Karmichael commotion

In a round where one or two other underdogs found their voice, it was fitting that Karmichael Hunt provided the feel-good moment of the weekend, drifting forward and roosting a textbook 55-metre drop punt through the goals at the new Metricon Stadium. The reaction from the Gold Coast crowd, and Hunt's teammates - who rushed as one to embrace the thunder-thighed No.7 - was indicative of the affection felt for the rugby league convert, who's occasionally been belted from pillar to post for his sometimes-clumsy transition to AFL football. One Gold Coast official had even described at the weekend the criticism of Hunt as 'un-Australian'. The Suns' backman had started the game terribly - laying a dangerous high tackle on Geelong ruckman Nathan Vardy, which will undoubtedly come to the attention of the match review panel - but went on to redeem himself with his best game for the club, which included that memorable goal.

Daisy blossoms

For those of us who don't follow Collingwood, and in fact do whatever we can to avoid them, here's a piece of news: Dale Thomas has become a seriously good player. Not a fancy-pants, fly-by-nighter who used to flit in and out of games, look pretty for a moment and then disappear for the next 20 minutes. But a consistently top-drawer player who can do the lot. And he's one of the least-likely looking footballers you'll ever see - with his spindly frame, hunched back and oversized shorts - but don't let that fool you. The No.13 has got as much magic in those fingertips as anyone going around. Following on from his heroics against Adelaide last week, when he was instrumental in the Pies' second-half recovery, Thomas again shone at the MCG today against West Coast. And he had the full bag of tricks on show, one moment in the second quarter taking a hanger over Eagles ruckman Nic Natanui in front of goals (before selflessly passing to Scott Pendlebury for goal), and the next moment threading through a left-foot banana goal from deep in the left forward pocket - on the run. Only the special ones can do that. And to think he's yet to re-sign with the Pies; his value must have doubled this season.

Yips are getting bigger

North Melbourne's woes in 2011 can be traced back not to the ineptitude of Hayden Kennedy and Justin Schmitt for the second week running (Simon Black's throw, Drew Petrie penalised for marking the ball etc) but that one elementary, and all-important, skill: steering the Sherrin through the big sticks. The Roos kicked the first three against Sydney on Saturday and were manic in their attack on the ball, and any player in the red and white. And when Lindsay Thomas brought down youngster Luke Parker with a tackle on the point of the goalsquare, and earned a free kick, they looked a monty to strech their lead to four goals. Until Thomas jabbed his kick from 12 metres out and sent it wide of the right goalpost. Suddenly, the Swannies got a sniff, relishing the let off, and piled on the next five goals. Roos-watchers wouldn't have been unduly surprised by the turn of events. Thomas has kicked 10.22 this season and is clearly suffering from the yips. The Kangas kicked 9.17 at the weekend - for a season tally of 110.127 - the fifth game they have scored more behinds than goals in 2011. When the combined total of four of your defeats is 28 points, it is clear where much of the blame lies.

Brownie points

After a winless eight-game start to the season, Brisbane has prevailed in its past two. And it is absolutely no coincidence Jonathan Brown has returned to the side for those games against North Melbourne and Adelaide. There is no player in the AFL more important to his team than Brown, and that includes Ablett, Goodes, Riewoldt and anyone else you care to name. While his game last week against North was a vote-winner, the one against Adelaide yesterday was much more modest by comparison. Yet it didn't seem to matter: his mere presence is enough. Teammates walk taller in his company, and play better. A just-going Sydney, next week's opponent at the Gabba, could well be victim No.3.

Raven mad

Adelaide Crows' fans have won the prize: they support the most infuriating team of 2011. Having started the season with a brilliant win over Hawthorn, the Crows have managed over the subsequent nine weeks to lose to Port, Brisbane and Melbourne - three teams no self-respecting side would want to lower their colours to. And then there was the 11-goal last quarter they conceded to Collingwood last week and, most embarrassingly of all, a 96-point defeat to Melbourne. That's just not the record of a side with any pretensions to the top eight. All in all, it's shaping as a horror season for the Crows (who some, ahem, thought might be good enough for the top four) and one that - for all his calm reasoning and impressive self-restraint - could cost Neil Craig dear at year's end.

Money for nothing

Richmond's bottom line might look healthier with the sale of its home game against Port Adelaide to Darwin on Saturday night, and the $500,000 that deal brought the club. But its standing on the ladder is distinctly poorer for the decision, the Tigers going down surprisingly to 17th-placed Port at TIO Stadium. Port had the advantage of playing in Darwin half a dozen times before; the Tigers' only appearance in the Top End - against an Indigenous All Stars team in February - had to be cancelled and moved to Alice Springs because of bad weather. So Richmond was a Darwin debutant .... and it showed. The Tigers have had a propensity for finishing ninth in recent seasons - six times in the last 15 years - but wouldn't want to finish out of the eight on percentage this year, or that three-year deal with the NT Government will come under heavy scrutiny from both fans, and the football department.