Just two sides remain undefeated after five rounds.
The Western Bulldogs and Melbourne continued their perfect starts to the season with respective wins over Gold Coast and Hawthorn.
Richmond, West Coast, GWS, Port Adelaide, Brisbane, Fremantle and Geelong also recorded important wins with North Melbourne the only side without a victory.
We have selected one positive and one negative from every club’s Round 5 performance.
See our thoughts below:
Positive: Promising youngsters showed plenty
Adelaide has improved greatly in 2021 courtesy of promising form from some of the club’s youngsters.
Fresh off his Rising Star nomination in Round 4, Lachlan Sholl played well again with 23 disposals, eight marks, six inside 50s, four rebounds 50s and a goal in a well-rounded game on a wing.
Also impressing was small forward James Rowe who was busy in attack with two clever goals while defender Jordon Butts took nine marks and had seven intercepts, battling manfully in the backline.
Harry Schoenberg stepped up with 16 touches, four inside 50s and three clearances and Sam Berry worked hard throughout to finish with 13 disposals and four clearances.
There is a lot to like about some of the Crows’ kids.
Negative: Failing to make the most of a golden opportunity
The Crows led Fremantle 15 minutes into the final term but were unable to hold on in front of their home crowd.
It was a golden opportunity to go 4-1, which would have really set up their season.
Now they sit at 3-2 and are back in the muck with a fairly tough six weeks ahead including fixtures against Hawthorn in Tassie, GWS, Port Adelaide, West Coast, Melbourne and Richmond.
After leading by two goals at the main break, the Crows were outscored by the Dockers in the second half and had to settle for a two-goal defeat.
Andrew Slevison
Positive: Neale back to his Brownlow best
Lachie Neale was best on ground against Essendon with 38 disposals, two goals and eight clearances.
It was the first time this year that he has returned to his Brownlow-winning form of 2020 after battling through extra attention of taggers and a back complaint to start the season.
Brisbane is a different side when the ball-magnet is dominating at the stoppage and they’ll hope his form can help the the Lions string some wins together.
The 27-year-old can expect Ed Curnow to go to him this week when the Lions and Blues meet on Saturday.
Negative: Cameron’s worrying trend
Charlie Cameron had another quiet night against Essendon.
The small forward had just five effective disposals and his only goal came late in the last quarter from the goal square.
In wet conditions, Cameron would have been expected to be a big factor for the Lions. But, it was the other Brisbane forwards who cashed in against a young Bombers outfit.
Cameron’s Round 5 performance is nothing new in 2021, as he’s only averaging one goal per game and hasn’t made a big impact on any match thus far.
We all know how good he can be at his best, and the Lions will be hoping he reaches those heights sooner rather than later.
Lachlan Geleit
Positive: They have Sam Walsh
Every negative Carlton comment this week must carry the caveat: except Sam Walsh.
Even while others in the line-up drop away when the going gets tough, Walsh continues to work harder than everyone else.
The midfielder finished with 29 disposals, eight score involvements, eight clearances and six tackles in the loss to Port Adelaide and would be comfortably leading the club’s best and fairest right now.
Negative: Sam Petrevski-Seton, the defender
It’s time for Carlton to swallow its pride and admit that playing Sam Petrevski-Seton in defence has been a waste of 18 months of his development.
His ball use and speed make him appear a likely half back flanker on paper, but the former top 10 pick gets found out whenever he’s actually asked to defend, usually in games against top sides.
He was exposed in particular on the weekend against Port Adelaide and struggled to find the ball, finishing with 11 disposals.
Petrevski-Seton showed great signs early in his career playing on-ball and across half forward before he was flipped into defence.
And it’s not like Carlton’s midfield is set, with the likes of Matt Kennedy, Jack Newnes and Ed Curnow players getting major minutes who won’t be taking the club to their next premiership.
Nic Negrepontis
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Positive: Grundy’s performance
Brodie Grundy got the better of Nic Naitanui in Friday night’s clash against West Coast.
The Magpies ruckman had 20 disposals, 25 hit-outs and two goals compared to Naitanui’s 14 disposal (one kick), 19 hit-out performance.
Grundy was panned for his poor showing in Round 4 against veteran Giant Shane Mumford and his confidence should grow after taking the scalp of a fellow dominant ruck in Naitanui.
While his big game wasn’t enough to get Collingwood over the line, he’ll be hoping for another dominant performance against Essendon on ANZAC Day.
He’ll be going up against Peter Wright or potential debutant Nick Bryan and could prove a big factor in the game’s result.
Negative: Injury woes worsen
Collingwood’s season was already on the brink of falling away and the loss of Jordan De Goey and Jeremy Howe won’t do it any favours.
The pair now join All-Australian Taylor Adams on the sidelines and the Magpies' depth will be seriously tested as a result.
Collingwood famously offloaded Adam Treloar, Jaidyn Stephenson and Tom Phillips last trade period, and they now lack AFL-experienced depth in the reserves.
Calls have been coming for Nathan Buckley to blood the kids, he may not have a choice but to play them now.
Lachlan Geleit
Positive: Cale Hooker’s hot form continues
The Bombers were never really in the game against the Lions on Saturday night, but the big positive was Cale Hooker’s continued good form this year.
The Dons veteran kicked another four goals in the wet, to take his season tally to 16 goals from five games.
Essendon under Ben Rutten has opted to back the kids in, which has seen Hooker shifted forward and while the side may have only won one game from five, there’s plenty to like about how he’s playing.
Negative: Leaking goals in wet weather
Essendon has prided itself this year on defending, but on Saturday night they would’ve been bitterly disappointed to concede 15 goals in conditions that didn’t really lend itself to high scoring.
While the last two weeks – the big win against St Kilda followed by their spirited display against Sydney – were a step forward for a club in development, so it was only natural that the performance of a young side would dip.
Nonetheless, tightening up in defence will be high on the agenda before Sunday’s Anzac Day clash against Collingwood.
Laurence Rosen
Positive: Forward line structure
The Dockers look a much sounder line-up with Rory Lobb back in the mix.
Lobb not only straightens them up as their second key forward, but he gives Sean Darcy some relief without Fremantle needing to play two designated rucks.
Matt Taberner booted four goals in the win over Adelaide, while Josh Treacy also got some experience at senior level.
At their feet are Michael Walters, Michael Frederick and Lachie Schultz who are all capable of hitting the scoreboard.
Negative: Adam Cerra’s injury
Rising midfielder Adam Cerra was substituted out of the game early with an ankle injury.
While the club has revealed the injury isn’t serious, they would be hoping he doesn’t miss too many games with the ankle sprain.
Cerra is a key piece of the Fremantle midfield and he allows them greater flexibility with the likes of Nathan Fyfe and Michael Walters.
The Dockers winning without him in the midfield was a good sign for their depth.
Nic Negrepontis
Positive: Winning ugly
Make no mistake, the Cats are going to have to play a lot better if they want to challenge the best sides in the competition.
But after stuttering through their clash against North Melbourne at GMHBA Stadium on Sunday to eventually record a 30-point win, Chris Scott will be pleased to be three wins from five knowing his side has plenty of improvement left in them.
Brandon Parfitt had arguably a career-best game, finding the ball 34 times, while Tom Stewart was superb down back.
Negative: Will their current style stand up?
Geelong needed longer than you’d expect from a top side to take care of a winless North, with Scott noting how much they’ll have to improve this year during the post-match press conference.
Boom recruit Jeremy Cameron will make his Geelong debut against West Coast and with him in the side, the Cats will have close to their best team on the park.
While they may be 3-2 after five rounds, there’s perhaps more questions over Geelong right now than any other side that are widely expected to challenge for the flag this year.
Laurence Rosen
Positive: Third quarter
Gold Coast’s third quarter should be the blueprint of how they want to play across an entire match.
The Suns kicked six goals to two with Ben King and Josh Corbett kicking four majors between them as they upped the pressure and quickened the ball movement.
It’s a small win for coach Stuart Dew to take away from the match.
Jack Lukosius’ sublime ball use was a delight to watch. The young Sun finished with 18 disposals at 89 per cent efficiency to go with eight marks
Negative: First half
Gold Coast were blown away by the Western Bulldogs, who booted 11 straight first-half goals.
It took until late in the second quarter for the Suns to register their first goal, coming within a whisker of going an entire half goalless.
Dew was bitterly disappointed with his side’s slow start.
"I don't think we gave ourselves a chance," Dew told reporters post-game.
"They threw the first punch, and we were up against the ropes and didn't step back forward until the third quarter, which is highly disappointing."
Gold Coast slumped to 1-4 after the 62-point loss, their third straight defeat.
Alex Zaia
Positive: Two character building wins on the trot
There was plenty of negativity coming Leon Cameron’s way just a fortnight ago when the Giants lost their third game in a row.
What a difference two weeks makes with GWS now back in the race after two courageous wins away from home.
Firstly they did the job on Collingwood at the MCG after losing some key players and on the weekend they backed it up by edging local rivals Sydney at the SCG.
While it wasn’t the prettiest of performances, the end result was exactly what the Giants were after and has them back on track.
They next face ladder leaders and arch enemies the Western Bulldogs in Canberra this Friday before setting their sights on winnable fixtures against the Crows and Bombers.
Negative: Inaccuracy could have proved costly
It could have been a much more comfortable night if the Giants had have kicked straight.
They returned 9.17 and had 26 scoring shots to Sydney’s 19, yet found themselves behind for most of the night.
Toby Greene, while the hero in the end, was responsible for seven of those behinds and if he had his radar on, the Giants might not have had to work so hard in the dying stages.
Andrew Slevison
Positive: In it for three quarters
For a team in a rebuild and 17th on the ladder, the Hawks continue to be competitive against good teams … at least for three quarters.
The final term drubbing aside, Hawthorn made life tough for the Demons and held them in check around the ground.
Whether it’s Alastair Clarkson’s coaching prowess or their veterans standing up, the Hawks will scare teams this year and will pinch games off those unprepared.
Negative: Ben McEvoy dominated
Hawthorn dropped Jon Ceglar and went alone with Ben McEvoy against Max Gawn and Luke Jackson and it backfired.
The Demons pair combined for 46 hit-outs while McEvoy won 17. Gawn and Jackson proved too athletic for him.
Late in the game, Gawn took full control and the Hawks had no answers.
Playing two dedicated ruckmen might not be ideal for Hawthorn, but up against a team like Melbourne it might have been the right call.
Nic Negrepontis
Positive: Displaying a ruthless edge
To Hawthorn’s credit, they were within two goals of Melbourne with a quarter to play on Sunday, but it was the ruthless edge the Dees displayed in the final quarter which should put the rest of the competition on notice.
The Demons are now five wins from five for the first time since 1994 and will face sterner tests to come, but the manner in which they disposed of the Hawks in the last quarter was the undoubted highlight of the match.
Kicking eight goals in a game which was teetering put the result beyond doubt early in the last quarter and it’s that ruthless edge which they’ll be keen on displaying against Richmond in Saturday night’s big ANZAC Eve clash.
Negative: Nathan Jones’ quiet outing
There’s no doubting Jones’ place in the side as he approaches his 300th game for the club, but if there was a negative for Melbourne it was the Jones’ quiet game.
Only having the eight touches, the much-loved Dees veteran was a non-factor in the game and he’d be intent on improving as his side continues its charge up the ladder.
Laurence Rosen
Positive: Jack Ziebell’s role in defence
After a few years struggling to find his best position, Jack Ziebell has settled nicely in defence and is not having any issues finding the football.
Ziebell picked up 38 disposals and 18 rebound 50s and has been North Melbourne’s primary mover out of the back half this year.
He has averaged 29 and seven marks across the season.
While his ball use isn’t as crisp as some of the game’s best rebound 50s, he is clearly built for the role and has adapted quickly.
Negative: Hitting the scoreboard
North Melbourne has only scored 258 points so far this season. As a comparison, the Bulldogs have scored 527 and even Hawthorn in 17th place have 340.
Despite staying with the Cats on Sunday, they only managed seven goals, with Jaidyn Stephenson and Nick Larkey combining for four of those.
As a young team at the start of a rebuild, they don’t have many reliable players who can hit the scoreboard.
It’s hard to see them kicking too many winning scores this year.
Nic Negrepontis
Positive: Defensive recruit in All-Australian form
Port Adelaide recruit Aliir Aliir continued his superb start to the season.
Aliir showed his offensive and defensive capabilities finishing with 17 disposals at 94 per cent disposal efficiency to go with six marks and a game-high 10 intercepts.
The former Swan successfully nullified Harry McKay, limiting the Carlton spearhead to five marks and one goal in the 28-point win.
Power great Kane Cornes says Aliir is in All-Australian form – a superb acquisition so far.
Negative: Shoulder concerns for key mid
Port Adelaide midfielder Dan Houston was substituted out of the game against Carlton with a shoulder injury.
Houston was seen in a sling post-game with the Power sweating on scan results to determine the extent of the injury.
In good news, scans revealed no damage meaning the 23-year-old could be a chance to play St Kilda on Sunday.
Hamish Hartlett and Connor Rozee both played through corkies but should be available to take on the Saints.
Alex Zaia
Positive: Back in a big way as Jacks star
The Tigers were superb in last Thursday’s 86-point demolition job of the Saints.
After going close against the Power in Adelaide following a smacking at the hands of Sydney, Damien Hardwick’s side really got to work at Marvel Stadium in a crushing display.
While their opponents were well below their best, Richmond ensured a massive percentage booster with a ruthless performance which delivered their biggest score since 2019.
The respective games of Jack Riewoldt, with five goals and eight marks, and Jack Graham, with three goals, 17 touches and 12 tackles, stood out.
Toby Nankervis, Shai Bolton, Shane Edwards and Dustin Martin were all very good too.
Negative: Let Saints in early
There isn’t much to be negative about but if you had to choose, it would be allowing the Saints back into the contest early.
The Tigers kicked the first two goals of the game before the Saints almost controlled the remainder of the quarter.
If not for missing some very kickable set shots, St Kilda might have been right in the contest, however, a five-goal second quarter by the Tigers basically put things to bed.
But after a huge win, that’s just nitpicking.
Andrew Slevison
Positive: Hunter Clark and Jack Steele
Hunter Clark and Jack Steele did their utmost for St Kilda in the face of an 86-point demolition to Richmond.
Clark finished with a career-high 33 disposals and three clearances, while co-captain Steele (26 touches and 10 tackles) is a model of consistency.
They were the only two Saints that could exit Marvel Stadium with their heads held high.
More support is required if the Saints are to get their stuttering season heading in the right direction.
Negative: Second half capitulation
St Kilda’s comeback win over West Coast proved to be a false dawn.
The Saints were obliterated by Richmond – their second 75-point plus loss in three weeks – leaving them with the second-worst percentage in the competition (71.4)
Brett Ratten’s side were accused of giving up during the second half onslaught as the Tigers toyed with their prey – makeshift ruckman Marlion Pickett winning centre bounces summed up the night.
Brad Hill has come in for plenty of criticism – but he’s not alone – the Saints look a shadow of the spirited side that played finals last season.
It doesn’t get any easier – a red-hot Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Sunday night is their next assignment.
Will they respond?
Alex Zaia
Positive: Will Hayward’s return
Will Hayward enjoyed a strong performance in his first game for the season at senior level.
The medium sized forward kicked 3.1 and collected 18 disposals as a replacement for the injured Isaac Heeney.
The 22-year-old has shown glimpses of star quality since making his debut in 2017 but couldn’t crack the Swans’ AFL side to start this year.
While he earnt his spot as an injury replacement, he should settle into a high half-forward role if he can string together similar performances in the coming weeks.
He has too much talent to be wasted in the VFL.
Negative: Beaten around the ball
Sydney’s midfield was dominant to start the 2021 season.
They soundly beat contenders in Richmond and Brisbane around the ball but were well beaten in Round 5 by the Giants’ on-ballers.
Jake Lloyd led all disposal winners on Saturday night but the next five highest ball getters on the ground were all GWS midfielders.
Tim Taranto (27 disposals), Jacob Hopper (26 disposals), Josh Kelly (26 disposals), Callan Ward (26 disposals) and Tom Green (24 disposals) all won more footy than any recognised Sydney midfielder, with Luke Parker (21 disposals) leading the way for the Swans.
In a game with such fine margins, getting first use at the stoppage ultimately allowed the Giants to generate enough chances to edge in front.
Sydney’s midfield will hope to reassert itself this Saturday against Gold Coast.
Lachlan Geleit
Positive: Sheed steps into the breach
After skipper Luke Shuey powered the Eagles to a victory over Port Adelaide in Perth a fortnight ago, Adam Simpson’s side was thoroughly outmuscled by the Saints in Melbourne.
It was critical West Coast established that they could control and score from the contest without the 30-year-old, who is plagued by soft tissue injuries.
On Friday night, patches of clearance domination illuminated the path to a 27 point victory over Collingwood. Jack Redden, Dom Sheed and Tim Kelly shared 20, as they put the Pies defenders under pressure to contain Jack Darling and Oscar Allen.
Sheed was assuredly the headline act. In the span of three minutes and 43 seconds late in the third term, the premiership hero kicked three goals to push the margin out to a near-unassailable 41 points.
The Magpies’ rotation falls away a touch after Brodie Grundy, Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom, and Jordan De Goey’s substitution tested their depth further, but it was a step in the right direction for an onball unit that appeared in limbo for the first month.
Former Lion Alex Witherden’s debut in blue and gold along with Liam Duggan’s prolific return to the backline serve as further cause for cheer at Lathlain Park.
Negative: Do the Eagles need a stronger back-up for Nic Nat?
On Friday night, star Eagles ruckman Nic Naitanui played the fewest minutes of any combatant not to be substituted into or ruled out of the match, recording 60% time on ground.
He has cleared 70% TOG in just two matches this season, losses to the Western Bulldogs and St Kilda at Marvel Stadium.
When Naitanui is off the ground, West Coast find it difficult to control the match, and the Magpies were able to assert field position when Nathan Vardy took the taps.
Coach Adam Simpson has expressed his distaste for rotating forward Oscar Allen through the middle, and the feeling will have intensified after a career best haul of five goals.
In a season materialising as a critical juncture for the 22-year-old’s prospective custodianship of the Eagles’ forward line, Simpson appeared to rule his ruck days are over.
“We can’t keep rucking Ossie every week when he can kick five for us in the front half… we’re just trying to explore our best match-up and our best personnel,” he told reporters.
So where to turn? 21-year-old Bailey Williams played three games at the back end of 2020 in a similar role to Vardy, but his inexperience could be exposed.
A senior player not spending enough time on the ground is a unique issue for a team at the elite level, and Simpson will have to be creative.
Nathan John
Positive: Everyone is getting their lick of the ice cream
The external concern throughout the pre-season was that too many Bulldog onballers would want a lick of the ice cream. Josh Dunkley was already unhappy with his share, right?
Rather than demanding the players sacrifice their talent or play out of position, Luke Beveridge is maximising their multi-dimensionality.
Dunkley is delighting in his preferred role, while Adam Treloar and Marcus Bontempelli rotate inside and outside, the former overturning his reputation as a poor kick given more time and space.
The trio combined for seven goals against the Gold Coast Suns on Saturday, while Jack Macrae had 35 disposals, Tom Liberatore notched eight clearances and Bailey Smith registered 10 score involvements from a wing.
Each player possesses a unique ratio of grit, vision, speed and precision, and the resident mad scientist of the AFL is balancing the equation at each bounce.
In other positives, Lachie Hunter is building nicely into the half-forward role he once abandoned for the wing, while debutant Jordon Sweet gave the Dogs first use with 31 hitouts.
Negative: The third quarter lapse
Jack Lukosius kicked the Suns’ first goal of the game with 25 seconds remaining in the first half. They would add another six in the third term, tearing through a paper-thin team defence from the Bulldogs.
Luke Beveridge’s side may consider themselves to have been on the wrong end of the umpiring throughout the term - particularly at the extremities - and conceded only seven shots, all on turnovers.
Nevertheless, it was a disappointing response to Gold Coast at last presenting an acceptable degree of intensity around the ball.
It is possible the Dogs were lulled by their disinterest in the opening half, but the backline is too fragile to cope with the weak defensive transitions on display in the third quarter.
What looms as a serious collarbone injury to Bailey Williams was the other blemish on the Dogs’ day, particularly with the Giants, Richmond and Port Adelaide on the near horizon.
Nathan John