The big winners of Round 7 were...
Carlton Blues, who many were not willing to welcome back into the echelon of finals contenders until they had knocked off a top-eight side or similar. Huge wins over league minnows North Melbourne and West Coast were not enough until they had put in a full four-quarter performance against a propepr football side.
Well, they did just that, wrestling Geelong in a tense opening quarter for early supremacy before they took it and never looked back.
Head coach Michael Voss, who prior to Gather Round appeared on the verge of sacking, admitted he was a little concerned by the team's start to 2025 but was clear minded about what needed to be worked on. It appears he has gone some way towards addressing their shortfalls and they beat Geelong in almost all key metrics from clearances to contested marks to disposal efficiency.
The only bad news to emerge from a potentially season-defining victory is that key defender Jack Silvagni sustained a broken hand and could be out for a month.
The big losers of Round 7 were...
St Kilda Saints who, after promising wins of their own over Geelong and Port Adelaide, have crumbled into a heap to sustain three straight losses by an aggregate margin of 144 points.
Their boss Ross Lyon reportedly gave his players one of his fiercest sprays behind closed doors after being seen angrily berating 19-year-old Hugo Garcia on the sidelines.
Lyon told reporters that Garcia was subbed out early for not following instructions, explaining that he "tried to get something done" following a humilating first quarter in which reigning premiers Brisbane Lions registered ten scoring shots to two.
Things could get potentially ugly over coming week as they bump into a few in-form sides, facing Fremantle (four wins from their last five games) as well as Carlton (three wins in a row) and Gold Coast (5-1 record) in their next four outings.
Coleman Medal leaderboard
Collingwoodb small forward Jamie Elliot and key Gold Coast spearhead Ben King were the only two men this weekend to boot five goals whilst there were hauls of four for Jack Gunston, James Harmes, Eric Hipwood and Jeremy Cameron.
It means that King has kicked away (pardon the pun) from Jack Higgins and Josh Treacy into Coleman Medal favouritism.
2025 Mark of the Year: Round 7 nominations
Hawthorn's Mabior Chol had an excellent shift on Sunday, earning himself three coaches votes (and perhaps deserving more) for his 17 disposals, nine marks and three goals. He could well be competing with himself for mark of the week this week. Which is your favourite: the go-go-gadget arms or his use of teammate Lloyd Meek as a step-ladder?
Carlton's Corey Durdin chimed in not only with a strong grab behind Sam de Koning that then saw him extend Carlton's lead to a crucial 20 points in the third quarter.
2025 Goal of the Year: Round 7 nominations
The slick movement from James Harmes was the highlight of this classy goal against GWS Giants, but it is the early reading of the play to get into the right spot that really set him up for success.
Bobby Hill, take a bow! He's in that echelon of Eddie Betts-like small forwards who can make crumbing and kicking goals from the boundary look so easy.
Recent North Melbourne inclusion George Wardlaw finished off a trio of very similar goals, snapping one through the sticks to keep the Roos' remote chances alive late in the final term.
