Five Key Insights from Round Eight: Patrick Dangerfield’s Stunning Finale in an Iconic Career

Round eight of the AFL season has wrapped up, and it certainly delivered plenty of intriguing narratives while throwing a spanner in the works for tipsters everywhere.

Trusting form lines is becoming increasingly difficult, with Sydney and Geelong quickly reversing their fortunes to triumph over formidable rivals, while Carlton and Port Adelaide allowed their winning streaks to slip away.

Here are five key insights from the weekend’s action:

Patrick Dangerfield Solidifying His Legendary Status in Final Career Phase

While Patrick Dangerfield’s place in the Hall of Fame is already secured, his performances as a primarily forward player in 2025 are undeniably impressive.

The 35-year-old has notched up 16 goals over the first eight games, averaging 17.4 disposals each match. His explosive power and speed hark back to the peak years of the Brownlow Medallist.

Against Collingwood, he turned back the clock, racking up 29 disposals, contributing two goal assists, and arguably earning best on ground honours. Just the previous week against Carlton, he burst through a pack in the fourth quarter with an intensity that few can match at any stage of their career.

It’s still early days in the season, and the Cats are likely to manage their captain’s workload. However, Dangerfield’s ability to influence the game during the twilight of his career marks him as a significant wildcard in the premiership hunt.

It’s not uncommon for champion midfielders to transition into forward roles as they wind down their careers. This manoeuvre has had notable success stories like Gary Ablett Jr, Dustin Martin, and Leigh Matthews, but it can often signal the phasing out of a star.

For Dangerfield, however, there’s a resurgence that is prompting conversations about his status among the top players in the league since 2015.

Bulldogs in a Conundrum with Bevo

Currently sitting fifth on the ladder and boasting a percentage of 127, the Bulldogs continue to defy key injuries, most recently showcasing their prowess with a 90-point victory over Port Adelaide in Ballarat.

The question now is, what should they do about Luke Beveridge? The club appears to want to wait before making a decision on the premiership-winning coach, especially given the erratic finishes they’ve experienced since the 2021 grand final, placing them in a rather tricky situation.

In 2023, the Power were in a similar dilemma and chose to extend Ken Hinkley’s contract by two years in August, only to struggle during finals and exit in straight sets. They now find themselves moving on from Hinkley at the end of 2025, likely regretting the rushed decision they made a few months prior.

Is it a mistake for the Bulldogs to delay a decision now, given their current form and Beveridge’s consistent ability to overcome the absence of star players, alongside the evident energy in the team’s play? Or should they proactively secure him for the long term and resolve the uncertainty?

Beveridge has indicated he won’t coach anywhere else in 2026 if it’s not with the Bulldogs, which puts the ball firmly in their court. Yet, they may feel they’re caught in a no-win scenario.

Fremantle’s Talent is Wasted in Dismal Away Performances

The Fremantle side that faced St Kilda on Friday night had every ounce of talent needed to succeed. With two upcoming star key forwards, an array of small forward threats, a trio of powerful midfielders, two of the league’s highest-paid ruckmen, and a solid defence made up of seasoned veterans, they had no shortage of capabilities.

Despite a few injuries, they fielded their key players against the Saints but only managed to put 33 points on the board.

The Dockers clearly appreciate coach Justin Longmuir, even granting him a rolling contract to alleviate some of the pressure. Yet serious concerns arise if he can’t extract meaningful results from this group while playing outside Western Australia, particularly offensively, where they’ve languished in effectiveness in recent years.

Their away performances this season have seen them heavily defeated by Geelong, suffer a loss to a struggling Melbourne team, and be convincingly beaten by St Kilda. Although they’ve looked decent at home, without away success, they are destined to remain a middle-of-the-pack team.

Carlton’s Persistent Decline Against Adelaide

Regardless of your opinion on Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks, it’s clear that he has found a winning formula against Carlton and coach Michael Voss.

In Voss’ tenure, the Blues have faced the Crows four times and lost each one, three of which were in Adelaide, with an average margin of defeat set at 48 points.

Nicks and his team have outplayed the Blues in terms of uncontested possessions, hit-outs, and marks inside 50 throughout this unbeaten run, successfully nullifying Carlton’s contest and pressure game while exploiting them with quick, precise passing.

The current challenge for the Crows will be to replicate this tactical supremacy against other teams, particularly given their inconsistencies this season.

As for Carlton, they remain one of the biggest enigmas of the season.

Sydney’s Innovative Approach Confirms Dean Cox’s Capability

With Sydney’s slow start to the season, coach Dean Cox has found himself under scrutiny as he takes over from premiership coach John Longmire.

As they headed into the local derby against GWS with a 2-5 record and a host of injuries, Cox chose to innovate the forward structure in response to the presence of GWS’ star intercept defenders, Sam Taylor and Jack Buckley, coupled with their limited options.

He put the veteran Joel Hamling in a forward role—a position he’d never played in ten years—tasking him with matching up against Buckley, while fellow veteran Aaron Francis did his bit against Taylor.

The roles proved effective, with Hamling even scoring his first career goal and the Swans emerging with what could be a crucial win to ignite their season.

This highlights Cox’s potential to thrive in his new leadership role as he continues to find his footing.