The big talking points and questions out of Round 23

Round 23 taught us plenty about the AFL.  

The weekend saw comeback wins, statement performances, finals-shaping results and teams seeing their seasons come to an end.

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

Brisbane just let a golden opportunity slip

We’ve been saying for years that Brisbane has to win a flag with this group, but Saturday’s loss to Collingwood might have cost them another year where they’ll miss out on lifting the cup aloft.

A win would have given them a top-four spot after Geelong went down on Saturday as well, and they absolutely should have taken those four points after leading by three goals with less than five minutes remaining.

Simply put, they just couldn’t finish off what they should have with the Pies running over the top of them to keep their season alive.

They’ll now rely on results to go their way in Round 24 to secure a double-chance, and that result is Geelong losing to West Coast at GMHBA Stadium … they’ll be needing to cross all of their fingers and toes for that to happen.

With their September run now going to have to come from the bottom half of the eight, the Lions will have to fight against history to win the flag next month.

It could be another wasted year at the Gabba after coming so close in 2023.

Maybe this group will just never taste the ultimate success that you would have expected them to reach at least once after contending for the last six seasons.

Gold Coast isn’t anywhere near it

That was such a disappointing result for the Suns.

Up against a Melbourne side without Christian Petracca, Clayton Oliver and Steven May - who had lost their previous four games - there’s no way that they should be going down 63-117, particularly at home.

While their finals hopes were already dashed, that was such a poor performance given how the game was set up for them plus their previously strong home record before the clash.

This side has teased fans throughout 2024, but perhaps they’re just not close to being the finals contender that we imagined they would be only a couple of months ago.

They absolutely should be inside the top eight now given their draw and the talent on their list, but again, they just can’t get it done when it matters most.

It could be time to completely rethink where we think this team and list is at.

We’re set for an awesome Brownlow race

This year’s Brownlow count is going to be one for the ages.

We could have six or seven genuine contenders, and that’s without Isaac Heeney who could finish first but not win the award due to suspension.

From Round 23 alone, there’s every chance that Heeney, Nick Daicos, Marcus Bontempelli and outright favourite Patrick Cripps will poll at least two votes as none of the contenders look to drop off.

With so many big names having seasons at similar levels, perhaps we’ll see a tie in the count for the first time since 2012 when Sam Mitchell and Trent Cotchin shared the award retrospectively after Jobe Watson was ruled ineligible and for the first time on the night since 2003 when ‘Charlie’ was shared between Mark Ricciuto, Nathan Buckley and Adam Goodes.

Either way, all footy fans should be clearing their schedules for the night of Monday, September 23.

Maybe Collingwood were onto something with their Lachie Schultz trade

Lachie Schultz began to pay Collingwood back with his clutch performance on Saturday against Brisbane.

His last five minutes kept the Magpies’ season alive (just) with two huge goals to prove that he might just be worth the two picks that the club gave up to bring him in last off-season.

Schultz’s 2024 campaign has been maligned by suspension, form, illness and concussion, but there’s no doubt he has the class and ability to be a key player for this side going forward.

The 26-year-old has all of the skills to be a 35-goal or more a year forward in years to come, and it’s his off-the-ball work that the Magpies would rate the most inside their four walls.

It was nice to see such a selfless player get some reward for his effort and you’d only expect him to improve from here in 2025.

It’s a big week for Fremantle

Fremantle are in real danger of missing finals altogether in the last round of the campaign.

The Dockers looked like top-four fancies just last month, but with three straight losses, the ninth-placed Dockers will miss September action unless results go their way next week.

The Dockers play the Power at home next Sunday and with the Power fighting for a potential top-two finish, that result won’t come easy.

There’s a chance that they could finish all the way in 10th if they lose and any of the Dogs, Hawks, Blues and even Pies could be praying on their downfall late next week with the result potentially deciding their finals hopes.

Can this side step up with the pressure on? We’ll see in what presents as a mini-Elimination Final before September kicks off.