As we reach just over the halfway mark (for most teams) of Season Six of the W-League, we look at how the teams are faring.

Adelaide United

Hands up if you had Adelaide United fighting for a Top 4 position?  Thought so.

The fact that, with results going in their favour, by this time next week the Lady Reds could be in the Top 4 is a credit to all involved in turning the around.

Ross Aloisi's "tough love" stance has proved just what the club needed.  New and gifted young players, complemented by mature and experienced campaigners interspersed in the spine, has seen Adelaide one of the form teams of late.

Melissa Barbieri has added steel to the defence and led a back four which has conceded the third fewest goals in the competition. While going forward Lisa Marie Woods, Racheal Quigley, Dalia Borg and Kristy Moore have proved dangerous on the counter.

Adelaide have already garnered their highest ever points total, a few more goals and who knows.

Grade: B-

Best Players: Melissa Barbieri (GK), Lisa Marie Woods (M), Kristy Moore (F)

Brisbane Roar

Pre-season favourites, Brisbane made an auspicious start to the season with a big loss to Canberra United.

Since then it's been an up and down season at home but an undefeated away record keeps the reigning premiers in second place.

Surprisingly, even with Nadine Angerer, Roar have conceded several uncharacteristically sloppy goals this season.  Luckily for them they have been as lively as ever going forward with Katrina Gorry now the real stimulus for this side.

Clare Polkinghorne's return to the midfield is further assisting them in their control of matches while Hayley Raso has been their leading light up front, even when coming off the bench.

If they can stablise their home form, Brisbane are within striking distance of a second straight premiership and a tilt at the championship.

Grade: B+

Best Players: Vedrana Popovic (D), Katrina Gorry (M), Hayley Raso (F)

Canberra United

Canberra United started with a bang and, despite one or two bumps along the way, have continued on to post consistent performances under new coach Liesbeth Migchelsen.

When given space in behind, they are a dangerous and exciting team to watch but Canberra's issue to resolve in the second half is how they will look to break down deep lying and disciplined defences.

They definitely have the personnel with United  strong all across the park.

Lydia Williams and Ellie Brush are anchoring the best defence in the W-League even though it is a new look defence. Kendall Fletcher and Lori Lindsey are the anchor and creativity of a solid and mobile midfield while the pace up top has troubled many a side this season.

Although they look to be embroiled in a battle for the Top 4, Canberra are favourites to return to the finals this season.

Grade: B

Best Players: Ellie Brush (D), Lori Lindsey/Kendall Fletcher (M), Stephanie Ochs (F)

Melbourne Victory

At 5.00pm on Sunday, 10 November not many would have thought that 10 weeks later Melbourne Victory would be three points clear at the top of the W-League.

It's a real credit to the club that they turned around that opening round disaster and have since gone on a six match unbeaten run which includes five victories.  Melbourne have been dominant in nearly all their matches this season.

While the likes of Lisa De Vanna, Jessica Fishlock, Stephanie Catley and Jessica Samuelsson have been the lynchpins, it is the support acts stepping up that has made the Victory strong across all areas.  Caitlin Friend becoming a regular goalscorer, Gulcan Koca in the midfield with NZ international Katie Hoyle and Emma Checker and Jessica Humble at the back.

The only questions surrounding Melbourne are their capitalising on the copious amounts of scoring opportunities created and if they have the depth of their fellow title challengers.

However, with a decent run to the end of the season, last year's grand finalists are in the box seat and are well placed to go one better in Season 6.

Grade: A

Best Players: Jessica Samuelsson (D), Jessica Fishlock (M), Caitlin Friend (F)

Newcastle Jets

Top flight football can provide harsh lessons and unfortunately the young Newcastle Jets squad are finding this out first hand.

A heavy opening weekend defeat by Perth Glory was a glimpse of the pattern of the season.

As they have in previous seasons, the Jets have been good in patches.  However this has often been wiped away by either not taking their chances or conceding easy goals in quick succession.

The veterans have been solid with Stacey Day, Eliza Campbell, Rhali Dobson and Tara Andrews the standouts.  Regrettably, while a number have shown glimpses of what could be, the new young Jets have struggled to get to the speed of the W-League or once there maintain it.

This steep learning curve will be a strong test of character and hopefully for coach Peter McGuinness it will allow him to identify players to form the base for next season.

Grade: C-

Best Players: Stacey Day (D), Tara Andrews (M), Rhali Dobson (M)

Perth Glory

It started explosively but week by week things have gotten worse for last year's semi-finalists Perth Glory.

Round 7 they hit rock bottom with an ignominious defeat at the hands of Sydney FC with long term injuries to crucial players in key positions hurting Jamie Harnwell's squad.

Danish defender Cecilia Sandvej, striker Rosie Sutton and Collette McCallum have been standouts.  However McCallum's loss for the season as well Aivi Luik and Kate Gill's long absences have meant Perth have struggled to control matches against the big teams.

With Gill returning slowly and Christina Julien's imminent departure on top of the other losses, Glory will be relying heavily on the likes of Ella Mastrantonio, Elisa D'Vidio and Marianna Tabain to carry the load in the second half of the season.

Mathematically Perth still have a shot at the finals but Harnwell will have his work cut out for him in lifting morale and performances.

Grade: C

Best Players: Cecilia Sandvej (D), Collette McCallum (M), Rosie Sutton (F)

Sydney FC

The only team yet to taste defeat this season, Sydney FC have so far dealt with all before them.

Even when at the most vulnerable they have looked this season, the two weeks after the International Women's Club Challenge, the Sky Blues were able to hold off fellow championship contenders Melbourne Victory and Brisbane Roar.

Sydney's strength is the embarrassment of riches they have in attacking options. From a marauding Renee Rollason from centre back to Nicola Bolger to any combination of Caitlin Foord, Emma Kete, Sam Kerr, Trudy Camilleri, Chloe Logarzo or Jodie Taylor going forward.

Although nicely positioned, the second half of the season has potential banana skins for Sydney as they face a number of mid week catch up games against the likes of the Western Sydney Wanderers and Canberra United.

Regardless, it would be a brave person to bet against this squad making a real assault at a historic back to back championship.

Grade: A-

Best Players: Renee Rollason (D), Nicola Bolger (M), Jodie Taylor (F)

Western Sydney

Like last season, the Western Sydney Wanderers have left themselves with a world of work to do in the second half of the season.

Injuries to key players left the understrength squad struggling early with only one point in their first three matches.  Defensively, through Caitlin Cooper, Teigen Allen and Camille Levin, the Wanderers held their own but they were overpowered in the midfield and underpowered in the attack.

The recent return of key personnel Alanna Kennedy and Heather Garriock and the strong performances of Linda O'Neill and Catherine Cannulli has seen a steady reversal in fortunes.

The red and black have little room to move if they are to position themselves for a run at the finals.

Grade: B-

Best Players: Caitlin Cooper (D), Linda O'Neill (M), Catherine Cannuli (F)