Season 2022: How your side is travelling one-third into the season

With a third of the home and away season now over, I thought it would be useful to conduct a report card for each team in a sentence or two. While expectations vary and change over time, this report card is put together in reference to how the teams were expected to fare generally by the pundits at the start of the season.

Adelaide: 6/10

I think Adelaide are a bit more advanced than most would have had them, some good performances which include a stunning win against Richmond. The return of Tex Walker has helped straighten then out while Josh Rachele has been a find.

Brisbane: 8/10

In a strong position, having won six out of seven games, a number of them convincingly. They looked poised to do some damage in the middle to end of the season.

Carlton: 7.5/10

Started the season in a blaze of glory but have since tailed off slightly since. Nonetheless it is a very encouraging start to the season, after many years in the wilderness.

Collingwood: 7/10

Compared to where most commentators had Collingwood at this stage, the Magpies have done well in the early rounds under Craig McRae’s tutelage. A much more attractive game style is one key factor in the change from seasons past. A poor loss to West Coast may harm them come season’s end.

(Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Essendon: 2/10

A very poor start from the fancied Bombers. Injuries, lack of efficiency up forward, and a game style which does not necessarily stand up are proving difficult obstacles to overcome.

Fremantle: 9/10

In a strong position to launch for a finals berth, if not top four. Fremantle, in my view, have been the surprise packet of the season, capped off by a great win on the road against Geelong. They appear a well-balanced side, combining experience with youth.

Geelong: 6/10

The cliff beckons but perhaps not just yet. The Cats have been patchy, with a good come-from-behind win against Collingwood but poor losses to Hawthorn and Fremantle have hurt their cause. As always, they remain on track for finals.

Gold Coast Suns: 4.5/10

This is another team that is hard to gauge. There appears to be huge gulf between potential and performance. Meanwhile the coach appears to be increasingly under pressure.

GWS: 4/10

It is very hard to get a read on GWS. On their day they can be outstanding but are plagued by inconsistency. Should be in the lower reaches of the eight come season’s end.

Hawthorn: 7/10

Like Collingwood, the Hawks are an emerging side. Under new coach Sam Mitchell, they have had a fine win against Geelong and ran Melbourne very close. A key question is whether their younger brigade will tire as the season unfolds.

Melbourne: 10/10

Purring along very nicely and almost effortlessly, although their win against Hawthorn was a tight-run affair. It appears that only complacency and injury can stand in their way. However, as is sometimes said, each victory brings a team closer to a loss.

North Melbourne: 2/10

The almost cellar-dwellers are lacking confidence and cohesion and are struggling. Some big thrashings have been meted out suggesting that certainly at times they are not competitive. It is hard to see them improving much as the year unfolds.

Port Adelaide: 3.5/10

Port appear to be regaining some momentum after a winless start to the season. With the logjam of teams ahead of them, it is distinctly possible that they will rue deeply their tardy start.

Richmond: 6/10

Richmond have been somewhat inconsistent with some good wins, like the triumph against West Coast, punctuated by some bad losses to Adelaide and Carlton. They do not appear to be the powerhouse of yesteryear however.

St Kilda: 8/10

Another of the season’s surprise packets in my view. I am not certain that many would have had them at 5-2 at this point, including a very narrow loss to Port Adelaide. They are well-structured and the tall forward line, spearheaded by Max King, is working well.

Sydney: 7.5/10

The Swans are moving along nicely and look capable of a serious challenge to the top four. Their combination of youthful exuberance and wise old heads is working well. A highlight, of course, was Buddy Franklin’s 1000th goal.

West Coast: 1/10

Having a horror season on almost all fronts. Their heroic win against Collingwood is the highlight to date with the lowlight being the 100-plus-point thrashing by Richmond.

Western Bulldogs: 5.5/10

Not the start they would have wanted or envisaged. One suspects that the extremely narrow loss to Adelaide will hurt them in the finish.