The center circle was painted in the aboriginal flag, the ball decorated in traditional indigenous markings and ceremonial pre-game entertainment added to the cultural respect.

The 12 year old Dreamtime at the 'G fixture attracted 85,656 people, the largest crowd ever for a Saturday night home and away game at the MCG.

Player’s guernseys were a highlight, with each club sporting its own customized Indigenous round jumper, while some players switched their usual numbers to 50 and 67...and many swapped shirts at the final siren.

The number change was in honour of the 1967 Australian Referendum that transformed the way the state recognised Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people.

 

THE GOOD

Down, not out

The Giants entered their away clash without 8 of their best 22 playersagainst the only team they hadn’t beaten, West Coast, 

Stephen Coniglio, Jacob Hopper, Devon Smith, Steve Johnson, Nick Haynes, Matt Buntine, Ryan Griffen and Rory Lobb all missed the trip to Perth and Tom Scully pulled out pre-game with knee soreness. 

Despite only 26 players to choose from, GWS defeated West Coast by 8 points in one of their most remarkable victories. Look out AFL. 

Slim shady Jamie  

Jamie Elliot arrived at the MCG with a bold new look – streaks of peroxide blonde in his hair.

Elliot’s new look worked wonders for his footy, as he kicked a season-high four goals, including two in the first quarter to set the Pies alive in their 45-point win over Brisbane. 

Elliot is a welcome return for Collingwood after missing all of 2016 and the opening three matches of this season through injury. He’s kicked 12 goals in his past four matches and has breathed new life into the Pies' forward line that struggled immensely early in the season. 

North’s bouncing joeys

Much was made of North Melbourne’s list management at the end of 2016. They were criticized for forcing Brent Harvey, Nick Dal Santo and Michael Firrito into retirement and allowing Daniel Wells and Drew Petrie to walk to other clubs.

Those decisions have now been justified. The development of Mason Wood, Ben Brown, Trent Dumont, Shaun Autley and many more shows a new wave of players ready to carry the baton for this football club. Dropping former skipper Andrew Swallow further displays their brave new path. 

If not for their narrow early season losses, the Kangaroos would be in the mix for top four. What’s more, their list cleanout has cleared over $2.5 million in salary cap, allowing them to hunt big fish like Josh Kelly and Dustin Martin in 2017 free agency.

THE BAD

Champion dog down

Robert Murphy injured his hamstring late in the fourth quarter of the Western Bulldog’ stifling 40-point win over St Kilda. 

Murphy famously missed the Bulldogs' 2016 premiership triumph and deserves an honest shot at this season’s final campaign more than anyone.  Every AFL should want to see him there...

Falcon of the year 

Umpire Luke Walker was subbed out of the Melbourne v Gold Coast game after Sean Lemmens booted a goal straight into his face from the goal square. 

Remarkably, Walker got straight back up to award the Gold Coast goal.  

Walker has officiated more finals than any other goal umpire, including six grand finals. 

Deliberate?

One of the most controversial umpiring decisions of 2017 was paid against Richmond’s Jayden Short on Saturday night 

Short and Essendon’s Josh Green were sprinting full pelt towards the goal square, when Green stopped to allow Short to knock the ball over the line. The umpire ruled that Short wasn’t under pressure when he arrived to the ball, paying Green a free kick for a deliberate knock over. 

The decision is disheartening and cheats the spirit, awarding the player who gave up in the contest. 

THE UGLY

Anchored  

After a strong month of footy, the Dockers were destroyed by 100 points against the Crows on Saturday night in the pouring rain at Adelaide Oval.  

Dave Mundy, Michael Walters and Bradley Hill all had fewer than 15 disposals. 

Skipper Nathan Fyfe had 25 disposals and kicked a goal, but set a record for all the wrong reasons. Fyfe recorded 13 clangers, the most in a game in AFL/VFL history.