We’re 14 weeks through the AFL season as the bye rounds are finally behind us.
While six teams sat out, we still learned plenty from the remaining games as the ladder begins to tighten up on route to finals.
Some quality teams will miss finals this season
With each team having 13 games played to their names the ladder is really starting to tighten at the top end.
While the top four of Brisbane, Melbourne, Fremantle and Geelong seem locks, seven other sides have genuine claims to finish in the remaining four top eight spots.
While Carlton is the best placed at 9-4, their growing injury list couple with a hard draw has cast doubt over their hopes, while Richmond, Sydney and St Kilda all sit inside the eight with 8-5 records.
Just outside at the moment is Collingwood, the Western Bulldogs and Gold Coast, but the Magpies and Suns especially have easy draws on the road in, while the Dogs’ best is almost as good as anyone.
With nine games left each, it looks like teams will need at least 13 wins to make it.
Expect this battle to tighten even further across the next two months.
Dion Prestia might be Richmond’s most important player
Richmond’s midfield bull Dion Prestia was immense on Thursday night against Carlton.
Against a Blues midfield that’s been hailed all year as one of the competition’s best, Prestia wrestled control on the inside for his side picking up 13 clearances to give Richmond a 41-28 win in that area.
With his influence early on helping the Tigers to a five-goal lead, Prestia was probably the difference in a game that tightened up late.
Although Dustin Martin is Richmond’s best player, Prestia’s inside ball-winning ability for a side that doesn’t typically dominate in that area might make him the player the Tigers can ill-afford to lose on the road into finals.
We know he’s had troubles with his body in recent years, but if the 29-year-old stays fit, there’s no ceiling on where this side can go in 2022.
Todd Marshall is becoming a star
Port Adelaide forward Todd Marshall is having a breakout season.
It’s been a slow burn since his debut in 2017, but the tall forward is starting to blossom 68 games into his career.
With his previous best goal tally from a single season coming last year with 24 from 21 games, Marshall has come out to boot 27 goals from just 13 appearances so far this year.
His bag of four against Sydney was his fifth this year with three or more goals, proving that when he’s hot he can tear the game open for the Power.
He’s always had the traits, athleticism and ability to make it as a tall forward, and Port Adelaide fans would be thrilled that he’s now realising his potential.
At 23, this could be the start of a great career for the former first-round pick.
Essendon’s defence is starting to click
Essendon’s defence has been under fire in 2022, particularly for their inability to stop opposition teams transitioning from defensive 50.
While their full-ground defence has been their Achilles heel so far, the Bombers were able to turn that around on Friday against St Kilda.
With significant pressure on the ball carrier and strong shape, Essendon were able to keep the Saints to just 72 points and even more impressively restricting Max King and Tim Membrey to just one major combined.
If the likes of Jordan Ridley, Jayden Laverde and Jake Kelly can continue to play taller than their listed heights suggest, there’s no reason why the Bombers can’t put up performances in a similar vein for the rest of the season.
While finals are out of the question, the Bombers will hope to use these final nine weeks as a strong platform for 2023.
It all starts down back, and the early signs suggest they’re finally trending in the right direction there.
The Suns are maturing in front of our eyes
While it wasn’t a statement performance, Gold Coast simply found a way to win on Sunday against Adelaide.
There weren’t many highlights and they weren’t carried to victory by Touk Miller, something that would probably please coach Stuart Dew.
One of their keys to victory was the even spread they had across their 22, with the likes of Noah Anderson, Matt Rowell and Izak Rankine playing well enough to get their team across the line.
With those three making an impact, the Suns look like they can genuinely go to the next level and play finals.
Rankine and Rowell in particular were questioned for their lack of outstanding performances earlier this season, but as the weeks tick along these youngsters are becoming hardened AFL players with the Suns winning five of their last six games.
At 7-6, they’re every chance to win enough games to play finals for the first time in club history, particularly with a fairly soft draw.
2022 could be the year the Suns finally grow up and take that next step.
It’s a big week for St Kilda
The pressure is right on the Saints having lost two straight games after the bye.
While they once looked like a top-four threat, their finals chances now hang in the balance at 8-5 with games to come against Sydney, Carlton, Fremantle and the Western Bulldogs this month.
With their next four weeks to decide their season’s fate, Brett Ratten’s side simply must get back on the winner's list as they look to kickstart their season.
Against a Swans side in Sydney that finds themselves in a similar predicament, this game could well prove a mini-elimination match for a top-eight spot.
Another loss here would cast considerable doubt over their September hopes.