Kane Cornes and Nathan Buckley have assessed each of the four clubs who enjoyed the bye in Round 12.
Brisbane currently sits fourth with a record of 8-3.
Fremantle occupies 10th with a 6-5 record.
St Kilda, after a hot start, are fifth with a 7-4 record.
Sydney, following last year’s Grand Final appearance, is 12th with a 5-6 record.
See what Cornes and Buckley had to say about the Lions, Dockers, Saints and Swans on SEN Breakfast at the halfway point of the season.
Buckley: “They had a few stumbles early in the year and were criticised roundly with the way they went about it, in particular their forward group.
“At 8-3 they’ve played some really good footy, they’ve taken some scalps. They seem to have been as consistent as anyone up that top end of the ladder.
“Josh Dunkley has come in and you’ve got to be impressed with the way he’s gone about it. Even if you’ve got a wealth of footy under your belt, to get used to a new group of players takes time. That midfield is now operating as good as any.
“They’ve buffered some injuries in behind the ball as well. Their intercept markers, Jack Payne has come up and looked really good in the stead of Marcus Adams.
“They’re introducing a little bit of youth, Will Ashcroft has done the job pretty well.
“I think they’re always a watch because they’ve had really good home and aways (seasons), and the question is can they get it done.
“The irony is they hit September last year in the worst nick they’ve ever hit a finals series but then won two finals. That experienced, and especially the win on the MCG against Melbourne, would stand them in good stead.
“They’re just positioning themselves very well.”
Cornes: “About Round 7 after they got smashed by Brisbane and the Western Bulldogs it was season over.
“But for them to be able to revitalise their season… part of that was they played themselves into form against Hawthorn in Round 8 and then they’ve gone bang. The win against Geelong was significant and then Melbourne at the MCG.
“They play Richmond at home after their bye, then GWS and Essendon at home as well, so a really good opportunity to perhaps win seven in a row.
“They won a final last year as well so the expectations were pretty significant. They went all-in for Luke Jackson and his form has been great in the last month.
“The midfield has revitalised themselves and got back to their strengths which was so strong-running, defensively sound last year.
“They’ve got some good small forwards that do the job. Their backline has never been an issue - Luke Ryan, Brennan Cox, Alex Pearce and Hayden Young.”
Buckley: “They’ve been able to steady their season.
“They won 15 games last year, which is a great home and away, to qualify just outside the top four. Their last month has righted the ship in some ways.
“I really enjoyed Justin Longmuir’s comments after the win (last week) that we’ve just put ourselves back in the season, no more than that.
“They do have an opportunity in the next stage of the draw to really establish themselves. They’ve got a lot of talent there and still with a bit to go as well.”
Cornes: “They won the first four, the Saints.
“They’ve since gone loss, win, loss, win, loss, win, loss, and it was a nasty loss against Hawthorn before the bye. They play Sydney at the SCG (on Thursday night).
“Have they been found out? It’s this where we thought they would land? Somewhere between eight and 12?”
Buckley: “I had them as a bottom four side at the beginning of the year.
“That was after watching the practice match against Essendon and neither of the sides looked like they were around the mark to me.
“What they were able to do early was buy into the coach, they had that early run and the early wave of this is what it feels like to be connected and to play the type of footy that we’re capable of.
“But you need depth to be able to do that and you need to be able to produce it constantly. In many ways they may have been found out recently, but the next three or four games are going to tell a tale because the other sides may well feel like they can get through them.
“It seems like there’s a high uncontested mark game that troubles them and their defence is starting to be pulled apart a little bit.
“So that’s the real challenge for them.”
Cornes: “The Swans are in 12th position. They lost four in a row from Round 6 to 9.
“They then just got over the line against North Melbourne with that controversial interchange infringement which got them the win.
“Then it was a much better performance against Carlton in Round 11.
“They take on St Kilda at the SCG before going to Brisbane to play them at the Gabba.
“I’m just glad they’ve maintained themselves in touch with the eight because we know the issues that they’ve had with injury, particularly behind the ball. Their midfield has been the real issue for them.
“So what is he (John Longmire) going to do to try and regenerate their contest and clearance work and their centre bounce work? Because what was once a strength for them has evaporated.
“If you’ve been able to match Sydney in contest and at stoppage, you’ve pretty much won the game.”
Buckley: “I think the coach and the coaching staff at Sydney are as good as any.
“I put them right up there with Geelong with their ability to make the most of the squad that they have. They’ve always been competitive.
“Sydney have put together a young squad that were expected to continue on their path. Is this just a dip with some of those young guys?
“Errol Gulden has continued to be great, they’ve missed Callum Mills, but they are missing something. They’ve cut their teeth on contest and hard run both ways.”
Cornes: “No continuity with the ruckmen as well.
“Every week it feels like they’re chopping and changing through injury and poor form in the ruck which does have a big impact on your midfield.”
Buckley: “They love Tom Hickey and he’s now played a couple of games (in a row).”
Listen to the mid-season reviews below: