As the first of three bye rounds approaches, it is an appropriate time to begin the mid-season assessments of the teams scheduled for a rest this week.
The six teams enjoying a week’s sabbatical this round can be split into three groups in terms of expectations at the start of the year.
Little was expected of Port Adelaide or the Western Bulldogs, both of whom had horrible 2012s, and looked likely to have another lean year as they tried to rebuild their lists.
Richmond and Brisbane were looked upon as teams who had been developing over recent years, and some rewards – namely finals appearances – were needed this year to satisfy their fans.
Hawthorn and Fremantle were both finalists last year, with the Hawks looking to redeem their Grand Final loss, and the Dockers looking to improve on their impressive sixth last year in Ross Lyon’s first year at the helm.
If you told a Port Adelaide fan at the start of the year that they would be 5-5 at the break, and they would have jumped at it.
However, after a 5-0 start, the last five weeks have been a fraction disappointing for the Power.
Their five wins included impressive triumphs against two of last year’s finalists in West Coast and Adelaide, and new coach Ken Hinkley has clearly left his mark on his team.
As disappointing as their five losses have been, they have shown significant improvement and have shown a real capacity to work hard for every minute of the game.
The comeback win against the Eagles was a highlight for the Power this year, particularly given that Port last year would have folded and lost that game by ten goals-plus.
No-one would have been confident in the pre-season that Port would win five games for the entire season, so the first half of the year can only be considered a success.
Ken Hinkley, however, will not be satisfied, and will want his team to show the competition that the first five wins were no fluke.
The Western Bulldogs have managed the public expectations of its side amazingly well, given that until two weeks ago they had won one two of their last 18 games.
The Bulldogs produced an excellent first up win against the more favoured Lions in Round 1, sparking some enthusiasm amongst their supporters.
However, despite some credible performances against Fremantle and Geelong, the Dogs form in general was poor.
Their loss to the improving Gold Coast Suns was seen as a low point to their year, evidence that their redevelopment was still in its early stages.
Coach Brendan McCartney has stuck to his guns, focusing on contested possession as the cornerstone for the Bulldog team he is constructing.
Positive signs have been seen with back to back wins against the Saints and Power, and individuals such as Jordan Roughead and Brett Goodes in defence, Will Minson in the ruck and Ryan Griffen in the midfield have really stepped up in trying conditions.
The forward line – particularly key forwards – has been the major concern, as it has been for nearly a decade.
For the Dogs to move forward, this weakness must be targeted in the off-season, either through free agency or at the draft table.
The Brisbane Lions were the quiet mover last year, winning 10 games and building an impressive group of younger midfielders in Rich, Rockliff and Redden who could take them a few steps further this year and into the finals.
They started well, winning the NAB Cup impressively, beating Collingwood and Carlton on their way through and appearing to be strong and fit after a strong pre-season.
However, this all came tumbling down in Round 1 when they were sensationally upset by the lowly Western Bulldogs.
This performance was a complete turn around from the way they had played in the NAB Cup, and it appeared to sap all of the confidence built up through the pre-season.
The depth is also a concern, with a heavy reliance on their key players such as Matthew Leuenberger and Daniel Rich, who have both suffered significant injuries this season.
Coach Michael Voss’ position will surely be untenable should the Lions not improve sharply over the second half of the year.
His players could do worse than show a little more of his renowned tenacity and aggression on a consistent basis to lift Brisbane back up the ladder.
Richmond have been the talking point this year, with their legion of fans salivating at the prospect that their boys may just be capable of returning to the finals.
After starting the year with a narrow, vital win over Carlton, the Tigers made their way to a 3-0 record with some solid, but not scintillating football.
Unfortunately, they then failed at three consecutive attempts against 2012 finalists in the Pies, Dockers and Cats.
They are still hard to judge, and haven’t found the consistency required to be a real threat to the top four sides.
The Tigers at their best can be exciting to watch, with Trent Cotchin, Brett Deledio and Shaun Grigg leading an improved midfield, and Troy Chaplin helping to sure up a sometimes suspect defence.
The return of Tyrone Vickery has also helped their forward line to function better, with less focus on Jack Riewoldt.
The last two weeks have summed up the Tigers’ year, with a lacklustre performance against the Bombers, followed by a spectacular destruction of the Eagles in Perth.
If the Tigers wish to play in September, they need to replicate the fierce attack on the ball and opponent shown in Perth, and avoid the mental lapses that have cost them so many games in recent years.
Like him or loathe him, you have to have some respect for what Ross Lyon has managed to achieve with an injury ravaged Fremantle team this year.
The absences of first ruck Sandilands, second ruck Griffen, captain and best forward Matthew Pavlich have been absorbed and handled with minimum fuss, as their replacements simply play their role in the most rigidly structured team in the competition.
The emergence of the exciting Michael Walters has been a revelation, and the midfield of Fyfe, Mundy, Barlow, Mzungu and Hill is competitive with most teams in the competition.
The eternal debate with Ross Lyon-coached teams will be whether their style helps keep them in more games, such as their draw against Sydney, or if the apparent inability to put away good teams makes them susceptible to a comeback from a strong opponent, such as their narrow loss to the Bombers this year.
Either way, they are a certainty to be around in September, and will be a team no-one will take lightly, particularly at home in Perth.
Hawthorn have felt the nasty taste of lost opportunity for the last two seasons, blowing a three-goal lead in the preliminary final to lose to the Pies, and then suffering another heartbreaking defeat in last year’s grand final to the Swans.
So far this year, the Hawks could not have been more impressive, racing to a 9-1 record, with convincing wins over last year’s finalists Collingwood, West Coast and their September nemesis Sydney.
There appears only two things that the Hawks need to remedy to ensure they progress deep into September once again.
The first is the inconsistent form of Buddy Franklin. Granted, that Buddy’s B-game is better than many players’ best efforts.
But if Buddy can click more consistently, then the Hawks will be nearly unstoppable.
Their depth is as good as any teams, and they have the ability to blow teams away when they get on a roll.
Except for the Cats.
Their inexplicable inability for the Hawks to get over the line against the Cats may well be the only thing standing between them and that elusive premiership.
The next time they meet, it will be imperative that the Hawks get over this mental weakness against the Cats. The Hawks do appear driven to return to the pinnacle, and it would be a brave man to suggest they can’t do just that.
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Last, year in the second showdown, Adelaide destroyed Port by 47 points with a staggering 20 marks inside 50 with Tex Walker the main star.
If the Lions are clever they can use this season as a passing of the guard season and send off some very talented players whilst also trying to be competitive.
There’s no disputing that Cam Guthrie will be important against Melbourne, given Patrick Dangerfield is set to miss due to injury.
The AFL need a more simple approach to high contact and one that makes players accountable, regardless of intent.
Collingwood led by a point with minutes to go, Kyle Langford had the chance to be the hero with a set shot, however, he missed, and we saw the first draw of the season.
We’re taking a look at one player from each team that needs to make a difference this week, starting with the ANZAC Day games.
