Round 5 football action spread itself across six wonderful days, so thankfully it's only one more sleep before the footy is back.

While Friday night's clash between Western Bulldogs and Carlton isn't the prime-time clash many would have chosen, it does kick off what should be a fantastic weekend of action.

Sydney head to the Cattery to take on Geelong without Lance Franklin and Dan Hannebery, North Melbourne -- sitting fourth, yes fourth, on the ladder -- host Port Adelaide, while the undermanned and exposed Hawks take on St Kilda in Launceston... and that's only Saturday!

Here's What To Watch For in Round 6.

Show us what you've got, Port

After a red-hot start to the season which saw them jump to the top of the ladder with big wins over Fremantle and Sydney, Port Adelaide have come crashing back down after a hatrick of uninspiring performances.

Ken Hinkley's side only just held off the Lions at home in Round 3 before dropping games to Essendon and Geelong and now sit ninth on the ladder and in desperate need of a win.

For a side that went all-in during last year's trade period -- picking up Tom Rockliff, Jack Watts, Steven Motlop and Lindsay Thomas among others -- a major form slump so early in the season is a huge worry. And very few of their acquisitions have made an impact so far in 2018.

Charlie Dixon is another who needs to find his best form. The key forward, who has been forced to spend more time in the ruck with Paddy Ryder's injury, has managed just three goals in the opening five matches of the season.

The Power face a North Melbourne side that totally outplayed Hawthorn last week to improve to a 3-2 record. With games against West Coast and Adelaide in the next fortnight, this is almost a must-win clash or the Power could be playing catch-up for the rest of the season.

Port Adelaide line-up duting the Anzac day ceremony during the round five AFL match between the Port Adelaide Power and the Geelong Cats. Mark Brake/Getty Images

A new era of Western Derby

It might only be the 47th Western Derby but it's set to be the biggest ever -- quite literally.

This week brings with it the first clash between Fremantle and West Coast at the new Optus Stadium, and with 60,000 people expected to pack the stands on Sunday afternoon, expect fireworks both metaphorically on the field and literally off it.

While the match will almost certainly be witnessed by the biggest football crowd in WA football history, the standard of match should also be quite high. The Dockers and the Eagles are both coming off wins; Freo was far too good for the Bulldogs and played Perth's new stadium to perfection, while West Coast have won four on the trot, including their last start against Carlton at the MCG.

It's fair to say this is the most anticipated derby in recent memory, considering both sides have made hot starts to 2018. The Dockers would love nothing more than to end their bitter rival's five game win streak (and five game derby win streak) in front of a vocal home crowd, while the lid would just about blow off at West Coast if they can notch their fifth win in a row.

It's just a shame we have to wait until the last match of the round to watch this one unfold.

The Optus Stadium light show after a Fremantle home game. Daniel Carson/AFL Media/Getty Images

Dees and Dons under the pump

Cast your minds back to preseason and there was a significant amount of belief and expectation surrounding both Essendon and Melbourne. Well, five rounds into 2018 and they sit 13th and 14th on the ladder respectively and find themselves under the pump.

There was talk of the Bombers being a dark horse for the premiership after they acquired Devon Smith, Adam Saad and Jake Stringer in the offseason, while natural improvement in the likes of Joe Daniher, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti and Andrew McGrath was also expected. But against the Pies on Anzac Day, the Bombers looked slow. Daniher -- aside from kicking the first goal of the game -- was horrendous, while McGrath had just 10 touches -- his lowest output ever.

The Bombers have some soul searching to do after their Anzac Day capitulation. Michael Dodge/Getty Images

The night before, Melbourne were just as disappointing. Aside from showing some fight in the first quarter and early in the third against Richmond, the Demons were fumbly, clumsy and ultimately wasteful of their opportunities. They only managed to hit the scoreboard 34 percent of the time they went inside 50 to Richmond's 45 percent, while they couldn't gain the ascendancy in the middle despite dominating the hitouts 65 to 23. The Dees, like Essendon, were expected to make serious inroads towards a first finals berth since 2006.

After Sunday's clash at Etihad Stadium, one club's coach will be allowed to breathe, while the other can expect another week of intense scrutiny.