It’s almost 13 weeks into the AFL season as six other teams had their weekend off with goodbye.
Now five games during the round with a big sixth waiting for us for the queen’s birthday, here’s what we’ve learned from the weekend so far.
Port Adelaide will not appear in September
Although they have been playing in the home qualifying finals for two years in a row, Port Adelaide will not appear in September this time.
To reach the eight, the Power would have to win at least seven and probably eight of its last 10 games with its current 5-7 record, and that doesn’t seem likely with people like Sydney, Fremantle (out), Melbourne. (outside), Geelong, Collingwood (outside) and Richmond fleeing home.
It’s a disappointing drop for Ken Hinkley’s men, who would have backed up to get closer to 2022 with much of their list intact from their 2020 and 2021 pushes.
With a 10-final final almost closed, will this be the result that will lead the club to a new beginning, or will it give them the extra push to reload?
Only time will tell, but you have the feeling that the time of this group as true contenders is over.
Dylan Shiel still has a good foot
Essendon midfielder Dylan Shiel has been widely slandered in 2022, with his performances that have left the well-paid former Giant even out of the top 22 of the Fire Brigade at times.
Although it has not reached its high standards this year, we had a glimpse of what the 29-year-old can still offer at the highest level against Carlton on Friday.
With Darcy Parish succumbing to a cork calf, Shiel rose to fill the void with one goal, 27 rebounds, 10 tackles and eight rebounds in defeat, bringing together one of his best games in red and black.
Although his great game failed to win a much-needed victory for his team, Essendon fans will expect this to be the spark that leads to a steady form for Shiel.
With several years to execute his contract in large quantities, these are the actions he must show to justify the price the club puts on him.
Hawthorn is a better face than his record suggests
The Hawks have a 4-9 record after their loss to Fremantle on Sunday, but you have a feeling the club would be much happier with their season so far compared to what their record suggests.
Although they have only won one of their last eight games, Sam Mitchell would like the way they have played in almost all of these competitions.
In that race, they almost went down to the Demons, Magpies, and now Dockers, while staying with the Tigers and Firefighters during most of their battles.
With a little more experience on some of the team’s younger legs, the Hawks will expect them to soon reach the winning side of these close-knit clashes.
No doubt they would like to win, but by the end of the year, a selection of the top six could be what it takes to help add another piece to the rebuild.
Not a bad place to be if you’re a Hawks fan.
Harry Himmelberg’s move to the defense has worked wonders
Harry Himmelberg, high GWS, looks like a star in defense since he came back down in round 10.
While he was more than helpful as a striker in previous years and for nine rounds in 2022 (with 17 goals in those games), he is having more of an impact on his new role.
After impressing against the Eagles and Lions in the new role, Sunday’s performance against the Kangaroos was a big effort for the 26-year-old in his new role as he picked up 37 discards, 16 marks and 10 rebounds from 50 midfielders, while even advancing toward a goal in the last term
Along with Sam Taylor, who is constantly improving, and Phil Davis, who will be back soon, Himmelberg could help form one of the AFL’s most impressive high defenses.
Even with Davis lined up to come back, you can imagine that Mark McVeigh wouldn’t be thinking about getting Himmelberg back in front.
This is a great week for Western Bulldogs
While they were saying goodbye, it was not the relaxed weekend that Bulldogs fans, players and officials would have expected.
The young Bulldog Bailey Smith obviously stole the headlines on Saturday when pictures of him surfaced in line with a white dust bag, prompting the 21-year-old to acknowledge his mistakes.
With this issue lingering at the club, all they will want to do is go out and do it on the field, and they have a chance to do so next Saturday against the Giants in Sydney.
On paper, this is a game they would hope to win, but it will not be an easy task against a GWS team that is still very talented.
They’ll have to be pretty flawless from here on out to make another appearance in the finale, to see if this weekend’s drama has any continuous effect alongside Luke Beveridge.