from my vantage:
In premiership mode and good enough:
West Coast - very hungry great midfield.
Adelaide - good list but need senior players on top of game. Reminds me of Lions in 2004.
St Kilda - I really do think they can win it. Port at Port is always tough. No denying they havent hit their straps, but I think this could be their last throw with Gehrig, Harvey, Thompson nearing the end. Unfortunately a good list can get you to the finals, but good coaching wins finals and they have a poor coach. Hayes, Dal Santo, Ball midfield simply top class.
The chasing pack:
Geelong - one year off I think.
Port - on the wane. The list hasn't deteriorated too much, but they play a direct kicking game that relies on a lot of contested marks. Good style to watch, but a few years behind the times I think.
Bulldogs - Have a great senior core and how they found themselves rooted at the bottom for a few years is anyones guess. Will be top 8 but it is too early.
Swans - never an attractive side to watch, but they seem to have to scrap in every game they play. A few of their smaller nimble players (O'Keefe, Buchanan, Ablett etc) look to have spent too much time in the gym and bulked up too much.
Average Sides
Collingwood - lack class. Struggle unless Rocca takes a bag of marks.
Kangaroos - don't seem to be going anywhere at all.
Essendon - have a poor midfield IMO. Hille is awful around the ground and only Hird has clean disposal. Jason Johnson is a poor kick, Lovett, Lovett-Murray and McVeigh lose their head too easily. Couple of promising youngsters.
Hawthorn - Think they will dop off and finish 10-14th.
Freo - Very close to putting them in poor, but have not watched them this season.
Melbourne - Have had their chance I feel. They are at a point where each year they are just topping up but there is not enough class to see them taking this list much further.
Richmond - Think we will finish towards the bottom of this group. We lack a midfield unit and lack the depth to compensate by rotating players through it. Not happy with forward setup. Think the list has a long way to go but lots of upside at Coburg.
Poor
Brisbane - I feel sorry for Voss. Should retire now.
Carlton - 5 years off anything. Pagan's reputation is on the line. They are a rabble now.