Group Nine mid-season report card: Tight top four a level above chasing pack

The ladder shows just how tight things are at the top.

Four points separates the top four teams and when you look at their defensive records it's even closer.

Second placed Southcity have conceded 114 points to lead the way followed by Gundagai (116), Tumut (120) and Young (124).

There is plenty of interest in the battle for fifth too, with Kangaroos and Albury both with three wins so far while Temora have the two.

It shapes for a big end to the season and with little separating the title contenders anything could happen.

So far: Three wins, five losses (eight points)

Ladder position: Sixth

Pre-season prediction: Last

What the coach says: (Adrian Purtell) We are going ok at the moment and have set ourselves up to be in a decent position for the second half of the year. We have a decent run of home games and considering how we started the season I think we've improved. For where our squad is at we're in a decent position. At the moment we're still down of the ladder, and that is where people would thought we would be at the start of the year so we'll just keep trying to improve and hopefully can pick up a couple more wins in the back end of the year.

What we say: The Thunder seem to be building in the right direction after being forced to the sidelines last year. It shaped as a tough season for the club but after a disastrous first few weeks they've shown plenty of promise. Playing Brothers twice in three weeks helps but you can only play the cards you're dealt. Albury have a favourable run with plenty of home games and they will need to take advantage of it to play finals again. Regardless the experiences the young side is getting will only help them in the future.

Prediction: Sixth

So far: No wins, seven losses (two points)

Ladder position: Last

Pre-season prediction: Seventh

What the co-coach says: (James Hay) Obviously we are still chasing our first win and I think that would be a pretty big thing for the boys as we've been training hard and we're starting to actually deserve to win games of football. We are still not quite there yet but it will come. Most good teams can win games not playng 80 minutes of football but we need to put together a lot more than what we have been putting together lately. We're pretty young and that's part of maturing as a football side.

What we say: It was always going to be a big fall from grace after almost their entire side from last season moved on. It certainly has been that so far. While there has been some promise, consistency has been a big issue and it's going to be tough to rise up the ladder this season but there experience will be beneficial for the club to get back to where they were in the past few seasons.

Prediction: Last

So far: Four wins, three losses (10 points)

Ladder position: Fourth

Pre-season prediction: Premiers

What the co-coach says: (Luke Berkrey) One thing I am happy about is the team is going in the right direction. We started pretty slow but feel we've made gradual improvement every week. That's one thing to be happy about but certainly we have a lot to work. It's probably not a pass mark for the first half of the year but we are definitely building. Having some players come back into the fold should help as well.

What we say: It's been an up and down start to their premiership defence with injury to key personnel not helping. However things seem to be trying back around with their two best performances coming in the past two weeks. There is still plenty to work on but with the hope of getting some of their biggest stars back bodes well for the back end of the season. They're a club used to success, and have done so from even worse positions than they find themselves in now. The Tigers know what to do to get it done when it counts so they are hard to overlook.

Prediction: Third

So far: Three wins, four losses (eight points)

Ladder position: Fifth

Pre-season prediction: Fifth

What the coach says: (Simon Woolford) I'd like to be a little bit further advanced than what we are, there is no doubt about that, but this was never going to be a quick fix. I've always said this team will get better as the year goes and we've shown glimpses of what we are capable of but we are still struggling to do it for long periods. That 80-minute period. It's costing us at the moment but there are certain aspects of our game I'm really happy with but we still have a fair bit of work to do.

What we say: Kangaroos have struggled to back up a very bright start to the season but keep promising to do so. They are the only club to get the better of Tumut so far but haven't quite been able to get it done against any other title contender. Consistency is going to need to be the key after a Jekyll and Hyde performance against Young last time out but Woolford will have them back up as the club looks to turn around their fortunes and add more spice into the competition.

Prediction: Fifth

So far: Five wins, two losses (12 points)

Ladder position: Second

Pre-season prediction: Fourth

What the coach says: (Nathan Rose) We're not tracking too bad. Obviously a couple of early injuries doesn't help but it is what it is and you have to find a way to keep moving forward. We've had the two losses but you have to look at it in a positive way and it is better to lose now than at the end of the season. We have to learn from them and keep moving forward.

What we say: The Bulls started the season off on fire but it has slowed in the past few weeks when coming up against the better sides. Their two losses have come in the past three weeks and more worryingly last time out when they crossed just twice. Southcity showed they've got plenty of points in them before the loss to Gundagai, and with their full back line it will create plenty of havoc but their forward pack needs to step up if they are going to keep up with their main rivals. They are definitely in the mix, and possess some of the most exciting players in the competition, but a high mark is being set this season.

Prediction: Fourth

So far: Two wins, five losses (six points)

Ladder position: Seventh

Pre-season prediction: Sixth

What the coach says: (Josh McCrone) We're still growing. We would like to win more games and there are lots of things to work on but at the start of the year when we said we wanted to start building a better culture I think we are heading in the right direction with that.

What we say: The Dragons are a step behind the pack but definitely not out of race for fifth. Finals hasn't been something the club has experienced in over a decade but they've shown glimpses of real potential but a lack of depth make things hard after a season off. Injuries have not been kind to Temora so far which hasn't helped things, nor has a particularly tough added component of their draw. They will have to turn things around pretty quickly but there is still a good mix of experience to go with some promising youth at the club.

Prediction: Seventh

So far: Six wins, one loss (14 points)

Ladder position: First

Pre-season prediction: Third

What the co-coach says: (Lachlan Bristow) Sitting in top spots shows we're going along pretty nicely at the moment. We haven't really put too much thought into it we would be mid-season, and are just taking it a game at a time, but we're very happy with the place we are at.

What we say: After a horror grand final, the Blues have looked the most complete club so far this season. That's a big thing when you consider they've had their full strength side for less than one game so far this season. Most of their changes have come through their spine but only adds to the impressive record they've compiled so far. It bodes well for what is to come if they can get everyone together. The Blues have lost just the once this season, a tight one in a game they typically struggle in - backing up off a Gundagai game - and have answered all other questions posed to them so far in good fashion. Will take some chasing down if they can keep their best team on the park.

Prediction: Premiers

So far: Six wins, two losses (12 points)

Ladder position: Third

Pre-season prediction: Second

What the coach says: (Nick Hall) We're equal second and I think that is a fair assessment of where we are at. We are up there when the whips are cracking, I think we've got plenty of potential and are going in the right direction but to win it we all need an ounce of luck in terms of injuries and bounces of balls. I'm very happy with we're we are at, I'm happy with the squad and while we've had a few injuries we've got some guys coming back soon so it will be interesting to see where I fit them into the side. We're setting ourselves for the back half.

What we say: Haven't quite taken advantage of a stacked draw to start the season with most of their games being at Alfred Oval, far from the most welcoming venue in the competition. However they are never far off the mark and things will only get better as their new-look spine meshes with the rest of the team. Blessed with plenty of depth, working out the best fit is still a work in progress, and they need to find more consistency particularly early in games. They Cherrypickers have probably got their best chance of ending a 30-year premiership drought this year but it's not an easy season to do so in.

Prediction: Second