Nine weeks in and the AFL is split between haves and have-nots.
Eleven clubs have a legitimate finals chances; seven have not.
Surely, seven have done their dash already: Fremantle, Western Bulldogs, Essendon, Gold Coast, St Kilda, Brisbane and Carlton.
None, on form or current ladder positions, are genuine finals fancies.
The Dockers and Dogs, 12th and 13th with four wins each, appear capable enough on their day, but unable to make a real dent on the clubs above them.
Essendon and Gold Coast, 14th and 15th with three wins apiece, are in differing messes.
Should the Bombers make a late charge, or the Suns click into an unexpected gear under first-year coach Stuart Dew, they're already two wins behind eighth-spot.
As for perennial disappointments St Kilda, Brisbane and Carlton - less said, the better - they have only three wins between them and are set for a dismal last three months of the season.
But what about the haves? How are they shaping?
West Coast and Richmond have the break on the field, at the top of the ladder.
The surprise packet Eagles have lost just once and trounced the Tigers on Sunday.
At home, where they have been rampant, West Coast have another six games and they're in the box seat for a top-two finish.
Second-placed Richmond (seven wins, two losses) have another eight matches at the MCG and just three more interstate trips; in addition to a journey to Geelong.
Melbourne and Adelaide, both with six wins and three losses, are in the frame for a top-four finish.
The result of their Alice Springs meeting on Sunday could prove decisive come season's end.
Sydney and Port Adelaide - sitting on 24 points with the Demons and Crows - also have top-four aspirations and both with a sense of improvement to come.
Which leaves North Melbourne, Geelong, Hawthorn, Collingwood - all with 5-4 records - scrapping for possibly the last two finals spots.
The injury-hit Greater Western Sydney are two premiership points shy of that North-led group.
Will those two points for a draw against St Kilda ultimately determine if the Giants make the finals or not?
