With six weeks of the marathon run, the line between contenders and pretenders is becoming much more opaque.
Although 94.4% of the competition's 18-teams have now put a win on the board, the gap between first and last is still chasmic.
As we edged toward the end of the season's second month, the question marks surrounding every side โ whether they are leading the league or languishing โ are still aplenty.
With Round 7 set to start this Friday night, we have cast an eye across each of the league's combatants and have sought to answer the key questions facing each and every one of them.
Essendon
How important is Sunday afternoon?
In terms of belief for this group going forward, Sunday afternoon's clash against old enemies Carlton is of gargantuan proportions.
However, in regard to this season alone, the Dons' opponents arguably have more to play for.
Carlton have added talent, rather than lost it this season, and there is also an expectation โ both internally and externally โ that they should be returning to September this year.
Although Essendon currently sit a rung above the Blues on the ladder, Ben Rutten's side are not under this same level of pressure.
Round 6 is in the books and the AFL ladder is starting to take shape!
Tag a mate whose team is below yours ๐ pic.twitter.com/U3SXcFvyRC
— Zero Hanger (@zerohanger) April 25, 2021
A win for Essendon this weekend will have their fans, players, and coaches in raptures, as the rewards are three-fold.
Firstly, victory would elevate their current finals chances from a shade over two in 10 to a figure that indicates more achievability.
Secondly, the more that their fleet of first year and imported players become accustomed to winning, and winning together, should only shorten the lulling period that all of us (yes, all of us) expected them to have.
Finally, a win at the โG on Sunday would provide those that don the sash in the outer both bragging rights and a happy, new chapter in a bitter, old rivalry.
Game 2โฃ5โฃ0โฃ against the Blues.
Tuesday's member on-sale is your ticket to our home game against the old enemy.
— Essendon FC (@essendonfc) April 26, 2021
Essendon does have the wood over Carlton in recent years, with a 5-1-4 record from their last 10 starts, but even if the Blues can square the ledger this weekend, lessons will be learnt, and applied, at Tullamarine.
