1. Blonds really do have more fun
Jamie Elliott caught the eye after he ran out with a new blond hairstyle. Combined with his flashy green boots, the small forward was hard to miss. His form leading into the game was impressive – he had booted three goals in four of his past five games after a left ankle injury kept him out of the side early in the season. Up against Darcy Gardiner on Sunday, Elliott reached that three-goal mark in the second quarter. Some of his pick-ups were exceptional as he twice collected the ball brilliantly off half-volleys in the first term. Maybe he likes playing with extra attention - he changed his footwear to a black pair at half-time after rain fell in the second quarter, but kicked just one more goal for the rest of the contest. "I try not to give too much critique on people's haircuts. I've been running with the same one for 25 years," Nathan Buckley quipped after the game. "You want to see your boys express themselves, largely on the footy field, but if he backs it up, that's all good."

2. Josh who?
Out-of-contract forward Josh Schache didn't play at any level this week after the second selection from the 2015 NAB AFL Draft went on leave. The Lions are adamant he wasn't given time off to decide his future, but it seems inevitable that Schache, who had been so keen to play at the Lions before being drafted after his late father Laurence lined up in 29 games for the Brisbane Bears, will leave at the end of the season. However, some of Eric Hipwood's efforts showed that Chris Fagan will be able to build a dangerous forward line. Hipwood drew comparisons to Lance Franklin and Joe Daniher in the first quarter when he picked up the footy off his toes, made a u-turn and booted it through for a goal from just outside 50. While the Queenslander had just six disposals, the big man again showed signs why many think he will be a star.

3. Collingwood can't kill the game
The Magpies struggle to score and came into the clash 15th for points per game. On Sunday, they had plenty of chances but often failed to finish off their work in front of goal. A dominant second quarter saw them win inside-50s 18-8 but they scored 4.5. It seemed Collingwood wouldn't be punished for its inaccuracy but the Lions came hard in the third quarter while Darcy Moore sat on the bench with ice on his right leg after copping a knock in a ruck contest. Goals to Jake Barrett and Daniel Rich helped bring the margin back to 10 points and would have given Nathan Buckley a fright. Ultimately, the Pies posted consecutive wins for the first time since rounds 15 and 16 last year, but poor finishing will be costly against better sides.

4. Finally, Matthew Scharenberg returns
After 630 days since his last game, the rebounding defender made it back to the senior team. Scharenberg was involved in a scoring chain with his first touch after finding an open Scott Pendlebury at centre half-forward, who hit Levi Greenwood in the forward line. The former Roo missed but it was a relatively easy start for Scharenberg, who finished with 16 disposals. Twice Scharenberg has had knee reconstructions – on his left in 2014 and on his right the following year – in an injury-riddled career. The sixth person drafted in 2013 was forced to earn his fifth career game after racking up 109 disposals in his last three VFL matches and while he was relatively quiet on his return to the AFL arena, he should only improve as he plays more in the senior team.

5. Dayne Beams shines again
The star midfielder faced his former club as captain for the first time and was massive. He returned against Adelaide last week after missing a couple of games with a quad injury and seemed to be carrying an injury against the Magpies as he spent plenty of time forward and away from the real being right inside the contest. Nevertheless, the 2012 Collingwood club champion racked up 28 disposals and 11 contested possessions. Beams showed his class when he snapped a goal on his left in the opening term and on his right in the second, and finished with three. He has performed exceptionally well every time he has taken to the field this season and has been a massive addition after playing just two games last with after dealing with knee troubles.



Jamie Elliott and Jack Crisp celebrate one of Elliott's four majors. Picture: AFL Photos.