The Swans kept the Roosters to their lowest score of the season last year despite falling agonisingly short. This game will give fans an indication of the improvement of the Swans after a loss on the road in Round One before bouncing back with authority last week.

I like the makeup of the Swans' defence and how they go about it, but the looming question is are they quick and agile enough to negate the 'North four' in Hotchin, Quick, Artz and Riding, who have combined for 21 of their clubs 30 goals in the opening two rounds.

At the other end, Andrew Hooper's influence will have a large say on the fortunes of the Swans kicking a big enough score. His absence in the second half of last week's win over Melton South places some doubt on him being 100%. Daniel Kennedy looks the likely match up for an in-form Simon McCartin, while Aiden Domic (I think) we'll find over time is a better outside player than in, despite his size suggesting otherwise. I could speculate on another half dozen potential matchups but when all said and done, the greatest challenge of all will be how effectively Swans coach Joe Carmody and his crew can shut down the system that is Brendan McCartney's North Ballarat.

While new Devils coach Dan Jordan isn't one to look back, surely star Panthers forward Dylan Conway's nine-goal return at their last meet will raise an eyebrow. It was an extraordinary scoreline as the Panthers had just two goalkickers on the day. Captain Shaun Wyatt booted the remaining five goals but is unlikely to feature due to a knee injury sustained in Round One. The Wyatt injury has forced Conway to spend more of his time through the midfield, offering some reprieve for the Devils around goal.

In fairness, the Devils will be a much different proposition than last year, led by new Captain Brett Bewley and exciting forward Nick Rodda, who booted five goals in last week’s two-point loss to Bacchus Marsh. Shane Page and Luther Baker are warming into their respective seasons while reigning Club Best and Fairest defender Matthew Brett is likely to get the unenviable first crack at Conway.

While the Panthers have been beaten soundly in their opening two games, the club can be encouraged by the contributions of young quartet Cody Chapman, Riley Theo, Mitch Fino and Rhys Lee. Former VFL ruckman Dylan Jones will have an experience edge in the ruck and will be hoping the Panthers’ mids are able to capitalise at ground level. No Ben Casley last week, his return (if) will only bolster the Panthers' chances providing another key set of hands forward of centre.

Win/loss may not be the be-all and end-all for Jordan over the infancy period at his new club and the same could be said for Panthers Coach Heath Pritchard. But you can guarantee, poker face or not, they'll be wanting the four points more than ever!

'Burras Coach Michael Searle will be hoping his boys can repeat the four-quarter triumph of their Round Two win over East Point. Reigning Henderson Medallist Lachie Cassidy returned without a hitch after a hamstring complaint and is likely to pose one of a number of headaches for Giampaolo's Redan in front of the 'Burra faithful.

To suggest the faithful are wanting a swing in the club’s fortunes on Marty Busch in recent times would be an understatement. Just two wins in seven hit outs at home since the renovation is not ideal.

Redan will need to do plenty right to secure the Premiership points away from their more fancied rivals. Isaac Grant, Jacob Werts and Grant Bell have shown they can hit the scoreboard, while an injection into the Lions midfield, namely Lachie George, Cooper Craig-Peters and newcomer Lachie Barnes can only help. George (illness) Craig-Peters (VFL) and Barnes (Stawell Gift) all missed Round One's disappointing loss to the Lakers.

Ruckman Nathan Dunstan will be better for the run and had every right to be gassed late in his first out but was a solid contributor. Pat Fitzgibbon's drive and Daniel Bond's inside work will also play a role in the Lions' fortunes. But the Lions' defence will need to curtail the 'Burra weaponry forward to get it done. James Keeble, Toby Hutt, Michael Powell and Jed Hill are all proven multiple goal scorers and handfuls on any given day. There's no reason why Saturday need be an exception to the rule.

Given the Cobras' 2-0 start to the season, fans needn't panic if they fall short this afternoon against one of the genuine flag contenders in Melton, albeit two rounds in. Plenty will need to go right for the Cobras on their home deck that holds no fears for the Bloods. In fact, Melton has been the only side to truly dominate the Cobras on Maddingley Park in recent times.

What will give Tom German's boys hope is their impressive record at home - 11 of the club's last 14 wins have been here (tick) and the confidence and character space the club is in after two wins must be sky high (tick). Their only real cause for concern is, well, Melton.

Rival coaches have indicated the Bloods "are the best team in it" - just how Aaron Tymms and his 'even lot' go about it rings similar to McCartney's North Ballarat on the system front… Shut down one, then another bobs up. Often you have to back in your own process for fear of being too defensive - you have to kick a score to win - and the Cobras, wherever they are on the ladder, have options forward. Jake Owen (flying), Aaron Willetts and Rex Hickman are three. But the Bloods have plenty - 11 goal scorers in Round One and 10 in Round Two against Sunbury. The Carter brothers and Brayden Kight are their main three with 17 of the Bloods' 37 goals in 2022 @ 46%.

The Cobras have started well in both games thus far and will need to do so again or this throw at the stumps game for them could well result in overthrows! The Bloods have outscored their opponents 12.6 to 1.5 in first quarters.

The pressure is on the Kangas to bounce back against the Lakers after a disappointing four-quarter loss to Sebastopol last week. The Kangas have shown they're not the best starters to a season given their recent successes, having dropped their Round One match last year as well.

But the Lakers are a different proposition than the 'Burra on the rebound. Jack Fitzpatrick's young Lakers will have learned a lot from their loss to North Ballarat last week, but we may not see the fruits of that education until later.

Glass half full Kangas Coach Jake Bridges would have taken the positives out of last week’s loss and identified areas of improvement that can be smoke screened in victory. While they did lose all four quarters against the 'Burra, there were only nine points separating the two sides for the final three quarters.

New Kangas recruits Jackson Merrett and James Frawley will be better for the run and look a few weeks away yet from reaching their maximum impact. The Johnson brothers, Mikitja Rotumah-Onus and Joe Dodd will test the Lakers midfield, despite posing little surprise to the likes of Jake Coxall and Timmy Collins of their capabilities. I guess the only surprise on the potential of their x-factor talents sits with the new Lakers coach. Fitzpatrick heads to Eastern Oval, leaving CE Brown Reserve for the first time. It might be an okay time to get the Kangas, early in their prep. Their best I expect won't be seen until deeper into the season. The Lakers will need to start well, they've shown over the small sample size they can match it late. Easier said than done.