THE SUBPLOTS TO SHAPE ROUND TWO OF THE AFL SEASON

PULL YOUR HEAD IN HARLEY

Former No.1 draft pick Harley Reid enjoyed a standout debut season last season, with some player agents even putting the price of his next AFL contract at $2m per year. But Reid endured a shocker in West Coast's 87-point loss to Gold Coast. Reid only tallied 12 disposals for the match, and he often got involved in needless push and shoves and wrestles. His flopping for free kicks was also a horrible look. Expect Brisbane players to target him in Sunday's clash at the Gabba.

THE BATTLING BLUESCarlton's miserable start to the season will ensure the spotlight is particularly bright at the MCG on Thursday night. Michael Voss will be desperate for answers, yet his side confront a ladder-leading Hawthorn that will ask far more confronting questions than Richmond. Can the Blues bounce back?

DEMONS REGAIN SOME MOJO

Melbourne are reeling from a heartbreaking three-point defeat to GWS but can take solace from the fact they got their midfield burst back - at least for three quarters. Christian Petracca starred in his first AFL game back from serious injuries and Clayton Oliver showed glimpses of his best as the pair reunited with Jack Viney and Max Gawn in the midfield. The Dees' band is back together and looks capable of doing the sort of damage that made them a feared on-ball division in recent years. They will back themselves to get the job done against North Melbourne on Saturday.

HAWTHORN NO ONE-TRICK PONY

Hawthorn were the AFL's great entertainers last year as the 'Hokball' phenomenon took over, and there is no end in sight for the fun-loving and energetic approach. But in a warning to their rivals for the premiership, the Hawks have also found success in other gears during their opening two games of 2025. Sam Mitchell's men won tough against Sydney and held off Essendon with an efficient attacking display despite trailing in most key indicators. If they beat Carlton on Thursday night to go 3-0, it would mark Hawthorn's best start to a campaign since 2014, when they were on their way to a famous hat-trick of premierships.

COLLINGWOOD CRITICS EAT HUMBLE PIE

A week is a long time in football and you won't find many critics branding Collingwood as "too old, too slow" heading into round two. The Magpies were utterly dominant in their 91-point thrashing of Port Adelaide, reversing their fortunes after a first-up hiding from GWS. Craig McRae's side will start warm favourites against the Western Bulldogs on Friday night.

HINKLEY FAREWELL LAP STARTS WITH A FLOP

Port Adelaide will be desperate to make amends after getting their final season under Ken Hinkley off to the worst possible start in a humiliating 91-point defeat to Collingwood. It was the heaviest defeat of Hinkley's 275-game tenure, and came just one month after his planned handover to assistant Josh Carr was confirmed. All eyes will be on Port when they host Richmond in round three.

HAVE RICHMOND ALREADY PULLED OFF THE UPSET OF THE SEASON?

With so many AFL TV shows and analysis, the potential for punditry to backfire is unprecedented. For example, Richmond apparently were going to struggle to win a game this season and their coach Adem Yze is said to lack aura. But captain Toby Nankervis led the way, midfielders Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper were excellent and first-gamer Sam Lalor drew premature comparisons with Dusty Martin as the Tigers shocked Carlton on Thursday night. Adding to a filthy first round for the Blues, they'd booked a membership drive on Melbourne radio station SEN for the morning after the game. That was abruptly cancelled.

LONGMUIR PULLS NO PUNCHES AFTER GEELONG SHOCKER

Geelong tore Fremantle apart to the tune of 78 points at the Cattery, confirming the Cats will be a force again this season as Bailey Smith was best afield in his club debut. The only positive for Fremantle was their third-term comeback, highlighted by first-gamer Murphy Reid outrageously kicking four goals in six minutes. Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir did not mince his words post-match, putting some of the blame on himself and saying his team had not been tough enough at the start of the game. Ouch. Fremantle simply must bounce back at home to Sydney on Sunday.

WHAT HAS ROSS THE BOSS GOT UP HIS SLEEVE?

St Kilda coach Ross Lyon is preaching a "growth mindset". But his Saints have started the season with a whimper - and a long injury list of key players. Lyon bemoaned the Saints' lack of composure in a 63-point belting from Adelaide which came with seven front-liners on the injury list - mainly in attack. Only Mitch Owens (shoulder) is a chance to return for round two against Geelong but the likes of Max King (knee), Dan Butler (achilles), Liam Henry (knee), Cooper Sharman (thumb) are still weeks away, let alone long-term absentees Mattaes Phillipou (leg), Dougal Howard (shoulder) and Paddy Dow (knee).