As both the players and their coaches continue their strides in season 2021, distinctive groups have broken out throughout the race.
Some, like the Bulldogs and Demons, have dashed from the starter's gun, with the desire to create lightyears between themselves and the pack.
Sadly for others, they are barely attached to the peloton anymore.
Whether first, second, third or 18th along the road to the last Saturday in September, every side and their side coaching team still have question marks over their head.
North Melbourne
What does the horizon hold?
Despite remaining winless after five weeks, the Kangaroos performance on Sunday evening down the highway helped them win back many of the fans that would have left early on Good Friday.
Although David Noble's side were ultimately beaten by five goals, it represented the smallest losing margin they had been dealt this year. As well as this, the loss was a 27% deficit decrease from Round 4 and a whopping 77% dip from the Easter weekend nightmare.
Despite the fact that these numbers will act as cold comfort for some rusted-on Roos, the Arden Streeter's fixture for the next six weeks provides them with multiple chances to spear their first kill for the season.
"In the footy world you can get so hung up on the negatives of what you're not doing well, but if you want to get the players to really take the game on, you've got to show them what they are doing well."
Jack Ziebell chats to North Media following the loss against the Cats. pic.twitter.com/za1DJymPUE
— North Melbourne (@NMFCOfficial) April 18, 2021
I am aware that I am casting wide net, but my spice for this Friday is that North Melbourne will win at least one of their clashes against Fremantle, Melbourne, Collingwood, Hawthorn, Essendon, or St. Kilda.
Some of you may be calling me hopping mad, but the aforementioned statistical trend suggests that with each passing game, David Noble's game plan is becoming far more familiar with his extremely youthful list.
Add in players like Anderson, Corr, Davies-Uniake, Dumont, Hall, McDonald, Zurhaar, Polec and Tarrant, and my contention is only strengthened.
