IT WASN'T much more than a year ago that the AFL was talking investigations into the state of Victorian football. Wonder if it will now pursue a similar examination of the health of teams beyond this border?

It has the evidence, doesn't it? Last week, for the first time since Port Adelaide's entry into the AFL in 1997, all six non-Victorian clubs lost. You can make that twice in two weeks now, West Coast's miserable thumping at home at the hands of Richmond yesterday the final indignity of the weekend for the interstaters.

The suggestion is silly, of course. But then so was the earlier bout of premature hand-wringing that followed some ordinary performances from the local teams at the beginning of 2007. At least the whole idea should be put to bed for the time being, considering how quickly things have changed.

West Coast, looking formidable well into last season, now sits half-a-percentage point from the bottom of the ladder, arguably favourite to take its first wooden spoon. Fremantle is just above the Eagles, both with a paltry two wins. And only a rung ahead of the Dockers is Port Adelaide, a grand finalist 10 months ago.

There are three non-Victorian teams — Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane — still in the top eight. But for how long in the case of the Crows and Lions, now both a mere half-game ahead of ninth-placed North Melbourne, and a game clear of Carlton?

Brisbane's form on the road is becoming a major concern, and after a virtual bye next weekend against the Eagles, it plays Richmond, North and Hawthorn, all away from the Gabba.

Adelaide has a showdown next week to cope with, then Sydney at the SCG, to be negotiated without its leading two goalkickers, Brett Burton and Jason Porplyzia.

It's far from inconceivable that this year's finals series will feature just one team that wasn't part of the old VFL — and that one used to be called South Melbourne.

It's not gloating. Just another reminder that football fortunes now, more than ever, are cyclical. And that MCG finals' tickets a couple of months from now could be a hot item indeed.