After seven rounds of the AFL season, some teams have begun to settle into a rhythm, while others continue to keep the competition guessing with vastly different performances week on week.
Here at Zero Hanger, we've decided that we've seen enough from each team in 2017, and we're ready to grade each club's opening third of the season based on how they've started this campaign.
Adelaide: A+
The Crows were the last side to lose this season after their big defeat at the hands of North Melbourne on the weekend, but have far and away been the best side of 2017. They've played a tough, fast and high-scoring brand of football, and most teams will continue to struggle with that for the remainder of the home-and-away season.
Brisbane: D-
It's early days, and the Lions are at the bottom of the ladder as it stands, but Chris Fagan has already got his side playing some decent football. The first half against the Bulldogs in round five stands out above all, and while this season may be a long one, it'll hold them in good stead for the future.
Carlton: B-
If you had offered Blues supporters a 3-4 record through seven rounds, they probably would have taken it. Wins over Essendon, Sydney and Collingwood have seen Carlton start the season in decent form, with the likes of first-year player Sam Petrevski-Seton looking the goods already.
Collingwood: D+
It started poorly for Nathan Buckley, and had his side not beaten Geelong two weeks ago, there would have been severe heat on the coach's chair. Even so, it's still pretty warm under there, because when - not if - Collingwood misses out on the finals, it has to be bye-bye Buckley.
Essendon:ย C+
There were a lot of unknowns with this Essendon side before the season began, and they came out firing with a 2-0 start with wins over Hawthorn and Brisbane before regressing a touch. If they don't burn out, they could be pushing for a finals berth at season's end.
Fremantle: B-
The Dockers' first two weeks were terrible, but their past five have been great. Four wins from five sees them on the cusp of the eight, and Ross Lyon's job is no longer an issue.
GWS: A
Apart from losses to Adelaide and St Kilda, the Giants have looked like the second best team in the country so far this season, and are setting themselves up for a strong tilt at the minor premiership.
Geelong: A-
For a side that started 5-0, the Cats were unconvincing at times during some of those wins, and two losses in a row against Collingwood and Gold Coastย may be a slight cause for concern. But only slightly.
Gold Coast: C
Wins over Hawthorn, Carlton and Geelong have seen the Suns start the season promisingly, although a tough trip to China awaits. If they can go 4-4 heading into their bye, Rodney Eade would probably be a happy man.
Hawthorn: E
Did anyone really see this coming? Not only did Hawthorn lose their first four games, but they were smashed by the Suns and Cats to the tune of 86 points in back-to-back weeks. Wins over West Coast and Melbourne in the past three matches have helped them steady the ship somewhat, but there's still a lot of work to do.
Melbourne: C
The Demons have been level or ahead in each last quarter so far this season, but have only won three games. That's not good enough. It's already been a season of 'what-ifs' and we're just seven rounds in, so Melbourne need to turn their fortunes around quickly.
North Melbourne: C+
For a side with a 2-5 record and the list they have, North Melbourne are playing some strong football in 2017. They deserved their big win over Adelaide on the weekend, and really could have been at least 4-3 had they turned around just two of their three close losses this season.
Port Adelaide: B+
Despite the Power having a 4-3 record, they've lost three of the best teams in the competition (Adelaide and West Coast at home, and GWS away). In all of their wins they've looked impressive, so the Power would be more than happy with their start to the year.
Richmond: A-
In a start no one would have predicted, Richmond began the season 5-0, before falling to Adelaide and the Bulldogs in consecutive weeks. Their five-game winning streak to start the season should see them play finals this year, which is what every Tiger fan would have been praying for pre-season.
St Kilda: B
The Saints took the scalp of the Giants last weekend, and have looked strong for most of the season. A 4-3 start is good enough, and Alan Richardson's men have so far met the expectation that surrounded his club before the season began.
Sydney: E
This hasn't been pretty. Sydney went 0-6 to start the year before beatingย Brisbane, which is nothing to write home about given their weekly struggles. It just isn't working for John Longmire, he can't get the balance right, and the Swans are looking nothing like their former selves.
West Coast: B+
Despite their obvious frailties, the Eagles have won ever match this season that wasn't played at the MCG. Losses to Richmond and Hawthorn surely hurt their confidence, but without another trip to the 'G until the finals, the Eagles should have no troubles from here on out.
Western Bulldogs: A-
It may have taken them a bit longer then they would have liked, but the Dogs are up and running now. An impressive display against GWS saw them narrowly fall short of the Giants before running over the top of Richmond last weekend, and the Dogs are now starting to play the football we all saw from them in 2016.
