We've just passed the halfway mark of the 2024 SANFL season, with premiership contenders and struggling sides emerging from their opening 10 games of the campaign so far.
Here we look at each club's state of play, their run home to finals and leading best and fairest contenders ahead of the final stretch.
Glenelg
Position: 3rd
Wins: 8
Losses: 2ย
Percentage: 55.97%
Biggest win: 66 points v Port Adelaide, Round 1
Biggest Loss: 38 points v Sturt, Round 4
Last year's premiers endured an indifferent start to the season, holding a 2-2 record after four rounds and suffering comprehensive defeats to Norwood and Sturt.
Their next two wins were less than convincing against South Adelaide and West Adelaide as their game looked clunky and far less potent than last year.
With most fans' attention focused on Norwood, Sturt and Woodville-West Torrens, who have all made flying starts to the year, Glenelg have quietly climbed up the ladder to sit second with an 8-2 record.
Importantly, the Tigers were able to find ways to win during their flat patch and are now in a great position to attack the rest of the season.
They have won their last six games, and in a scary sign for the rest of the competition, are yet to fully hit their straps.
Injuries have undoubtedly played a part, with key playmakers missing large chunks of footy.
Star ruckman Cam McGree went down in the first five minutes of the season with a shoulder injury and was sorely missed in the middle.
Reigning Ken Farmer medallist Lachie Hosie missed three games with a hand injury and upon returning against the Eagles suffered a knee injury that has ruled him out for the season.
Defender Darcy Bailey also missed three weeks, replacement ruckman Will Stockman lasted only two games before going down with an ankle injury and Liam Wisdom is yet to play this year as he battles a hamstring injury.
Despite all this, the Glenelg train has kept chugging along, with a host of fresh faces stepping up to fill the breach.
Hunter Window and Jake Walker have been given a taste of league footy and slotted seamlessly into the midfield, while Connor McLeod has taken on a bigger role through the middle and thrived.
Riley Holder has been sensational in holding up the ruck division in McGree's absence, giving a great contest in the ruck and using his mobility to follow up and get involved at ground level.
Hugh Stagg is now a regular member of the Glenelg forward setup, playing all 10 games as a small forward and kicking 10 goals.
Glenelg's much-feared attack started the year slowly, kicking scores of just 47 and 44 against Norwood and Sturt respectively as they struggled to move the ball with any fluency.
Since the loss to Sturt, the Tigers' lowest score has been 70 points and they now sit second in the league for points scored.ย
They also showed glimpses of their frightening scoring potential in putting on 150 points against Port Adelaide, which remains the highest score of the season.
When they can transition the ball with speed into the forward 50, the Tigers boast a fleet of match-winners that can beat their opponents in the air and on the ground.
Glenelg have remained defensively sound throughout the season with the fourth-best points conceded record.
Their back six has a terrific blend of lockdown defenders like Max Proud, Austin Kitschke and Brad McCarthy, as well as rebounding weapons such as Darcy Bailey and Jonty Scharenberg.
While the Tigers' midfield started the year slowly, they have kicked into gear in recent weeks, with the likes of Matthew Snook and Corey Lyons taking control.
This was on display in the win over Woodville-West Torrens as they brutalised the Eagles midfield and got the game on their terms.
Best & Fairest contenders:
The evenness of performance across the ground that was so pivotal in delivering the premiership last year is on display again, with a long list of players performing at their best.
Holder as the stand-in ruckman has been integral to keeping the Tigers afloat, while James Bell continues to be an an important cog in the midfield rotation.
Matthew Allen has enjoyed another stellar season and is emerging as one of the competition's best players, averaging 22 disposals and two goals per game as a highly damaging midfielder.
Corey Lyons and Matthew Snook have done plenty of heavy lifting in the midfield and are both currently in the competition's top 10 for clearances.
Alex Martini has been a revelation this year, moving from defence into the midfield and playing tagging roles on the likes of James Rowe and Kade Ditmarr but also finding plenty of the ball himself.
Jonty Scharenberg has been irrepressible this year and currently sits second in the league for rebound 50s, while Darcy Bailey has found plenty of the footy down back and added his usual attacking flair.
Chris Curran and Max Proud are piloting the backline expertly with their experience and ability to read the play, turning defence into attack with their intercepting prowess.
Austin Kitschke may not receive too much external focus but does a terrific job of nullifying the opposition's most dangerous key forward each week.
Injury report:
In another ominous sign for the opposition, Glenelg's injury list appears to be shortening as we enter the back half of the season, with most key players now on the park.
Liam Wisdom is in the frame to return next week, ruckman Will Stockman will remain sidelined for the next two months, while Hosie's season is over.
The run home:
Having played six of their first 10 games at home, Glenelg now face road trips to Alberton, Unley and Elizabeth in the back half of the season.
On the positive side, the Tigers still have match-ups against all bottom-three teams, giving them a chance to build some valuable percentage.ย
