Talking points

u The Power will be sweating on the availability of Charlie Dixon, especially with Todd Marshall missing with concussion.

u Harrison Petty was starring last week before his injury, but either Ben Brown or Tom McDonald are more than adequate forward replacements.

u The Demons have won their past two Adelaide Oval encounters with the Power, although they played poorly during their Gather Round loss to Essendon there.

u Darcy Byrne-Jones returns from illness for the Power and his re-invention as a small forward is a feather in the cap for Ken Hinkley.

u The Power’s 7-2 start is their best since 2020. Before then, it was 2014.

Ashley Browne

Prediction: Melbourne by seven points

Grand Final Start Time

u One of the game’s time-honoured traditions will remain intact with the 2023 Grand Final set to start at 2.30pm at the MCG on Saturday, September 30. Incoming chief executive Andrew Dillon is a strong supporter of daytime Grand Finals, but in making the announcement this week, the League noted the “great presentation of a twilight event” and said that future start times would be reviewed.

PIES’ FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

u Ladder-leading Collingwood is the new star attraction of the AFL following the release of the rounds 16-23 fixtures. The Magpies will feature in four Friday night blockbusters, taking on the Western Bulldogs (round 17), Carlton (round 20), the Geelong Cats (round 22) and the Brisbane Lions (round 23). The fixture for round 24, will be announced one month before. See fixture page 52.

6, Warren Tredrea, round 19, 2004, at Football Park; Brett Ebert, round 17, 2007, at Football Park; Chad Cornes, round 17, 2007, at Football Park; Warren Tredrea, round 3, 2009, at Football Park.

Melbourne

Away record: 5-14

Home record: 11-8

Highest score: 18.16 (124), round 4, 2004, at the MCG.

Lowest score: 3.9 (27), round 9, 1997, at Football Park.

Greatest winning margin: 53 points, round 4, 2004, at the MCG.

Longest winning sequence: 3, round 5, 1998, to round 5, 1999; round 17, 2021, to round 18, 2022.

Most goals in a game: 6, David Neitz, round 5, 1999, at the MCG; round 17, 2002, at Football Park; round 4, 2004, at the MCG; Kysaiah Pickett, round 18, 2022, at TIO Traeger Park.

Clarkson Steps Away

u North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson has stepped away from the club indefinitely as he continues to deal with the fall-out of an investigation into alleged mistreatment of First Nations players in his time at Hawthorn, allegations he strongly refutes. The club said Clarkson will have “whatever time he needs to restore his health”. Brett Ratten becomes interim senior coach.