MILESTONES
So the player database is starting to get to a point in size where it’s straining to hold up. Which is to say, I couldn’t get it to load this week. This happens on and off. Anyway, couldn’t confirm milestones this week.
GAME OF THE ROUND
It’s a round full of compelling matchups, but for game of the round it’s hard to go past a meeting of the league leaders and the form team over the last four weeks.
The Roughnecks have never started a season better. They have a solitary loss to their name, and they’ve scored 1900+ in four out of six rounds so far. They’ve been relatively injury free, and have such a wide spread of performers that they’ve been able to manage slow starts from the likes of Flanders and Marshall.
The Devils started the season with 2 losses after a rough opening slate against the Burgess boys. But they scrapped by with a win over the Chiefs in round 3, and have been electric since. Last weekend’s score of 1881 in their worst over the last 3 rounds. Over that period they’ve put each competitor to the sword.
The Roughnecks can’t claim that level of form over the same period. They would’ve achieved victory in round 6 thanks to their 1903, but they scored a 1773 in round 5 – whereas the Devils scored 1954.
This should be a classic. Both teams have some favourable matchups in AFL-land, though perhaps none moreso than the Devils’ Port Adelaide brigade potentially feasting on the Kangaroos Saturday afternoon. If it’s close coming into the end of the round, then we’ll have quite the show. The Hawks take on the Eagles, and there’s every chance we’ll have Sicily and Macdonald taking on Amon and Worpel to close things out.
Key Outs
Roughnecks: Lukosius
Devils: Jackson, Langford, McKay, Nash
Last time these two met
Saw an overwhelming victory for the Devils. In Round 17 2024 the Roughnecks put up an acceptable, albeit unremarkable, 1755. But unfortunately for them the Devils dropped a 2152. Ouch.
12 of the Devils starting 22 went 100 or higher, with 3 players scoring 136 or more. Lol. Lmao. And so on.
DangerGawn votes
| Connor Rozee |  | 147 |
| Zak Butters | | 136 |
| Kieren Briggs | | 136 |
SNEAKY INTERESTING MATCHUP
Picking which matchups will feature in the weekly preview sure does get a lot easier when the top four are all facing one another.
Okay okay, elephant in the room. One might argue there is nothing sneaky interesting about this one. And that one would be correct. But what am I going to do, not cover it? That feels like a misstep.
Last year’s premiers take on this year’s pre-season favourites. And wouldn’t you know it, they’re related. The drama!
I’m not sure this needs much more of a sell beyond the above. The Sparkles haven’t really hit their stride yet in season 2025 – but they have a winning record and haven’t faced the Chiefs or the Soldiers yet. MaherShalalHashBaz are delivering record levels of chaotic energy in recent weeks. They’re either just holding on (or just not quite holding on). Jordie hasn’t had a relaxing Sunday (or Monday) evening for a while. One suspects he won’t have one this weekend either.
Key Outs
Sparkles: Nil (I’m not counting Fisher)
MaherShalalHashBaz: Mills, Yeo, Darcy, Schultz
Last time these two met
Was Round 16 last season, when the Sparkles emerged with a 115 point victory – despite MaherShalalHashBaz’s Josh Dunkley leading all comers with a monster 158.
DangerGawn votes
| Josh Dunkley |  | 158 |
| Noah Anderson |  | 140 |
| Tristan Xerri | | 129 |
STRAY OBSERVATION
In some ways it’s a shame the top four are all facing one another this weekend, as the Pukekos v Midnight game is crying out for a sneaky interesting designation.
Pukekos were outclassed by a red hot Devils outfit over Easter, but they still managed to comfortably outscore Threat Level Midnight. In fact, they’ve outscored TLM in every round since round 2 (and even round 2 they were only 5 points short of Rowan’s boys).
On that evidence, Te Puke Pukekos should be justifiable favourites. Their backline in particular was brilliant last weekend despite the loss – four of the six scored 113 or more (sidenote: what a revelation Bowey has been so far this year. Absolutely not looking on in sadness). But the forward line was boom or bust (four scores in the 30s!) and the midfield was absolutely dire (they all owe Ryley Sanders a drink)
TLM are on a 3 game losing streak. Bontempelli returned to the field last weekend and delivered a 119, but in truth they were never particularly threatening. Between Matthew Johnson, Archie Perkins, Cam Rayner, and Zac Bailey, this club has cornered the market on “guys who pass the eye test and yet somehow score in the 40s in 2 out of every 5 rounds”
A win here would take the edge off of some of that frustration, and would be a sizeable contribution towards Operation keep ship floating while awaiting return of Gulden. A loss would potentially spell trouble for their finals prospects. With around a quarter of the season already in the books, it seems the Vipers, Midnight, and Pukekos will be in a 3-horse race for a solitary finals spot. Losing to one’s peers in this cohort could prove very costly indeed.