1.  Collingwood will be relentless in 2011

The Pies looked fit, fast and highly-motivated for the second weekend of February. Compare how they went about their footy with, say, the Dockers in their opening hit-out against Hawthorn. It is only the NAB Cup and it is hard to run a form line through matches played so early in the year, but Collingwood's intentions spoke volumes. 

2.  Pencil Andrew Krakouer in for round one

There have been plenty of back-to-back premiers in league footy. Not so many have won with exactly the same team in both grand finals. By necessity, the Pies will need to turn their side over a little bit and Krakouer, along with Chris Tarrant (pictured above) would appear likely starters in Collingwood's best 22 this year. 

3.  The AFL gets one wrong

Melbourne's Dean Bailey is hardly the most outspoken of the AFL coaching fraternity, but when he speaks out against a rule, you know it's a stinker. Following Bailey's lead, pretty much everyone with a voice came out against the 'Last Touch Out Of Bounds Rule'. It was shambolic and against the spirit of the game. Fine defensive efforts ended up being penalised because the ball then trickled out of bounds. We know that this rule is so experimental that it is only being tested in the first round of the NAB Cup, but in our opinion, there is nothing to stop the league from pulling the pin immediately. 

4.  It's only the NAB Cup, but ...

Melbourne won at AAMI Park. It has only taken 10 years for the Demons to win a match of any description at the old Footy Park. We know the Demons are sold defensively and are building a decent midfield. But if Liam Jurrah and Jack Watts continue to emerge as a decent forward set-up, then the finals beckon. 

5.  The happy Hawkers

Not many expected much of the Hawks this weekend with 18 of their likely best 22 not even making the trip to Perth to take on West Coast and Fremantle. They should have beaten the Eagles and they handily disposed of Fremantle, with cameo performances from Cyril Rioli, Burgoyne and Ben Stratton, but the likes of Jordan Williams, Taylor Duryea, Shane Savage, Jordan Lisle and Paul Puopolo were super-impressive. The Hawks looked a bit quicker than last season and moved the ball forward with a bit more purpose.