It has been a tumultuous season for footy fans and punters. Half the rounds are complete, but no frontrunner has emerged.
West Coast and Essendon have proved to be surprise packages at the top of the ladder, but there is nothing to suggest that they will remain there as the season progresses.
Both were humbled last week by Brisbane and Melbourne respectively, the cellar dwellers of the competition.
Setting the pace early and maintaining top position are characteristics of champion teams.
While form suggests that the table leaders have justified their positions, there are still pre-season favourites such as Collingwood, Geelong, Hawthorn, Adelaide, St Kilda and Carlton making the charge to eclipse the pacesetters.
It will be a test of nerves and astute list management that will determine this year’s premiers.
Right now I cannot decide where my money is.
An in-depth analysis suggests that Collingwood, Hawthorn, Geelong, West Coast and Adelaide are the front runners this year.
But the dark horses appear to be Essendon, Richmond, Carlton, St. Kilda and to a lesser extent North Melbourne, the latter having dropped off after early promise.
Hawthorn and Carlton have stumbled in their quest for glory.
The Hawks have recovered, on the back of a Lance Franklin avalanche to smash North Melbourne by 115 points.
The Blues, meanwhile, are on a downward spiral leaving coach Brett Ratten lost for answers for their dismal recent form after a rip-roaring start to their campaign.
After looking the goods early, their last loss to reigning premier Geelong showed a distinct lack of staying power, which is a worrying trend for Blues fans.
Collingwood are currently travelling under the radar and look the most formidable of the top lot, after suffering a couple of uncharacteristic setbacks early in the season.
The distinct improvers this season have been the Tigers, Essendon, and the Adelaide Crows.
Richmond, in particular, have given a good account of themselves, and their resounding thrashing of Hawthorn announced them as the latest threat to the top sides.
My early rating suggested that from one to 13, anyone could beat anyone this year.
But that has changed to anyone can beat anyone after last week’s upsets. Newcomers Greater Western Sydney, coached by wily maestro Kevin Sheedy, upset the Gold Coast for their first AFL win, and Port Adelaide resurrected their season with a shocking but emphatic win over Carlton to turn the competition on its head.
As the turnaround comes this week, the teams have set their sights on the straight, and the sprint for the line.
Right now it is a dead heat despite the differential in the points separating first from the rest.
But all of that will change in the coming weeks, at the business end of one of the best seasons of football ever.
Jay Himat
Roar Rookie
Collingwood will do it again this year and I'm not even a supporter
Lachlan
Roar Guru
Love how you failed to mention the swans, who beat essendon away, hawthorn away, fremantle and lost to adelaide by 5 points. Oh well i enjoy going under the radar like we do every year. Last time when we were 5-0 there were a few articles and then we lost 3 of the next 4. just pretend were not there like usual.
notahorse
Guest
Yes, sorry to also be another echo of all the other posts, but it is really getting very tiring how little respect the Swans seem to have from Victorian writers. They're currently second on the ladder - have beaten Hawthorn and Essendon and yet don't even get considered as being in the top eight. Disappointing.
Stewie
Guest
It seems I must add my voice to the many who are disappointed by the lack of respect and recognition the Swans get.
Matt F
Roar Guru
Whilst the crows do have a fairly soft draw over the whole season their draw for the first half of the season hasn't been much easier then anyone else. Their last 5 matches have been Sydney (A), Geelong (H), Carlton (A), Collingwood (H) and Fremantle (A.) That's a seriously tough run of matches for any team and they won 4 of them. I'm still not sure that they can beat a Collingwood or West Coast, which a team will need to do if they're to win the flag this season, but they've well and truly earnt their spot on the ladder so far.
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
So Trevine, you've managed to list 10 teams as Premiership candidates, but not mentioned the team that is currently at the top of the ladder. How odd...
Siege of Perth
Guest
Im not sold on the Crows yet, I think their positive fixture is diluting their abilities so far. Collingwood out and out favorites. My Weagles chances will depend on the form of returning players when they come back from injury and making sure they finish top 2 so they dont have to travel until GF because hard to beat Collingwood on its home game in such great form. Overrated is Carlton and Hawks. No buddy no hawks, carlton just arent as good as the Melbourne media love for them has made out. Closet season ever.
Redb
Roar Guru
Collingwood then West Coast. Daylight to the rest.
Marked
Roar Rookie
Swans may make it, serious omission and Freo are more likely than north or Richmond....
Lroy
Guest
Well I still think West Coast Collingwood Crows and Bombers are just better than the rest of the teams. but after the weekend result, well you would have to say the Swans have really thrown down the gauntlet. As for the rest, well I think they will just be there to make up the numbers... Whoever wins their first final and gets a home preliminary will have a huge advantage... West Coast vs Crows could be an outside chance for GF if they both get results to go their way...
John Ascenzo
Guest
Doh! Sydney Swans not North Melbourne; Collingwood travelling under the radar at the top of the ladder... yeah right! Geelong geriatrics in big trouble. Hawthorn practically unbeatable when Buddy fires. Richmond erratic and could beat or lose to anyone. St Kilda, see above for Geelong. Adelaide and West Coast big prospects for flag. I still don't believe in Essendon. Carlton: forget-about-it.
Winston
Guest
I also agree with the other posters. I was hoping to see the "anyone can beat anyone" argument supported by the Swans' win over the Bombers. But no...
Matt F
Roar Guru
I agree with the others. North considered "dark horses" at 4-6 but the Swans don't rate a mention despite being 8-3? Crazy
LK
Guest
I agree with the other posters. How can Richmond and North be dark horses, and the Swans don't get a mention?
cam
Guest
Typical lack of respect for the Swans- No, you're right, North are Definitely up there.....
Brendon
Guest
No swans? -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
hog
Guest
No mention of Sydney who were on top of the ladder during the weekend.