What’s gone wrong: It’s hard to find faults in a team that hasn’t dropped a game. Was pushed by Corowa-Rutherglen for three quarters when missing six first-choice players and wasn’t convincing in beating Wodonga Raiders by 19 points. Setanta O’hAilpin hasn’t played since Anzac Day after undergoing knee surgery and his brother Aisake is walking a suspension tightrope.

The A-grade student: Plenty of candidates for this one but Elliott Powell stands out. The former Dederang-Mt Beauty speedster has quickly become one of the Tigers’ most important players, which says a lot in a team boasting the likes of Dean Polo, Chris Hyde and Brayden O’Hara. Was judged best afield by co-coaches Darrell Spencer and Jon Henry in the interleague win was rewarded with selection in the Victorian Country squad.

Grade: A+

What’s gone right: Moving through the first seven rounds undefeated was a pretty good start for the Pigeons. The form of Bronson Schofield, Bodhi Butts, Brayden Coburn and Jess Koopman has delighted the Pigeon heirarchy, who will be hoping the return of premiership stars Nick Lawless, Marcus McMillan and Brad O’Connor can propel them into flag calculations.

What’s gone wrong: The Pigeons have been one of the most unsettled sides in the competition with injury, unavailability and suspension regularly preventing them from putting their best side on the park. Tim Cooper will need a miracle to play again this year after undergoing surgery on the AC joint he injured against Albury.

The A-grade student: Tom Walliss might have arrived at J.C. Lowe with little fanfare but has quickly announced himself as one of the best defenders in the league. The former Murray Bushranger and Berrigan premiership player has helped turn a leaky defence into one of the tightest units in the competition.

Grade: B+

What’s gone right: The come-from-behind victory against Yarrawonga in round eight is a clear highlight for the Panthers. They conceded the first six goals that day before registering a memorable 11-point win. Adam Prior’s nine-goal bag against North Albury wasn’t bad, either.

What’s gone wrong: There’s a few contenders for this one so, in no particular order, here goes. Boom recruit Luke Gestier tearing his ACL half an hour into the Good Friday match against Albury, and losing that match by 83 points, was a pretty ordinary way to start the season. Consecutive losses to Myrtleford and Wodonga put the Panthers further behind the eight-ball, all before Brant Dickson suffered a likely season-ending ankle injury.

The A-grade student: Ben Murphy has proved an astute pick-up by the Panthers. The former Raider has rarely been out of the best players and would likely be fighting it out with Luke Garland, Matt Sharp and Sam Harris for the best and fairest.

Grade: B-

What’s gone right: After a slow start to the season, the Raiders won five out of six matches from rounds four to nine with the only defeat coming at the hands of Albury by 19 points. Jydon Neagle committed to the club full-time after a stint at Essendon in the VFL and his nine-goal performance against Wodonga on Anzac Day remains one of the individual performances of the season. A 79-point win over bitter rival North Albury highlighted how dangerous the Raiders can be.

What’s gone wrong: The season started in disastrous fashion when Todd Grayson was sacked on the eve of their Good Friday opener against Wangaratta. The rattled Raiders lost that match and Daryn Cresswell wouldn’t have been banking on losing the return bout to the Magpies. Ross Tungatalum hasn’t been sighted since round four and while club officials are hopeful he will return against Lavington in round 12, we won’t hold our breath.

The A-grade student: Brad St John often flies under the radar at Birallee Park but, along with Tyler Cornish, the speedy wingman would be close to leading the best and fairest. Played his 50^th senior match earlier this year and was rewarded with an Ovens and Murray interleague berth.

Grade: B-

What’s gone right: After a summer of upheaval at Bunton Park, to be 5-5 after 10 rounds is a big tick for coach Jason Akermanis. The Hoppers have blooded 17 new players in the seniors and have taken the field, most weeks, with an average age of less than 21. 

What’s gone wrong: The Hoppers’ ability to defend has been a source of frustration for Akermanis. He labelled some of his players “at times uncoachable” after the round nine debacle against the Raiders, where the Hoppers kicked just three goals. Corowa-Rutherglen is the only team to leak more points in defence.

The A-grade student: Dom Brew has immediately announced himself as a top-line player after switching from Albury to Bunton Park. The rugged left-footer captained the under-19 interleague team and has impressed everyone at North Albury with his attack on the ball and work at the stoppages. Apologies to Shaun Mannagh, whose ability to hit the scoreboard from the midfield has been a highlight.

Grade: B+

What’s gone right: The Saints have won four of their past six matches to sit only percentage outside the top five. The round five win over Lavington – seven days after losing to Albury by 215 points – showed what ticker the club has. Oozes home-grown talent with Christian Burgess, Matt Dussin, Mitch Dalbosco and the Sharp twins, just to name a few, among those to step up and support Brad Murray. The more games Frazer Dale and Jake Sharp can play, the more likely the Saints are to secure their first finals appearance since 2006.

What’s gone wrong: The aforementioned massacre at the hands of the Tigers sat the Saints on their backside. After opening the season with a win against Wodonga, three straight losses left them languishing in ninth position on the ladder. Had their chances to beat North Albury and Yarrawonga and will be desperately hoping one of those losses doesn’t come back to haunt them come the end of August.

The A-grade student: While Murray has been the main attraction at the McNamara Reserve for a long time, the Morris medallist has now got some serious competition in Burgess. The lightning-quick rover with a nose for goal leads The Border Mail footballer of the year award, with his hot form commanding Ovens and Murray interleague selection.

Grade: B+

What’s gone right: A lot went right for the Magpies early in the season without translating that form into victories, but two wins over the Raiders shows Brendan Cairns has the quality at his disposal to play finals. Sixteen-year-old Joe Richards’ 11-goal haul against Corowa-Rutherglen, in just his third senior game, turned plenty of heads. The Magpies will field a 21-point senior team against Albury on Saturday with Matt Grossman the only member of the side to have not played under-18s at the Magpies.

What’s gone wrong: Narrow losses and injuries to key players have been the story of the Pies’ season. Michael Newton arrived at Norm Minns Oval with plenty of hype but the former Melbourne big man has been struck down by hamstring and calf complaints and only taken the field twice. If they can get him and Matt Kelly, who hasn’t played since round four with a hamstring injury, back on the park, they will be a big chance of reversing losses to the Rovers, Panthers and Hoppers and improving on a draw with the Pigeons.

The A-grade student: Grossman hasn’t been out of the Magpies’ best players as he’s made a seamless return to the O and M. The dashing defender remains one of the best ball users in the competition and he has been used in the forward line in recent weeks, coinciding with back-to-back wins for the Magpies. Cairns would like a couple more of him. 

Grade: C+

What’s gone right: Wins don’t come much sweeter for a Rovers supporter than those against the old enemy from across Golf Links Lane. The Hawks trailed at three-quarter-time to charge past the injury-hit Magpies before moving two games clear inside the top five the following week when they downed Corowa-Rutherglen.

What’s gone wrong: After winning four of their first six games, the Hawks have lost four on the trot, including a round 10 heartbreaker to Yarrawonga. Dylan Stone was concussed in the last quarter of a narrow loss to the Raiders while a hamstring injury to co-coach Sam Carpenter robbed them of drive in the midfield for three of those four defeats. 

The A-grade student: Not only would skipper Shane Gaston be leading the Hawks’ best and fairest, he must also be figuring strongly in Morris Medal calculations. The mobile ruckman hasn’t played a bad match and with the Hawks being competitive most weeks, he’s sure to have caught the eye of the umpires.

Grade: C

What’s gone right: A 69-point hiding of North Albury is clearly the Bulldogs’ best performance of the season. Steve Murray kicked five goals that day and he will be a welcome inclusion from Port Melbourne against Corowa-Rutherglen on Saturday. 

What’s gone wrong: Losses to Yarrawonga and Wangaratta by less than a kick leaves the Bulldogs ninth on the ladder instead of pushing for a spot in the top five. Will have to win three of their next four games to remain any chance of playing finals. Veterans Daniel Bradshaw and Jarrod Twitt have only played five matches between them as they battle injury. 

The A-grade student: Matt Seiter is on track for back-to-back best and fairests at John Flower Oval. The burly big man thrives on hard work and sets the tone for the Bulldogs in the middle of the park.

Grade: C-

What’s gone right: While it’s been a horror season for the under-manned Roos, there have been some highlights. They defied their age and experience to lead Albury in the third quarter of their round three clash and could easily have beaten Wangaratta Rovers at John Foord Oval in round six. Talented youngsters James Svarc and Jay O’Donoghue played interleague in a promising sign for the future.

What’s gone wrong: Suffered a blow before a ball was kicked in anger when Joe Hansen tore his ACL in the pre-season. Five 100-point-plus defeats highlight how hard the Roos find it to arrest momentum once the opposition takes control. Didn’t kick a goal against North Albury last start and will be hoping for a much better result when Ovens and Murray football returns to Rutherglen on Saturday.

The A-grade student: Svarc has posed a constant threat for opposition clubs, kicking 16 goals from limited opportunities across half-forward. Was one of the Ovens and Murray’s best in interleague victory against Hampden.

Grade: C