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2019 AFL Power Rankings: Round 5

22nd April, 2019
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Roar Guru
22nd April, 2019
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So, how’s your tipping going this year? Actually, don’t answer that – we both know the answer. Anyway – Round 5’s done, so we’d better get a hurry on these rankings as Round 6 is only day away.

(1) Geelong Cats (last week: 2)
As expected, Geelong pulled off a fine victory – yet, also as most expected – it’s not like there weren’t a few nervy moments. Geelong held firm, though, and once against their midfield provided the path to victory.

(2) GWS Giants (last week: 1)
Oh dang, that’s what you call a peculiar loss. Kept it close for a while, admittedly, but the Giants were lethargic and their defence overrun at times by a strong Freo attack. A little complacent, maybe?

(3) Collingwood Magpies (last week: 5)
Arguably their best performance yet in a season that’s started a little slowly for the black + white. Loved watching their play on Thursday – damn they look powerful when they get going. Anzac Day will be a belter.

(4) West Coast Eagles (last week: 3)
Eh, every team has an off day. But the Eagles were listless for much of the clash – and Port exploited that superbly. They travel to Geelong for a tough clash next weekend – where they better hope it’s not raining.

(5) Port Adelaide Power (last week: 7)
Among the most impressive wins I’ve seen in a long while. But given their loss last week, I hereby proclaim Port Adelaide as the most inconsistent team in the competition.

(6) St Kilda Saints (last week: 9)
The most unusual thing here is that St Kilda kicked three times as many goals as they did behinds. Don’t see that too often. This is a team which is playing just that: as a team. I’d be marking them down as a big, big chance to beat the Crows next week.

(7) Essendon (last week: 12)
Their third strong win in succession, and it’s easy to say the Bombers are back to their best. Good timing – Anzac Day is literally right around the corner. And, given Collingwood’s also heading in with some form, it’s anyone’s (marquee) game to win.

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North Melbourne’s Jack Ziebell chases Essendon’s Adam Saad

North Melbourne skipper Jack Ziebell and Essendon’s Adam Saad go head-to-head at Etihad Stadium. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images)

(8) Fremantle (last week: 13)
Fremantle did savage North in Round 1, yes, but Saturday’s effort is a vastly more special one. A forward line that kicks goals – lots of ‘em – is something almost the antithesis of a Ross Lyon-coached side, but combining that with the upset factor, and it was one of Fremantle’s better wins in a long while. They simply must back that up, though.

(9) Brisbane Lions (last week: 4)
Whilst it was good to see the Gabba back to its energetic best, Brisbane couldn’t pull a repeat of last year’s close fun fixture. It’s fun to imagine big things for the Lions, but this is twice in succession that they’ve been shaded by a powerful team. And you gotta beat the best to be the best.

(10) Richmond Tigers (last week: 11)
Richmond kicked 81 points from opposition turnovers on Saturday night. Their total score was 89. It was a brutally powerful display helped well by the retuning Dustin Martin, while Richmond’s newest players also shined. Are Richmond back….?

(11) Adelaide Crows (last week: 14)
Alarm bells would’ve been ringing after a dreadful first quarter, but the Crows comfortably dominated the rest of the clash in a relief after a poor few weeks. Eddie Betts proved he still had the moves 300 games in – booting six in a stellar display. They can’t get complacent, though – the Saints will be a challenge next Saturday.

Eddie Betts

Eddie Betts. (Photo by Morne de Klerk/Getty Images)

(12) Gold Coast Suns (last week: 6)
And they come crashing back down to Earth. Adelaide, in Adelaide, were probably always going to be a bridge too far for the young Suns, but they might be concerned how limp they were. I know young teams have peaks and troughs, it’ll still sting.

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(13) Hawthorn Hawks (last week: 10)
Far from disgraced, but try as they might, they couldn’t match the run of a stronger Cats side. Propagated some nervy moments late in the game, but while they couldn’t catch the Cats, they probably wouldn’t be too disappointed and neither would their fans.

(14) Western Bulldogs (last week: 8)
It’s evident that the Bulldogs were performing badly when most of the last quarter was spent trying to see if the Blues could kick 100 points, not whether the Bulldogs could come back from their deficit. Very poor game, and a trip to Perth to face a (maybe good again) Freo squad awaits.

(15) Sydney Swans (last week: 15)
Great to see Buddy Franklin continue kicking the big ones, but that’s about all the Swans can celebrate from Saturday night’s loss. They were trash – and I’m not sure where they go from here.

Lance Franklin

Lance Franklin of the Swans. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

(16) Carlton Blues (last week: 18)
Not sure how long they’ll be off the bottom, but they deserve it this week. Drought breaking win in more ways than one. Got the win, yup. Kicked 100 points, yup. Doing this all while fairly comfortably dominating the clash in its entirety was the cherry on top.

(17) Melbourne Demons (last week: 16)
Welp, they Melbourne-d it up. A goalless third term exemplified their woeful effort, and allowing the Saints eight straight at one point only solidified it. Being one win from five starts, the Demons aren’t afforded a whole lotta time to salvage their season.

(18) North Melbourne (last week: 17)
Putrid, and coming a week after their first win to boot. Was almost a coin flip to see if they or the Demons would be relegated to last, but I reckon North are the ones that have to be. Neither are in good spots at the moment, for what it’s worth.

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