A grand final rematch, a Showdown in front of a full house and the undefeated Melbourne Demons facing the excitement machine that is the Sydney Swans highlight what promises to be a huge Round 8 of the AFL.

Round 8 kicks off with the grand final rematch between Richmond and the Geelong Cats, with that match to be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, over six months since they fought it out for the premiership cup at the Gabba.

On that note, I think the AFL missed a major marketing ploy by not having it played in Brisbane once again, though for a clash between two Victorian clubs, it made natural sense for it to be played at the MCG.

Adelaide Oval will be rocking at full capacity for the first Showdown of the year, while both Western Australia clubs will be on the road on the same day a week after contesting the Western Derby behind closed doors at Optus Stadium.

The Dockers’ match against the Brisbane Lions has been shifted to the Gabba at the former club’s request; that match will be played just after the West Coast Eagles’ clash with Hawthorn concludes at the MCG.

North Melbourne will also fancy its chances of a breakthrough win when they face Collingwood at Marvel Stadium; a loss for the Pies would further increase the scrutiny on coach Nathan Buckley, whose days at the club could be outnumbered.

Here is your full preview of Round 8.

Richmond vs Geelong Cats
Over six months after the Tigers and Cats faced each other in the historic AFL grand final at the Gabba, the two teams will be at it again at the true home of football – the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

A second wave of coronavirus infections in Victoria saw the showpiece match moved away from the state for the first time, with Brisbane granted the hosting rights as a token for saving last year’s COVID-19-ravaged AFL season.

History tells us that it was Richmond who prevailed by 31 points, with Dustin Martin etching his name into the record books as the first man to ever win three Norm Smith Medals, and just the second to win the Medal in consecutive years.

Now, come this Friday night, the two teams will face each other for the first time since then, with the Cats setting their sights on revenge as they attempt to rebound from last Saturday night’s controversial loss to the Sydney Swans at the SCG.

The Cats had led by as much as five goals but capitulated after quarter-time to go down by two points, before which they were denied the chance to kick a match-winner after the final siren when Jeremy Cameron’s mark metres from goal went unrewarded.

They’ll have the chance to make amends against a Richmond side that will be without their captain Trent Cotchin and defender Dylan Grimes, but will have Dustin Martin back after he missed last week’s win over the Western Bulldogs due to concussion.

The Tigers showed the Dogs who was boss last Friday night, coming from behind to win by 22 points and hand the men from Footscray their first defeat of the season.

It comes to show that despite a modest start to the season by their standards, that they remain the team to beat for this year’s flag and that they will not surrender their status as premiers in a hurry.

While Cotchin and Grimes may be missing this Friday night, the Tigers’ class should win out in the grand final rematch.

Prediction: Richmond by 12 points.

GWS Giants vs Essendon
A month after their season looked shot to pieces, the GWS Giants will get the chance to square their season at 4-4 when they welcome Essendon to Giants Stadium in the early Saturday afternoon match.

With Shane Mumford, Lachie Whitfield and Jesse Hogan back in tow, the Giants produced their best performance of the season last week to thrash the Adelaide Crows by 67 points at the Oval and breathe some life back into their stuttering campaign.

They certainly could’ve won by a larger margin had they been more accurate in front of goal, finishing with 15 goals from 31 scoring shots; their inaccuracy in several matches could come back to bite them should they miss out on a September berth this year.

Stand-in captain Toby Greene continues to impress from the front, and there are calls for him to be given the captaincy permanently, with suggestions that the incumbent Stephen Coniglio, who is still sidelined due to injury, is struggling with the burden of the leadership.

Leon Cameron’s side get the chance to make it consecutive wins when they face the Bombers, whose search for consistency continues after they lost to Carlton by 16 points at the MCG, only seven days after Darcy Parish led a masterclass against Collingwood on Anzac Day.

Despite the loss, which in another world would’ve seen plenty of criticism aimed at the club, the club’s young brigade continues to impress, with Nick Bryan making his debut and Archie Perkins also vindicating the club’s investment in him.

Cale Hooker and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti were also among their best, sharing in nine goals between them, and it’ll be up to the Giants’ defence, which is still without ex-captain Phil Davis, to contain them.

The Giants haven’t yet won at either of their home grounds this season but they can end the drought with a win on Saturday afternoon.

Prediction: GWS Giants by 18 points.

Gold Coast Suns vs St Kilda
Up on the Gold Coast, either the Gold Coast Suns or St Kilda will get the chance to square their season ledger when they face off in the other Saturday afternoon clash at Metricon Stadium.

The Suns made it consecutive wins for the first time this season with a 24-point win over Collingwood at the MCG last week, which marked just their fourth win at the ground and their third against a different Victorian opponent (after two wins against Melbourne and one against Hawthorn in 2013, 2014 and 2017 respectively).

Hugh Greenwood and Touk Miller were among their best with 60 disposals between them, as the Suns made the most of their only appearance at the G for the season.

They’ll fancy their chances of a third straight win when they come up against St Kilda, which put a week of stinging criticism behind them to thrash Hawthorn by 69 points, with Zak Jones and Bradley Hill among their best players.

Jack Higgins booted four goals, while Paddy Ryder made a successful return after missing the opening six rounds due to personal reasons.

It was easily the Saints’ best performance of the year as they rediscovered the form that took them to the semi-final last year, where they lost to Richmond on the Gold Coast.

Brett Ratten’s side now return to the holiday strip, which also acted as their temporary home after being forced out of Victoria after Round 5 last year, for the first time since then, and their form last week will be too hard to ignore.

Prediction: St Kilda by eight points.

North Melbourne vs Collingwood
In contrast to the grand final rematch some 24 hours earlier, we have a potential wooden spoon deciding clash between last-placed North Melbourne and 17th-placed Collingwood at Marvel Stadium on Saturday evening.

Not only are the Roos struggling on the field, there has also been speculation surrounding their immediate future while they have also become a target for opposition supporters, which has angered the inner sanctum of the club.

Last week, David Noble’s side threatened the upset of the season when they led undefeated Melbourne by 19 points at halftime, before falling away to lose by 30 points; still, Roos supporters should be proud of the effort their side has produced in recent weeks.

They will now fancy their chances of a breakthrough win when they face a Collingwood side which has been battered from pillar to post following their 24-point loss to the Gold Coast Suns at the MCG last Saturday.

The Pies’ 1-6 start to the season, their worst since 2005, will leave more questions to be asked than answered of where the club is heading, in particular the future of coach Nathan Buckley, which remains a talking point in the early part of the season.

Not only will their ladder positions provide a subplot, it could also be the first time Jaidyn Stephenson, the 2018 Rising Star, faces his old side for the first time since being traded out of the Holden Centre at the end of last year.

While the Pies would love a win to not just alleviate the pressure off coach Buckley, the Roos’ decent efforts of recent weeks will be too hard to ignore, and a win will be reward for David Noble and his side which has already copped plenty this year.

Prediction: North Melbourne by eight points.

Melbourne vs Sydney Swans
We have what promises to be a beauty on our hands when Melbourne, the only undefeated team after seven rounds, go toe-to-toe with a Sydney Swans side full of youth and exuberance at the MCG in the evening.

The Dees’ 7-0 start to this season is their best in over half a century but it very nearly didn’t happen after they were treated to a rude surprise by the winless Kangaroos in Hobart last Sunday.

Simon Goodwin’s side trailed by 19 points at halftime as the Roos threatened the upset of the season, but unlike past times when the Dees would simply throw in the towel, the class of 2021 drew on their experience and depth to avert disaster and win by 30 points.

The win was soured by the season-ending knee injury suffered by defender Adam Tomlinson, which saw Nathan Jones enter the match as the medical sub after having been dropped on the eve of the match, while Jack Viney was a late withdrawal due to injury.

On a positive note, Ben Brown made a successful debut for the Dees against the club he represented 130 times and kicked 287 goals for between 2014 and 2020.

Meanwhile, the Swans bounced back from their disappointing loss to the Gold Coast Suns with a strong comeback win against the Geelong Cats at home, this coming after they had trailed by 28 points at quarter-time.

Whatever coach John Longmire said to them at the first break seemed to have the desired effect as they began to work their way into the match, before two clutch goals from James Rowbottom and Tom Papley saw them home by two points.

But it wasn’t without any major controversy, as the Cats had the chance to win the match at the death only for Jeremy Cameron to be denied a mark near the goalsquare (which the umpires later admitted was the wrong decision).

Still, it marked the third straight SCG match where things went down to the wire, after the Swans’ narrow win against Essendon in Round 4 and their heartbreaking loss to the GWS Giants in Round 5.

In a major boost for the Swans, they stand to get bookends Lance Franklin and Dane Rampe back from injury, this coming after Tom Hickey, who has become a cult figure at the club, returned from a knee injury after just one match when he could’ve missed up to three months.

While the Dees should start favourites on Saturday night, they’ll be mindful of two things: first, that they did lose to the Swans in their previous meeting in Cairns in a result that ultimately cost them a berth in October.

Secondly, they haven’t beaten the Swans in Melbourne since Round 17, 2010, when they won by 73 points in what was supposedly a match that showcased the best of what the Dees, coached by the late Dean Bailey at the time, had to offer.

In the immediate aftermath of that match, the Dees took another step backwards by changing coaches and rapidly turning their playing list over, while the Swans, with most of their playing list at the time still intact, went on to claim a second flag this millennium in 2012.

To the present, and despite the absences of Tomlinson and Viney, the Dees should get the job done this Saturday night.

Prediction: Melbourne by 10 points.

Port Adelaide vs Adelaide Crows
Both Port Adelaide and the Adelaide Crows will be keen to rebound in the Showdown after both suffered humiliating defeats over the weekend.

Without former captain Travis Boak, the Power were left embarrassed and exposed by the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba, their insipid performance drawing plenty of criticism from all corners of the media, including from former premiership player Kane Cornes.

It was an unsuccessful return to Queensland for Ken Hinkley’s side, where they played over half of their games last season after being locked out of South Australia between Rounds 3-7 last year.

On the other hand, after a promising start to the season, the Crows reverted back to bad habits against the Giants at home, with their poor kicking at goal (only four goals from 19 scoring shots) contributing to a 67-point loss, their worst for the year so far.

Taylor Walker and Ben Keays were their best on what was otherwise a dirty day for Matthew Nicks’ side, and worse could come when they face the Power for the first time since the sole Showdown in Round 2 last year.

In that match, the Crows actually kicked the first two goals, but eventually crashed to a 75-point loss after which the men from West Lakes were branded “the worst Crows side ever”, in particular by former Port Adelaide captain Warren Tredrea.

In a major boost for the AFL, and in particular Port Adelaide, who will be the home side, the South Australian government has approved for this match to be held without a crowd limit, thus guaranteeing the largest crowd for an AFL match at the Oval since 2019.

While the Power should start hot favourites, the Crows side they will face will be a much different side than the one that crashed and burned their way to the wooden spoon last year, and so they will be in for a fight this Saturday night.

Prediction: Port Adelaide by 20 points.

Hawthorn vs West Coast Eagles
Who knows exactly what to expect this Sunday when Hawthorn and the West Coast Eagles face off at the MCG?

In one corner, you have Hawthorn, who have only won two matches by a grand total of four points and in the other you have the Eagles, who are undefeated at home but have not yet made a successful road trip this season.

Without Jaeger O’Meara and Shaun Burgoyne, the Hawks crashed to a 69-point loss to St Kilda at Marvel Stadium last Saturday night, continuing the inevitable on-field decline that was to be expected following their golden period of success between 2013-15.

They could so easily have been winless this season had they not mounted comebacks from 40 and 32 points down against Essendon and the Adelaide Crows in rounds one and six, respectively.

Nonetheless, it is clear that the Hawks are suffering through what the Brisbane Lions did following their premiership era which also famously netted a hat-trick of flags between 2001-03.

The Hawks’ poor form therefore presents the West Coast Eagles an opportunity to bank their first win on the road this season, with Adam Simpson’s men to start favourites on Sunday.

The Eagles were challenged in the first half of its derby against Fremantle – which was played without fans in attendance after premier Mark McGowan suddenly banned crowds from attending on the morning of the match – before running away to win by 59 points.

It was their 11th-straight win against the Dockers and marked a 156-point turnaround from its previous match in which they were thrashed by the Geelong Cats by 97 points at Kardinia Park in Round 6.

On the road, and with Josh Kennedy to again act as captain in the continued absence of Luke Shuey, the Eagles should make it consecutive wins for the first time this season with a win against the Hawks.

Prediction: West Coast Eagles by 24 points.

Western Bulldogs vs Carlton
The Western Bulldogs will be out to bounce back from its loss to Richmond when they host a rejuvenated Carlton at Marvel Stadium in the afternoon.

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Seeking a 7-0 start to the season, the Bulldogs started well against the Tigers under the Friday night lights at the MCG, only to be shown up by the side that is still the one to beat in the race for this year’s flag after halftime.

Inaccurate kicking proved to be their downfall, managing only seven goals from 20 scoring shots, while Aaron Naughton made a mess of a shot at goal in the final quarter which could’ve given his side some much-needed momentum.

Still, Luke Beveridge’s pups remain in a strong position to contend for this year’s flag and will start favourites against the Blues who are buzzing following their 16-point win against the old enemy, Essendon, at the MCG.

The Blues, who after six rounds are continuing to field more questions to be asked than answered of their progress under David Teague, trailed the Bombers by as much as 21 points in the second quarter before Patrick Cripps single-handedly hauled them back into the match.

Ex-Bomber Adam Saad also played well against his old club while the efforts of Ed Curnow helped to put the clamps on Zach Merrett after halftime.

The corresponding match last year, played at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast, saw the Blues rack up a century as they handed the Bulldogs a 52-point thumping in what was both clubs’ first matches on the holiday strip hub.

However, I cannot see a repeat happening this Sunday and the Bulldogs should hit back on Sunday, but not without an almighty challenge from the Blues.

Prediction: Western Bulldogs by 24 points.

Brisbane Lions vs Fremantle
Originally scheduled to be played at Optus Stadium, the Sunday twilight fixture between the Brisbane Lions and Fremantle has been moved to the Gabba, following a COVID-19 scare in Perth which briefly put the city into lockdown a few weeks ago.

The Dockers proposed the match be shifted to the sunshine capital, fearing the prospect of playing a third consecutive match without fans in attendance and losing millions of dollars more as a result of the lockouts.

Justin Longmuir’s side will now shift base to the Gold Coast, where they will remain for at least two weeks, during which they’ll also face Essendon at Marvel Stadium in Round 9, before hopefully returning home for a clash against the Sydney Swans in Round 10.

As if shifting to the holiday strip wasn’t enough, they’ll also have to hit back quickly after crashing to yet another loss to the West Coast Eagles – their eleventh in succession against their cross-town rivals – in Western Derby LII, which was played at an empty Optus Stadium.

The Dockers went into the match as the form team of the two, having won four of their first six matches, but they were once again shown up as the second-best team in Western Australia and highlights just how much work they have to do to be considered finals contenders.

Meantime, the Lions tuned in another strong performance at home, thrashing Port Adelaide by 49 points, despite being without Lachie Neale for a period of up to two months.

Chris Fagan’s side are now in the black after losing three of their first four games, and the win against the Power, who were exposed as wanting more than willing, has seen them reinforce their status as premiership favourites.

They now get to ‘stay home’ for a second week in a row and with the advantage that they have been given, they should ram it home and make it four straight wins as they continue to build towards a first premiership since 2003.

Prediction: Brisbane Lions by 24 points.