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 – whether they are leading the league or languishing – 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.
Sydney
Has the lactic acid set in?
Last week, I commented on the fact that it appeared as though John Longmire's cygnets were trying to sprint a marathon.
Although the harboursiders have produced a wonderful start to their race, I was concerned about lactic acid kicking in sooner rather than later.
After a fortnight that has seen the Swans drop back-to-back games by an average of more than three goals and their injury list begin to mount, has the dehydration and cramping already set in?
It certainly appears so.
Not the result we wanted on the Gold Coast.
Josh Kennedy with 41 disposals but the Suns brought the pressure & we didn't perform to our standards.#AFLSunsSwans #Bloods pic.twitter.com/SEaXfnhKGK
— Sydney Swans (@sydneyswans) April 24, 2021
Still, if you ask any long-distance runner, they will tell you that no race is run to perfection and that both muscles and navels are often savagely beaten by the time the finish line is crossed.
Sydney's 4-0 start to the season has allowed them to hit a few potholes and lose a few strides, but with those in the know suggesting they are the owners of the league's fourth toughest run home, few more can be struck or missed if they wish to extend their season beyond 22 games.
