1. St Kilda crowds are as worrying as North Melbourne crowds
The Kangaroos' poor crowds have been a long running joke in the AFL. However, the Saints' crowds are not much better.
The Saints hosted Gold Coast this week and just under 16,000 people came to watch. Last week they played North Melbourne and the attendance was only 26,000. All the focus seemed to be shifted over to North Melbourne, with Craig Hutchinson even calling for a move to Tasmania for the Kangaroos.
Perhaps more of the attention should be shifted towards the Saints. They only have around 1,000 more members than North Melbourne and there were only around 400 more people at their clash with the Suns in comparison to the Roos battle with the Queensland team earlier in the year.
I for one don't believe any side needs to relocate to Tasmania and don't think it should happen. Both the Saints and Roos are fantastic sides who currently look to have a lot of upside. However, for some reason we consistently come back to North Melbourne as the Victorian club in trouble and turmoil and maybe we shouldn't.
2. This is one of the most exciting AFL seasons in recent memory
If you weren't sure about it yet, round 14 made it official. Each team could win on any given week, nobody has made themselves a clear front-runner, and the top eight is so close that some have even suggested North Melbourne could still make it from 17th.
This past weekend we had four games decided by less than a goal. Just past the halfway mark of the season and already there have been more games decided by 1-3 points than in any other year.
If round 14 is anything to go by, then the rest of the season should be exhilarating, fasten your seat-belts AFL fans.
3. Diving/staging/flopping is a part of AFL and we have to accept that
Whether you thought Clayton Oliver staged for a free-kick or not, the fact we are discussing it proves it is a part of our game. It's something that happens in sport and Aussie Rules is no different, we have to come to terms with that.
Players are always looking to gain an edge, that is the competitive beast that is professional sport. Thus while staging occurs, not all players do it, but many do it to a certain extent. It can be as little as contorting your body to highlight any contact made, but it happens.
It doesn't matter if you think it's smart, of if you think it's weak, staging is a part of our game and it's not going anywhere.
4. Melbourne is a genuine contender
It seems every week someone new pops up, but in round 14 Melbourne further proved their credibility as a premiership contender in what has been a very tight year. Knocking off West Coast in Perth is no mean feat and with a number of players missing it was even better.
It was only Max Gawn's first game back, while Nathan Jones, Jesse Hogan, and Jack Watts are expected to return at some point in the season. They now sit outside the top four just on percentage, and have the potential to continue to prove themselves over the coming weeks.
Watch out for Melbourne come September.
5. A healthy GWS forward line is very, very scary
On paper the GWS forward line has looked impressive for a long time. But to see them basically at full strength and flying should send a shiver down back-lines around the league.
Jeremy Cameron, Jonathon Patton, and Toby Greene had four goals apiece, while Stevie J had the opportunity for a bag but only kicked 2.4. They still need to perform as a group against better opposition, but Brisbane's defence has been one of the bets parts of their game so far this year.
