Greater Western Sydney: It seems I dutifully swallowed the positive spin those down at AFL House proffered about the Giants in my preview. Their tactic of bringing in a number of veteran players worked well in the first half of the season, but now with those older players slowing down and the first year players struggling toward the end of the season the Giants are copping some real beatings with their defence as secure as, well I'll leave Jamie MacDonald tastefully depict it. Player-wise captain Callan Ward has stood out (as I predicted) and, Chad Cornes aside, has been far and away the best of the experienced players. Israel Folau has done no better or worse than any first year key forward, and when pinching hitting in the ruck could become effective in the Leigh Brown role. His form isn't that much different to another key forward looking for a big contract.
Hawthorn: Unfortunately for me and other Collingwood supporters, I pretty much nailed the Hawks season in my preview. Ominous is the best word to describe them right now and the best straws I'm clutching right now are the hope the Hawks are peaking too early a la Collingwood 2011 and the fact they don't travel as well as other teams (other than to Tassie). Jarryd Roughead is having one of his best seasons enjoying the freedom of the second ruck role, while opposing teams have been unable to stop Josh Gibson doing what he does best getting lose and helping others out. Certain members of my family claimed that the Hawks "haven't suffered enough" to deserve winning the flag in 2008, I wonder what they'll say if Hawthorn win their second in five years.
Melbourne: It's fair to say that 2012 won't go down in the Demon's history as a great one. The loss of a club legend, court cases, mad sponsors and that's before we even get to their on-field problems. Their young club captains seem to have aged 10 years in barely half a season, their veteran players are shockingly out of touch and then when they are finally starting to get it together, two of their best players this season, Jack Watts and Mitch Clark, go down with injury. There is only so much the barometer Jonesy can do. I not entirely backing away from my claim that Melbourne can make the eight in 2013, but what the definitely should do is change this. No one should have to bear that.
North Melbourne: I think North could be a challenger for the AFL's girl with a curl award. They have been scintillating and almost un-North Melbourne like in some of their wins notably against Geelong and Adelaide, but they have also been pretty sloppy and disappointing in games, such as against the Hawks and Suns. They have a potent look up forward with a reliable power forward in Drew Petrie and Lindsay Thomas by and large managing to keep the gremlins out of his head pin front of goal. If they can somehow find one more silky midfielder to aid Daniel Wells they would be a lock for a finals spot, but if not I might finally get a preseason prediction right.
Port Adelaide: The curse of the 'player to watch' returns with Robbie Gray struck down with a season ending knee injury in round two, while Justin Westhoff has remained at cult status level although is generating lower levels of excitement (cult status in a niche market maybe?). Port season had gone just about as well as anyone would have hoped, competitive for the most part and with no losses to the expansion teams. Their recruits have added a harder edge to the team and they may still climb out of the bottom four by seasons end. I hate to say it but the Power just seem a little bit, well, irrelevant.
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