60% of the league currently own a 2-1 record as we enter round 4, while three clubs are still searching for their first victories.
GAME OF THE ROUND
Hard to go past the 2024 Grand Final replay for this week’s game of the round.
Both teams will be smarting after suffering their first losses of the season last weekend. The Sparkles fell quite comprehensively to Threat Level Midnight in the end, despite the rampaging form of Nick Daicos and Jack Steele.
The Devils were brought undone by a Pukekos outfit that finally showed some of that expected promise.
They’ll be heartened that their opponent is missing the always dangerous Tristan Xerri, and the fact McCluggage’s season debut has been postponed further. (Editors note: and Daicos it turns out!)
But perhaps there are bigger questions looming for the Devils beyond this round. On the plus side, they have quite a few Dockers, and they seem destined for good things in 2026. On the other hand, close to half of last weekend’s best 22 play for Richmond, Port Adelaide, and Carlton. And they appear to suck.
Will this list composition prove a handbrake on the Devils’ ceiling this season?
Key Outs
Sparkles: Xerri, McCluggage, Ridley
Devils: Rozee, Worpel, Viney
Last time these two met
Was not close. In Round 19 2025 the Sparkles put the Devils to the sword by 225 points. Nick Daicos top scored with a monstrous 162, and he was supported by another 5 tonnes form his fellow Sparkles. The Devils had 5 tonnes of their own, but also had 7 scores below 60.
DangerGawn votes
| Nick Daicos |  | 162 |
| Bailey Dale | | 128 |
| Jarman Impey |  | 126 |
SNEAKY INTERESTING MATCHUP
I’m calling this one the chase.
The Vipers have approximately 11 of their best 22 scheduled to play on Friday. Te Puke Pukekos has just 3. Suffice to say, they need to build an impressive lead.
Because on Sunday, 6 Vipers, and, hopefully for them, whatever lead they have built, will try to defend it against the 11 Pukekos scheduled to play on Sunday and Monday.
Te Puke Pukekos finally showed some vim last weekend, and should come into this one confident. The Vipers are yet to win this season, and while they’ve faced 3 tough opponents, they haven’t really come close to any of them.
That could change this weekend though. The Vipers outscored Pukekos in each of the first two rounds. If Te Puke Pukekos don’t come to play, the Vipers may sniff an opportunity.
Key Outs
Vipers: Cadman, Redman
Pukekos: Bowey, Day, Curtin, Humphrey
Last time these two met
Te Puke Pukekos won comfortably, by 330 points.
Isaac Heeney did even better than the aforementioned Nick Daicos performance, dropping a 166. He was supported by an additional 6 Pukekos centurions, as well as Justin McInerney with a 99.
The Vipers had 8 scores of 50 or lower.
DangerGawn votes
| Isaac Heeney |  | 166 |
| Harley Reid | | 117 |
| Liam Duggan |  | 112 |
STRAY OBSERVATION
It’s early days, but Threat Level Midnight appear to be the riser this season. They’ve got a great opportunity to set their season up in the coming weeks.
They face the league’s “surprising” 2-1 starter in the Chiefs this weekend. Gather Round sees them face off against the currently winless Defenestrators, a proverbial lay-up awaits with the Soldiers in round 6, followed by Te Puke Pukekos in round 7.
As it stands, they’ll be favourites for each of those matchups. Could they win out? Being 6 and 1 heading into consecutive matchups with MSHB and the Roughnecks would be an absolute dream start for a club that hasn’t made the finals since 2016.