The third instalment of The Rushed Behind Report Cards have arrived, so make sure to see where your team - and your rivals - ranked in our assessment.
As always let us know what you think!
ADELAIDE
By Conor Morrissey
When Adelaide beat the Western Bulldogs in miserable conditions in round nine, they were 6-3 and had won four out of their previous five matches despite key outs.
Their one loss from those five games was attributed to a last-gasp bit of magic from Steven Motlop magic in the dying seconds of the Showdown.
Since then, Adelaide have fallen in a heap, and nearly everything that could go wrong has.
As more details emerged about their controversial pre-season camp, Adelaide severed ties with the organisation who ran it, Collective Minds, but it seemed to raise more questions than answers in doing so.
From a football perspective, Rory Sloane, Tom Lynch, Brad Crouch, and Eddie Betts have all missed large amounts of footy, while others such as Rory Laird and Taylor Walker have also had trouble staying out on the park.
It’s also worth mentioning the absences of Brodie Smith (injury), Charlie Cameron and Jake Lever (traded), who were integral to the Crows’ success last year.
But injuries are commonplace across the AFL, and Adelaide’s problems look to flow from a lack of defensive effort.
A very solid backline headed by stars Daniel Talia, Rory Laird and Tom Doedee - who has been impressive in his first year of senior football - is only improving, yet teams are able to kick huge scores against them, usually thanks to plenty of midfielders getting forward and scoring goals.
No one showed this more than Melbourne, who put them to the sword with a 23.8 (146) display, led by three-goal efforts from Angus Brayshaw, Alex Neal-Bullen and Christian Petracca and a five-goal bag from Jesse Hogan.
Hawthorn tore away from them after half time at the MCG in a similarly ugly performance, again with majority of their 12.16 (88) score coming from the midfield or even defence.
As well as disappointing losses to Greater Western Sydney and Richmond, Adelaide dropped a game to the languishing Dockers, while their one win came against a similarly depleted West Coast outfit, with Taylor Walker stepping up and producing an epic final quarter to keep Adelaide’s hopes flickering.
Walker has otherwise struggled, and without Betts – and Cameron from last year – the Crows have been forced to turn to younger players such as Darcy Fogarty, Myles Poholke and Jordan Gallucci to provide a score.
In five or six years they may very well be the nucleus of a feared side, but for now, Adelaide are desperately struggling for goals, while opposition sides have been bursting out of defence to take the ball from one end to the other.
At 7-8, and with a swathe of teams fighting for spots in the lower part of the top-eight, Adelaide’s prospects appear dim.
Their ball movement will need to get back to the lightning speed it was last year, and with little support at ground level, Walker and Josh Jenkins will need to take a lot more marks than they currently are.
Four of their remaining games are at the Adelaide Oval, admittedly against tough opposition, but two of the other three are against Brisbane and Carlton, so if they can hit some form, they’ll still have a fighting chance.
Adelaide can’t afford to drop many more games, however, and it all starts against Geelong this week, before Brisbane, and then Melbourne.
Even if they manage to scrape into the top-eight, their recent form has ensured that this season has been a huge letdown.
GRADE: D
BRISBANE
By Chris Nice
Those who had classed Brisbane and Carlton in the same boat were forced to rethink following the Lions' form over last few weeks, with their 65-point crushing of the Blues last Saturday turning any would-be deniers into staunch believers.
Brisbane has triumphed over the last fortnight with their first back-to-back win since 2015, leaving Fremantle and Carlton in their wake as they move up to 16th position.
St Kilda are firmly in their sights just two points in front, and given the Lions' fiery form over the past month, they certainly have the potential to advance higher up the ladder.
A miraculous win over Hawthorn in round nine had the Lions shaping up for a solid next few weeks, but another win once again proved elusive after they went down to Sydney, North Melbourne, Essendon and Greater Western Sydney.
But consecutive wins soon followed, and among it all, Dayne Beams, who has been an absolute gem for the Lions all season.
Averaging 27.4 touches a game - inclusive of a 40-possession effort against the Blues - he former skipper has been an integral factor to the Lions' success, with his best work stemming from the centre clearances alongside Stefan Martin.
Beams has similarly shown the ability to be just as destructive up forward, with a record five-goal bag against North Melbourne highlighting his elite status in the competition.
Eric Hipwood has nonetheless secured his spot as Brisbane's key target up forward, with the 20-year-old booting 13 goals from his past four matches, six of which were kicked last week.
The loss of Harris Andrews in defence has been nothing short of a disappoint however, after the All Australian prospect was caught on the receiving end of a nasty head-high bump in round 14.
It's been Luke Hodge with two hands on the wheel in Andrews' absence, with the veteran marshalling the Lions' defence while racking up plenty of ball himself, while Daniel Rich too has come to the fore in recent weeks.
While Brisbane's form this year has stood in stark contrast to that of 2017, they'll need a few more wins on the board if they are to surpass their 5-17 record.
Hawthorn, Adelaide, Geelong and North Melbourne all await in the next month, so although the task won't be easy by any means, be assured the Lions will put up more than a challenge.
Or even dampen any of the aforementioned sides' finals hopes.
GRADE: D+
CARLTON
By Jack Alfonso
Aside from a win against Essendon and valiant efforts against Collingwood and West Coast, Carlton’s season has been dismal to put it lightly.
The rebuild set in motion when Brendon Bolton took the helm has akin to the UK’s efforts to leave the EU; endorsed by many at the start, a train wreck at this point, and a bleak outlook for the future.
With five successive losses against their name and grounded to the bottom of the ladder, it does not paint a pretty picture for the Blues, who would have considered some of the past few games most definitely winnable.
In particular, the abysmal showings against Fremantle at Etihad Stadium and Brisbane at the 'Gabba have stuck out like a sore thumb for their loyal fan base.
In-between, brave displays against Port Adelaide and Collingwood offer some glimmer of hope, but that glimmer appears to be rapidly fading with each passing week.
The clear problem at Carlton is they don't have enough firepower yet to compete with teams.
Patrick Cripps, second in clearances (108), seventh for disposals (422) and a clear first in contested possessions (263) competition wide, is the only man getting the job done for Carlton at the moment.
An ageing Kade Simpson cannot hold together a lacklustre defence forever, with the 34-year-old's late withdrawal against Brisbane last week a clear indicator to his importance within the current line-up.
The stars of tomorrow in Paddy Dow, Sam Petrevski-Seton, Jacob Weitering, Harry McKay and Lochie O’Brien are still a few years off being fully ready to compete, and at the moment, it's translating to a world of hurt for the Blues.
Marc Murphy's recent re-signing has been one of the few positives to come out of Ikon Park, and while Charlie Curnow is developing into a human highlight reel, he simply does not get enough help from his teammates to majorly influence the contest.
Brendon Bolton’s challenge over the next seven games is to prove to a desperate fan base that what they are doing is working, and it will see them return to the upper echelons of the league in time.
With five of the next seven games in Melbourne, the Blues have a chance to re-establish some pride in their otherwise pitiful displays.
The likes of Hawthorn, Greater Western Sydney and Adelaide at Etihad Stadium present nigh on write-offs for a struggling side.
However, games against St Kilda, the Western Bulldogs, Gold Coast and Fremantle away from home present Bolton’s men with a chance to register their second win of the season, and play some good footy.
But if last week's deplorable efforts against the 17th-placed Brisbane was a sign, it could get even uglier for Carlton.
GRADE: E-
COLLINGWOOD
By Nick D'Urbano
It's been a month of many ups and little downs for the high-flying Magpies, who have been undefeated for the past eight weeks.
Since losing to Geelong in round eight, Collingwood have turned a corner and continue to play remarkable attacking football, coupled by stellar midfield dominance which has put them in good stead heading into the business end of the season.
The form of Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom and Brodie Grundy in the middle of the ground has been first class, while the likes of Will Hoskin-Elliott, Jaidyn Stephenson and Jordan De Goey have been the benefactors up forward.
Victories over the Western Bulldogs and Fremantle put the Magpies in a fantastic position heading into a mouth-watering clash against fellow top-four contender, Melbourne, on Queen’s Birthday, where they pulled off an incredible victory led in particular from the much-improved big American, Mason Cox.
Wins over Carlton and Gold Coast followed after the bye, before a stirring final quarter effort against the resurgent Bombers saw them extend their winning streak to seven and consolidate another week in second position on the ladder.
However, it hasn’t all been red roses for the Pies, who have faced a crippling injury crisis over the past few weeks.
Travis Varcoe, Daniel Wells, Adam Treloar, Lynden Dunn and Flynn Appleby all succumbed to injuries throughout the past few weeks, with Wells and Dunn’s being season-ending and Treloar on the shelf until the latter stages of the season.
This has been compounded with the extended layoffs to Ben Reid, Darcy Moore and Jamie Elliott, who all failed to surface over the past month.
Collingwood are expecting to regain the latter two along with Varcoe in the next fortnight.
They are set to be joined by fellow injured pair James Aish and Alex Fasolo who are on the comeback trail which helps elevate the recently depleted depth chart for the Magpies.
In this time and due to this recent influx of injuries, Collingwood have been able to unearth some new talents with Brody Mihocek, Brayden Sier, Josh Daicos and the aforementioned Appleby all having extended runs in the side.
The next month will be telling for the Magpies as they face many flag fancies on their run towards a return to September action.
Highly anticipated clashes against West Coast and North Melbourne both await the Magpies at the MCG, before they take on the reigning premiers, Richmond, in a potential Grand Final preview before travelling to take on the Swans at the SCG.
Side by side, they'll be marching towards September.
GRADE: A+
ESSENDON
By Conor Morrissey
Essendon were in a world of hurt at 2-6, with Joe Daniher out indefinitely and changes to their coaching panel which saw the dismissal of Mark Neeld.
To the Bombers' credit, they have turned things around since then, and although finals now appear to be a long shot, they deserve recognition for digging themselves out of an ugly hole.
Their two losses since round 10 have been to the sides situated in the top positions on the ladder, as Richmond took them aback with their intensity and Collingwood overpowered them in the final quarter of a really tough contest, which they were perhaps unlucky to lose.
There have been plenty of highlights however, the biggest of which was their sensational six-goal opening quarter against the Eagles in Perth, which set up a match-winning 50-1 scoreline at one point in the second quarter.
Essendon saw off Brisbane on their home deck, and were very good against finals contenders North Melbourne and Greater Western Sydney, clinching vital wins in the process.
Dyson Heppell deserves a ton of credit for his leadership during both turbulent times and also more recently, as his team has been winning.
His individual numbers have been impressive - with an average of 26.1 touches and 4.5 clearances - and not only is he arguably as composed as any player in the league, but also one of the best in bringing out the best in his teammates.
Zach Merrett is playing better following his indifferent start to 2018, while Mitch Brown and Shaun McKernan’s (rather surprising) good form in attack has offset the loss of Daniher.
Returning Cale Hooker and Jake Stringer to their conventional positions has seen them play as well as either of them have for a number of years, and throwing Mark Baguley into attack to apply pressure and grit has also been a sound move.
The loss of Stringer for the next month through a calf injury has undoubtedly put a dent in their slim finals aspirations however, with the 24-year-old kicking nine goals from his past four matches and being the difference in several of their recent encounters.
The single biggest reason for the turnaround has been their run off half-back, which has dramatically improved and sharpened up after it caused numerous problems for them earlier in the season.
Andrew McGrath has come back in and played well, showcasing good one-on-one defensive ability and clean skills, while Conor McKenna and Adam Saad have more attacking flair than any other half-back in the AFL, sans Nathan Wilson and perhaps the injured Zac Williams.
Their willingness to take the game on and move the ball quickly has been vital in allowing their dynamic forward line to score.
Gold Coast and Fremantle are on the horizon, with two potential wins allowing their season to remain afloat, before a huge Friday night clash with Sydney at Etihad Stadium is undoubtedly a must-win.
Win that, and another finals appearance may still be within reach.
Now what a turnaround that would be.
GRADE: B-
FREMANTLE
By Nick D'Urbano
An fluctuating past month for Fremantle has put them on a crash-course with a third consecutive season without September action.
Being in a position to contend heading into an important clash with North Melbourne at Optus Stadium saw them fall in the wet before a drubbing against Collingwood at the MCG, which brought not only a 61-point flogging, but the suspension of Nat Fyfe.
Wins over Adelaide and Carlton bred some optimism heading into bye for the Dockers, but it was quickly evaporated with disappointing losses to Brisbane and Melbourne which sees them now sit at 6-9.
Injuries and suspensions to key men Fyfe and Michael Walters has tested the Dockers’ depth, with big man Aaron Sandilands has also missing action due to injuries along with up and coming defender, Alex Pearce, who has just returned from injury.
In brighter news for the Dockers, Ross Lyon’s turn towards the youth has seen the Purple Haze begin to move on the likes of Michael Johnson and Danyle Pearce and turn to younger players such as Stefan Giro, Michael Appeness and Brennan Cox who have all shone in the past month.
In particular, their stirring win over Adelaide was headlined by Cox’s brilliant aerial ability and eye for goal which the Dockers have in particular lacked since Matthew Pavlich’s retirement.
Similarly, their young brigade has been led brilliantly by Adam Cerra and Andrew Brayshaw, who continue to improve each week, while the form of Ed Langdon has also been a major positive in what has been a breakout season for the 22-year-old.
The Dockers now face a telling month with Fyfe and Connor Blakely expected to miss extended time, and Freo will be looking to bring back Harley Bennell, who has put together some solid games for Peel Thunder and looks set to make his AFL return any time now.
Alex Pearce and Joel Hamling have performed well in the struggling defence however, and will be fundamental in mitigating the attack of opposition sides despite the two playing less than 100 games combined.
The continued development of their young talent will also be something to look out for as Giro, Brayshaw, Cerra and Sean Darcy continue to get an extended run in the side as they look to salvage what they can from a year of transition within the Fremantle ranks.
A tough task awaits them at Optus Stadium in the high-flying Port Adelaide, before taking on Essendon at Etihad Stadium, Hawthorn back at home and the Derby to close out the
month against West Coast.
It's a perfect opportunity for Ross Lyon's young men to prove themselves, and put to rest the idea that Nat Fyfe is their sole contributor to winning games.
Fremantle may be anchored outside the top-eight, but that shouldn't stop them from putting up a challenge to the teams above them.
GRADE: C-
GEELONG
By Conor Morrissey
Geelong are a strange beast this season.
If the Cats beat the struggling Crows in Adelaide this week, they will be one game outside the top-four - either way, they still may miss finals, and it is difficult to tell which is more likely.
They have won four of their last six, a run of games including an agonising – and surprising – loss to the Western Bulldogs, with Harry Taylor’s miss after the siren against the Bulldogs proving to be the one that got away.
Had they clinched that, Geelong would now be right in the top-four hunt, whereas they are now right among the logjam of teams a few games behind.
Nevertheless, the Cats have shown they have the potential to go toe-to-toe with other top-four aspirants, pulling off an equally unexpected win against Sydney at the SCG last Friday night, while earlier in the month battling solidly against Richmond.
The win over the Swans in particular was impressive, with their goalkicking and final score - 8.23 (71) from 56 entries - confirming the scoreboard wasn’t a true reflection of their dominance.
After keeping Carlton and Gold Coast to nine goals over eight quarters while simultaneously amassing whopping scores themselves, Geelong have also enjoyed victories over North Melbourne and Sydney, interrupted by two losses.
The Cats have unearthed an eclectic small forward line at the feet of Tom Hawkins, with Quinton Narkle, Lachie Fogarty and Jamaine Jones all impressing early in their career.
With Daniel Menzel at last nearing a return, any one of them would be unlucky to be dropped, and perhaps the best course is to send Patrick Dangerfield up into the midfield full-time, where he is at his most destructive to allow room for Menzel’s return.
The Geelong midfield have been intriguing, with Gary Ablett more or less being pushed out onto a wing by Mitch Duncan, Sam Menegola, Tim Kelly, and obviously, Joel Selwood.
While Ablett has been criticised for being an outside player after a decade cutting teams to ribbons at stoppages, the main problem with Geelong’s midfield is the rucks.
Chris Scott has one true ruckman – Zac Smith – but often prefers the athleticism and versatility of Rhys Stanley or Mark Blicavs, who have spent time in the forward and back halves of the ground respectively.
Scott doesn’t appear to have found a best option for the long-term, even after years of experimentation.
Geelong are the most enigmatic team in the top-eight, and if they find some consistency, they are good enough to make the top-four and challenge for the flag, but that’s a fairly big “if”.
Upcoming games, including this week's clash with Adelaide, are ones they must win, before they get two matches in Geelong afterwards: a mouth-watering clash with Melbourne and a likely victory against Brisbane.
Beat Melbourne, and Geelong will be knocking on the door of the top-four; lose and their position in the top-eight is questionable at best.
They certainly have the team to do it: an underrated, stingy defence, a string of tough nuts in the midfield - granted without a heap of speed - and if Menzel returns to Hawkins and the crumbers soon, their forward line may prove to be a very good one yet.
Chris Scott is also a very shrewd coach, so even despite an up-and-down season so far, the Cats can still go far in 2018.
GRADE: B
GOLD COAST
By Jack Alfonso
Since their bye, it would be fair to say Gold Coast has been nothing short of horrendous.
Two thumping defeats against Geelong and Greater Western Sydney - the latter which was determined by 108 points - was closely followed by the Suns throwing away a 39-point lead to St Kilda and losing the match by two points in the final minute.
They followed up that capitulation by losing to Hawthorn, Collingwood and North Melbourne, with the displays offered up providing neither quality or promise.
Now risking 11 straight losses this week and with co-captains Tom Lynch and Steven May yet to re-commit their futures to the club, the future at the Suns is looking as bleak as ever.
The Suns' horror final terms has been an unfortunate prominent feature of their season, with four consecutive games in which they failed to score a goal in the final term.
Two of these games saw scoreless final terms, while the remaining two saw just the one miserly point scored in each match.
Possibly more alarming has been the Suns' sheer lack of ball-winners, with just three players in racking up 20 disposals in their games against the Cats, Giants and Saints.
Jarryd Lyons has been among Gold Coast's best with an average of 25 touches from 13 games, with the midfielder sorely missing in the clashes against Geelong and Greater Western Sydney.
Rory Thompson, Touk Miller and Jarrod Witts have also played their roles, but have been far from their best in a team struggling to find any consistency.
The coming weeks see a mixed bag of fixtures for the Suns, as they face the form teams of the competition in Richmond, Sydney, Geelong and Melbourne, while also playing Carlton and Brisbane in the home comforts of Metricon Stadium.
An intriguing encounter also presents itself against an Essendon side desperately clinging onto their last chance at playing finals his year, however the biggest victory the Suns could give themselves is getting their co-captains to renew their contracts.
That's just an indicator of where the Suns are at this season.
GRADE: E-
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
By Nick D'Urbano
A telling, injury-riddled and tough past month for Greater Western Sydney has forced them to rethink their lofty premiership ambitions before the start of the season, and instead focus on how to scrape into the final eight.
Coming into the month with a loss at home to the Bombers, the Giants' depth was heavily questioned, with many seeing their stocks as weak and effectively ruling them out of finals contention due to their compounding injury list.
But a recent turn in fortune saw the expansion side win four on the hop, including an incredible away victory against Adelaide, a 108-point thumping of Gold Coast, a controversial encounter against Brisbane and a tough win over Hawthorn put them back in the eight heading into an away clash against West Coast.
Poor kicking and conversion cost the Giants as they lost gallantly against the Eagles, which now sees them two points outside the eight.
The big worry is coming from the fact that star forward, Jeremy Cameron, is still serving a suspension for another three games after an elbow on Brisbane defender, Harris Andrews, while a torn ACL to his fellow forward partner, Jonathan Patton has ended his season.
Leaving Rory Lobb and swingman, Adam Tomlinson, to shoulder the load up forward along with Harry Himmelberg, the Giants will be desperately fighting their way to a third consecutive finals series.
On a bright note, the form of Callan Ward, Josh Kelly, Stephen Coniglio and Lachie Whitfield has been superb as they help lead the way for the Giants in one desperate bid to break into the eight.
Along with unearthing debutants Sam Taylor and Brett Daniels - who have held their own thus far - their youth are starting to show signs of unbridled potential.
With Brett Deledio and Toby Greene set to return in the weeks to follow, it sets up some highly anticipated clashes which will determine the Giants' season.
A home game against Richmond awaits next week, before they travel to Adelaide to face the red-hot Port Adelaide a week later.
Winnable games against St Kilda and Carlton follow, which undoubtedly makes the two games prior extremely important if the Giants are to play finals football in 2018.
Simply put, the Giants can't put a foot wrong.
GRADE: B-
HAWTHORN
By Conor Morrissey
Hawthorn are travelling nicely, while still looking a long way off the standard of the top-four.
More significant than any on-field performances has been Cyril Rioli’s retirement.
The youngest player in their 2008 premiership side at just 19 years of age, Rioli seemed to be one premiership star the Hawks could hold onto for a while yet, while making tough calls on a few others.
However, at just 28, he decided the time was right, and left the game last week, with fans of the game saluting the Hawk's match-winning tendencies and dynamic play which made him one of the most loved figures in the football world.
Fortunately Luke Breust is playing All Australian football, and James Sicily’s form means Jack Gunston can play forward at Alastair Clarkson’s leisure.
West Coast and Greater Western Sydney proved too strong for the Hawks and kept them just outside the top-eight, but otherwise they have been impressive, doing what they needed to against Gold Coast and a dispirited Adelaide.
The Hawks similarly beat Port Adelaide in an ungainly match in Tasmania, which will have given them belief in their ability to beat good sides, despite them already defeating Melbourne and Geelong.
Their win against a resurgent Western Bulldogs was some of the most pure football all season, as they ran away in the second half, and it highlighted the way forward for Hawthorn.
Tom Mitchell, who had 50 possessions in the loss to the Giants, was “quiet” with 27 touches, as they had a very long list of players play meaningful roles and contribute.
Breust, Jarryd Roughead and Gunston kicked 14 goals between them, and Isaac Smith ran amok, with his class evident whenever he had his hands on the ball.
Smith is Hawthorn’s most important player; his run and long kicking gives an otherwise one-paced midfield impetus and a real air of threat.
Plenty has been made of their easy run home, and sitting in eighth spot, a position in the finals is theirs for the taking, with Brisbane, Carlton, and Fremantle to come over the next month.
The Hawks would probably also need to beat two of Essendon, Geelong, and Sydney, but if results go their way - and luck is on their side - a shock appearance in the top-four might be closer than people think.
GRADE: B+
MELBOURNE
By Nick D'Urbano
Melbourne has faced the music and for the most part, seen themselves fall from grace in quite a remarkable fashion.
A 91-point thumping of Adelaide saw Melbourne announce themselves as a potential contender, which was swiftly backed up following a cruisy victory over the Western Bulldogs.
It had all set up a huge Queen’s Birthday clash against Collingwood, with the two premiership aspirants set to duel it out in one of the biggest games of the year.
But what was to come in the next three weeks had Melbourne fans asking more questions about their credibility, rather than answering whether they were the real deal come September.
A 42-point loss to the Magpies in-front of a bumper crowd and a narrow loss away to Port Adelaide after the bye was made even worse when they were defeated by the lowly St Kilda by two points at the MCG, leaving them just inside the eight.
The ACL injury to star-recruit Jake Lever, which will see him miss the remainder of the season, has left a major void inside the Demons' defensive half and thus saw the side begin to leak goals like a proverbial sieve.
As a result, Melbourne has struggled defensively for the most part of the month, with many changes in the line-up - including the inclusion of Joel Smith and Harrison Petty - still failing to fully cover Lever's absensce.
However, they were able to bounce back with an important win over Fremantle in Darwin last week, keeping them to just 48 points and in turn moving sixth position heading into the final seven games.
The positive for the Dees has been the form of their key midfielders Clayton Oliver, Jack Viney and the resurgence of Angus Brayshaw, along with the ever-reliable service of Max Gawn in the ruck putting the Demons in good stead.
Jesse Hogan and Tom McDonald failing to put together consistent performances together still remains as an issue, with one performing better when the other is down on luck and vice versa; their full potential only being on full show against the Dogs the week prior.
Also compounding this was the consistent use of a third tall, which proved to be a major downfall against the fast-spreading Saints, with Cam Pedersen, Tim Smith and Sam Weideman all being trialled to no avail.
The return of Jeff Garlett last week proved to be a masterstroke as it provided balance, and with Oliver resting forward on occasion, the Dees have found themselves with much more potent weaponry when the ball hits the deck.
The Demons face a telling month, which just like Greater Western Sydney and many sides around them, could determine their late season ambitions.
The Western Bulldogs at the MCG is up first, before two away games against the equally prospective Geelong and Adelaide; both of which will be extremely important games.
Missing finals again could be a real possibility.
GRADE: C
NORTH MELBOURNE
By Chris Nice
North Melbourne can't afford so much as a hiccup if it wants to make an appearance come September, with its chances becoming increasingly slim as their surrounding opposition grow stronger.
While recording solid victories against Fremantle and Brisbane, the Roos nearly blew their chance against the Western Bulldogs, while also failing to bolster their percentage in their win over Gold Coast.
Their inability to fully punish the Suns has kept them just outside the top-eight, with Hawthorn sliding into the crucial eighth spot as a result.
At their best, North Melbourne have looked menacing thanks to its blend of gritty contested play - led by Ben Cunnington who is ranked equal third for contested possessions in the league (240) - and fluid ball movement, much of which has been driven by Shaun Higgins.
Exuding class akin to Scott Pendlebury, the 30-year-old has been prolific for the Roos, with his average of 27.1 touches a game making him a genuine contender for the Brownlow Medal should his exceptional form carry on for the remainder of the season.
Leading the number of inside 50s for the competition (83) and putting on a masterclass every week, Higgins has been just as integral to North's firepower as Ben Brown, who has performed soundly given the absences of Jarrad Waite and Mason Wood in recent weeks.
Comfortably leading the Coleman Medal race with a total of 46 majors, Brown has continued to be the Roos' main target up forward and has shown his tendency to tear opposition sides apart in just one quarter.
Yet the constant delivery to Brown has become predictable for opposition defences, who have been able to reign in the 200cm key forward and pick off North's forays forward.
It has subsequently allowed opposition teams to double or even triple-team Brown, despite his ability to shrug them thanks to his prolific leading ability and aerial dominance.
The potential danger of the dynamic Ziebell in North's forward line hasn't fully been utilised, with the blue and white still opting to target Brown more often than not.
With Robbie Tarrant and Scott Thompson flying in defence and holding the back half together, Majak Daw has been just as impressive thanks to his intercept plays and ability to deal damage up forward, as seen last week against the Suns.
On the whole, North Melbourne boast a good team out on the park, but the Roos will certainly be put to the test over the next month, in which they face three top-four challengers in Sydney, Collingwood and West Coast.
North will have their home ground advantage to rely upon against both the Swans and Eagles, with the latter game promising due to the Roos' 13-4 record at Blundstone Arena.
The Roos have nearly achieved the impossible, but a week is a long time in footy - and for them, seven weeks will seem like an eternity.
They just need to hold on.
GRADE: B
PORT ADELAIDE
By Conor Morrissey
Port Adelaide have won five matches in a row, and are approaching a top-four, or even a top-two finish, with a head of steam.
After a disappointing loss to Hawthorn in Tasmania, they have seen off Richmond, the Western Bulldogs, Melbourne, Carlton and St Kilda for the most part, convincingly.
The only asterisk over the winning run is that four of those five games were played at the Adelaide Oval, with the match against the 18th-placed Carlton being the only away game.
All the same, things look quite solid for Port Adelaide.
In attack, Justin Whesthoff is in career-best form and registering just over 20 touches a game, Jack Watts and Lindsay Thomas are back in the side and playing their roles, yet if they fall out of favour, Todd Marshall and Jake Neade are similar players and can play the same role.
Ollie Wines has re-signed with the Power for another four years, while Tom Rockliff and Chad Wingard have really hit form in the last month.
Wingard, after a flood of criticism about his meandering career and low tackle numbers, has gone into the middle with renewed vigour, while Rockliff is racking up disposals again after a sluggish start at his new club.
The unheralded backline has performed well, and although Tom Jonas has now gone down with a knee injury which will see him out for the next month, their upcoming games should give them time to adjust to a new system, as they play Fremantle, Greater Western Sydney and the Western Bulldogs.
It seems likely that only GWS might worry them, but Jonas’ loss may not be felt too much, given the Power will start favourites at the Adelaide Oval and the Giants won’t have Jeremy Cameron and Jonathon Patton to contend with.
2017 All Australians Robbie Gray and Paddy Ryder have both been superb, but have perhaps another gear which will make the Power even more dangerous.
Port are blessed with a stack of great players, and if these two can elevate their game again, a top-two finish beckons.
From there, anything is possible.
GRADE: A
RICHMOND
By Jack Alfonso
It's party time over at Tigerland, and Damian Hardwick must be feeling like the king of the jungle at the moment; sitting pretty on top of the ladder, a game and 15 percentage points clear of second position.
The Tigers have been in blistering form of late, particularly at their MCG fortress, in which they will have the opportunity in two week's time to break the record for the most consecutive wins at the home of football.
Since round 10, the only blip on their radar has been a 14-point loss against a firing Port Adelaide away from home, and with impressive wins against competition heavyweights in Geelong and Sydney, coupled with a 71-point mauling of Essendon, it has left them as firm favourites for the flag.
At the forefront of this full-blown assault on the league are the regulars in Dustin Martin (second for score involvements (114) and inside 50s (77)), Jack Riewoldt (fifth in total goals (35), first in marks inside 50 (47)), and their captain Trent Cotchin, who is averaging 24 disposals and five clearances per game.
However, the biggest testimony to the Tigers’ position on the ladder is that they feature three players in the top 10 for tackles inside 50, with Riewoldt, Jason Castagna and Dan Butler setting the precedent.
Shane Edwards has also been sublime for Richmond, and although not regularly a high accumulator of possessions, he is averaging career-best figures (20.8 disposals a game) and leads the league for goal assists.
In the coming weeks, Richmond will encounter some difficult challenges in the likes of Greater Western Sydney at Spotless Stadium, as well as Collingwood, Geelong and Essendon at the MCG.
With the Giants and Bombers possessing fast, free-flowing styles based around rebounding off the defensive 50, Richmond’s mosquito fleet will be thoroughly examined and tested.
Upcoming games against St Kilda, the Western Bulldogs and Gold Coast should pose little threat to their reigning premiers.
Richmond’s blistering form has arrived very early, and they face the very real prospect of burning themselves out during the finals series.
There has to be a bone to pick somewhere...
GRADE: A+
ST KILDA
By Chris Nice
While St Kilda has endured a frustratingly patchy season for the most part, the Saints are finally beginning to stitch together some admirable performances, many of which have come against the competition's elite.
The Saints' year - and potentially the future of Alan Richardson - looked the be on the rocks following a deplorable 71-point flogging at the hands of Sydney; a game which opened nine goals to one.
But St Kilda managed to turn it around the following week, evading a loss to Gold Coast in the game's final minute before a vastly improved performance against Melbourne saw them string together its first consecutive win of the year.
Although the 3-11-1 record is hardly flattering by any means, the Saints' encounters with the competition's top-shelf teams - with the exception of Sydney - have been commendable to say the least.
Going toe-to-toe with Richmond, giving West Coast a massive fright on their home deck and preventing Port Adelaide from amassing a large victory has been a credit to the Saints' turn of form.
The scenario against the Power could have been far different, yet an inaccurate 0.5 opening term effectively kept them out of touch for majority of the game.
Wayward kicking has been an issue which has been prevalent all season, yet the Saints' scoreboard penetration in the opening quarters has in turn become an area which similarly needs to be addressed.
From their 15 games, St Kilda have won just four opening quarters, and with the exception of round one against Brisbane, have led by a goal or less; the loss against the Power indicative of how their poor starts have been costly.
Nevertheless, Jade Gresham has been on fire for the Saints, with the 20-year-old jagging crucial majors week after week - including the match-winner against the Suns - and finding himself with more of the ball than ever before to help set up his teammates in front of goal.
Jack Steven and Seb Ross have been reliable in the big clashes with the league's elite teams, while David Armitage has pieced together three prolific games since coming back from the reserves, with an average of 27 touches and four goals to boot.
Injuries however have taken a toll over the weeks, particularly in the defensive end, with Jake Carlisle, Nathan Brown, Jimmy Webster, Sam Gilbert and Logan Austin all being sidelined at some point over the previous few weeks.
With Paddy McCartin, Josh Battle and Josh Bruce joining them in the grandstands, opportunities for those within the current Sandringham line-up will undoubtedly present themselves.
Blake Acres, Tom Hickey, Nathan Freeman, Nick Coffield and Rowan Marshall are all waiting in the wings, while Darren Minchington and Ben Long aren't far away from making a return.
Carlton, Richmond, Greater Western Sydney and the Western Bulldogs will face the Saints over the next month, and given their current run with form, could create a few closer contests than what would have been conceived some weeks prior.
With some late wins on the board, St Kilda will most definitely have an opportunity to put together a respectable second half of the season.
GRADE: C-
SYDNEY
By Nick D'Urbano
What to make of Sydney leaves a lot around the football world extremely puzzled.
Similar to many sides around them, the Swans have shown glimpses of what they can do but are struggling to show it on a consistent basis after a telling end to the month.
Scrappy wins against Brisbane and Carlton kicked off the month as the Swans seemed to be going through the paces in their two wins.
However, extremely impressive wins over St Kilda and West Coast - the latter of which ended the Eagles remarkable 10-game winning streak - saw them right on the tails of Richmond heading into a huge clash at Etihad Stadium.
The spectacle didn't quite go the way Sydney was planning however, losing quite tamely after being blown apart in the final term and was backed up with a rather flattering 12-point loss to an extremely inaccurate Geelong.
This has now left the red and white in fifth position, with many now questioning how good the Swans really are and how credible their chances of winning a flag are in 2018, with the form of the sides around them making it look quite dim.
The form of their midfield has still been quite impressive as Josh Kennedy, Jake Lloyd, Isaac Heeney and Luke Parker all enjoyed solid months, with Lance Franklin having a very consistent run in-front of the big sticks.
Issues now lay in their growing injury list over the past couple weeks, which has seen Heeney miss a game due to concussion, but also sidelined veteransf Jarryd McVeigh, Daniel Hannebery and Kieran Jack, all of which are set to miss some time.
In particular, the form of Hannebery this season has come into the spotlight after a very indifferent past few weeks which has seen him struggle after returning from an injury earlier in the year.
Also, the lack of tall forwards has now become even more alarming, with Franklin seeming to firm as the only avenue to goal as Sam Reid once again re-injured himself in his latest attempt to return to senior football.
The Swans still have the strength in their depth with Heeney and Tom Papley set to return, but the question remains as to whether they can turn around their poor run over the past fortnight and keep in touch with the final four.
An incredibly tough game awaits against North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium this Sunday, which could almost decide whether the Swans are in fact a top-four fancy and also silence a lot of critics following their loss against the Roos earlier in the season.
This is followed by a home game against Gold Coast and a trip back to Melbourne to face a resurgent Essendon outfit, before finishing the month in an absolute blockbuster against fellow flag fancy, Collingwood at the SCG.
One should expect the Swans to make it into the top-eight, but if their current form continues and their injuries keep stacking up, a shock drop-off could be on the cards.
GRADE: B-
WEST COAST
By Conor Morrissey
West Coast managed to get their winning streak to 10, before their strength – their forward line – was abruptly taken away.
A good win over Hawthorn at Etihad Stadium and near slip-up against St Kilda had the Eagles sitting pretty at 10-1, but the in-form Jack Darling injured his ankle against the Saints, and is yet to return.
Josh Kennedy went down just a week later, as the Eagles lost their first game since round one, again at the hands of a resolute Sydney.
An insipid start cost them a match they were expected to win against Essendon at home, and an equally ordinary final quarter against the Crows resulted in the same scenario, before they outlasted the Giants in a tough match to get back on the winners list.
While the forward line, now also without Mark LeCras, and Liam Ryan (again), is certainly far less mighty than it had been, the problem for the Eagles has been in the midfield.
Nic Naitanui was in magnificent form early in the season, but perhaps his long absence is catching up with him, as he was down in both stats and also physicality in the Eagles' losses.
The midfield as a result has had its colours lowered, with Dom Sheed dropped, and Luke Shuey taking time to find his feet after returning from a hamstring injury.
At one end, Tom Barrass and Eric Mackenzie are also injured, while at the other, Fraser McInnes and Jake Waterman haven't been exerting much presence at all, resulting in Jeremy McGovern being swung forward.
Barrass, Kennedy, Darling, LeCras and Sheed are all chances to play this week, and it shapes as a huge clash with Collingwood at the MCG, as the winner will put themselves in the box seat for a top-four finish.
It’s not all doom and gloom for West Coast, who sit in third place despite their injuries and subsequent drop in ominousness, but they do need their players back, as they look a shadow of their ladder-leading selves that put Richmond to the sword six weeks ago.
After Collingwood, who amazingly, they haven’t beaten at the MCG for 23 years, comes the Western Bulldogs and an intriguing clash with North Melbourne at Blundstone Arena.
The Eagles showed during their winning streak that all their puzzle pieces fit together, but now they’ll need Darling and Kennedy not only to get back into the side, but to recapture the form they were in.
If they get back to their best, and play the sort of footy they were playing before they were sidelined, West Coast might perhaps become Richmond’s main challenger again.
GRADE: C
WESTERN BULLDOGS
By Chris Nice
Bulldogs fight and bulldogs roar, but at the moment, the Western Bulldogs are only living up to their club song on occasion.
Although a shadow of their premiership form of 2016, the Dogs have nonetheless shown glimpses of the style of play which made them so formidable.
But with the exception of their clash against Geelong, Luke Beveridge's men have been unable to put it together for an entire match, despite there being an obvious improvement in their tack and physicality around the ball.
In some instances, the Dogs can count themselves lucky after Harry Taylor's shot after the siren shied away to the right, while in others incredibly unlucky, after North Melbourne squeezed through one final major to steal the win by two points.
But in-between the close calls have been comprehensive defeats, with Collingwood, Melbourne, Port Adelaide and Hawthorn all running out as comfortable winners by match end.
What's been most alarming for the Bulldogs has been their goalless terms in these games, with the Dogs kicking just four points after half-time against the Magpies and slotting one behind in the opening quarter against the Power.
Most telling however has been their most recent effort against the Hawks, in which they fell victim to an unanswered seven-goal onslaught in the third term after leading by two points at the main change.
It hasn't helped the Bulldogs that they're losing two of their star players, with skipper Easton Wood out for the season with a hamstring injury, while Jack Macrae has been sidelined since round 14.
Josh Dunkley has impressed in Macrae's absence following his return from injury, gathering plenty of footy and quelling opposition game-breakers with various tagging roles, while Ed Richards shown his ability to light games on fire.
Toby McLean too has been a shining light for the Dogs, while Dale Morris' inclusion in the young line-up has been greeted with open arms.
With Melbourne, West Coast, Port Adelaide and St Kilda next on the agenda - with three of the four teams they've already played against this season - the Bulldogs will be looking to exact revenge and make their mark on the back end of the season.
They have what it takes, but again, it's just been glimpses.
GRADE: D+
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