In 2023 the Roos recorded a staggering 11 wins by 100 points or more, and won by fewer than 80 points only three times including finals.
By contrast, only one of their seven wins this season has come by triple digits, with four teams coming within 25 points of the reigning premiers – including three of their past four opponents.
Harrow-Balmoral deservedly retains premiership favouritism, with a host of talented veterans including Nick Pekin, Will Plush and coach Jai Thompson, while Cody Deutscher has slotted seamlessly back into the side after two years at Coleraine and former AFL-listed forward Michael Close is working his way back into the team after a month on the sidelines.
But the gap between the Roos and the rest of the competition has seemingly narrowed.
The contenders
Six teams are within eight premiership points of the Roos – Swifts, Rupanyup, Laharum, Noradjuha-Quantong and Pimpinio.
The Baggies have a league-best percentage of 224, as well as the league’s top goal-kicker in Paul Summers.
With 48 majors through seven matches, Summers tops the leaderboard by 18 from Taylors Lake coach Justin Beugelaar and doubles the tally of third-placed Judah Hobbs from Noradjuha-Quantong.
Ryan Folkes is shining with the Swifts after returning from a one-year stint at Great Western and Kobe Lowe is finding form in place of coach Brett Hargreaves, who has been out of the side since round four.
The third-placed Panthers have seemingly hit their stride after a surprise round-two loss to Pimpinio, winning five of their next six matches, with the only loss a 20-point defeat at the hands of the Roos.
Reigning Dellar medallist Mitch Gleeson remains among the league’s elite players, with Jacob Christie, Bill Hansen and coach Brayden Ison giving the team plenty of high-end talent.
Laharum is one of the feel-good stories of the season, rising from a winless 2023 campaign to fourth place with a 5-3 record.
Veteran leaders including Daniel Easson, Brett Ervin and co-coaches Shannon Argall and Robbie Miller have been integral to the Demons’ success.
Noradjuha-Quantong is neck-and-neck with Laharum, with an identical record and a gap of less than one percentage point.
The Bombers, after making a preliminary final last season, are yet to consistently find their best form, but remain within striking distance of the top through the efforts of a potent onball division that includes the likes of ruckman Jack Vague and midfielders Jayden Besford and James Hallett.
Sixth-placed Pimpinio is a surprise riser, nearly matching last season’s win total of six already.
Under new coach Guy Smith, the Tigers have leaned on brothers Adam and Jason Westley, Dimboola import Matt Rosier, Dylan Bates and forward Nick Groves.
Developing teams
While the gap between the league’s top side and its other teams has seemingly narrowed, so too has the gap at the bottom.
While Laharum went winless in 2023, each team has recorded at least one victory so far this season.
Natimuk United is unlucky to be ninth with a 1-6 record, having been on the wrong end of two losses by less than a kick.
Taylors Lake, which inflicted one of those losses, won its first two games of the season before a tough slate of games, while Kalkee is fulfilling coaches Steve Schultz and Andy Devereaux’s vision of youth development with two wins and a competitive loss to Noradjuha-Quantong in its past three games.
Edenhope-Apsley has fallen out of the finals mix from last season after a summer of high roster turnover, but showed it can remain competitive with a close win against Natimuk United and competitive losses to Taylors Lake and Laharum.
Kaniva-Leeor United earned its first win with a one-off appearance from former AFL star Harley Bennell, but it was the performance of senior leaders such as Billy King, Jock Maddern and Hamish Bennett that most pleased coach Jono Hicks.
The back half of the season will kick off with an intriguing series of matches, including a clash between Swifts and Laharum at Stawell’s North Park.
Natimuk United will be hard pressed to earn its second win when it hosts Rupanyup, while Pimpinio will attempt to entrench itself in the finals race in a road game against Edenhope-Apsley.
Harrow-Balmoral will host Kalkee and Noradjuha-Quantong will host Kaniva-Leeor United, while Taylors Lake will have a second consecutive week of rest with a bye.
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