The Giants have brushed aside the grand finalists, while Geelong’s on-field steel broke Blues hearts, and the Swans’ ruthless performance sent an important message to GWS ahead of next week’s clash.

Here are the biggest talking points from every game of round seven.

1. Petracca breaks the shackles

Melbourne and Christian Petracca were given a stern test by Richmond on Wednesday night — one that could prove crucial come finals time.

The scoreboard might show a comfortable 43-point win for the Demons, but it wasn’t always so rosy for Simon Goodwin’s men.

Melbourne found themselves a little rattled in the first half as old Demons assistant-turned Tigers coach Adem Yze sent a hard tag at Petracca. 

Richmond’s Marlion Pickett had some success in the role in the first half, but eventually Petracca’s class shone through.

The 2021 Norm Smith Medal winner finished with 23 disposals, seven score involvements, six clearances, and a goal. 

Most importantly, he left the game with a blueprint on how to deal with tags that will inevitably come at the business end of the season.

ABC player of the year votes: 

3. Jake Lever (Melbourne)

2. Max Gawn (Melbourne)

1. Kysaiah Pickett (Melbourne)

2. Essendon passes another test … even without winning

Essendon may not have come away from its Anzac Day clash with Collingwood with all four points, but the Bombers lost no fans.

The Bombers gave the AFL’s reigning premiers everything they could possibly handle, and in the end they can probably count themselves a little bit unlucky to not have won the match after Kyle Langford missed a very gettable goal that would’ve given Essendon a five-point lead with a minute left on the clock. 

Essendon coach Brad Scott said after the match that “effort and intent” is what he is after regardless of the result, and he got that in spades from his players all over the ground.

Make no mistake about it, this is the type of game Scott’s team would’ve ended up losing by five or six goals 12-18 months ago.

After coughing up a 27-point first-quarter lead, the Essendon of yesteryear would’ve wilted as Collingwood upped its intensity, but this iteration of the Dons did not fade away into the night, instead going toe to toe with the Magpies in scenes that resembled the final rounds of a proper heavyweight fight in the final quarter.

The Bombers absolutely monstered a vaunted Collingwood midfield all afternoon, winning the clearance count 40-23, and they continued to show their new-found midfield grunt is very much legitimate. 

ABC player of the year votes: 

3. Andrew McGrath (Essendon)

2. Nick Daicos (Collingwood)

1. Kyle Langford (Essendon)

3. Giants ready to take the next step

If there were questions asked about GWS after last week’s loss to Carlton, they were emphatically answered at Manuka Oval on Anzac Day.

The Lions may not be anything like their grand finalist selves from last season, but the Giants swept aside their challenge in a performance that sent a message to the rest of the AFL.

Even without Toby Greene, and on a quiet night for Jesse Hogan, the Giants had way too much firepower — Tom Green, Josh Kelly, Lachie Whitfield were all back to their best, along with Finn Callaghan.

To add to the good news, young Western Australian Darcy Jones had a dream debut — his two goals, 15 touches, four inside 50s, seven score involvements, a ton of speed and great football instincts will have GWS very excited.

It’s early days, but at 6-1 if the Giants stay healthy they are setting themselves up for a serious run at the flag. First up, Sydney.

ABC player of the year votes: 

3. Finn Callaghan (GWS)

2. Tom Green (GWS)

1. Lachie Whitfield (GWS)

4. Vital win gives injury-hit Power breathing room for big fortnight

Port Adelaide have had more aesthetically pleasing and fluent wins than Friday night’s victory over St Kilda, but depending on events, this may end up being one of the most important they’ve had in a while.

The Power got over the line by 10 points, with an empty bench, but they got there to reach 5-2 for the year.

The injury count was horrendous, with Aliir Aliir out with concussion (and the Saints deciding whether to roll the dice to avoid  Jack Higgins’ three-match ban), Sam Powell-Pepper done for the year with an ACL, and skipper Connor Rozee liable to miss time with a hamstring problem.

Up next? The Showdown against the Crows, followed by a trip to Kardinia Park to face Geelong. The positive? After that they play Hawthorn and North Melbourne for two bankable wins to keep them in the mix, before Carlton and GWS await.

If they can split the next fortnight, then Ken Hinkley’s men can look to set themselves up for a big year — even with the injuries.

ABC player of the year votes:

3. Willem Drew (Port Adelaide)

2. Jack Sinclair (St Kilda)

1. Ollie Wines (Port Adelaide)

5. Crows get boost ahead of showdown test

After being denied in their controversial loss to Essendon in round six, the Adelaide Crows regrouped to post just their second win of the season with a 57-point defeat of North Melbourne.

It wasn’t a flawless performance against the bottom-placed side in Hobart, but the Crows proved to be a cut above in the convincing victory.

Teamwork underpinned the Crows’ display, which was best illustrated when Izak Rankine gave up the chance to add a fifth goal to his tally by unselfishly choosing to kick to Ben Keays, who made no mistake with a set-shot in the attacking 50.

The result will boost the Crows’ confidence ahead of Thursday’s showdown and they will give themselves a chance of upsetting the Power, who are dealing with some personnel concerns.

Meanwhile, the Kangaroos remain winless through seven rounds, although their effort couldn’t be faulted against a more experienced opponent.

ABC player of the year votes:

3. Jordan Dawson (Adel)

2. Izak Rankine (Adel)

1. Lachlan Sholl (Adel)

6. Cats remind us why they’re so hard to stop

If Geelong’s reputation in the AFL could be summed up in one game, their 13-point defeat of Carlton would probably be it.

Professionalism, steely determination, taking their chances and holding their nerve when their opponents lost theirs — it was all on display at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.

The Cats could easily have been blown away early as Carlton dominated clearances and inside 50s, but every time they had a set shot for goal, they seemed to make it (unlike the Blues).

On a day where Jeremy Cameron showed his class yet again and reached the 600-goal milestone, this win was not just ticking a box, not just getting to 7-0 — although that was important and kept them a game clear on the ladder.

It reminded the rest of the AFL just why they are going to be so very hard to stop when we get towards the business end of the season.

ABC player of the year votes:

3. Jeremy Cameron (Geelong)

2. Patrick Cripps (Carlton)

1. Gryan Miers (Geelong)

7. Tireless Treacy gives Dockers forward thrust

They say that football is a game for midfielders — or at least the Brownlow is — but sometimes you have to look beyond the gaudy stats to see the real picture.

The Dockers righted the ship, so to speak, with a win over the Western Bulldogs in Perth, and the spotlight was on former skipper and dual Brownlow winner Nat Fyfe (37 disposals, 10 score involvements, goal) and Caleb Serong (20 contested possessions, a Dockers record 17 clearances) for the way they drove the home side forward.

From another perspective, however, the key to the win was forward Josh Treacy, who kicked three goals.

Time and again, the Dockers would be in trouble and having to clear out of defence or try to set up attacks by going long to the wing. Time and again the man there to take the big mark or bring the ball to ground was Treacy (eight grabs, five contested).

The Dockers have long wanted to find a real proper target up forward — Jye Amiss may be the long-term answer, Luke Jackson is an intriguing prospect but Treacy’s performance showed they have real options.

ABC player of the year votes:

3. Caleb Serong (Fremantle)

2. Nathan Fyfe (Fremantle)

1. James Aish (Fremantle)

8. The kids are more than all right for the Suns

Gold Coast beating West Coast at Carrara came as no surprise, despite another slow start — and the usual suspects like Noah Anderson and Matt Rowell ripping in in the middle was no shock either.

What did surprise was the latest offering off the Suns Academy conveyor belt, as Jake Rogers probably wrapped up the Rising Star nomination.

Jed Walter (two goals) crashes packs and kicks goals; Ethan Read (managed this week) is the ruckman in waiting who could be Suns version of Mark Blicavs; Will Graham is a tackling machine, who kicked his first AFL goal; Sam Clohesy is a mature-aged option off half-back.

And now Rogers has had his break-out game with his anticipation, his speed, his bullet-like passes and his four goal assists and eight score involvements. Damien Hardwick’s side may be taking their time to hit their stride — but the range of weapons at his disposal is growing by the week. 

ABC player of the year votes:

3. Noah Anderson (Gold Coast)

2. Jarrod Witts (Gold Coast)

1. Jake Waterman (West Coast)

9. Ruthless Swans rip the Hawks to set up classic ‘Battle of the Bridge’

The Swans wanted to fix their poor MCG record, and take care of business against the Hawks on Sunday. Job accomplished.

But Sydney’s ruthless performance was just as important for the message it sent for next week.

The Swans’ terrific transition constantly had the Hawks chasing, their fierce pressure and tackling were elite, and the mix of scoring — including the rising importance of Logan McDonald alongside Isaac Heeney — showed their attack was clicking into gear at just the right time.  

There was plenty of room for improvement, such as winning more clearances and not allowing opponents as many shots. But with the four points wrapped up early in this one, the Swans could turn their attention to next week’s Battle of the Bridge against GWS.

Book your seats, don’t forget the popcorn on Saturday afternoon at 1:45pm AEST — because the evidence suggests it will be epic.

ABC player of the year votes:

3. Ollie Florent (Sydney)

2. Isaac Heeney (Sydney)

1. Errol Gulden (Sydney)