Snapshot of round eight in the AFL:

THEY SAID IT: "Even the names that were a part of the past aren't the same players." - St Kilda coach ROSS LYON admits the 15th-placed Saints are a shadow of the team that made grand finals in the past two seasons.

STATS THAT MATTER: Gold Coast cannot blame captain GARY ABLETT for their 57-point loss to Adelaide, after he marked his 27th birthday with 41 disposals, four goals and eight tackles.

MAN OF THE ROUND: After he was his side's best player in a big loss to Geelong last weekend, North Melbourne midfielder DANIEL WELLS starred in a comeback victory over Melbourne with 29 touches and three goals.

KEY MOMENT: Collingwood's SCOTT PENDLEBURY would have given the Magpies the lead had the advantage rule been invoked and his goal been allowed late in Friday night's loss to Geelong. Instead, the umpire controversially called the ball back and the Cats held on.

TALKING POINT: A cheekbone fracture to midfielder Shane Edwards leaves Richmond likely to enter Saturday night's Dreamtime at the 'G clash against Essendon - which celebrates indigenous contribution to the AFL - without any indigenous players.

TRIBUNAL WATCH: L Dunn (Melb, rough conduct on North Melbourne's Daniel Pratt), H Hocking (Ess, elbow to Brisbane's James Polkinghorne).

KEY INJURIES: S Gilham (Hawthorn, knee), D Hale (Haw, knee), C Ling (Geel, shoulder), A Toovey (Coll, lung), J Watson (Ess, hamstring), M Hurley (Ess, calf), C Garland (Melb, ankle), R Bail (Melb, knee), J Schulz (Port, hamstring), S Edwards (Rich, cheekbone).

UNDER PRESSURE: St Kilda and Melbourne meet next Saturday, with the Saints needing a win to resuscitate their near-dead season and the Demons needing to bounce back from Saturday's capitulation to North Melbourne.

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