Patrick Cripps, Jack Carroll face test against Collingwood, while Liam Ryan aims to fly higher against Bombers

Mid West players will be tested across the league, with big match-ups in round eight of AFL action. Carlton will be tested on Friday night when they take on Collingwood at the MCG. It will be a big game for both teams, who have been in up-and-down form early in the season. Northampton’s Patrick Cripps has been in hot form in his first seven games, with the Carlton skipper averaging 27 disposals and six clearances with nearly one goal a game. Cripps has also tallied 27 coaches’ votes so far after picking up four more in the side’s loss to Geelong last week, putting him at equal seventh with a handful of other players. During the 18.10 (118) to 15.15 (105) loss to the Cats, Chapman Valley’s Jack Carroll saw himself back in the 22 after being the sub in the previous two games. Carroll kicked 1.1 in the game — the first time in his career he has put up multiple scores. The Mid West Blue who has yet to hit the field this season is Jack Martin, who has been recovering from a soft-tissue injury in his hamstring. He is expected to return to the side in the next two weeks. The West Coast Eagles are back at home on Saturday in a game they could steal from Essendon. Eagles Rover Liam Ryan returned to AFL action last week for the first time since round three in 2023, and managed to get a goal in the 17.10 (112) to 12.3 (75) loss to the Gold Coast Suns on Sunday. The forward was quiet early, but had a nice smother on the ball, and looked more comfortable as the game went on. Jamie Cripps is the second-leading scorer for the Eagles this season with 10.9 after adding two more to his name in the loss. Tyler Brockman is yet to get his name on the scoresheet despite having chances throughout the season. A player who has had no issue finding the goals is former Coorow-Latham Magpie Logan McDonald for the Sydney Swans, who is has the sixth-most goals kicked in the league, with 16 so far. The 22-year-old has already passed his second-most goals kicked in a season through seven games, having kicked 15 in 2022. He will be needed as Sydney take on GWS on Saturday in a clash between second and third on the ladder. Then, the top and fourth teams — Melbourne and Geelong — will face off on Saturday night at the MCG. Another Rovers product, Judd McVee, has continued to improve in his second year, averaging 17 disposals a game as his role in the Demons’ back line has grown, including taking kick-outs and match-ups against some tough competition. On the Sunday slate, Fremantle will take on a Richmond side who have struggled in recent weeks. Dongara’s Jaeger O’Meara, for the Dockers, has been getting better in each round as his role grows, with his best game in their round-seven 14.11 (95) to 10.11 (71) win over the Bulldogs.