Adelaide’s victory over Melbourne wasn’t the most impressive of their six-game win streak. Indeed, you could argue it was the least impressive.
But with six straight wins by 22 points or more, few are willing to dismiss their form or describe it as a fluke.
Taylor Walker, who was below his normal output in the opening eight rounds, has been winning more footy and kicking more goals in the matches since.
Rory Sloane is earning further praise for his toughness and hasn’t dipped below 10 contested possessions in a game since round 6.
Rory Laird hasn’t dipped below 20 disposals all season and a look at the games he missed hints at his importance – he’s played in only two of the Crows’ losses and those games had a combined margin of 13 points.
Dig around and it’s hard to really fault their recent run. It’s got enough staying power that a double chance and home final isn’t out of the question.
The Crows are in fifth place now, but they are one of six teams on 40 points trailing a percentage-weak top side on 44 points.
Home finals are seemingly there for whoever is ready to take them. The Crows are playing like a team prepared to do just that.
No change // Ladder: 5th (10W, 4L)
Melbourne had the half time lead and there was nine points in it at the final change, but the Crows got on top in what would have been an emotional week. Carlton at the MCG are the next challenger into the ring.
No change // Ladder: 3rd (10W, 4L)
Week off done, now it’s on to Collingwood at Spotless Stadium. The Giants are another side that must surely be considered right in the top two race, if for no other reason than their draw.
No change // Ladder: 2nd (10W, 4L)
Another to have the week off. They’ll host a Sydney Swans side on the rebound on Friday night. Their record against top teams isn’t the record that’s being debated, but this will be an intriguing battle all the same.
+3 // Ladder: 6th (10W, 4L)
Registering a thrilling win interstate against the Swans shows there’s still bite in these Dogs yet. The scoreline had a poetic touch: after kicking 5.13 against Geelong prior to the bye, it was their 13.5 in Sydney that won them the game (the Swans were 11.13.) Marcus Bontempelli is having some season for a bloke that just ticked over 50 games.
No change // Ladder: 4th (10W, 4L)
Buddy Franklin is also having some season. Leads the Coleman race with 52 goals, but it’s the consistency of his performances that is really impressive. You can set your watch to him kicking two-plus goals.
-2 // Ladder: 8th (9W, 5L)
Where West Coast have been placing had been bothering me for a few weeks and going through the comments, it had clearly been a bother for readers as well. I investigated. Basically, it seemed like there was one game in particular that was having an outsize effect on the Eagles’ ranking, the big win over St Kilda. This week I made the decision to adjust for matches such as this so that they continue to boost a team’s ranking, but not to the extent they did in the Eagles’ case, hence why the Eagles have a -2. While it’s not ideal to have to make an adjustment, hopefully this eases a few concerns out there. As for the weekend, took care of Essendon as expected and now it’s on to a fellow top eight side, North Melbourne. That one should be interesting.
-1 // Ladder: 1st (11W, 3L)
The Hawks didn’t play at the weekend, but got the Western Bulldogs made the overtake here for the -1. Hawthorn did succeed in holding on to top spot on the ladder though, an impressive feat after 14 games. A trip to face Port Adelaide this week looms on Thursday night.
+2 // Ladder: 9th (7W, 7L)
I’m as confused as anyone when it comes to Port but I still feel there’s something there if they can just get going. Maybe we’ll see that against the Hawks. In the meantime, they avoided another shock loss by taking care of Richmond.
-1 // Ladder: 7th (10W, 4L)
The weeks leading into the bye didn’t bring the best results, but it will be interesting to see how the Kangas come out after having a week off. A trip to face West Coast is going to be good test for both teams involved.
+1 // Ladder: 10th (6W, 8L)
The Dees competed with Adelaide, which is hard to do at the moment. Paul Roos was left to rue that the intensity wasn’t maintained for the full four quarters.
+1 // Ladder: 11th (6W, 8L)
It was hard to pick, the Collingwood-Carlton game. Ultimately, it was the Pies who had their noses in front. Decent outing for Scott Pendlebury, who surged to 22 disposals by half time and also finished with eight clearances and a goal.
-3 // Ladder: 13th (6W, 8L)
From the highs to the lows … what a contrast in the space of a week for the Saints. The loss to Gold Coast also reinforced the idea that this team can’t win interstate. This team has tall targets, so to win the inside 50s yet have nine fewer marks inside 50s begs some questioning.
No change // Ladder: 14th (6W, 8L)
Not the dream debut for SOSOS, Jack Silvagni, though 15 touches and six marks should get some nerves out the way. It will be good to get a look at some more Blues debutants in the latter part of the season.
+2 // Ladder: 15th (4W, 10L)
They’re making a move. There’s still a two-game gap between the Suns and the sides 10th to 14th on the ladder, but it’s fair to say this much: the Gold Coast team of even a month ago would not have gotten within 26 points of Hawthorn, let alone beaten St Kilda by 40. Pleasing to see Michael Rischitelli and Nick Malceski step up for their best games of the season.
No change // Ladder: 12th (6W, 8L)
Dropped off after leading at quarter tim against Port Adelaide. Quiet night for Trent Cotchin but three players got 30-plus touches (Brandon Ellis, Dustin Martin and Brett Deledio).
-2 // Ladder: 16th (3W, 11L)
Freo head to Darwin this week to face Melbourne. Interesting to see which version of the Dockers we see. As for the -2, obviously Gold Coast made a deserved move up with a strong win and the gap between Richmond and Freo was slender enough last week to be overturned even without the Tigers getting super-close to Port.
No change // Ladder: 17th (1W, 13L)
The bottom two keep trading places, this time after a sizeable Essendon loss. It could easily flip back if the Q-Clash turns ugly for the Lions.
No change // Ladder: 18th (1W, 13L)
Both Brisbane and Essendon have led for 13 per cent of game time this season. The next closes, Fremantle, has led for more than double that at 32 per cent.
Richard
Guest
Scrap the whole lot of the the playing list... Keep Dusty. that's it.. Get rid of the rest..
JohnDee
Guest
Envious? Of what? Richmond haven't won anything in 30 years!
New York Hawk
Guest
Michael, Buddy has been a lock for 2+ goals every game since the 2007 season. You know, when he was at Hawthorn and won two flags, a couple of Coleman medals and kicked 100+ goals in a regular season. You would think this was his breakout year based on your comments. How are West Coast above Hawthorn when they have beaten absolutely no one,. And show no form that they will?
Fre-eagle
Roar Rookie
I think after this week, it will be clear where Sydney,Hawks, North and WCE (bottom top eight) stand in the ladder. 5 Hawks (win) 6 North (win) 7 Sydney (loss) 8 WCE (loss)
Reservoir Animal
Guest
Regardless of the fact that MDiF ranks Hawthorn 7th, the following hypocrisy is just so unsurprising: *Hawthorn win a close won away against the Bulldogs and people say it's proof that they're not in the premiership-contender category *Sydney lose a close won at home against the Bulldogs and everyone still says they're a genuine flag contender. There are some people out there with GSEAGS (Give Someone Else A Go Syndrome) and no result will change how they view things. Except for maybe another Hawthorn flag. Or maybe not.
hal
Guest
Your observation is spot on. It is interesting you mention Carlton because Ross Lyon grew up barracking for Carlton. He used to go down to Princes Park and watch the Blues. He admired their strong defensive mind set. He took that admiration for defensive structures into his assistant coaching roles at Carlton and Sydney. He then perfected it when coaching St Kilda. For all other supporters it was totally boring but for Lyon it was all about winning. Lyon attributes his admiration for Carlton's back line structures in the 1970's as one of his coaching influences.
hal
Guest
Fair point. If Melbourne were a battling working class club with battling working class supporters I would have a charitable attitude. To see their fickle Range Rover driving supporters from Toorak, Malvern, and Armadale high fiving one another was not an enjoyable sight. Neil Mitchell, Derryn Hinch, and Andy Bolt were pretty pleased with the performance too. For instance last week we lost to the Saints and I was happy for their supporters. In all fairness Melbourne deserved to win that game last year, just like St Kilda deserved to win last year. Geelong can't turn up and play like millionaires and expect to win.
Macca
Guest
I hope you are right Hal - I am going down to that game. However Murphy isn't expected back until the next week against the Swans so I have my doubts - the blues have missed Murphy terribly. On the Hawks I have been with my wife now for about a decade and her brother is a massive Hawthorn man with a typical loud mouth - while his parents and I are blues supporters - I haven't seen the blues win over the hawks in that time, surely 1 win isn't too much to ask.
Paul D
Roar Guru
4 years ago you guys stacked on 233 points against the Dees, had won 10 games straight vs them and you couldn't even handle a little bit of payback? That's pretty pathetic.
big four sticks
Guest
People don't have sympathy for Richmond because they are envious. It is called tall poppy syndrome.
hal
Guest
I would love to see that Macca. I am almost thinking Carlton downing West Coast. West Coast are one of those teams I simply don't rate. As long as it is not a repeat of last year; Melbourne beating Geelong. That made me physically sick.
anon
Guest
I think Hawthorn is no higher than 4th, but 7th and below West Coast is ludicrous. I'll still take Sydney over the Bulldogs, though Sydney are looking slightly vulnerable. Adelaide aren't a legitimate number 1. I think their midfield ultimately lacks class. Contain Adelaide's forwards and you win. It wasn't that long ago that Geelong wiped by the floor with the Adelaide midfield at Adelaide Oval.
Cat
Roar Guru
Twelve '8 point games' to go between contenders, I'm sure the favourites won't win them all. Then there are sure to be some unexpected results in the other games as well. I just hope my team is done with the 'unexpected results'.
Macca
Guest
"just wondering which final 8 rounds upsets will join the Saints over Geelong" Please let it be the Blues over the Hawks to break a decade long drought!!!
Perry Bridge
Guest
Gold Coast - if they are regaining their mojo - have a reasonable run home (clearly not to the finals.....although if they won 8 from 8!!!). But - more if they regain their mojo the only clear top 8 sides they take on are the Doggies and Giants and of those the Giants at home in the expansion showdown. Could be a good game - just wondering which final 8 rounds upsets will join the Saints over Geelong and Doggies over Swans (if you call that an upset but it was at the SCG) in throwing out everyone's predictions.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Port were only flavour of the month because of the “style” of football they were playing – everyone in the media in AFL land gets all moist when teams start playing this mythical “football” that apparently existed in spades before Paul Roos dreamed up flooding. It’s also part of the reason why sides like Richmond, Fremantle, Carlton have never attracted any sympathetic support from anyone outside of their own supporters – because they never played the right type of football, it’s not just enough to win, you have to be entertaining. Port in 2014 and the Bulldogs in 2015/16 were those sides, and just watch the media jump all over Port if they do knock off the Hawks. They actually beat them twice last season so it’s not that far-fetched they could do it again, but it will depend on whether or not the Port can actually be bothered to try and salvage this season. Guess we will find out on the night.
Dan
Guest
Cheers Michael..ok I'll concede on most of your answers except the WCE V Bombers game. My point is that they should have lost ground with the way they played. I give the Bombers credit for having a red hot go. But the Eagles should be punished for subjecting us to that horrible viewing. They seriously did not look like a top 8 team the way they played.
hal
Guest
I totally agree. For some reason the media jump on Port's bandwagon. I think it is because they were seduced by their front running style of play a couple of years ago. Port are total front runners who have not beaten anyone of note. My prediction is that they will lose to Hawthorn on Thursday, thus putting this talk of a late run to the finals to bed.
hal
Guest
We must remember they never get ahead of themselves at Tigerland and that they are always one win away from the premiership.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Yeah I think North has fairly dropped to 9th based on 3 losses in 4 games. But Port? Are they really playing that well? North didn't get credit because they're opponents weren't good enough and as you note, Port has not beat a Top 8 side. I think it's pretty clear that there is a significant gap between the Top 8 and the rest of the teams.