A stumble from Geelong has left the premiers languishing in seventh position on the AFL ladder for the time being, but we all expect the Cats to be right there in the mix for a top-four spot when the whips are cracking.
That’s why we have the power rankings.
Welcome back to 7NEWS.com.au’s AFL power rankings. Here’s where we think the 18 clubs really sit after nine weeks of evidence. Scroll down to see the full list.
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1. Collingwood
Last week’s ranking: 1
Clinical performance against a team that hadn’t been beaten by more than 21 points for the season. Blew the Giants away with a 65-point demolition that did nothing to quell the Pies’ premiership favouritism.
2. Melbourne
Last week’s ranking: 3
Just had to chalk it up against the struggling Hawks and they did exactly that. Kicked the first six goals of the match and all hell looked like breaking loose when they had an eight-goals-to-one stranglehold on Hawthorn at half-time. But the wooden-spoon frontrunners fought back and made an even contest of the second half. The Dees are set up perfectly for the back half of the season with four games to go until their bye.
3. Brisbane
Last week’s ranking: 4
The Lions haven’t been seriously challenged since their Round 4 upset win over Collingwood, which they won by over five goals. Fixtures against North Melbourne, GWS and Fremantle have helped beef up their numbers, but consecutive and dominant wins over top-eight hopefuls Carlton and Essendon underpin arguably the competition’s best form line since Round 4.
4. Geelong
Last week’s ranking: 2
A loss to Richmond has become the first blemish on Geelong’s record since they recovered from an 0-3 start to the season to re-emerge as the imperious reigning premiers we all expected them to be. And few saw it coming. Jeremy Cameron still had 21 disposals but kicked just one goal – his lowest tally for the season. Still likely among the competition’s best four teams, but at 5-4, they haven’t given themselves much room to move if they want to make a play for the top four.
5. Port Adelaide
Last week’s ranking: 5
With Brisbane and Collingwood, Port Adelaide are among the hottest teams in the competition right now. No huge pats on the back for a stock-standard monster win over North Melbourne, but the Power’s win streak has now snuck up to six, which includes great wins over Essendon, St Kilda and Western Bulldogs.
6. Adelaide
Last week’s ranking: 7
Adelaide played their statement game of the year on Sunday. They flirted with doing it against Collingwood a fortnight ago, and then ran Geelong close last week – but they planted their flag in the ground against St Kilda. And it’s a flag that belongs in September.
7. St Kilda
Last week’s ranking: 6
Every team is afforded at least one mulligan, and this was St Kilda’s – but it marked a third loss from their past five games. Only narrowly went down to Collingwood and Port Adelaide but fell well short against the Crows on Sunday. Still No.1 in the AFL for defence and still pose big questions of opposition teams. It’s a hold on the Saints.
8. Western Bulldogs
Last week’s ranking: 7
Deservedly hanging around the right half of the power rankings, and the AFL ladder, after a fourth consecutive win, and sixth from their past seven. The balance of their side was out during the opening two rounds, which they seem to have internally conceded. There’s never been a question over the Bulldogs’ elite midfield, but the pieces at either end of the ground are starting to fall into place.
9. Essendon
Last week’s ranking: 8
Essendon scored just two goals after leading Brisbane at half-time. What a golden opportunity they had to go where no team – not even Collingwood – has gone before this season with a win at the Gabba. The Lions instead scored 10 of the last 12 goals of the match, and probably spared the Bombers of an even heavier defeat with inaccuracy in front of goal. But Bombers coach Brad Scott said his side was “disappointed, not disheartened” after the game. The first half gave Dons fans a lot to be heartened about.
10. Gold Coast
Last week’s ranking: 12
About a month ago, things looked dire. Stewy Dew admitted the Suns were “in a hole” and they had to dig themselves out. At 4-5, they’re not there yet, but it’s been a strong recovery with three wins from their past four, losing only to Melbourne by under a goal. And without their skipper, Touk Miller. If Anderson doesn’t get you, Rowell will. What a one-two punch the quinella from the 2019 draft are.
11. Carlton
Last week’s ranking: 10
It feels like we’ve seen this movie before. We know what happens. Spare a thought for Carlton fans, who know the script word for word. They’d be in freefall at the moment, but for an easy kill against West Coast in Round 7, which should count for little. And it doesn’t get any easier this weekend… Collingwood await.
12. GWS Giants
Last week’s ranking: 11
The Giants copped their first big blowout on Sunday, in which there is no shame, given who delivered it. Outclassed by a red-hot Collingwood team firing on all cylinders. Still as much faith in the Giants as any other team in the bottom eight to compete against most teams in the competition.
13. Richmond
Last week’s ranking: 14
Will the real Richmond Tigers please stand up? They’re not the premiership Tigers of old; that’s been said to death. But there is still some bite within Richmond when they want it to come out. Still going to be a tall order to make an unlikely play for finals from here, but their Friday night win over Geelong was a good reminder the Tigers will still take some beating in the run home.
14. Fremantle
Last week’s ranking: 15
Seems bizarre that Fremantle are now just one win outside the top eight, given how poorly they started the season. But that’s what two wins in a row can do. A tough two weeks against Geelong and Melbourne coming up will tell us if they really are back.
15. Sydney
Last week’s ranking: 13
Officially taken the rolling title of biggest disappointment of the year after going down to the Dockers on their own SCG turf, and this curse of the grand final thumping is well and truly alive. No team that has lost a grand final by over 40 points in the past 28 years has won a final the next season. Sydney won’t get close to September at this rate.
16. Hawthorn
Last week’s ranking: 16
Marginally leading a group of three teams that are as uncompetitive as any trio in recent memory, including the Richmond, Melbourne, Gold Coast and GWS teams of the late 2000s/early 2010s. Hawthorn put up a good fight against Melbourne in the second half on Saturday night, but small wins within games are about all they’re playing for at the moment.
17. North Melbourne
Last week’s ranking: 17
Nowhere near the mark again, this time against Port Adelaide. Todd Goldstein and Luke Davies-Uniacke battled hard.
18. West Coast
Last week’s ranking: 18
The Eagles have now conceded 1016 points against – 88 more than any other team, and 169 more than teams excluding the Hawks and Kangaroos. Everyone recognises their injury decimation, but West Coast’s current state of affairs is really ugly.