Round 20 has the competition still as evenly poised as ever, with 13 teams still in the hunt and players from all clubs having their say in the final stretch of the season.
Sydney have regressed, Brisbane have shot up emphatically.
Carlton and Fremantle have held firm for most of the year and would be disappointed not to stake their claim at a double chance.
But the two teams in the best form may currently be sitting on the fringes of the eight, as star Hawks and Bulldogs continue to shine on the potential path to September.
Deciding on All-Australian contenders is clearly a side story to the season transpiring.
It is also an overwhelming task, as a host of names make recent compelling cases, while early season superstars gradually taper back to the mean.
Just a few changes have been made to the rolling side from Round 15, but as always, a few glaring omissions remain.
Here are the 22 names who have secured a spot in our Round 20 rolling All-Australian side.
1. Defenders
The numbers aren't everything, but the numbers don't lie. Luke Ryan is still the most statistically productive general defender in the competition, having the most kicks, marks and rebound 50s of the lot. The numbers may be inflated by Freo's defensive model, but combined with his above-average intercepting and defensive ability, Ryan holds.
Jacob Weitering also holds with a slightly worse one-on-one defensive rate than his previous 6.7%, but still leads the competition for the metric. Few key defenders besides Harris Andrews are demanding the full-back position and Weitering's constant corky concerns are a worry, but as still the best one-on-one defender in the comp, his position is hard to deny.
The same can be said for Sam Collins, who may be the biggest certainty in the back six other than Andrews. The Suns backman has recorded the most intercept possessions in the competition this year, the third most intercept marks and fourth most one-on-one contests for a loss rate of just 13%.
Harry Sheezel has stamped his name into near All-Australian certainty, capable of fielding just about any position, while Lion veteran Dayne Zorko has too stamped his name on a flank during Brisbane's two-month win streak. Nick Blakey,ย Max Holmes and Dan Houston are waiting in the wings and may earn rights to a spot in the coming weeks, likely pending their sides' form in the final stretch of the season.
Harris Andrews is a clear lock with the most intercept marks and 75 one-on-one contests with just 11 losses.
Stiff to miss:
