THEY SAID IT #1: "It has been an unbelievable success .. an amazing weekend" - AFL chief Gillon McLachlan lauds the inaugural Gather Round.
THEY SAID IT #2: "Treat the kid with some respect. And I tell you what, some people who put pressure on kids in this game need to have a good hard look at themselves" - an angry Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley on the booing of 19-year-old Jason Horne-Francis.
PLAYER OF THE ROUND: There were some impressive candidates, including Adelaide captain Jordan Dawson and Brisbane star Lachie Neale. But Collingwood young gun Nick Daicos continues to shine, with a career-best 42 possessions in the win over St Kilda. He racked up eight inside 50s and eight rebound 50s.
THE MOMENTS: Harry Himmelberg, you star. The GWS key forward took a soaring mark to put them back in front with a couple of minutes left on Sunday at Norwood Oval. He then went to the other end of the ground and Hawthorn's Jarman Impey had a booming shot at goal in the last minute. Himmelberg was on the goal line and, after a score review, it was ruled he had saved the goal by touching the ball as it went through.
TALKING POINT - Off-field. The resounding success of the inaugural Gather Round experiment, which will continue in Adelaide for the next three years. Nine games with sell-out crowds, the city of Adelaide reports record accommodation rates, hospitality basks in roaring trade, and a buzz in the South Australian capital the premier, Peter Malinauskas, says hasn't been felt since hosting the last Formula One Grand Prix in the city in 1985.
TALKING POINT - On-field. Essendon's resurgence continues with a fourth win, taking the major scalp of Melbourne; a similarly revitalised Adelaide Crows topple the previously unbeaten Carlton; Fremantle and Port Adelaide log gutsy comeback wins; Norwood Oval rocks as GWS beat Hawthorn in a thriller; and Collingwood and St Kilda's unbeaten start to the season.
STATS THAT MATTER: Gather Round attracted 204,155 fans across the nine games.
TRIBUNAL WATCH: Essendon captain Zach Merrett is the latest player suspended for a dangerous tackle, rubbed out for one match. GWS star Tom Green will also be scrutinised for dumping Hawthorn's Josh Ward in a tackle.
INJURIES: A Saad (Carl, hamstring), M McGovern (Carl, calf), J Riewoldt (Rich, cut head), J Amartey (Syd, hamstring), C Spargo (Melb, concussion), J Bruce (WB, ribs), J Simpkin (NM, broken hand), T Stengle (Geel, arm), D McStay (Coll, finger), C Wingard (Haw, lacerated tongue).
WHAT'S NEXT: Regular service resumes in a round spread across the nation highlighted by a grand final rematch between Geelong and Sydney on Saturday night and the traditional Anzac Day fixture between Collingwood and Essendon. Fremantle open the round against the Western Bulldogs on Friday night, Carlton meet St Kilda in another juicy match-up, Port Adelaide host West Coast, GWS play Brisbane, Hawthorn host rejuvenated Adelaide in Tasmania, Gold Coast meet North Melbourne while Melbourne play struggling Richmond on the eve of Anzac Day.