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Geelong lost yet again after the bye, Jesse Hogan and Lance Franklin were high-profile casualties and Collingwood are a game clear in second on the ladder.
THEY SAID IT: "The team's performance absolutely affects me, I'm responsible for the team's performance, that's my job. (But) I don't get affected at all by the other stuff." - St Kilda coach Alan Richardson on the media speculation about his job that is intensifying after the Saints' dismal performance against Brisbane.
STATS THAT MATTER: Saturday's 11-point upset loss to Port Adelaide means top side Geelong remarkably lost their game after the mid-season bye for the last eight years.
MAN OF THE ROUND: Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley was less than impressed with his team after Sunday's tight win over the Western Bulldogs, even though it puts them a game clear in second spot. Buckley revealed he gave ruckman Brodie Grundy a serve at halftime. It worked - Grundy kicked two big goals in the second half and was best afield, continuing his outstanding season.
KEY MOMENT: After Fremantle kicked the last goal of the third term to regain the lead on Saturday at the MCG, Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn had a set shot at the start of the final term. Gawn has a notorious habit of missing his set shots to the left, so he started the kick well to the right and sure enough, it went perfectly like an outswinger through the big sticks. The Demons kicked four goals to one in the final term for a big win as Gawn starred.
TALKING POINT: Sydney's John Longmire is the latest coach to call for a review of this season's restrictions on team runners. It follows Swans star Lance Franklin suffering a hamstring injury in Friday night's win over Hawthorn, after he took several minutes to return to the field because he was caught on the bench. Did the added time off the field contribute to the injury?
TRIBUNAL WATCH: Plenty for match reviewer Michael Christian to consider. Fremantle star Michael Walters was reported for headbutting Jay Lockhart and Port Adelaide speedster Karl Amon will come under scrutiny for the collision that left Geelong's Gary Rohan with concussion. Port's Dougal Howard is in trouble for a gut punch well off the ball that doubled over Harry Taylor. Fremantle's Ed Langdon tangled with Jayden Hunt and his knee ended up on the Melbourne player's head. West Coast could contest Jeremy's McGovern's one-game rough conduct ban.
KEY INJURIES: Matt Guelfi (Ess, ribs) Lance Franklin (Syd, hamstring) Callum Sinclair (Syd, concussion) Jesse Hogan (Fre, foot) Stephen Hill (Fre, hamstring) Gary Rohan (Geel, concussion) Easton Wood (WB, knee) Jeremy Howe (Coll, calf) Harley Bennell (Fre, lower leg).
WHAT'S NEXT: The bye rounds are over, with Essendon starting at long odds on Thursday night at Marvel Stadium against GWS. Geelong host Adelaide in a Friday night blockbuster, while West Coast star Nic Naitanui could return from his knee reconstruction on Saturday against Hawthorn at the MCG - the scene of the ruckman's injury nearly a year ago. Given coach Alan Richardson's need for a big scalp, St Kilda's Marvel Stadium game on Sunday against Richmond is big.