Round 22 is highlighted by an intriguing game on Thursday night game, between the seventh placed Hawks and the second-placed Magpies.

Hawthorn

Jai Newcombe just signed a new six-year contract to remain at Hawthorn until the end of 2032. Newcombe has been disappointing in the last two games.

The Hawks will need him to be at his best if they’re a chance of beating the Magpies.

Collingwood

Darcy Cameron is arguably one of the top ruckmen in the AFL and in my opinion, the Magpies wouldn’t be in the finals if not for him and should be in the race for the ruck role in the All-Australian team.

Cameron drifts back and takes intercept marks, which is a weapon for the Magpies team and should prove too good for Lloyd Meek.

Geelong

Max Holmes is in great touch; the talented midfielder hasn’t missed a beat so far this season.

The 22-year-old had a field day in Round 14 against the Bombers; he had 36 disposals, seven score involvements and seven intercept possessions, so expect more of the same in Round 22.

Essendon

Mason Redman is a defender that the Bombers have invested heavily in, as they’ve signed him until the end of 2028.

The 187cm defender has averaged the equal sixth most intercepts per game, with five. If the Bombers are to be competitive in Round 22, then they’ll need Redman to perform to his optimum level, because they’ll be up against a Cats team that possess a great forward line.

Richmond

Tom Lynch will be a welcome addition for a Tigers team, that only kicked two goals against the Suns, in Round 21.

Lynch needs to lead from the front and play with a team first mentality, otherwise it becomes too one dimensional; the Tigers have some handy small forwards, so Lynch will need to halve contests and hopefully hit the scoreboard.

St Kilda

Rowan Marshall is player with a bright future; where he will be in season 2026 is uncertain, because the Saints are reportedly chasing the signature Tom De Koning, so the 29-year-old may have other clubs that seek his signature.

Marshall was instrumental in the Saints win against the Kangaroos, in Round 21 and polled nine Coaches’ votes. The ruckman should be too mobile for Toby Nankervis in Round 22.

Brisbane

Zac Bailey is a talented player who is a chance of being in the All-Australian squad. The Lions utility has averaged the second most score involvements per game of any Lions player, with 6.21.

Bailey still has room for improvement as his been kept goalless in four of the 19 games he has played this season. At the other end of the spectrum, he has kicked multiple goals, six times.

Despite kicking two goals against the Magpies in Round 21, the 25-year-old had just three score involvements from 21 disposals, but at his best he can be lethal.

Sydney

Nick Blakey is someone who possesses blistering speed off the half-back flank line and is renowned for his agility and evasiveness.

Blakey should be full of confidence; the 25-year-old had 28 disposals, seven score involvements and 11 intercept possessions against the Bombers, in Round 21, so he should prove tough for the Lions to stop.

Carlton

Harry McKay has more onus on him to perform well, because Charlie Curnow is injured for the reminder of the season.

McKay needs to improve on his performances so far this season if the Blues are to get the four points when they take on the Suns.

Gold Coast

Matt Rowell is aggressive at the contest and is a work horse, the inside bull has averaged the most tackles per game of any player in the competition, with 9.32.

The Suns need him to perform well against the Blues, because George Hewett and Patrick Cripps performed well in Round 21.

Port Adelaide

Zak Butters lowered his colours, in Round 21, against the Cats; the midfielder was kept to ten disposals and had no impact on the game. The Power needed more out of their stand in captain, due to the absence of Connor Rozee through illness.

Butters needs to respond and bounce back against the Suns, in Round 22.

Fremantle

Patrick Voss brings plenty of energy and loves celebrating a goal, which must be infectious for the team as a whole. The 195cm forward has averaged the equal most goals per game of any Dockers player, with 1.75.

The Dockers have proved that it’s possible to play three key forwards, so it will be interesting to see who Voss is matched up against when they take on the Power.

GWS

Kieren Briggs is a ruckman that just plays his role for the team, but he is out of form; Briggs’s performance in Round 21 wasn’t up to standard against Bulldogs ruckman, because Tim English looked a class above him around the ground.

And it’s going to get tougher for the 201cm tall, because he’ll be up against Tristan Xerri who will be fit and firing, in Round 22.

North Melbourne

Cameron Zurhaar is a tough match up at his best, but the Kangaroo needs to improve the intensity he has over four quarters.

Zurhaar has only been kept goalless in three games and in Round 21, his performance, in that game is symptomatic of where he’s at; the 27-year-old finished the game with two goals from five scoring shots.

Round 22 should be a tough test for him, as a senior player, because they’ll be without Nick Larkey and Paul Curtis.

Melbourne

Max Gawn is widely regarded as the best ruckman in the game. Despite that, he’ll face a tough challenge against Tim English of the Western Bulldogs, who is in good form and is a much improved ruckman.

It’s not going to be easy for Gawn, because he’ll be up against Sam Darcy at times, so the Demons captain will need to be at the top of his game.

Western Bulldogs

Rhylee West was lauded by his coach in the post-match press conference for playing a selfless role, in the Bulldogs obliteration of the Giants, in Round 21; West had six score involvements and four intercept possessions.

There’s a chance that he’ll be matched up on Christian Salem, when the Bulldogs face the Demons.

West Coast

Liam Duggan needs to bring more leadership to a team that’s struggling to be competitive.

Duggan had 21 disposals against the Demons, in Round 21, with a few from kick ins. The Eagles co-captain looks deflated and needs to be more upbeat if the Eagles are to salvage anything from the season.

The obvious move would be to use Duggan in the midfield and to lead from the front.

Adelaide

Daniel Curtin is in a rich vein of form and may well win the AFL Rising Star; his aerial prowess is there for all to see and the move made to play him on the wing by Matthew Nicks has proved to be a master stroke.

Curtin will prove to be a tough match up for the Eagles.