ADELAIDE
There's no magical switch to turn an imperfect summer into good early-season form. Coach Neil Craig has spent the first four rounds trying to plug holes in his injury-ravaged and under-performing side. Best and fairest winner Bernie Vince has attempted to shake his opposition tag by switching to half-back and also taking kick-ins, while midfielder Scott Thompson has been tried at the other end in a bid to bolster a forward line that's averaging just eight goals a game. Thompson and Kurt Tippett are both on modified training programs because of knee tendonitis.

BRISBANE LIONS
Michael Voss just might have pulled one of the great moves of his early career by electing to play Jared Brennan in the midfield on a more permanent basis. Brennan has long been considered one of the game's more versatile players, but appears to be taking his game to a whole new level. With the Lions boasting key-position planks at both ends of the ground, no longer is the once-maligned Brennan relied on to hold down one position. Instead he can simply roam the midfield, doing as he pleases. And with some impressive high possession, clearance and inside 50 numbers, that role suits him just fine.

CARLTON
Jarrad Waite spent most of the first three games as a forward with limited success and was dropped. Jeff Garlett was added to a smaller mix that already included Chris Yarran and Eddie Betts. The result was an attack that looked dangerous at the stoppages and every time the ball hit the deck. Setanta O'hAilpin started the year well, but has taken just three marks in the past two games. He can get away with that as long as he continues to create a strong contest. The return of captain Chris Judd from suspension was great on the one hand, but concerning on the other. His fellow midfielders still seem to rely on him too much. 

COLLINGWOOD
Heath Shaw's return paid immediate dividends last week, with the defender showing just how valuable he is to the Magpies' defensive structure. Shaw was among the best players as his run and carry set up numerous attacking raids for the Pies in their big win over Hawthorn. While opposition teams might feel safe with the ball in their own goal square, Shaw can be lethal with the ball in his hands at a kick-in. The Pies' preference to send the ball into the midfield, Shaw often looks for the short option and the quick receive to kick-start an offensive play.

ESSENDON
While the Bombers have potentially one of the strongest ruck divisions in the league, the David Hille-Patrick Ryder combination is yet to click in 2010. Rather than starting on the bench, the player not contesting the centre bounce generally has been stationed forward, but the plan has not borne fruit with the two big men managing just five goals between them. In an attack missing the retired Matthew Lloyd and Scott Lucas, and with small forward Angus Monfries out with injury for the past two weeks, the 'resting' Bombers ruckman has had to do much more to get on the scoreboard.

FREMANTLE
Fremantle's defensive game has stood out early, particularly its highly-organised press for opposition kick-ins. At the other end of the ground, Paul Duffield is taking responsibility for the side's kick-ins and rebound from defence. David Mundy has been a key switch player once the ball reaches the midfield, and has also been a prominent clearance and contested ball-winner. Matthew Pavlich has moved into the midfield during time-on of quarters or when the opposition has a run, appearing to make the call himself. Mark Harvey has told his team to train as if it is losing, and there was no discernible change in intensity throughout Fremantle's 3-0 run.

GEELONG CATS
Mark Thompson revealed his most radical tactical shift of the first month when he played three tall forwards against Port Adelaide and it worked well for the most part. James Podsiadly, Cam Mooney and Tom Hawkins took turns pushing higher up the ground, finishing with 28 marks and eight goals (five of them to Podsiadly) between them. A greater score could easily have come with slightly straighter kicking. In the ruck, Mark Blake has kicked the ball just three times this season, but Thompson appears content to let him be the battering ram in the middle while he prepares Brad Ottens for later in the year.

HAWTHORN
The Hawks have struggled to get any continuity in their game plan, with injury and suspension causing some headaches. Liam Shiels seems to have a role as enforcer but that earned a rap from the AFL match review panel. Luke Hodge has spent time in the midfield but has proven too valuable as the defensive sweeper across half-back to be used anywhere else. Brent Renouf has been left to shoulder much of the ruck work but he has had a bit of relief from Jarryd Roughead and Lance Franklin around the grounds.

MELBOURNE
Since its round-one shocker against Hawthorn, Melbourne has released the shackles to take the game on at every opportunity. The Demons are moving the ball around quickly, have increased their intensity and gained belief from three impressive displays. Jack Grimes has shone as a sweeping half-back, hitting targets and sending the side into attack up to seven times a game. Jamar has carried the ruck load since Jake Spencer was left out of the side after round one. He has flourished in this role, averaging 31 hit-outs per match.

NORTH MELBOURNE
Involvement in play outside 50 has increased for David Hale, who has spent more time in his traditional ruck role. Hale starts deep but gradually pushes to the right wing, where he can contest a stoppage if needed. He generally shares his leading pattern with Ben Warren, while Aaron Edwards has become North's preferred target on the opposite side of the ground. In two games this season, chief ruckman Hamish McIntosh has been sent forward for close to the entire last quarter, kicking two goals against Port Adelaide in round one. Todd Goldstein was rotated through defence early on, but that experiment has been shelved.

PORT ADELAIDE
The influence of former North Melbourne coach Dean Laidley, now an assistant to Mark Williams, has seen the Power transform into a tougher defensive unit. They averaged 86 tackles in the opening two rounds and also led the competition in contested possession during the same period. The team is training noticeably harder than in previous years and there is a sense of self-belief that hasn't been present since the grand final loss of 2007. Development coach Garry Hocking has taken over the role of match-day runner and has already attracted the attention of the AFL.

RICHMOND
The Tigers are a young team with much learning to be done. As a result, Damien Hardwick has spent time coaching from the bench, so he can speak to his players when they come off the ground. Richmond hasn't been rotating as heavily as most sides, with Hardwick leaving players in their positions to help them adjust to his game plan. As a result, the runners have had it a bit easier, with Hardwick less likely to be communicating via a proxy.

ST KILDA
The round-three injury to Nick Riewoldt forced the Saints to reshuffle their forward line. Zac Dawson, Sam Fisher, Brendon Goddard and Jason Gram all spent time in attack against Fremantle and, based on that game alone, Dawson and Goddard seem the best bets. There have been no other huge changes to St Kilda's approach from last year. Opposition sides seem to have identified Lenny Hayes as the prime midfielder and are clamping down on him, but that has only freed up Leigh Montagna and Nick Dal Santo.

SYDNEY SWANS
Coach Paul Roos said Mark Seaby and Shane Mumford would share the No.1 ruck role and so it has proven. Seaby starred in the first two rounds but Mumford has stepped up in the past fortnight, giving the Swans one of the most potent ruck combinations in the league. Visions of Adam Goodes tearing opposition defences apart with bags of goals haven't materialised but he has shouldered a power of work leading up the ground as a traditional centre half-forward. Ben McGlynn has been a surprise packet, playing deeper than many pundits expected and capitalising on space created by Jesse White's often unrewarded leads.

WEST COAST
Shannon Hurn, who often takes the kick-ins for West Coast, was sorely missed during his two-week suspension as turnovers out of defensive 50 increased. Other young players have struggled with disposal late in quarters, and most obviously when the Eagles are a man down in their rotations - as they were against Port Adelaide (Mark Nicoski) and Essendon (Daniel Kerr). Kicking drills have since become more prominent at training. Nic Naitanui led the ruck early before Dean Cox broke back to form against Essendon. Time on ground is down for both, with the bench preferred to the forward line for rotation.

WESTERN BULLDOGS
The Dogs have yet to bring their pre-season form into the home and away rounds and while Barry Hall has been effective at full-forward, he has not provided the cure-all some were expecting. This may have something to do with how the ball is getting to him, with the Bulldogs' run-and-carry style put under severe pressure in both their losses. The Dogs took a hiding on inside 50s against the Lions (72-37), broke even with Collingwood (58-58) and even went inside less than Hawthorn (57-49) despite winning the match. It will be an area Rodney Eade will be sure to address in the coming month.

The views in this article are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.