Carlton has now lost six straight and its fans are ropeable AFL Rising Star

And what of Richmond?

The season that appeared over a month ago still has some life in it.

They were the Tigers of old at Optus Stadium, winning their second road game in six days to give interim coach Andrew McQualter a 2-1 record.

He has thrown the magnets around since replacing Damien Hardwick and the Tigers have responded to a fresh voice.

Fremantle came hard in the final term last week, but several outstanding defensive efforts helped save the game and set up a huge Saturday night at the MCG as they celebrate triple premiership captain Trent Cotchin’s 300th game.

The Swans could not work their way through the St Kilda defence last week, but the Tigers are less predictable and bit more manic, so they will ask plenty of questions of the Saints.

McQualter played at the Saints under Ross Lyon and when Lyon returned to the Saints for his second stint as coach, he tried to bring him along.

Carlton has now lost six straight and its fans are ropeable.

The Blues have kicked just 51 goals in that time and Gold Coast comes to town for a rare MCG engagement on Sunday full of confidence, knowing a win might well take it one step closer to that maiden finals appearance.

George Wardlaw North Melbourne

Old-fashioned by name, old-fashioned by nature. That’s the best description for emerging North Melbourne midfield bull George Wardlaw, the round 13 nominee for the AFL Rising Star Award.

Against GWS last Sunday, he had a game-high nine tackles, and what has already become abundantly clear through his four games at AFL level is his thirst for the contest and his aptitude at the inside game. He also had a career-high 22 possessions.

Wardlaw came to the Roos with huge wraps as the No. 4 selection at last year’s NAB AFL Draft.

If not for a troubled 2022 season with hamstring injuries, many believe he would have been the first player selected.

But the Kangaroos played it well, trading the first pick to the Giants in exchange for the selections that landed them Wardlaw and Harry Sheezel, who received the first Rising Star nomination of the season.

Wardlaw played his junior football for St Peter’s and at Coates League level for the Oakleigh Chargers.

ASHLEY BROWNE