints, with Faull having been part of the key-position attack for the past 16 games. Swingman Noah Balta was shifted into defence last Saturday against Gold Coast after Faull was struck down early in the game, and with experienced head Lynch back in the fold, there’s every chance Balta starts and plays solely in defence, with first-year forwards Tom Sims and Harry Armstrong likely to accompany Lynch in key attack. Ben Miller and the recently-returned Tylar Young have had a tough go of it this past fortnight, and Balta — despite his own struggles playing in defence this year — would ideally add surety to a backline in need of all the stability it can get.

Saints’ burning question: Are they ‘asking for trouble’ by offering Nas less than TDK?

Does Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera have a right to be frustrated with the Saints for offering Tom De Koning more money than him per year? If the reports are anything to go by, St Kilda is offering De Koning in excess of $1.7 million per year, while the latest offer to Wanganeen-Milera is purported to be in excess of $1.4 million. So, by putting less on the table for ‘Nas’, who continues to demonstrate he’s on a superstar trajectory and is clearly the club’s finest talent, are the Saints “asking for trouble”? “They’re trying to recruit Tom De Koning, and they’re trying to retain Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera. All I know is, your best player should be your highest-paid player, and if he’s not, you’re asking for trouble. If there’s an obvious best player, which currently at St Kilda would be Wanganeen-Milera, he should be the highest-paid player,” said Hall of Fame Legend Leigh Matthews on Fox Footy’s On the Couch. Wanganeen-Milera and his management would certainly know the figures being floated in front of De Koning — whether it will impact his ultimate call to stay or leave Moorabbin remains to be seen.

Langdon ‘Shocked’ by Goodwin sacking | 06:10

BRISBANE LIONS v SYDNEY SWANS

Saturday August 9, 4:15pm at the Gabba

How to watch on Fox Footy: From 4pm on Channel 504, Anthony Hudson, Jonathan Brown, Nathan Buckley & Alastair Lynch

Lions’ burning question: How will Neale’s absence impact midfield operation?

Lachie Neale will miss Brisbane’s final three home-and-away games — and potentially more — after it was revealed he’d suffered a quad injury, and it’ll leave a significant void in the Lions’ engine room, particularly right as they’ve found form with their clearance game. In last Saturday’s win over Collingwood, Brisbane was +17 for clearances and +15 for points from clearance — both of which were fourth-best for Round 21 — in an impressive and necessary return to midfield form after it was trounced by Gold Coast the week previous. “We’ve always just presumed they’ve been a great clearance team and scoring from clearance, but up until Round 21, they were ranked 11th for points from clearance differential. They hadn’t been as dominant as we probably had thought. But on the weekend, it was back … they were able to score off the back of it,” Montagna said on First Crack. “When those boys all get ball in hand — McCluggage, Ashcroft, Dunkley and Neale — and they flick it around and get to the outside, they are slick.” Will Ashcroft figures to get more centre-bounce opportunity alongside McCluggage and Dunkley, while Cam Rayner could also benefit with more time around the footy.

Swans’ burning question: How involved will Pav be in footy operations?

Fremantle legend Matthew Pavlich’s arrival as Sydney’s chief executive successor to Tom Harley comes as a contrast to that at Melbourne, where incoming CEO Paul Guerra has very little football background but expansive commercial acumen. Thus, Pavlich, the Dockers’ all-time leading goalkicker, figures to have more influence in the on-field side of things alongside football boss Leon Cameron and obviously coach Dean Cox. Asked on AFL 360 how much of a hand he’ll play in the football operations side of things, Pavlich said: “I think that’s probably where I’ll lean initially, in that first instance. Clearly, it’s going to be an important off-season for the club after getting to the grand final last year and having lots of injuries and some indifferent form, (and) Dean coming into the role late in the piece after John moved on, so there’s a lot to get busy on, there’s a lot to understand, there’s a lot to get up to speed to very quickly. So, yeah, I think hands will be dirty in that area of the business, but that’s not to discount how important the corporate, commercial, membership and everything else that the role will need and require of me, but I’ll be pretty keen to help Dean and Leon and the team in that football space.”

Horse the “target for any club” | 05:27

CARLTON v GOLD COAST SUNS

Saturday August 9, 7:35pm at Marvel Stadium

How to watch on Fox Footy: From 7.15pm on Channel 504, hosted by Kath Loughnan, David King, Jack Riewoldt & Jay Clark, with commentary from Mark Howard, Jason Dunstall, Garry Lyon & Ruby Schleicher

Blues’ burning question: Can they maintain ‘blueprint’?

In what’s otherwise been a tough second half of the season for Michael Voss’ undermanned side, the Blues produced one of their best performances in s0me time against Fremantle on the road, even if they went down. It was a particularly encouraging first half from Carlton in a period it laid 50 tackles and provided great pressure and heat to the contest in the “Carlton blueprint,” as put by Saints legend Leigh Montagna. Dual premiership Kangaroo David King was particularly impressed by the Voss’ Blues given it was essentially a dead rubber against a side still playing for its finals fate. “(Voss) went over there with a team that couldn’t really get the job done. On the road against a good side in Fremantle, that really should’ve won this game connivingly. He somehow fashioned a way with an undermanned line-up to get this manic pressure going, you sort of had to see it to believe it. It started minute one, they sent a message to Caleb Serong: ‘We’re coming after you.’ Everyone got involved, they hunted. You’ve got to give ‘Vossy’ some reward. It will go down as a four-plus goal loss in the end, but it was probably better than that,” King said on Fox Footy’s The First Crack.

Suns’ burning question: Is the skipper Daicos’ biggest threat for Brownlow?

Noah Anderson might have the best internal switch between defence and offence of any player in the league. In last Saturday’s demolition of Richmond, Anderson was consistently able to separate himself from his direct opponent at stoppages and in open play, particularly once the Suns had forced a turnover. “He’s been unbelievable, and I just don’t know if there’s been a better switch to go from defending to attacking … he’s already in full flight in a heartbeat. If you’re looking to become an elite midfielder … this is what he’s committing to the competition now. He’s saying: ‘If you don’t want to come with me, I’m maximum damage’,” David King told First Crack. Against the Tigers, Anderson posted 12 score involvements and nine inside-50s within his game-high 38 disposals. “I think he’s in your top two, three players in the competition right now … if you just allow these sorts of players to slip a metre, it becomes five, it becomes 10,” King continued. “In my eyes, this is the reason these guys can finish top four and seriously challenge … this guy absolutely is Nick Daicos’ biggest threat in the Brownlow.”

AFL stalwart Travis Boak retries | 01:08

PORT ADELAIDE v FREMANTLE

Saturday August 9, 8:10pm at Adelaide Oval

How to watch on Fox Footy: From 8pm on Channel 503, with commentary from Dwayne Russell, Dermott Brereton, Mark Ricciuto & Shaun Burgoyne

Power’s burning question: Is it time to concede Ken’s farewell tour hasn’t worked?

It’s been a disastrous final season to Ken Hinkley’s tenure at Port Adelaide. Statistics show the side has now copped their four heaviest of defeats under Hinkley this year alone, with the latest an 88-point drubbing at the hands of the Cats. Fox Footy’s David King could only sarcastically praise the move to oust Hinkley under the succession plan to have assistant Josh Carr take over in 2026. “It’s been a great finish for Port hasn’t it – it’s going really well this long goodbye,” he said on First Crack. The question of whether Carr would take the reins early has been shot down in the past, with predictions the Power would rally for Hinkley in the back half of the season. Unfortunately for the club, it’s going the other way with four losses in their past five games – at an average losing margin of 63 points, while that sole win came against the lowly West Coast. First Crack host Jay Clark said it looked like a “training run” for the Cats over the weekend. And they task doesn’t get any easier as Port take on a Fremantle sitting only percentage behind Geelong. “I hope they can put in a competitive performance for Ken. That was awful.” Triple premiership coach Leigh Matthews said despite the woeful results, Hinkley looked “really relaxed” amid the disaster unfolding on the field. “Port are getting worse by the week,” he said. “They’ve had a shocking year, they’re hardly winning but Ken looks really relaxed. I think he’s less stressed this year than this time last year.”

Dockers’ burning question: Can the AFL’s new comeback kids find an early lead?

Fremantle remain in the finals hunt of the back of “sensational” set shot kicking, some “mental toughness” and a will to win – but will that be enough? First Crack’s Leigh Montagna praised the side’s “clutch” victory over Carlton. “They’ve shown some real resilience this year. These are games they might have dropped in the past,” he said. Fremantle are riding high as the equal second best ranked side for fourth quarters since Round 10, behind only Bulldogs and GWS on seven and equal with Adelaide on six. Remarkably, statistics show that since 2022, the Dockers had won only three of 31 games when trailing at three quarter time. But that has since flipped to winning four of their past five games when down at the final change, starting back in Round 16 this year. “They’ve been able to do it four of the last five – that’s a real sign of maturity and of resilience,” Montagna praised. Since Round 10, the Dockers have won six first quarters, six third quarters and six final quarters – but just two second terms in an area to address for coach Justin Longmuir.

‘Cranky Pies!’ Rivals chasing McCreery | 01:41

GWS GIANTS v NORTH MELBOURNE

Sunday August 10, 1:40pm at Corroboree Group Oval Manuka

How to watch on Fox Footy: From 1pm on Channel 504, hosted by Sarah Jones, Brad Johnson & David Zita, with commentary from Anthony Hudson, Nick Dal Santo, Dermott Brereton, Alastair Lynch & David Zita

Giants’ burning question: How concerning was the Bulldogs loss?

Against the Bulldogs, the Giants recorded just 305 disposals and 36 inside-50s — both all-time worst figures under Adam Kingsley’s guidance — as well as 70 metres by hand and a pressure rating of just 165; both of which were second-worst all-time numbers under Kingsley. “I’m losing faith in the Giants,” Brisbane legend Jonathan Brown said On the Couch, also fearing the severity of Jesse Hogan’s foot injury after he limped off late against the Bulldogs. “I thought they were the smokey that could come from outside the top-four and rattle home … they’ve lost key players; (Toby) Greene wasn’t there, but (Jack) Buckley, I think (Jesse) Hogan’s banged-up — that’s a real concern for me. I think Hogan’s foot’s not something he’s getting over with a week off … to me, there’s grave concerns now for the Giants’ chance to win the flag.” Greene will return against the Roos, but it’d be crazy to risk Hogan this weekend. The Giants could regain the likes of Buckley, Brent Daniels and Josh Kelly for the finals, but they’ve got to actually qualify first.

Kangaroos’ burning question: Has Colby McKercher been the shining light in a dreary back end of the year?

Since being moved back behind the ball as a counterattacking force off the half-backline, Colby McKercher has been a rare highlight for Roos fans. In the nine games he’s played in since Round 13, the second-year speedster has averaged 30.6 as one of North’s preferred ball users coming out of the back half. And against St Kilda last Sunday, McKercher put up a career-high 36 possessions, four rebound-50s and a goal. “McKercher was probably the eye-catcher (last Sunday). Runs like this (through the corridor). Again, it’s the same reason you’re going to the footy as a North supporter,” club great David King said on First Crack.

Gaz: ‘It’s a footy club that’s confused’ | 03:42

MELBOURNE v WESTERN BULLDOGS

Sunday August 10, 3:15pm at the MCG

How to watch on Fox Footy: From 3pm on Channel 503, hosted by Sarah Jones, Brad Johnson & David Zita, with commentary from Dwayne Russell, Matt Hill, Tom Hawkins, Gerard Healy & Ruby Schleicher.

Demons’ burning question: Do they get an interim coach sugar hit? And which players are still up for the fight?

As Troy Chaplin steps in as interim coach following an eventful week at the Demons following the sacking of Simon Goodwin, Melbourne will be hoping to get the instant sugar hit like so many sides before it following a coaching change. It comes in a big test against a Western Bulldogs side fighting for its spot in the top eight followed by meeting with fellow finals contenders Hawthorn and Collingwood to round out the Demons’ season in a tough three-game audition for Chaplin. Beyond how the team plays and what tweaks Chaplin makes, arguably the more fascinating thing to watch will be how many players look committed to the cause — and which don’t — given several Dees face an uncertain future ahead of what could be a busy off-season. “Maybe it will tell us a little bit about who are the guys with a foot out the door or perhaps have checked out at least mentally in the back end of the season knowing the coach is gone,” Fox Footy commentator Corbin Middlemas said on Midweek Tackle. “(Chaplin will) be trying to get some sort of dead-cat bounce out of this team. But it feels like it’s going to be tough to pick off too many wins in that last month.”

Bulldogs’ burning question: Is this trait key to their finals surge?

The Bulldogs are the furthest thing from stagnant with their ball movement. The league’s number-one scoring offence, they consistently give the first handball option to runners going past, look corridor and go with urgency in hopes of generating deep, quality forward-50 entries. “What I love about the Western Bulldogs is they refuse to kick it when they don’t necessarily have to. We’ve spoken about other teams that are too quick to want to get the ball forward (by foot),” Leigh Montagna assessed on First Crack, citing multiple examples in the Dogs’ massive win over GWS last Thursday. “Ed Richards could have taken the lead-up and forced it a slow play. Instead, they give one extra handball inboard, which gives them a much better look going inside 50. They get the open side of the field; they get a deeper entry. How many times have we seen (teams) win a clearance and just dump the ball in? No, they want to draw, give, in towards the corridor, and then utilise the open side of the field to get better entries.” With the likes of Richards and Marcus Bontempelli as their prime movers, and with Sam Darcy and an in-form Aaron Naughton as the key focal points, this team remains a dangerous proposition in the intensified race to September.

Gaz’s heartfelt tribute to Goodwin | 01:58

WEST COAST EAGLES v ADELAIDE CROWS

Sunday August 10, 5:10pm at Optus Stadium

How to watch on Fox Footy: From 4.30pm on Channel 504, hosted by Sarah Jones, Brad Johnson & David Zita, with commentary from Adam Papalia, Matthew Pavlich, Will Schofield, Kath Loughnan & David Zita followed by Bounce and First Crack

Eagles’ burning question: Are they holding each other accountable?

The Eagles slumped to 1-19 for the season after another belting last weekend; an 83-point loss to Melbourne, which then still turned around and sacked Simon Goodwin anyway. Andrew McQualter and his staff would’ve gone into last Saturday thinking a scalp was a genuine possibility against a Demons side reeling from their horror St Kilda capitulation, but it was instead another uncompetitive effort at Marvel Stadium, prompting youngster Elijah Hewett to speak up about the need for the playing group to hold each other accountable. “If you’re not competing and don’t want to win, then you can’t really play for this side,” he began. “We’ve got to hold each other accountable during the week. We’ve got the opportunity to be a part of something great, and nothing is more fulfilling to me than a team bottom of the ladder working its way to the top.” Nobody expects a close contest this Sunday against new ladder leaders Adelaide, but a more competitive effort in front of their home crowd will be the measuring stick.

Crows’ burning question: Has star’s forward move unlocked flag favourites?

The ladder-leading Crows have surged into flag favouritism amid a dominant six-week winning streak. And Izak Rankine’s move forward could be key. Since Rankine’s switched into attack in Round 17, his numbers have dipped slightly (dropped from 22 disposals, five clearances, 1.1 goals and 6.8 score involvements with a 12.7 player rating, to 16 disposals, 2.5 clearances, 2.4 goals, 6.8 score involvements and a 15.8 player rating). While Rankine was largely moved due to Josh Rachele’s injury blow, the Crows offence has gone to another level since. Adelaide is ranked No. 2 in forward 50 score rate (108 points) compared to No. 10 previously (88 points). “They were floundering a bit as an offence in terms of their ability to score, they get a lot of entries. Their scoring has gone through the roof. (Rankine) is a forward 50 stoppage player who can shift the course of your year. We haven’t seen a forward-50 stoppage (player) since Gary Ablett Jr who can do what this guy does, it’s a work of art. Every time he goes in there, he does something extraordinary. Players can’t go with him,” Kangaroos great David King said on Fox Footy’s First Crack.