Winter is right here. The Demons have lastly been knocked off, the underside few sides are abnormally dangerous, Buddy has kicked over a thousand targets, and Kane Cornes has discovered 100,000 issues to object to. Beginning with the highest eight, right here’s how your staff is monitoring halfway via the 2022 season.
Melbourne
At half-time on Saturday, they had been cruising to their 18th win on the trot.
Not like a few of the nice groups of the final 20 years, the 2022 Dees don’t pulverise the opposition, or look to placed on a present. They simply dial it up as required. Gawn, Petracca and Oliver raffle the three votes every week.
However then they modified their identify, Langdon damage his ribs, Petracca fell in poor health, Might acquired concussed, and Fremantle went whoosh. The Dockers’ 10-goal burst will probably be on excessive rotation throughout the competitors. Did they work Melbourne’s locks? Did they flip the premiership race on its head? The truth is, the Dees had an off day. They'd excuses. Their opponents performed out of their skins. Melbourne hasn’t actually acquired heat but, however they’re nonetheless the clear No 1 seed.
Finest and fairest: Clayton Oliver
Brisbane
That is most likely the closest Brisbane’s been to a flag since 2004. They had been a bit listless in Geelong and Launceston however they’re able to scintillating soccer, significantly on the Gabba, the place they’re just about unbeatable in home-and-away video games. They’ve had a superb run with accidents in recent times, however they’re beginning to chunk in 2022, significantly up ahead. They’re beginning to leak targets too. Their subsequent 4 opponents are Fremantle (away), St Kilda, Melbourne (away) and the Western Bulldogs. We’ll have a a lot clearer image then.
Finest and fairest: Lachie Neale
Fremantle
They had been coming off two losses within the moist after they forfeited about 25 proportion factors and incurred the wrath of their usually imperturbable coach. Nevertheless it’s laborious to recollect a Fremantle facet that’s performed higher than the one which unleashed late on Saturday afternoon – maybe the opening quarter of the 2012 elimination ultimate, or the next 12 months’s qualifying and preliminary finals. They’re defensively sound, effectively coached, have a good unfold of contributors, and can quickly welcome again a two-time Brownlow medallist. You wouldn’t again them together with your worst enemy’s cash on a heavy observe nevertheless.
Finest and fairest: Andrew Brayshaw
St Kilda
The Saints didn’t have an important summer season. Coffield tore an ACL, and Clark, Billings, Geary and Ryder had been all injured. There was a sameness to them in spherical one. They appeared one-paced and bland. The one actual supply of pleasure got here from a former concreter within the ruck. However they’ve exceeded all expectations since. They’re an important second half staff, rolling all around the prime of Fremantle, Richmond, Geelong and GWS after the primary break. Kicking 4-18 within the tropics might show expensive nevertheless. And their run house is hard, with eight video games towards prime eight sides.
Finest and fairest: Jack Sinclair and Jack Steele
Carlton
The Herald Solar not too long ago had the temerity to recommend that Carlton are the best second staff to assist. For any Victorian over the age of 35, it was a comical suggestion. However they’re a responsible pleasure. They’re one of the best story, they’re one of the best staff to observe, and after they’re actually buzzing, maybe the toughest to counter. The outdated timers can’t get sufficient of them – laborious on the contest, an uncomplicated recreation plan, and tall choices up ahead. It’s old skool soccer.
However Jacob Weitering’s cracked AC is a gigantic blow. He calms them down, straightens them up and infrequently saves the day. He’s virtually by no means out-marked. They appeared bereft with out him on Sunday. With Jones refusing the jab, and McKay, McDonald, McGovern and everybody else with Scottish ancestry at present unavailable, they might be at their tipping level.
Finest and fairest: Patrick Cripps
Geelong
Fashionable footy adjustments each few months. However Geelong is the nice fixed. You can set your watch to them. Nonetheless, it takes quite a bit for the Cats to impress us. It takes quite a bit to impress their followers. As at all times, they gained’t go away. They’re the competitors’s audit. They put sides to sleep. They put loads of their supporters to sleep. And so they’re really not going too badly. They’ve dropped three video games by lower than two targets. They’ve unearthed a star in De Koning. However Dangerfield simply can’t get his physique proper. There’s a shelf life to taking part in like that. It makes the profession of Joel Selwood all of the extra exceptional. He’s been taking part in like a crazed lunatic for 15 years now, and remains to be an excellent footballer.
Finest and fairest: Tom Stewart
Sydney
It is a very totally different Swans facet to earlier years. There’s much less crash and bang, and extra run and unfold. They’ve struggled for consistency inside video games nevertheless, and threw in a shocker towards Gold Coast. However they’re at all times a formidable proposition in Friday evening video games on the SCG. Franklin particularly at all times appears to search out one other leg in these fixtures. If he hadn’t whacked Cotchin and earned per week’s relaxation, they might have actually fancied their possibilities towards Melbourne on Saturday evening.
Finest and fairest: Callum Mills
Western Bulldogs
“In these occasions the place we’re processing the inherent results of Covid, its unsure legacy and the longer term, the uncertainty concerning the atmosphere, the carbon footprint worldwide and now the atrocity of the Russian development on Ukraine, there are questions we ask of ourselves. What sort of particular person am I? And what would I do if I might affect a few of these vital occasions that may threaten our futures?”
Joe Biden? No, Luke Beveridge. He’s a perennial puzzle, the Bulldogs coach. He had a really odd begin to the 12 months. He likes to experiment and chop and alter his facet, significantly within the early rounds. It may well ship Canine supporters spare. However after spluttering alongside for a number of months, they’ve lastly discovered their groove. Naughton is flying, Libba is again within the center the place he belongs, they usually lastly have a little bit of ruck stability. They encountered witches hats final week. This Friday’s opponent represents a far stiffer problem.
Finest and fairest: Bailey Smith
Half two – from ninth place downwards – will probably be analysed on Friday
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