Round 4

Round 3 of the AFL season is in the books, and the early narrative of 2026 is starting to take shape.

This week, we break down the biggest results from the round—highlighting the teams making real statements and the ones already facing serious questions. 

We dive into the key matchups that defined the weekend, standout individual performances, and the evolving styles shaping the competition. Plus, we look ahead to Round 4 with a preview of the games that could shake up the ladder.

Happy Easter! 

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Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:00

Welcome back to the friend. You're listening to the pop talk where a lot of the game runs in the family. I'm Matt and I'm here with my dad Mark, and every week we've done me into old things fully. We'll be trying to do the biggest moments when the game's just gone. Waiting on the wings, bosses, and everything in between. Pops, you're looking at the weekends matchup. Check out thoughts, predictions, and both games for along the way. Whether you're a die-hard supporter, or just always go down in here in the right place. Let's get into the podcast. What's that noise, Dad?

SPEAKER_01 0:40

That Max is the West Coast Eagles premiership bus. It hasn't been started for a few years, so I just thought I'd get it out to make sure it still works. Well, it's adding good. And Geelong versus Adelaide. Geelong won by eight points. There was a bit of out-of-bounds rule controversy late in the game, and Geelong got a goal out of it. I mean, Adelaide, I think, were in the lead. Adelaide were a bit disappointing to lose another close game, but Geelong showed they got lots of multiple options in front of goal. Smith smashed the disposal with 40 touches. Did you see the April Fools with Bailey Smith today?

SPEAKER_02 1:20

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 1:21

He shaved his head, but I think it was a joke.

SPEAKER_02 1:24

Yes. Okay, next game. Pies versus GWS. Pies won by 33. Pies are hot. GWS has like looks like they've lost their mojo.

SPEAKER_01 1:41

They haven't been able to play well the last few weeks, have they?

SPEAKER_02 1:43

No. But me and Membury comes out of the box and kicks four goals.

SPEAKER_01 1:49

Next game was Saints versus the Brisbane Lions. The Brisbane won by 33 points. It was a close game all day, but the Lions kicked away late in the last quarter to win. It was a first win for the Lions. And the Saints were good for three quarters to keep the game nice and close.

SPEAKER_02 2:06

We're going into the next game. Dockers took the win by 60 points. Tracy, he had really strong hands.

SPEAKER_01 2:17

Richmond? Did they have a ruckman? They got smashed in the rug all day.

SPEAKER_02 2:22

Yeah, they didn't. It looks like that. They just kept on changing rocks.

SPEAKER_01 2:26

How many goals did Josh Tracy kick?

SPEAKER_02 2:28

Four.

SPEAKER_01 2:29

Good effort. I think he missed a few as well.

SPEAKER_02 2:31

Yeah. He missed four, by the way.

SPEAKER_01 2:35

And then we got Bombers versus North Melbourne. North Melbourne won by 12 points. It was the battle of the teams that needed to win, and North found a way to win. Essendon, oh, they look lost. Will Brad Scott survive? Oh, and that big incident. Wasn't a great, was it?

SPEAKER_00 2:55

No.

SPEAKER_01 2:55

Tristan Ziri had a bit of a brain fade. So he got suspended for three weeks. Three weeks, which is probably fair enough.

SPEAKER_02 3:04

Next game, Port Eagles. Eagles second game to come from behind. Reed, Derzma, Shanahan, older players, Port.

SPEAKER_01 3:16

All played well, the older players for the Eagles, didn't they?

SPEAKER_02 3:19

Yeah. Disappointing to not see a win at home for Port Adelaide. Waterman kicks four goals into the goal square, makes them look nice. They were good goals.

SPEAKER_01 3:33

They really found some good form the last two weeks, the Eagles. But we really see if we can follow it on this week. And last game, Carlton versus Melbourne. Melbourne won by 23. Carlton were up 45 points to one. And then they went missing.

SPEAKER_02 3:48

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 3:49

Completely missing.

SPEAKER_02 3:50

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 3:50

They lost. By thir 23 points. A bit like Brad Scott. Will Michael Voss survive? Bailey Fritch kick four. Cozzy Pickett's last quarter was amazing. Melbourne looked like they turned their season around and looked like they might improve this year.

SPEAKER_02 4:08

Yeah. Full cast. Looking ahead to round four.

SPEAKER_01 4:16

Thursday night blockbuster, Brisbane versus Collingwood at the Gabba. Easter Thursday. This game historically has been one of the great ways to start this weekend. Big key outs for the prize. No Scott Pendlebury and no Darcy Moore. So can Brisbane continue their hot streak?

SPEAKER_02 4:34

Maybe. So now we've got our Good Friday matches. First one is North Melbourne Carlton at Marvel. They're raising money for the Royal Children's Hospital. Usually called the Good Friday appeal. Let's see if Carlton show up for the whole game this week.

SPEAKER_01 4:58

Next game we've got Adelaide versus the Dockers at Adelaide Oval. Can Adelaide win at home before Gatheround? Can Adelaide beat a top four team? It'll be interesting to see.

SPEAKER_02 5:13

At the MCG. Battle of the rebuild.

SPEAKER_01 5:21

Can Richmond get another win this season and can Port Adelaide don't know. Let's see if they can just improve.

SPEAKER_02 5:27

Yeah, maybe. Next game is West Coast versus the Swans at Optus Stadium. Tough one for the Eagles. They've had a great couple of weeks.

SPEAKER_01 5:43

One of the teams who are looking good in the top eight. The Eagles' hardest game today. Well, apart from Gold Coast. Gold Coast are a top team too. And we had a good second half. So it'd be really interesting to see how the Eagles go this week. Melbourne Demons versus Gold Coast Suns at the MCG is the next game. Can the Suns continue on their merry way and get another win? Or can Melbourne back up that great game against Carlton and challenge the Gold Coast Suns?

SPEAKER_02 6:09

Yeah. Next game is Bulldogs Essendon at Marvel. How low can Essendon go?

SPEAKER_01 6:16

They need a win, or they need to just play well this week, don't they?

SPEAKER_02 6:19

Yeah. Brad Scott is under lots of pressure.

SPEAKER_01 6:23

And this one really, the Bulldogs should be able to put away comfortably.

SPEAKER_02 6:27

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 6:28

And Easter Monday, another blockbuster, Hawthorne versus Geelong. A lot of these games have been decided by under one goal.

unknown 6:36

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 6:36

Do you think this will be another close one?

SPEAKER_02 6:38

Yeah, hopefully Jeremy Cameron doesn't run into the umpire again.

SPEAKER_01 6:43

Oh, fingers crossed. Okay, Max, time for our tips. Brisbane versus Collingwood.

SPEAKER_02 6:52

Collingwood.

SPEAKER_01 6:52

I'm gonna go Brisbane. North versus Carlton.

SPEAKER_02 6:55

North.

SPEAKER_01 6:56

I'll go Carlton. Adelaide versus the Dockers.

SPEAKER_02 7:01

Oh that sounds tricky, but I'm gonna go Adelaide.

SPEAKER_01 7:04

I'm gonna go Adelaide too. Richmond versus Port Adelaide.

SPEAKER_02 7:08

I'm gonna go Port Add.

SPEAKER_01 7:09

I'll go Richmond. West Coast versus the Swans.

SPEAKER_02 7:13

Well West Coast would look good. I think I could possibly win. So yeah, I'm gonna go West Coast.

SPEAKER_01 7:20

I'll go the Swans, but I hope I'm wrong. Melbourne versus Gold Coast.

SPEAKER_02 7:25

Um I think I'm gonna go Gold Coast.

SPEAKER_01 7:28

I'll go Gold Coast too. Western Bulldogs versus Essendon.

SPEAKER_02 7:32

Like you said earlier in the podcast, Bulldogs should go away comfortably, that's true, and I think I'm gonna go Bulldogs.

SPEAKER_00 7:40

I'll go Bulldogs too, and to finish the round off, Hawthorne versus Geelong.

SPEAKER_02 7:44

Easter Monday blockbuster. I think I'm gonna go the Hawks.

SPEAKER_01 7:49

I'll go the Hawks too after the buyer.

SPEAKER_02 7:51

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 7:52

Alright, everyone, thanks for listening. Enjoy your Easter.

SPEAKER_02 7:54

Bye. Hope the Easter Bunny comes.