I literally have no idea what’s going on in the AFL. Which I think means not a lot has changed. Teams on the up will improve, teams on the decline will slip.
Over the last ten or fifteen years a few teams have circumvented this cycle by instituting a club culture that has gotten away from boom or bust cycles.
Others have a club culture that means success is not attainable, even when they have lucked into a relatively talented list.
NRL results were interesting, primarily because it seems as if last season’s major under-performers, North Queensland, have recovered a lapse last season. Didn’t expect Souths to click so fast under their new coach.

NRL (last round 5/8; season tally 5/8)
Souths
Melbourne
North Queensland
Cronulla
Newcastle
Easts
Parramatta
Wests

AFL
Richmond
Collingwood
Melbourne
Adelaide (at home)
Sydney
West Coast
Saint Kilda (if they can’t beat Gold Coast at home it’ll be a long season)
Greater Western Sydney
North Melbourne (who always lose round 1)