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.
Sturt
Position: 3rd
Wins: 7
Losses: 3
Percentage: 58.85%
Biggest win: 65 points v South Adelaide, Round 2
Biggest loss: 27 points v Norwood, Round 1
After a slow start to the season that saw Sturt lose three of their first five games, the Double Blues are now rolling and in as good a position as any to take out the flag.
Even during their early-season slump, Sturt played some of the best football of any team in the competition, with two of their losses by margins of just six and eight points.
The Blues will feel unlucky to have not emerged with the points against North Adelaide in Round 3, registering 13 more inside 50s and four more scoring shots but wasting chances in front of goal to lose by six points.
Similarly against the Eagles they controlled large parts of the game and led by 19 points early in the last term, only to concede the last four goals and lose in a thriller.
They also chalked up a big win against South Adelaide at Noarlunga and humbled reigning premiers Glenelg at the Bay, keeping the attacking juggernaut to just 44 points.
Despite this, after five rounds Sturt were clinging onto fifth spot with just two wins to their name and serious ground to make up on the leading pack.
Since then Sturt have reeled off five consecutive wins and are a game off top spot with the best percentage in the competition.
This includes handing Central District their first defeat of the season at Elizabeth and strangling Norwood into submission in the King's Birthday clash.
Sturt's defence has been a feature throughout the season, currently ranked as the best defensive team in the competition.
In a league where the best defensive side has won the last five premierships, this will hold Sturt in good stead at the pointy end of the season.
Across nine matches they have conceded an average of just 51 points per game, keeping their opposition to under 50 points in six of 10 games so far this year.
Included in that group are current top-five teams Central District, Glenelg and Norwood, with the highest score conceded just 83 points against Woodville-West Torrens.
Led superbly by Will Coomblas and Luke Edmunds in the key defensive posts, the Blues' backline has the perfect mix of attacking weapons and lockdown specialists.
Casey Voss is ranked third in the competition for rebound 50s and starts many of Sturt's attacking plays with his slick ball use and daring run.
Meanwhile, players like Rory Illman, Guy Page, Zac Becker and Ned Walter consistently get the job done on their opponents and make life difficult for them.
The Blues have also been well-served by their midfield brigade, which is arguably the best in the competition right now.
So often this year they have simply overpowered teams with their toughness and desire to win first possession, putting opposition sides on the back foot.
Will Snelling has been a revelation since arriving from Essendon this year, ranking first in the competition for both disposals and tackles and fifth for clearances.
Along with Tom Lewis, James Battersby and Jared Dakin, the Sturt midfield quartet boasts quality and depth that few can handle.
Amos Doyle has improved out of sight this year to become one of the competition's premier ruckmen, earning selection in the state game against Western Australia and impressing with his ruck craft and skills at ground level.
Sturt have also been successful in implementing a short-kicking game style that is causing problems for opposition teams.
With a fleet of hard-running half-forwards and midfielders that make searching leads at the kicker, the Blues are happy to chip the ball down the ground and ensure they retain possession and create quality shots on goal.
This was most evident in the win over Glenelg, in which Sturt took 119 marks and kept the ball in their control for large chunks of the game.
The Blues have topped 100 marks in five of their 10 games this year, all of which resulted in wins.
Interestingly, Sturt's two lowest mark tallies for the season have both been against Norwood, with the Redlegs holding them to just 48 marks in their only significant defeat for the season.ย
While still an area of some concern, Sturt's attack has received a major boost this year with the addition of Sam Conforti from Essendon's VFL team.
He has brought some much-needed spark and polish to a workmanlike forward line, kicking 13 goals from 10 games.
Josh Hone is still an integral part of the forward set-up but has been wayward in front of goal, kicking 12.17 for the year.
Daniel Fahey-Sparks and Lachie Burrows have been consistent targets ahead of the ball and provide important ruck relief when needed.
Best & Fairest contenders:
Will Snelling is a red-hot favourite for the Magarey Medal and could well have polled votes in every game so far this season.
As the competition's no.1 ranked player in disposals and tackles, his impact at Sturt has been enormous and he is hard to go past for best and fairest honours this year.
Captain James Battersby will certainly feature highly in the votes with his consistency and tireless effort at the stoppages, as will Tom Lewis if his body stays healthy.
Sam Conforti has impressed with his nous around goals and ability to open up the play with his foot skills, while Josh Hone can light up a game in a matter of minutes with his energy and competitiveness.
Casey Voss always catches the eye down back with his run and carry and the likes of Luke Edmunds and Will Coomblas consistently lock away the opposition's best forwards.
Injury report:
Compared to some others, Sturt have been relatively lucky on the injury front, although it does feature some big names they will be hoping to regain soon.
Star ruckman Amos Doyle faces 10 weeks on the sideline with a finger injury, while Will Spain will spend three weeks in the concussion protocol.
Jared Dakin injured his ankle in the win over North Adelaide and is yet to be given a timeline for his return.
Ned Walter is still five weeks away with a broken collarbone sustained in the win over Port Adelaide.
The run home:
After playing their first four games away from home while Unley Oval was unavailable, six of Sturt's last eight games are at home.
The Blues only play three more matches against current top-five teams, two of which are at home against teams they have already beaten this year.
They also have two match-ups remaining against West Adelaide, who they have not lost against since 2015.
A road trip to Woodville looms as crucial, as do clashes against Glenelg and Central Districts that could shape the top five.
