After the penultimate minor round for 2018, there aren’t too many changes to the rankings. Many have cemented their spot in the eight with a win, while others showed this won’t be their year.
Last week: 1
Minor premiers who don’t have to leave their home ground for the rest of the year. This team is living the dream.
Last week: 2
Very close game at home against Melbourne, but the margin got out to 17 with a couple late goals to the Demons. Their top-two finish and a home qualifying final is in jeopardy with that loss, but they don’t start falling down the rankings just yet.
Last week: 4
A convincing victory over Port Adelaide that blew out to a 51-point margin in the final term. A trip over to Perth for a clash with Fremantle to come and the question has to be asked, could they obliterate the Dockers like the Cats did?
Last week: 6
Sydney looked lively, which seemed to surprise many. Really, you just can’t underestimate an experienced outfit like Sydney. Beat Melbourne last week and now the Giants, this team could be dangerous in September.
Last week: 3
Once Phil Davis had to go forward due to his injury, GWS were in strife. The first time their injury-crisis has left them seriously undermanned and without answers. It looks like they’ll be playing in an elimination final.
Last week: 5
They fall one position after this weekend because they aren’t going to make any inroads on finals if they play like that. Let St Kilda into the match late in the third and only just held on to the four points. Credit for holding on, but that’s where it ends.
Last week: 8
A win on the road and Melbourne confirm they will play finals for the first time since 2006. Demons’ fans are all smiles, and a win against GWS next week will set up a home final at the MCG (against the Cats).
Last week: 7
Dominant after quarter-time. A record 23 goals in a row! Crazy, crazy stuff. Could Tom Hawkins kick another bag against the Suns next Saturday and make a late charge for the Coleman?
Last week: 9
The only option from here is to beat Essendon on Friday night and then hope the Gold Coast can somehow beat Geelong. Three losses in a row at the end of the season is disappointing. Now Port will try to finish on a high.
Last week: 10
Out of any sort of finals contention with that loss to Richmond. They almost got there too, kicking the final four goals of the game. Port Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval on Friday night for the final hoorah of the season.
Last week: 11
A consolation victory over North. Did just enough to win their last game in front of their home crowd for the season and another win over Carlton on Saturday night will see the Crows finish happy with the positive end to the season.
Last week: 12
If only they could kick straight at the start of the final term. A good effort by North to get themselves back in the game, but fell just short of the Crows and finals. For a team I tipped not to win a game this season, they’ve been very impressive.
Last week: 13
I didn’t watch a lot of this one, but did anyone? The Western Bulldogs were good enough in the last quarter to outrun the Blues.
Last week: 14
Not the prettiest QClash, very feisty after the comments made during the week. Brisbane got the job done though, despite kicking eighteen behinds. After all the close losses this year, this is a good win for the Lions who have plenty to look forward to next year.
Last week: 16
They gave Hawthorn a huge fright, so they move up a position this weekend. Goal-kicking accuracy still a problem for the Saints and it hurt them on Saturday night. Still, a good fight against the finals-bound Hawks.
Last week: 15
Didn’t kick a goal after quarter-time on a dismal day in Geelong. It was the clubs biggest defeat, but there is no reason to panic: “to look at one game in isolation is silly.” But Fremantle were obliterated and so they fall one place in round 22.
Last week: 17
Showed fight and made a mini-comeback, even taking the lead in the second half, but they were lucky Brisbane couldn’t kick straight.
Last week: 18
Stayed within striking distance of the Bulldogs for three quarters, but were ultimately beaten with a four-goal Bulldogs run in the final term.
They have the Crows next week and Carlton just want Saturday night to be over.
Now they turn to the big question: to trade or use the number one draft pick? (and any priority picks).
Dan, Concord
Roar Rookie
Scribe- I would actually agree with Anon on this one. I am sure we both can make logical arguments as to why either side is correct. My logic at this current time is the sheer injuries to the Pies. Also I would put the win against the saints in context i.e. every team has a win that is just ugly. It is (IMO) that a sign of a good team is that they win when they play well below the best. The Hawks young guys have come on leaps and bounds since round 1 as has the Pies but again I think the injuries the Pies have would be the difference between them being a contender and a difficult proposition to play.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Except they haven't PeteB. Well the Pies haven't. Our losses have been Richmond (twice), Hawthorn, GWS, Geelong, WCE, Sydney. All good clubs. We have beaten every side outside the current eight except Fremantle who we play this week. If we beat Freo, we have had zero "shocking" losses.
Cat
Roar Guru
Latest game should carry the most weighting though.
New York Hawk
Roar Rookie
This isn’t a “who played best on the weekend” list
Cat
Roar Guru
I find t equally interesting that some regular commentators on here seem to think power ranking should match the ladder.
PeteB
Guest
Not that interesting really given the Dockers beat the Blues the week before as did the Hawks to the Cats. What I find really interesting is that there are regular commenters on here who still seem to think that Power Rankings are based on one week of results.
PeteB
Guest
The Hawks are no more fickle than any team ranked 4 to 9. They’ve all had some great wins and some shocking losses.
Brad
Guest
Fremantle are the giant killers the loses both Port and Essendon had to Freo has them now out of finals contention
Peter
Guest
I wouldn't underestimate the Hodge factor in the Brisbane wins over Hawthorn. He'd have some pretty good intel
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
The Hawks are fickle. The logic to support this is they have lost twice to Brisbane by 6 and 11 goals respectively and nearly lost to the lowly out of form Saints just last week. Yet they come out and beat Geelong. They remind me of Port Adelaide before they plummeted last few weeks. You never know quite what you're going to get with them and that isn't sustainable for a tilt at a flag, even with Clarkson as coach. I would be quietly confident with the Pies up against the Hawks.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Ah yes Birdman but as you see below you continually underestimate the Pies. We seem a pretty selfless team now. Birdman said | March 21st 2018 @ 9:58am | ! Report Yeah they don’t really stand for anything as Eddie continues to drink Bucks’ bathwater. That factor alone has cruelled the club’s fortunes since Malthouse was punted. Vanity and ego prevailing over selfless club culture – contrast it with the Swans, Geelong and Hawthorn. Reply
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
Your logic is more flawed, Scribe. A bit like the old 'we beat them and they beat you' type of argument. If it were only that easy.
Birdman
Roar Rookie
got a feeling you're right anon
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
How do you know Anon? Based on round one results that's a lifetime away and the Pies have a completely different side. Based on last week the Pies belted Port out of the eight by 51 points and the Hawks struggled to get over 16th placed St Kilda. Where is your logic?
anon
Roar Pro
If Hawthorn play Collingwood tomorrow, Hawthorn will win, so I don't understand Collingwood being so far ahead.
Brian
Guest
Hawthorn beat Geelnog last week!
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Yes Hawks were lucky to get over lowly St Kilda and deserve to drop based on that.
User
Roar Rookie
Not taking a win for granted but wce will win quite easily imo
IAP
Guest
I love self-flagellation, so I sat through the whole of the Dogs vs Carlton game. It was the worst game I've seen all season. Geez it was dour and boring.
WCE
Roar Rookie
We will need to be at our best against the Lions on Sunday. Being the last game and at the Gabba there should be a big crowd and the up & coming Lions will throw everything at the Eagles in front of there home crowd. West Coast should win but only if we attack the ball with aggression and be smart with the ball