AFL: Australian Football League

Buddy Franklin magic, Frederick flips, King flies, Lukosius' monster goal, plus 150th anniversary celebrations for St Kilda.

David King and Leigh Montagna analyse whether Geelong can bounce back from an 0-3 start to the 2023 season, after winning the Grand Final last year.

"WEST Coast coach Adam Simpson has conceded the Eagles could lose up to seven players from the team that lost to Fremantle in Perth Derby 56, with small forward Jamie Cripps hospitalised on Sunday night with a broken ankle.

"Star defender Jeremy McGovern suffered a hamstring injury that Simpson said was serious, while captain Luke Shuey was substituted out with what also appeared to be a hamstring injury, with the coach unsure of the midfielder's status."

"FREMANTLE has ignited its season with a dramatic win against an injury-hit West Coast, finding its turbo button and clicking forward of centre to win Western Derby 56 by 41 points at Optus Stadium.

"Inspired by Glendinning-Allan Medal winner Caleb Serong, the Dockers won 108 to 67, kicking their highest score since round 17 last season and leaving reigning premier Geelong as the only winless team after three rounds this season."

"THE problems are real.

"And in no order, those problems include Tom Hawkins, a dysfunctional backline smashed by unavailable or injured players, an ineffectual midfield unable to generate clearances and maybe even a conditional collective attitude.

"Geelong's three season-opening losses have got progressively worrying. Round one against Collingwood wasn't deemed a major concern, for the Pies will destroy many teams this year. Likewise, round two against Carlton, and the Cats fought to the end.

"But Sunday's defeat by Gold Coast was proof of plenty of problems."

"MELBOURNE has turned the tide on its recent outings against the Sydney Swans to claim a 50-point win at the MCG on Sunday afternoon.

"The Swans have had the better of the Demons in recent years – they'd won 16 of their past 20 encounters before today – but it was the Demons who reigned supreme to record the 134 to 84 victory."

"SHOWDOWN 53 will go down in the history books as one to remember, with the Adelaide Crows sparking life into its season to overrun crosstown rival Port Adelaide Power at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.

"The Power led 84-80 at the 11-minute mark of the last quarter before the Crows booted the last six goals to run away 31-point winners – 117 to 86 – in front of a 48,962-strong crowd.

"Young guns Riley Thilthorpe (five goals), Izak Rankine (four) and Luke Pedlar (three) kicked 12 of the Crows' 18 goals, while Charlie Dixon was the Power's leading goalkicker with three."

"GOLD Coast has notched its first win of the 2023 season with a 19-point victory over Geelong, condemning the reigning premier to a third-straight loss.

"Jack Lukosius showed just how threatening he can be in the forward line, booting a career-high five goals in the 73 to 54 contest."

Sam Mitchell's young Hawks defeat Alistair Clarkson's Roos to secure their first win of the season.

The former Collingwood coach gives his take on the round two results.

The game went right down to the wire, with just one point in it in the end...

Brisbane coach Chris Fagan questions whether Melbourne got an unfair advantage, as a result of a power disruption that delayed play by 40 minutes.

The stadium lights went out at the Gabba in the middle of Brisbane's match against Melbourne.

"THE WESTERN Bulldogs will be without Adam Treloar and Jason Johannisen for Saturday night's clash against St Kilda, Melbourne will welcome back a trio of injured stars for its match against Brisbane, while Jake Stringer will play VFL for Essendon this weekend as he continues his return from injury."

Despite having one of the most experienced teams in the competition, the problems run deep at West Coast...