Round 5 of the 2025 AFL season is in the books. So, it's time to react ... or overreact.
The Hawks' on and off-field chat continues to raise eyebrows, so does it need to be toned down? Is the Suns' success just a byproduct of a soft early fixture? Have North really improved under Alastair Clarkson?
Let's get to this week's overreactions, where we judge a few major takeaways as legitimate or irrational.
These Hawks talk and carry on way too much
They're young, they're brash, and they're incredibly polarizing. The Hawks have rubbed many footy fans the wrong way over the past 18 months, having gone from 0-5 stragglers to one of the best teams in the competition in seemingly the blink of an eye.
But it's not the fact Hawthorn is once again at the pointy end of the ladder that's bothered so many, it's that they haven't been afraid to peacock around, dish out a bit of lip here and there, and showboat after their wins.
Verdict: Overreaction
It's easy to question the Hawks and criticise their new-found brand after what was a disappointing loss to Port Adelaide, but we've got to be consistent. Before this weekend's loss, Hawthorn had won eight of their last nine games. They are clearly thriving off of what Sam Mitchell is preaching and in no way are being distracted or hindered by all of the outside noise.
In football, we're always begging for personality and for players and coaches to not become robotic. The Hawks are offering that in spades and all anyone seems to want to do is kick them back down. It's incredibly hypocritical.
You don't have to love them, you can even hope they fail, but you simply cannot deny this version of Hawthorn is box office entertainment week in, week out. Isn't that what sport is all about?
This Suns run is just a byproduct of a soft fixture
Gold Coast has enjoyed its best start to a season in club history, winning four from four, amassing a percentage of 168.3, and, as a result, sitting pretty in second spot on the ladder.
There are some who are convinced the Suns have turned the page and are finally delivering on the hype and promise. And then there are others who believe they are nothing more than a mirage, a team whose ladder position is only a reflection of what's been the easiest of starts to a season.
Verdict: Overreaction
It's true the Suns have 'only' beaten West Coast, Melbourne, Adelaide, and North Melbourne, but, as the saying often goes, you can only beat who has been put in front of you. Not only that, but they have absolutely crushed three of those four teams by at least 50+ points. This week, they have the Tigers. Another monster win incoming?
Now, are we absolutely convinced, without a shadow of a doubt, the Suns are a premiership chance in 2025? Well, no, we'll learn that as the season progresses -- after Richmond, they don't face another bottom six side until Round 16 -- but to say they aren't deserving of their place in the top two after the hottest of starts is a little unfair.
Damien Hardwick has his side playing great football. With Noah Anderson, Matt Rowell, and Touk Miller, the Suns have an argument for best midfield trio in the league. They also have the co-Coleman Medal leader in Ben King. There's so much to like about this side and their 2025 prospects.
North's progress under Clarko is real, even at 1-4
North Melbourne have won just one of their first five games, are giving up massive scores to their opposition, and sit inside the bottom four -- a place they have made their own in recent years. It's left fans frustrated and critics questioning whether the Alastair Clarkson experiment is working, and the club is now once again under the spotlight.
Verdict: Not an overreaction
Don't let the ladder position fool you -- there are signs that the Kangaroos are building something sustainable under Clarkson. Yes, they've only won one game and yes, their losses have still featured worrying lapses, but the eye test has still told us a different story in just as many patches.
Their midfield is now competitive against most sides -- they're possessing the ball more, are the number four centre clearance team this season, and are third for goals per inside 50 -- and there's a far more identifiable system at play than in years gone by.
Importantly, key players including Nick Larkey, Harry Sheezel, and more recently Luke Davies-Uniacke have all committed long term. That's not something players do unless they see a club heading in the right direction.
North's best players are young, they've got top picks coming through, and while there's still work to do to sure up both ends of the ground, the progress is there if you look beyond the scoreboard. Rebuilds take time. The puzzle isn't yet solved but most pieces are there. Even if that isn't reflected in the win-loss column.