AFL LIVE updates: Kangaroos hope for breakthrough win; Crows keen to atone

The Crows now have their fourth goal, care of Brayden Cook, who is emerging as an important figure in his fourth season. The Crows are dominating the inside 50s, 11-2.

Izak Rankine is a special talent, and that was shown when he baulked Luke McDonald, stepped around and completed a checkside punt for goal. The Crows are moving well.

An unselfish Taylor Walker marks 10m from goal, and handballs to Izak Rankine who snaps the Crows’ first goal. But the Kangaroos respond when Tom Powell also snaps, this time from about 45m.

Kangaroos star Harry Sheezel is averaging 33 disposals at half-back, but there has much public talk about the benefits of moving the dynamic ball-user into the midfield. Is it time for Sheezel to be injected into the furnace?

There are no late changes in this intriguing clash.

Former Blue Zac Fisher will start as substitute for the Kangaroos, while Ned McHenry will complete the role for the Crows.

The Kangaroos have high hopes for this man …

For the Blues and Cats, this could be a grand final preview. The Cats have been superb at either end of the ground, and have clearly benefited from sending players into surgery before the end of last season, and also an extended pre-season, after their bid for back-to-back flags fell apart.

Here’s a big question – will the Blues be able to curb Tom Hawkins and Jeremy Cameron?

The Blues boast depth they haven’t had in decades, and that’s been on show with a long injury list, predominantly because of soft tissues. Patrick Cripps and Sam Walsh surely were among the Brownlow Medal votes last weekend against Greater Western Sydney, and will look to be dominant once again today.