After 11 rounds of the 2022 AFL season we reach the first of three bye rounds, with six clubs handed a week's break to assess their season and move onto the final stretch.
Carlton, Essendon, GWS, Port Adelaide, Richmond and St Kilda are scheduled for their bye this weekend, giving us the perfect time to critique and grade their campaigns to date.
We put the microscope over each of the aforementioned clubs season's and name their MVP, best win and worst loss at the midway mark of this year in part one of our mid-season report cards.
These gradings factor in pre-season expectations and form across the opening 11 rounds of the year.
Grade: B+
W-L Record: 8-3
Percentage: 112.9%
Carlton have shot up the standings this year off the back of another busy off-season and with new senior coach Michael Voss at the wheel.
The club's star-studded midfield ensemble has been thriving under the tutelage of the Lions champion, while their twin towers in attack, Charlie Curnow and Harry Mckay, have been at their prolific best.
George Hewett has claim to be the recruit of the season, while skipper Patrick Cripps is a likely chance to be leading the Brownlow race at the midway point of the season.
The Blues' best brand of football can match those that sit among the top echelon of clubs across the first half of this season, however their best isn't always on show.
Injuries have hampered their chances of improving their record across the opening 11 rounds, but a club that is seen as a contender must be able to rely on its depth.
A loss to Gold Coast in Round 4 highlighted the Blues' dependence on first-string ruckman Marc Pittonet, as the Suns ran rampant in the middle of the field.
Another stumbling block came in the form of arch-rivals Collingwood in their most recent outing, with a win against the Magpies likely to see the Blues earning a higher grade.
Injury setbacks to Harry McKay, Mitch McGovern, Zac Williams and mostly recently, Jacob Weitering also placed a strain on the Blues' ambitions to date.
But despite the long list of ailments, Voss has been able to conjure a strong campaign in his first year at Princes Park and has his side destined for a return to the September action.
MVP: Patrick Cripps (115 votes)
Best Win: Round 2 vs Western Bulldogs
Worst Loss: Round 4 vs Gold Coast
Grade: D-
W-L Record: 2-9
Percentage: 73.5%
You could have labelled last season's finals finish as an anomaly for the Bombers prior to the first ball being bounced in 2022, but nobody saw their nightmare run on the cards.
The Bombers endured a difficult start to their season in what was arguably the toughest five rounds of the season, facing losses to Geelong, Brisbane, Melbourne and Fremantle to begin their 2022 campaign at 1-4.
Two more defeats at the hands of Collingwood and the Bulldogs suddenly had Ben Rutten's side chalking up their sixth loss in seven weeks, before a tantalising come-from-behind victory over Hawthorn sparked some hope for the Dons.
After having some pep in their step, Essendon were soon tripped by the Swans in an outing that was highlighted as the low point in their season.
Having laid a deplorable 30 tackles for the game and a disposal rate of 36.7% inside 50, a near-insurmountable amount of pressure had been placed on the club's shoulders.
Despite the disastrous start to the year, there have been some highlights for the Bombers in 2022, with SSP recruit Nic Martin having arguably been the club's best performer in the opening half of the season.
Spearhead Peter Wright has been prominent in Essendon's attack despite their ability to low points total throughout 11 rounds.
Their upcoming bye round will hopefully act as time where they get the train back on track, with an outing against the Blues the perfect chance to turn some heads and earn some honour.
MVP: Darcy Parish (71 votes)
Best Win: Round 8 vs Hawthorn
Worst Loss: Round 9 vs Sydney
Grade: D
W-L Record: 3-8
Percentage: 86.7%
The first club of 2022 to part ways with their senior coach. While most forced into this situation would likely land a failed grading, Leon Cameron's departure wasn't only a result of poor performances.
A mutual split left the New South Wales club wondering where they sit, but hope is not lost on gaining some positives out of their likely finals-less campaign.
Their season began with promise, albeit in a loss to cross-town rivals Sydney, in what was one of the more interesting matches of this year.
The Giants would go on to win just one of their next five matches and suddenly the questions were being asked of Cameron, who didn't look eager to continue his tenure past the midway mark of the season let alone the end of the year.
Interim coach Mark McVeigh has since been given the keys for the rest of the year and has already begun to tinker with what we've come to know from the Giants.
An expected victory over the Eagles was the easiest start for McVeigh's stint in the hot seat, while a competitive performance against the Lions showed some hunger for the struggling giants.
Returning to face the Kangaroos after their bye, the Giants could be played into some form for the back-end of the season.
MVP: Josh Kelly (51 votes)
Best Win: Round 7 vs Adelaide
Worst Loss: Round 4 vs Fremantle
Grade: C-
W-L Record: 5-6
Percentage: 104.9%
The Power's opening 11 rounds can be split into two portions. The bad, and the better.
An 0-5 start to the season, which included a 64-point loss at home to Hawthorn and a heartbreaking defeat to rivals Adelaide, quickly placed last year's preliminary finals finisher well outside the finals frame and in wooden spoon contention.
But a turning point soon arose. The Power snapped their winless run against a hapless Eagles outfit in Round 6 before continuing to collect premiership points in more-even encounters against finals hopefuls St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs.
Their biggest win came against North Melbourne in Round 9, before falling to Geelong at Kardinia Park the week after.
Ken Hinkley's men were soon back to winning ways against the Bombers before their bye, coming one win short of an even record at the midway point of their season.
Upcoming fixtures against Richmond and Sydney are sure to give fans a greater read of where the Alberton club sits this season.
MVP: Travis Boak (68 votes)
Best Win: Round 7 vs St Kilda
Worst Loss: Round 2 vs Hawthorn
Grade: C
W-L Record: 6-5
Percentage: 117.4%
When equipped with a near full-strength side, Damien Hardwick's men have shown to be a threat this season.
Unfortunately, a healthy list has alluded Punt Road, seeing them fall short of the mark on several occasions in the absence of key personnel.
The Tigers struck a needed run of four wins on the trot from Round 7 to 10, however, those scalps claimed clubs currently placed 10, 13th, 16th and 18th on the ladder.
When matched up with a finals contender in Sydney last weekend, Richmond did show their stripes but failed to hold onto a five-goal lead.
Had it not been for some controversy to close the six-point loss at the SCG, more would have been said of the Tigers' performance, failing to halt a surging young Swans side.
The loss has seen Hardwick's side fall outside the eight after 11 rounds, having beaten just one side above them so far this season.
They'll likely land a finals spot at season's end, but it'll all rely on keeping players on the park across the next three months.
MVP: Shai Bolton (80 votes)
Best Win: Round 4 vs Western Bulldogs
Worst Loss: Round 11 vs Sydney
Grade: B+
W-L Record:8-3
Percentage: 123.8%
The Saints are matching the expectations most had for them ahead of last season, a campaign that ended well short of the mark following a finals finish in 2020.
Last year's setback may have been the kick up the backside Brett Ratten's side needed, with the Moorabbin club now returning having a hold on the top four after the opening 11 rounds.
Wins over Fremantle, Richmond and Geelong have shown the brand of football St Kilda is capable of, with all three lines of their system working in tandem to conjure impressive results.
Dashing defender Jack Sinclair has found new freedom through midfield, while veterans Seb Ross and Brad Hill have returned to a level that seemed to be past them.
While there have been plenty of performances to write home about, an early-season loss to Collingwood and a crushing one-point loss to Port Adelaide in Cairns are what have kept the Saints from being level with the only other side that has mastered them in 2022, Melbourne.
Another arduous test awaits St Kilda after their bye, travelling to the Gabba to face Brisbane in what will price the club's premiership value.
MVP: Jack Sinclair (74 Votes)
Best Win: Round 9 vs Geelong
Worst Loss: Round 7 vs Port Adelaide