Mid-season report card: Sydney sitting pretty but testing times to come

Record: 10-3 (2nd)

What's gone right: Sydney continue to boast one of the most fearsome midfield combinations in the competition. Led by Dan Hannebery, Tom Mitchell, Josh Kennedy and Luke Parker, the Swans' engine room has taken on all comers and come out on top more often than not. In terms of competition rankings, Hannebery is third for disposals, fourth for contested possessions and is in Brownlow Medal contention. Mitchell is fourth for tackles and 10th for disposals, Parker is sixth for tackles and sixth for contested possessions while Kennedy is third for clearances and fifth for contested possessions. It truly is an all-star on-ball brigade. And they were ably assisted by Kurt Tippett who, prior to injuring his hamstring, was enjoying his best year in the ruck with an average of 30 hitouts​ a game. The Swans are also the No.1 ranked team defensively with a miserly average of just 69 points conceded per match. The fact that they have the second-best percentage in the competition (140.9) highlights how good their balance between defence and attack is. Franklin is having another outstanding season with a competition-best 47 goals and Dane Rampe​ has taken his game to a new level down back to be ranked second in the AFL for rebound 50s. Sydney's ability to replenish their side while in premiership mode has also been noteworthy. The Swans have blooded six debutants with Callum Mills, Tom Papley​ and George Hewett the clear standouts.

What's gone wrong: Not a lot goes wrong when you win 10 of 13 matches but their losses against Richmond and Greater Western Sydney were very disappointing. Coach John Longmire is probably still having the odd sleepless night as a result of that incredible after-the-siren defeat to the Tigers. Squandering an 18-point three-quarter-time lead was very un-Sydney-like and if they held on they would be sitting on top of the ladder right now. The loss of Tippett will be a huge blow in the second half of the season and puts more responsibility on the shoulders of Callum Sinclair. Sam Reid has failed to get out on the park this year due to injury and key defender Michael Talia (foot) has been restricted to just one game in his first year with the club after crossing from the Bulldogs. Lingering doubts also surround their undersized defence against multi-pronged attacks when their midfield has an off day like they did against Adelaide and Richmond.

Stand-out star: Franklin has made a triumphant return to the playing field this year and reasserted himself as the best forward in the competition. In fact, such has his form been that he is now arguably the best player in the AFL – and that's saying something given how brilliant Patrick Dangerfield has been. The three-time Coleman medallist finds himself at the top of the goalkickers' heap yet again and is a good chance of breaking the ton during the finals. No player has had more scoring shots than him (77), he is averaging 18 touches (seven contested) and five marks per game, is ranked fifth in the AFL for marks inside 50 and second for inside 50s. The five-time All-Australian has busted games open on many occasions and some of his goals have been breathtaking – none more so than his game-winning 75-metre bomb against Hawthorn. Considering Franklin's career was genuinely at the crossroads in the off-season, it has been a remarkable comeback story and he once again firms as the key piece to Sydney's tilt at a third flag in 12 years.

Players under the pump: At 33 years of age, Sydney defender Ted Richards looks as though he is on his last legs. Following his second concussion in less than a year in Round 9, there were initial suggestions, which were later dispelled, that his career might have come to a premature end. He hasn't played since then. After missing just three games in the previous five seasons, the usually durable backman has sat out seven games this year. Fringe players Tom Derickx, Toby Nankervis, Dean Towers and Xavier Richards are all out of contract at the end of the season and look as though they will be playing for a spot on the list in the second half of 2016.

The run home: The Swans will get a clearer understanding of where they sit in the premiership race over the next three weeks when they run the gauntlet against fellow contenders the Bulldogs, Geelong (at Simonds​ Stadium) and Hawthorn. If they come out of the other side having won more than they've lost, they will know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are the real deal. It's smoother sailing for Sydney after the Hawks game with their biggest challenge coming in the form of North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium in Round 22.

Grading: A