Welcome to power rankings for 2019, back for another AFL season.
There was a lot of squabbling last year about how these worked, so let me clear these up.
If you want a ladder that shows the team based on how well their season has gone thus far, please click here.
A few things I don’t care about: last year’s performance, the AFL’s official ladder (the rankings may be very different to that ladder at times whilst being similar at others), and predictions, as this isn’t a tipping piece.
These are rankings on how a team had performed that very week, relative to the other 17 teams’ performances.
They are mostly a lot of fun. But also the most important ranking there is. Make of that what you will.
I promise from the bottom of my long-suffering heart, I’m not putting them No.1 because I give ‘em money every year.
It’s because they entirely deserve it.
Fast, accurate, slick, high scoring, full of pressure: everything that hasn’t been synonymous with the club in recent years is precisely what they were. Brilliant win.
Sensational win. Not the most surprising upset you’ll see, but the method in which they pulverised the reigning premiers would’ve shocked most.
Probably could have been first, but whilst it was a great win, it wasn’t as properly unexpected as Freo’s sudden resurgence.
When your opposition is as hopeless as the Bombers were, this calibre of win is to be expected.
Doesn’t mean they won’t be very pleased with the win, though, and this should prove that the Giants are definitely, unequivocally and without a doubt gunning for the deep end of finals.
Great win, and par for course: they’ve defeated the Crows 14 times out of their past 15 encounters.
Also, I’ll admit it: I’ve long had a dislike of the Hawks. But this new breed of Hawks has a likability about them that I’m on board with.
They’ll be overshadowed by a lot of the other victors this weekend, but they took advantage of a surprisingly lacklustre Sydney and punished them… until Sydney woke up.
Their close victory mean they’ve proven they’re capable when they’re cruising, and can also work hard when it’s close. Gotta be chuffed with that, Doggies fans?
Alrighty, that was an unexpected yet great win for the young Port outfit.
One of the teams I’d pencilled in for a loss this weekend, I’m pleasantly surprised to say they impressed me.
That takes something, because my natural feelings towards Port are usually apathy and skepticism.
Dominated at times, struggled at others.
Richmond’s season opener wasn’t ideal – certainly not given Rance’s horrible injury – but given several of their premiership rivals were dismal, it’s an important win.
They didn’t win that. Collingwood lost it.
Still, they’ll be ecstatic to get the four points from the scrappy win and be on their merry way.
Side note: hot damn, their debutants were good.
Oooof. That was going to be bad for whichever team lost, but would’ve been dire for the Saints.
A helluva lot closer than they liked, but it’s a win. And they’ll need as many of those they can possibly get in 2019.
The (dis)honourable honour of being the highest-placed losers on the ranking.
I mean, could’ve been a lot, lot worse.
Performed admirably enough through the middle of the game, but floundered in the first and last terms.
Encapsulates the club: a few periods of good play punctuated by despair.
Oh, man. That was a dismal first half, but the typical Sydney competitiveness came back in the second.
It’s funny to think they almost won. They didn’t, but they’ll learn plenty from this.
If I told a Suns member a week ago that their first round clash would see their team be admirable, lead at quarter time and lose by just a point, I’m sure they’d have taken it.
Not as good as a win, obviously, but proves they’re just not going to be listless through the season. Just don’t remind anyone it was ‘just’ the Saints.
Ugh. They made blogging on Friday night a pretty frustrating experience, and it’s a brutally disappointing loss, particularly when it feels like a lot of the loss amounted to self-sabotage.
Like the Eagles, really, but both grand finalists have a long while to regroup. Don’t write them off. Yet.
Just when their fans were thinking last year’s dreadful season was behind them, they sustain a bad loss and two severe injuries. Frustrating to witness as a neutral.
With simplistic analysis, there’s no need to overreact: first-round losses can often be forgiven.
Looking a little deeper, though, it was worse than a Round 1 loss.
It was a genuinely problematic loss: scoring just two goals total after the first quarter is a bad indictment on the reigning premiers.
They’re still a very good team, but in what’s likely going to become a tight finals race, this loss might lead to a few headaches later.
Oh, man. They’ll be desperately hoping that Saturday’s game was an aberration, not the beginning of a trend.
But this is Melbourne, so honestly who knows?
Losing the game in that fashion is bad, but losing a player to a suspected ACL is worse.
And to think Ed Vickers-Willis would be the third of the weekend after Rance and Doedee – well, footy can be a tough experience. As can supporting the Kangas, at times.
Insipid. That is all.
Charlie
Roar Rookie
The way I see it, the more unexpected and the more powerful the win, the higher you should be on the first round power rankings. Port's victory was the most unexpected of the weekend. They had 4 first gamers, 2 new players and 11 changes from their round 23 team, were playing away against a top 4 fancy. It was easily the most impressive win. Hawthorn on the other hand, had won something like 13 of their previous 14 against Adelaide, so the win wasn't totally unexpected. The strength of Brisbane's, Freo's and GWS's victories puts them above Hawthorn. Bulldogs were impressive, except for 15 minutes of the last quarter. Geelong did well, but the game was scrappy, Richmond did what they were expected to do, and the Saints were lucky. So my power ranking ladder would be: 1. Port 2. Brisbane 3. Freo 4. GWS 5. Hawks 6. Bulldogs 7. Geelong 8. Richmond 9. Saints 10. Carlton (showed a bit, won 2 quarters against the premiership favourites, other 2 quarters were awful) 11. Gold Coast (won three quarters, but seemingly weak opponent) 12. Sydney (playing away, still won 2 quarters) 13. Collingwood (scrappy game, but could have won it) 14. West Coast (limited preparation, strong first quarter) 15. Melbourne (started OK and were still in it at three quarter time) 16. Adelaide (don't seem to be able to counter the Hawks, were never really in it) 17. Kangaroos (travelled to WA, got ambushed) 18. Bombers (effort has been questioned, nothing positive in their game)
13th Man
Guest
Yeah look I don't want to get ahead of myself either Jonboy, but the manner in which we won makes me a bit more hopeful. The way we moved the ball around was something I haven't seen since 2013. That trademark 2013 pressure was back and we had a forward line that actually functioned well because the supply in was good. Now, yes North were rubbish and yes there are bigger tests upcoming (although with GC and St Kilda, we really should be 3-0) but I can't help but feel a little bit more excited than what I was before the season. Let's see what happens from here. No excuses not to dish out something similar to the Suns and Saints in the next two weeks. Can we do that away from home? That is the question.
13th Man
Guest
Meh, it's just been rare recently to have a weekend where Freo were awesome and West Coast were insipid. It probably won't last so let us have our fun while we can hahaha. You'll probably still end up in the top 4 so I don't think it's that much of a blow. Just a bit of a slow start to the year. Not the first reigning premier that has happened to.
Steve J
Roar Guru
Loved Freo's effort on the weekend, but would not rank them so high after 1 game against a team missing a few key defenders. Also .... what was up with Ziebell in that game? Loving the fact that we played on quickly and the kicking was not just long bombs. Helps when you get the ball outside and into the path of your runners like Hill, Langdon and Walters. Must, must, must play like that against the Suns and Saints over the next two weeks. Then the real test comes with a run of Eagles, Giants, Dogs, Crows, Tigers, Bombers - come out of that with a 6-2 record and the season is set up nicely.
Saltidog
Guest
Happy Birthday AD!! This may be the only time the Dockers will be No 1 in your rankings so enjoy!!
Daz
Roar Pro
Actually agree with most of this. We should be celebrating Freo and Brisbane's wins - for different reasons. Brisbane were stunningly good against last year's premiers, even if it was a case of West Coast not turning up, Brisbane capitalised on that and put in a stellar performance. North Melbourne's peformance made Essendon look good, Freo was the reason for North's poor showing. The fact that Freo were supposed to be a cellar-dwelling team this year makes it all the better. Everyone so critical about AD's rankings could easily put their keyboard to use to write their own article: https://www.theroar.com.au/contribute/ Just sayin'.
Wayne
Roar Guru
Sample size of 1 week, about what you'd expect to see. By around Week 4 the rankings will shake themselves out :) Welcome back Footy, you we're missed
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
It's not so much the loss it's the nature of the loss Matti. 14 goals to 2 after quarter time is a capitulation much like what the Cats did to Freo last year.
Pelican
Roar Rookie
I agree with your order the most out of all on here Dingo except I would swap Freo with the Lions. I think who teams beat counts. The Lions beat the reigning premier and Port were paying $4.80 and still won. I think both those teams should be higher than Freo.
Powa
Roar Rookie
considering the hawks are the crows bogey side, its hard to fully get a handle on whether this was just one game the crows were going to drop anyway
Powa
Roar Rookie
funny things happen in round 1 though, that dont repeat later in the season
Powa
Roar Rookie
I think the swans are finally going to bottom out, after only missing the finals once in 15 years
Powa
Roar Rookie
they played a full team in all of their pre-season matches, is this is a bit odd? did it lead to them being overrated?
PeteB
Roar Rookie
But in another post you go on to say that Power Rankings should be set before the season begins. What do you base those rankings on if you don’t take into account last year ? Are you saying Carlton and Gold Coast should be rated equal to West Coast, Collingwood and Richmond. That makes no sense whatsoever.
Cat
Roar Guru
Only fools base ladder predictions on last year. There is free agency, draft, retirements, rule changes, game plan changes, delistings, injuries all to consider. If it’s all about last year why do so many have Essendon and Adelaide in finals and top 4? Every year teams rise and teams fall. Welcome to the new year.
Cat
Roar Guru
What does last year have to do with this year? Nothing at all. Every team starts with 0 wins and 0 losses regardless of what you did or didn’t do last year. Power rankings are about what you have done lately, not a year ago
PeteB
Roar Rookie
I dunno. I tipped both Brisbane and Fremantle to win. Doesn’t mean I rate them much. Brisbane are an improving team sure and may push for a finals birth and were playing at home. West Coast on the other were coming from winning a premiership and playing a who really gives a stuff Round 1 game. They lost Round 1 last year too. Fremantle played North at home in Perth. North have copped plenty of floggings in Perth and Fremantle have dished out plenty of floggings in Perth. Again a Round1 game so to be taken with a grain of salt. Still wouldn’t surprise me if Freo lose to Gold Coast this week. Absolutely no way I would rank these teams 1 and 2 in a true power rankings system (refer NBA power rankings if you want to understand how this works).
PeteB
Roar Rookie
If you truly believe it fair enough. After following footy for 40 years now I think I know better though haha.
PeteB
Roar Rookie
And guess what ? Ladder predictions are mostly based on last year. Very contradictory comment there Cat.
PeteB
Roar Rookie
Putting Fremantle and Brisbane at the top on the basis of one game is ridiculously skewed rankings. Last year still has more relevance at this stage.