‘This is massive’: Ugly ‘turn’ AFL contender can’t afford; why uproar could deepen: Burning Qs

We’re one game into Gather Round, but there’s still a host of exciting fixtures to come.

Footy has moved to South Australia for the weekend in a footy carnival in the City of Churches.

With insights from several Fox Footy pundits, below foxfooty.com.au runs through some of the big talking points for the massive fixtures ahead.

Watch every game of every round this Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >

Can Power prove themselves as a legit contender?

The Crows couldn’t lift on the Gather Round stage in something of an extra home ground advantage with the added responsibility and pride.

So can Port Adelaide?

On paper, Ken Hinkley’s side has the much more winnable matchup against Essendon on Friday night, while Port has also started the season in stronger fashion.

The Power, who made the top four last year but bowed out of the finals in straight sets, are 2-1 and could very easily be 3-0 if not for collapsing late against Melbourne last week.

Dual All-Australian Leigh Montagna said Port is the side he’s most intrigued by for the round ahead.

“This is another game they should just win, we all presume and expect them to be better than the Bombers,” Montagna said.

“They’ve got a really healthy run, four of their next five games are at Adelaide Oval. If they want to be a genuine top four team and premiership contender, they need to be beating teams like Essendon.

“I’m expecting them to win, but there’s pressure on them. If they do lose to the Bombers – and two in a row at home – I can just sense all of a sudden it might turn really quickly and they might be under the gun in a hurry.”

After Friday night’s clash with Essendon, Port faces Fremantle (home), Collingwood (away), St Kilda (home) then Adelaide.

“If they’re looking to really compete and become a top four team, they have to clean up this game tonight. Otherwise they will be a mid-pack team and it becomes a real challenge,” Western Bulldogs legend Brad Johnson said.

“Securing home finals and double chances are critical, in particular for the interstate teams. Port sits in that bracket right now – their next few weeks are massive.”

The only place to watch every game of Gather Round is on Fox Footy via Foxtel or Kayo Sports available on Hubbl.

Will there be an overcorrection to Ginnivan uproar?

New colours, same Jack Ginnivan making headlines.

The polarising Hawk has again been in the spotlight after missing out on several obvious free kicks in last week’s Easter Monday clash with Geelong, with AFL Executive GM Football Laura Kane even acknowledging the umpires made at least a couple of errors.

It comes ahead of the 21-year old’s first showdown against his former side, Collingwood, where he first developed a reputation of selling free kicks, to close out Gather Round on the Sunday twilight slot.

It was already going to be must watch, but the backdrop of the umpiring debate makes it that much juicer.

Dual premiership Kangaroo David King expects a massive overcorrection on the officiating of Ginnivan, boldly predicting the small forward will get “six free kicks.”

King launched a passionate defence of Ginnivan, suggesting he’s been unfairly treated.

“What’s been missed with Jack Ginnivan is he’s got the ball in his hands at that stage. He’s a bloody good player,” Kings said.

“Is he doing things that infuriate the AFL world? Absolutely he is. But the game has always said that’s a free kick. So I don’t understand how everyone is expecting Jack to change his ways when everyone else is still getting a free kick for the same thing.

“Yes, he may accentuate it and lift his arm, but at the end of the day, you’ve got to get your tackle right.

“I’m in the Jack Ginnivan camp, I’m on an island by myself, I know – it’s an unpopular spot to be. But I’m with Jack, so tackle him correctly or give him a free kick.

“The umpires have got to stop this bias against him.”

Indigenous great Eddie Betts said if Ginnivan keeps “putting his head over the ball, eventually it will turn,” but implored him to stop lifting his arm to try and draw free kicks.

“I feel sorry for him. I went to the game against Geelong last week, I guarantee you, if that was any other player, that would be a free kick,” Betts said.

“The lifting of the arm is what the umpires are looking for now.

“You just need to drive your legs through. If Jack gets tackled without lifting his arm, he should get paid the free kick. If not, that’s pretty bad. They’re umpiring him differently.”

Which player/s need to lift?

It’s time for Brisbane’s leaders to stand up.

While Adelaide went into Gather Round under a unique type of pressure given the stage, the winless Lions have clearly been the most disappointing side to start 2024 off the back of a grand final appearance.

They were in the headlines for the wrong reasons last weekend amid reports an end-of-season US trip had caused friction between the playing group and contributed to the Lions’ 0-3 start – reports emphatically denied by the club.

It’s pretty simple though. Lose to North Melbourne (which, in itself, would be a doomsday scenario) and fall to 0-4 and suddenly not just Brisbane’s flag credentials will be questioned, but its ability to play finals altogether.

“It’s probably the Brisbane boys (who need to lift) – Lachie Neale, Harris Andrews and Hugh McCluggage – the leaders,” former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said.

“There’s games where you’ve got a chance to draw a line in the sand and refuse to go back any further. It’s probably not going to be the result as much, it’s going to be their method and the connection and intensity they bring.

“That’s going to come from their leaders. I think the leadership group at Brisbane is the one I’ll be keeping an eye on.”

Eddie Betts also put it on the Brisbane leadership group to raise the bar against the Kangaroos at Norwood Oval on Friday.

“They’re leaders are the ones who took this team to a grand final. You’ve got to stand up and lead this team when your opportunity come,” he said.

“(Eric) Hipwood and (Joe) Daniher, lift your forward line. Harris Andrews, you’re going to be playing on Nick Larkey, get that job done. Lachie Neale, show leadership in the midfield.”

Three-time Coleman medallist Jason Dunstall meanwhile called out the “whole Brisbane forward line” for not maximising its chances in front of goal.

“For me, it’s the whole Brisbane forward line. They are getting opportunities and not putting them away,” Dunstall said.

“In particular, Daniher and Hipwood. I know it might be a bit unfair to throw it in their lap. But they’re the leaders of that forward line and they’re not getting it done.

“Brisbane has a lot of ground to make up.”

Which team can stamp its credentials?

Maybe the most exciting matchup to come is between undefeated clubs Fremantle and Carlton.

Of course, only one will still be undefeated by the end of the round.

The first half of Saturday’s Adelaide Oval double-header, there’s particular intrigue surrounding a key defender battle between the in-form Harry McKay and Alex Pearce – the battle within the battle, so to speak.

“The Harry McKay-Alex Pearce matchup is going to be awesome to see,” Nathan Buckley said.

“Two really in form key position players – we don’t get these marquee match-ups at the pointy end of the ground like we used to. I think both of those teams are really confident in what they do.

“The winner of this one propels them even further into the season with the confidence they’ve started.”

Justin Longmuir’s side has started this season in strong fashion with big wins over Brisbane, North Melbourne and Adelaide.

But the looming battle with Carlton is the Dockers’ biggest test yet given it’s against a genuinely hardened, red-hot side.

If we exclude Brisbane (based on its form), the Blues are similarly yet to claim a big scalp, if we can call Freo that.

Leigh Montagna believes the McKay-Pearce matchup – like the contest between the two sides at large – is the biggest test they’ve faced yet.

Jason Dunstall heaped praise on McKay for starting the year so strong, with 11 goals to his name to currently sit third on the Coleman Medal leaderboard.

“We keep talking about Charlie, but big Harry has had an outstanding start to the year, very consistent,” he said.

“The pressure is off him because he’s kicking goals. They’re coming off the boot so much better and he looks like a different player, so it’s fun to watch.”

Can Dogs prove consensus wrong for the right reasons?

There’s perhaps no greater enigma in the AFL than the Western Bulldogs.

Having underwhelmed since their 2021 Grand Final appearance despite being stacked full of talent, it seems 2024 is the year the footy world has lost patience with backing the club to return to its previous best heights under Luke Beveridge.

So can the Dogs prove the consensus wrong for the right reasons this year after a promising 2-1 start to their campaign?

After dominant wins over Gold Coast and West Coast over the past fortnight, the Dogs face a defining test against the undefeated Cats, where we’ll learn plenty about the red, white and blue.

“I really don’t know where I’m at with the Dogs. They’re like a bad relationship – I love them one minute and I don’t love them the next. I’m never quite sure if I can fall back in love with them again or if it’s over,” David King said.

“I just want to see how they go against the Cats, who are very consistent and perform at 9/10 every week, so to get the job against them, you’ve got to do a lot right and have a few outside the normal stand up and do something special game day.

“They have the capabilities to do that, but I’m confused as to where they’re at – are they a top four team, a top eight team or are they in a reset of sorts?”

Beveridge’s bold selection moves this year have raised some eyebrows including Caleb Daniel being used as the sub in Round 1 and Jack Macrae starting the season outside the senior team, albeit while ramping back up from injury.

Club great Brad Johnson however thinks such calls can actually have a “positive effect” on a team by putting players on notice to get a response.

“I think it was good for Daniel’s footy – you saw the edge he played with as the sub. Now he’s back in the starting line-up,” he said.

“Collingwood did the same thing with Jack Crisp and look at the edge he came on with. At times you need to make calls and it’s tough on the individual, because you rely on your senior players to stand up week in, week out.

“But I think it can have a really positive effect across the group.“