Before the 2024 AFL season kicked off, ESPN's football writers put their heads together to come up with every AFL club's pass marks -- their make-or-breaks -- for the upcoming year. When each club's season came to an end, we updated this story to determine whether your team passed or failed in 2024.
Adelaide
2024 pass mark: Play finals
Result: FAIL
It was a year of major regression from the Crows, who went from only just missing finals in 2023, to finishing bottom four in 2024. Starting the season 0-4 didn't help, with all four losses coming to teams expected to be fighting the Crows for a spot in the eight.
On-field, we saw glimpses from a number of players, like Jake Soligo, Josh Rachele, Ben Keays, and Riley Thilthorpe (when fit), but a number of prime movers struggled to recapture the form we've seen in previous years. Off the field, there was discontent surrounding Matthew Nicks after the poor start, and 2024 ended with an unceremonious dropping of Rachele, who was punished for 'not putting the team first'.
The Crows have some issues; the list isn't quite at contending quality or depth, and the club continues to get sucked into off-field and offseason drama.
Brisbane
2024 pass mark: Win the Grand Final
Result: Pass
This was probably the toughest pass mark given to any side this season and, even up until just two weeks ago, when they conceded a 44-point lead to the Giants in a semifinal, it seemed like it would be a fail. Hell, it seemed like a fail when they were 25 points adrift of the Cats in a prelim, not to mention their shocking 0-3 start to the campaign, or the fact they were sitting 13th on the ladder at Round 15.
But this team is quality and, when it mattered most, teams just couldn't go with them.
That's even after integral cogs such as Keidean Coleman and Lincoln McCarthy went down with season-ending injuries, new recruit Tom Doedee also never got on the park.
But the emergence of youngsters Will Ashcroft, Logan Morris, and Kai Lohmann was eye-catching, and the on-field leadership of cool-headed trio Lachie Neale, Harris Andrews, and Dayne Zorko was significant.
Led brilliantly by Chris Fagan, regardless of the rocky route they took, this team deserved the premiership in 2024.
READ: Resilience personified - Brilliant Brisbane get Grand Final redemption
Carlton
2024 pass mark: Prove 2023 wasn't an aberration and return to the prelims
Result: FAIL ... ish
Did the Blues return to the preliminary finals? No. So in some respects we can look at the year as a failure. But we mustn't forget this side was sitting comfortably inside the top two well into the second half of the season, proving last year was no aberration.
Then came the swathe of injuries, notably to Tom De Koning, Adam Cerra, Harry McKay, Charlie Curnow, Mitch McGovern, Adam Saad, and Zac Williams, and the inevitable slide down the ladder. A record of 11-4 ended up as 13-10 by the end of the home and away season and a nervous wait to see if they would sneak into finals.
Carlton ending the year 2-7 was on nobody's bingo card, but we have proof of concept this side, at full strength, is and can be a legitimate flag contender. If Michael Voss' side comes up short next season, then some serious questions will need to be asked.
Collingwood
2024 pass mark: Avoid a premiership hangover
Result: FAIL
It's a fail for the Magpies, who failed to back up their 2023 premiership triumph with a finals berth in 2024. The silver lining (we guess)? The Pies aren't alone in achieving this feat, becoming the third premier from the past four seasons to miss finals the next year -- the exception being Melbourne in 2021/22, but they were dumped in straight sets in 2022.
The issues remain much the same; there's no key forward depth, though Dan McStay's late-season return was wonderful to see, but teams also worked out the Pies -- especially early in the season. The Magpies went from No. 1 in the league for points sourced from back half to 18th in the first six rounds of 2024. They also struggled with ball movement, going from 6th for moving the footy from defensive 50 to forward 50, to 17th in the first part of 2024, and went from No. 1 moving the ball forward from defensive midfield zone to 18th. Sounds like a hangover to us.
Essendon
2024 pass mark: Discover an identity under Brad Scott
Result: FAIL
Things were looking promising for the Bombers early in the season, as they joined the Swans up the pointy end of the ladder following a relatively soft early fixture. The term 'Essendon edge' was bandied about, and hello, we were ready to give the Dons a 'PASS'.
But, Essendon 'Essendoned', and missed finals after winning just one of their last six games on the back of some poor defensive efforts, while they struggled to find consistent forward output; both Jake Stringer and Kyle Langford passed the 40 goal mark, but no other forward kicked 20 for the season. The Bombers also lost a record-equalling eight games when winning the inside 50 count. If it is an identity, it's not one they want to carry into 2025.
Fremantle
2024 pass mark: Make a decision on Justin Longmuir's future and stick to a plan
Result: PASS
The Dockers technically earned a pass mark before the home-and-away season even got underway when they extended Longmuir to the end of 2025. Was it the right decision? Maybe. Maybe not. Time will tell.
For the most part, Fremantle's campaign earned a tick. They won 12 games, two more than in 2023, scored six points more per game, conceded seven points fewer, and were in finals contention until literally the last quarter of the season. The move of Hayden Young into the midfield was one of the year's success stories, while some of the Docker kids showed promise for the future.
Geelong
2024 pass mark: Have the kids win their best 22 spots from the veterans
Result: PASS
This isn't just a pass, this grade has to be an A+. The Cats may have fallen short of reaching another Grand Final, but season 2024 should be viewed as a resounding success. The list overperformed expectation and now looks to be well placed for the next few seasons.
What would have to please Geelong fans most is the rapid improvement of its youngsters, who all played serious roles in the club's run to a preliminary final. Oliver Dempsey, who averaged 17 disposals and almost a goal per game, was the Rising Star winner. Shannon Neale and Lawson Humphries both showed they have bright futures at the club, while Shaun Mannagh, 27, was a brilliant bargain pick up. The Cats just know where to find them!
Gold Coast
2024 pass mark: Make finals
Result: FAIL
At the beginning of 2024, Suns chairman Bob East said it himself -- finals is the pass mark. The Suns paid big bucks for a big-name coach in Damien Hardwick, but he's failed to deliver in his first year, and his club became a meme throughout the season for winning at home but not on the road for almost the entire season.
The talent is there, it's undeniable, but there's an immaturity and lack of focus which seems to be holding this club back. In fairness to Hardwick, it's usually difficult to change the course of a club in one short offseason, so a second summer under the three-time flag-winning coach will help, but after your chairman made a big statement, and Hardwick himself declared that '80% of the club's next premiership team' was already on the list ... it's a 'FAIL' here for the Suns.
GWS
2024 pass mark: Not to get complacent after last year's preliminary final run
Result: PASS
It may well go down as one of the worst finals chokes of all time -- the Giants led for 91% of their two finals and yet managed to lose both -- but they did put themselves in a position to contend for this year's flag. For that, the season has to be a pass. And had the Giants held on to their lead against the Swans, they'd have almost become flag favourites.
It goes without saying this GWS offseason is going to be tough. But instead of dwelling on the disappointment, Adam Kingsley and his players should look at the positives from the year. They finished the home and away season in fourth spot with a record of 15-8. They also might have the best list in the competition, as first pointed out by ESPN's Jarryd Barca in preseason.
Hawthorn
2024 pass mark: Be in the hunt in the home stretch of the season
Result: PASS
This is as easy as it gets! The Hawks weren't just alive in the final quarter of the home and away season, they felt every bit like a legitimate premiership chance. From Round 6 onwards, Sam Mitchell's side ranked first for points scored, first for fewest points conceded, and won more games than anyone else in the competition. But it wasn't just the amount of wins, it was the margins of them. The Hawks were obliterating teams, winning eight of their 15 games by at least 45 points, six of them by 10 goals.
Hawthorn may be young, but the taste of finals football they've had over the last few weeks will hold them in good stead in the coming years. With a backline that's likely to be significantly bolstered, plus the return of forgotten key forward Mitch Lewis, the Hawks should enter season 2025 as one of the teams to beat.
Melbourne
2024 pass mark: Prove to the competition they still have what it takes
Result: FAIL
Yes, there was a lot of adversity faced by the Demons in 2024, but to miss finals altogether was disappointing. From Angus Brayshaw calling time in the offseason, to Clayton Oliver's interrupted preseason and Christian Petracca's horrific injury on King's Birthday, a lot didn't go right for Melbourne. They did, however, manage to expose youngsters like Caleb Windsor and Koltyn Tholstrup to consistent senior footy. The emergence of players like Judd McVee and Jacob van Rooyen, too was a positive.
But the disharmony clearly evident at the Demons leaves a massive question mark over whether the club can re-claim the heights to which it soared in 2021. Petracca could request a trade, Oliver may not get back to his best, and skipper Max Gawn, coming off another All-Australian-calibre season, isn't getting younger. It's a huge offseason for the Dees, who need to find stability on and off the field, quickly.
North Melbourne
2024 pass mark: Not have winless streaks that make supporters question their fandom
Result: FAIL
It wasn't a 20-game winless streak, but the Roos managed an 11-game winless start to the season, which had comparisons to Fitzroy, priority picks, and merger discussions being thrown around before the bye weeks. North's start was particularly poor, but they managed to rally somewhat in the back half of the year, winning three matches, and losing a further four by three goals or less.
The Kangaroos also managed to keep developing their young stars, with Colby McKercher and Zane Duursma playing 16 and 14 games respectively, while the emergence of Tristan Xerri, Charlie Comben, the continued hot form of Harry Sheezel, and re-signing of Cam Zurhaar were all big positives as well.
Next year, they must eliminate the long winless streaks.
Port Adelaide
2024 pass mark: Finish in the top four and win a final
Result: PASS
Well, there are going to be some Port Adelaide fans who don't like this. The Power finished second, won a final, and made it to a prelim. Even in you count 'finishing positions' as taking into account finals, this is a pass.
In fairness, it seems Ken Hinkley has squeezed what he can out of what is an 'okay' list. Aside from its talented midfield, there aren't genuine superstars forward of the ball or in defence. The offseason will be an interesting one, not least because of the almost constant chatter about Hinkley's future. David Koch has said Hinkley will be the coach in 2025, but stranger things have happened in footy.
They need talent in the forward line and defence if they're going to contend -- we mean really contend -- next year.
Richmond
2024 pass mark: Allow the next generation to shine
Result: FAIL
This is a tough one. The injury depleted Tigers were forced to get games into a heap of youngsters throughout the season, but very few actually showed much to suggest they can be long-term pieces for the football club.
Looking at Richmond's list, the only players aged under 24 who we're confident in are Josh Gibcus and Jack Ross. There are 10 players aged 30-plus and the ones in their prime, notably Shai Bolton and Liam Baker, might not even be at Punt Road this time next year.
It's worrying times for the Tigers, but they will have a significant draft haul this year. Just got to take advantage and nail those picks!
St Kilda
2024 pass mark: Modernise Ross' stingy defensive game plan
Result: FAIL
Ross Lyon will die on the hill of defensive football wins premierships. The problem is, it doesn't. At least it doesn't for the sides he's coached.
The Saints struggled to kick winning scores all year, eventually finishing up as the 15th-ranked team for points scored, ahead of only Richmond, West Coast, and North Melbourne. That just isn't good enough, and it certainly doesn't stack up in modern footy, no matter how great they are defensively.
The priority for the off-season needs to be around scoring and discovering ways to win games of football as opposed to strangle them.
Sydney
2024 pass mark: Take advantage of a bolstered list and make a prelim
Result: PASS
As much as it will feel like a massive fail to many, and a bitterly disappointing finish to the year, the season can only be seen as a pass for the Swans, who at least returned to the final day of the year. It was a massive season for the Bloods, sitting on top of the ladder from Round 8 onwards to claim the minor premiership.
Much of the Swans' success came from the improvement and rise of its young guns, while their star midfield trio of Isaac Heeney, Errol Gulden, and Chad Warner also took massive strides and tore several games apart.
Then there was the important inclusion of Brodie Grundy, Taylor Adams playing a contested role until he was dropped late, and James Jordan's defensive mindset and ability to curtail some of the opposition's best.
It's easy to see why they rose in 2024. It's easy to see why they were respected competition-wide. But unless they can do it in that final game in September, it will usually feel like it's all for nothing.
READ: Big game strugglers - Swans earning unwanted tag after another Grand Final shocker
West Coast
2024 pass mark: Find a reason to prove Adam Simpson is the right man for the rebuild
Result: FAIL
It turns out, Simpson was not the right man for the Eagles rebuild. At least that's what the club told the world when they relieved him of his duties following a 54-point loss to the Demons in Round 18. At that point, West Coast's record read 3-13, but two wins in the final three weeks of the season lifted the club to 16th and gave a glimmer of hope that the worst was in the rear view mirror.
The target for next season has to be to avoid the in-season lulls where a poor loss turns into a disappointing month.
Western Bulldogs
2024 pass mark: Hold on to out of contract stars
Result: PASS for now
Despite a disappointing elimination final loss to Hawthorn, season 2024 was, at the very least, on par with pre-season expectation. The Bulldogs were one of the form teams of the competition in the back half of the year and had they not come up against the red-hot Hawks, could very easily be still alive.
It appears as though Bailey Smith could be on the move this off-season, but just about every other star has been re-signed or is under contract. Tim English, Aaron Naughton, Bailey Dale, Bailey Williams, Cody Weightman, Rory Lobb, Caleb Daniel, and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan are all signed beyond next season. The priority will now turn to acquiring the signatures of star captain Marcus Bontempelli, as well as Sam Darcy, Adam Treloar, and Ed Richards.