The big talking points and questions out of Round 20

Round 20 taught us plenty about the AFL.  

The weekend saw some disastrous results for finals contenders, big individual performances, statement results and more!

With that in mind, here’s what we learned from the weekend’s footy.

The Dogs aren’t just finals contenders, they’re premiership contenders

Was that as big a statement performance as you can have?

Whichever way you look at it, the Bulldogs are now without doubt one of if not the most dangerous team in the competition after their 48-87 win over ladder leaders Sydney at the SCG on Sunday.

The Dogs dominated the flag favourites from start to finish, dismantling the Swans with their ball use as well as battering them at the contest.

The huge win backs up recent victories against Carlton and Geelong at GMHBA Stadium. With this SCG test now passed as well, there’s no doubt that the eighth-placed Dogs can beat anyone when they’re on.

They’ve always had the list that looked capable of this, but now they’re producing genuinely consistent performances and no one would want to play them on current form.

While they’re eighth, they’re just six points off second and with four games remaining against the Demons, Crows, Roos and Giants, there’s every chance they go unblemished from here to really push for a top-four spot.

Everything is clicking at the Whitten Oval, and there’s no doubt they can win it all if this continues for another two months.

The wheels are falling off at Essendon

Oh, Essendon.

Everyone thought that the Dons had turned a corner in 2024, but just like last year, they have well and truly capitulated in the second half of the season.

Saturday’s 108-55 loss to St Kilda marked their sixth loss from eight games as they look like missing out on finals entirely just weeks after having top-four hopes.

Most disappointingly, the Dons wilted due to a lack of pressure and effort at the contest as they were smashed by a team that entered the clash in 15th place.

Their form slump has hit at just the wrong time with the hardest part of the fixture ahead of them.

Losses to both Adelaide and St Kilda at home surely means that they’ll struggle in three of their last four against third-placed Fremantle, first-placed Sydney and second-placed Brisbane.

The one thing we do know is that under Brad Scott, the Dons won’t be standing still and if this form slump continues over the next month, the off-season will no doubt be one of considerable change.

They still have a chance to arrest their fall thanks to how well they started the campaign, but there’s no doubt it’s not just getting shaky, but the wheels are genuinely beginning to fall off Tullamarine.

Back to the early 2000s?

Out of the last 17 years, only two premiers have come from outside of Victoria, but that looks like changing in 2024.

The early 2000s were dominated by interstate clubs with every flag from 2001 to 2006 being won by clubs not based in Victoria, and the ladder is shaping up to resemble those days this campaign.

Sydney - despite going through a form slump, and Brisbane are one and two and probably look like the two teams most likely to play off on the last Saturday of September currently, while Fremantle and GWS fill third and fifth.

The only Victorian side inside the top five is Carlton, who aren’t anywhere near top form with three losses from their last four.

It’s taken some time for the power balance to swing away from Victoria again, but in 2024, there’s no doubt it’s looking like we’re going back to the future - early 2000s style.

Has Carlton been found out? Or is this just a slump?

Carlton’s second-half capitulation against Port Adelaide put a real dent in their top-four hopes.

After leading by 31 points just before half-time, the Blues kicked just one goal across the second and third terms compared to the Power’s seven.

It wasn’t by luck either that the Blues couldn’t score in that period, with the ball well and truly living in the Power’s front half for the best part of an hour.

Unfortunately for the Blues, it’s their third loss from four games, and you have to genuinely ponder whether they’ve been figured out somewhat with those losses all coming against top-eight contenders - but none of them inside the top four.

Their star-studded midfield isn’t firing, while they also have some worries with their ball movement and key defence outside of Jacob Weitering.

It’s not time for any big calls about the Blues, but there’s genuine reason to be concerned - particularly about their status as genuine contenders.

It’s a big week for Collingwood

After getting the job done against Richmond at the MCG on Sunday, the Pies still have a flicker of September hopes as sides fell around them.

Next up is their traditional rivals Carlton and while the Blues are currently a top-four side, they could just be for the taking after dropping three of their last four.

But most importantly, Round 21 marks the 400th game for club legend Scott Pendlebury, the first Pie to reach the milestone and just the sixth in V/AFL history.

If the Pies are to get up for any game this year, surely it’s Saturday night in a celebration for perhaps the club’s greatest-ever player, especially against the Blues.

Two flags, a Norm Smith, eight years as captain, six All-Australians, five best and fairests, three Anzac Day Medals and more…

The talk will surround the 36-year-old all week and surely Pies fans fill the MCG to honour the superstar next weekend.