As the dust settles on Gather Round, the 2026 season marches on with Round 6, and we are back to dig through the footy vaults. This week, we’re looking at a slate of matchups with deep historical roots and some truly bizarre origin stories.

Whether it's a grudge match decades in the making or a modern rivalry still finding its feet, we’ve got the archives open and the tapes running. Grab a drink, settle in, and let’s take it back to where it all began.

As we gear up for Gather Round, we look back at the first time these teams played each other. This week, the entire AFL world descends on South Australia for a festival of footy. But before the first bounce in the Barossa or the lights go up at Adelaide Oval, we’re digging into the archives to uncover the origin stories of these Round 5 matchups.

From the very first clash between the Crows and the Blues to the early days of the Suns and Swans rivalry, we explore the games that set the stage for this weekend’s blockbusters.

The stage is set, the early-season hype is meeting the reality of the grind, and the ladder is already starting to tell a story—welcome to Round 4 of the 2026 AFL Season!

Brisbane Lions vs. Collingwood: We travel back to 1997,

North Melbourne vs. Carlton: We return to 1925

Melbourne vs. Gold Coast Suns: We revisit 2011