With the US Masters on the horizon, AFL's moving day is upon us

In the week of the US Masters, we could easily call the upcoming Round 4 of the AFL ‘moving day’.

The first team that needs to get moving is Port, still winless after three matches. They were poor against Brisbane, spiritless against Hawthorn, and led for 90 per cent of the match against Adelaide but lacked resilience at the pointy end.

The latter is a familiar trait at the Power. They’ve lost three cutthroat finals by a kick or less under Ken Hinkley, who is rightly starting to be put under pressure, and their embarrassing stage fright in the preliminary final last season is a black mark from which some won’t recover.

If ever the scene is set for a rise from the ashes though, it’s Port this week.

Taking on the unbeaten premiers at home on the prime-time stage is the perfect time for an emotional peak. Watch for them to nail every drive and hole every putt. A win won’t surprise, but will they be able to turn it into something more meaningful than a short-term spike?

Geelong and Brisbane square off on Friday night, and it’s the right time for these top-six teams from last year to meet.

A win for the Lions will put them in a dominant position for a top four and even top-two finish, even this early in the season. They haven’t beaten anyone of note yet (their opponents in the first three rounds are all sitting in the bottom four), and will look forward to flexing their muscle against a quality side.

Joe Daniher celebrates a goal (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

If the Cats were lollies they’d be a bag of liquorice all-sorts, given that’s what they’ve produced over three matches. Uber-impressive against Essendon, flat against Sydney, then equal-part inept and sizzling against Collingwood.

Geelong have had a history of playing to the level of their opposition in recent seasons, a classic match-play trait. The tougher the course, the better they play, so we can expect a cracker on Friday night.

Arguably the biggest ‘moving day’ match of the round is Richmond vs Western Bulldogs, given the loser will be 1-3 and playing uphill from there to make the finals.

The Dogs continue to get every assistance from the umpiring department. Watching their players drop the heads, buckle at the knees and throw themselves forward in tackles is quite obvious for those looking for it, but too subtle for those officiating. Let’s just say they are a well-coached team.

The Tigers started developing a problem of conceding big runs of goals last season, and it has continued on in 2022. Carlton kicked seven in a row in Round 1 and St Kilda ten in a row last week – both runs came with Richmond 4-5 goals up and in control of the game. Talk about lack of resilience.

Still, the winner of that clash will be 2-2 and in sight of the eight. Which team is going to stiff their approach shot?

Could Fremantle really be in the top four after this week? Hard to believe given they are not a good football side. But that could easily be the case if they can take care of Greater Western Sydney at home on Saturday night. That will give them a chance to cling onto a position in the eight when their draw eventually stiffens up.

As for the Giants, they’re in danger of losing touch with the eight already, and with a tricky set of holes to come in the next few weeks. But perhaps this will be a good thing. If anyone is in need of a new swing coach, it’s them.

Leon Cameron (Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)

And what about Hawthorn and St Kilda? One of them is going to be 3-1!

Hawks fans are just living the dream right now after three long years without playing finals, and six winters since their last flag. It’s hard to know how they’ve got through such a difficult period.

Of course, we know the longest drought since their last major now belongs to St Kilda – 56 years and counting. A spot in the eight beckons with a win over Hawthorn, and with some very reachable par fives to come in the next three rounds.

And can Essendon move off the bottom of the ladder? After a triple bogey on the opening hole, they’ve scrambled a couple of bogeys, but now get a short par four in the form of a travelling Adelaide. They’d want to make a birdie to get their round back on track.

Oh, and a Masters tip? Who can go past Cameron Smith, and not just because of his outstanding first name. He’s finished top ten at Augusta three times in the last four years, including two top-fives, and we all know what a specialist’s track it is.

He hits the first major of the year in winning form, having taken out the Players Championship last month.