2019 AFL Power Rankings: Round 8

Round eight, done. Power Rankings, delivered. It was a good week of football, with a couple of upsets thrown in. And a smidgen of controversy, too, just to cap off the week.

Last week: 1

All good teams get challenged in roller-coaster clashes, but the great teams still win them comfortably. Geelong’s still performing nicely, and they’re still No.1. Gary Ablett surely has to be suspended this week though, right?

Last week: 3

Yikes. Almost losing to Carlton is not what most expected this side to do on Saturday afternoon, and they’ll feel fortunate they finally stood up in the fourth term to clinch the game. Collingwood’s next challenge is St Kilda, and it’ll be a close-run game.

Last week: 4

Wasn’t necessarily pretty, but they poached the four points. Still don’t look as dangerous as the premiership side, but they’re building up to it. Friday night and the Demons await.

Last week: 2

They kicked fewer goals in the entirety of yesterday’s clash than they did in the first quarter of the previous week’s game. Hawthorn successfully stifled their usual run, and made the Giants look as bad as they’ve looked in a few years.

Last week: 7

Are they back? Well, I dunno. But they’re winning: four on the trot. Brisbane up next, in a challenge they cannot take lightly.

Last week: 5

Given how decimated they were with injury, a 20-point loss to the Crows could have been worse. I still rate a fit Port Adelaide side, and they’ve got an excellent chance to romp a South Australia-phobic Suns outfit next weekend.

Last week: 6

They’d be brutally disappointed with the loss, given their stranglehold on the game early. They’ll also be disappointed with their inaccuracy – Eric Hipwood’s five first-half misses were emblematic of the Lions’ wasteful day. Back to the Gabba next week, though.

Last week: 10

That was as good as Richmond have looked the entire season. Brilliant, potent, fierce victory – and they pulled it off with two on the bench. A fully fit Tigers outfit would be scary.

Last week: 13

The Hawks garner a little boost on the rankings this week, because while the upset wasn’t necessarily surprising, its manner was. Stunning win, and to keep the Giants to just five goals is a great result. Richmond await. What a game it’ll be.

Last week: 11

I don’t have a whole lot to say, to be honest. Got the win. They’ll bank the points and move on. Huge, huge challenge up next: Geelong. Classic Dogs vs Cats battle coming next Saturday.

Last week: 9

Essendon, whatcha doing? You were just getting good! I say that in an incredibly condescending manner, knowing they face my boys up next. Uh oh. For real, though, victory was a mountain they probably should have climbed.

Last week: 8

Fremantle’s trash inside-50s were the least of their worries yesterday. They simply had too many passengers, and it’s tough to see a promising beginning to the season falter. Essendon away and Brisbane at home will be no mean feat. Lose one or both, and the vultures start circling.

Last week: 12

I tipped their loss, I blogged their loss, but I was still impressed with the effort. Nevertheless, they’ve lost three on the trot. And I can understand the doubters surrounding the club. They simply have to win – and soon – otherwise the Saints lack credibility against the best.

Last week: 14

Heartbreak! That the Suns are in so many games is a good sign, but losing them like that is part and parcel of being a footy fan, as much as it sucks. The game will inevitably be criticised for being boring, but it was a good old-fashioned slog, and both teams probably deserve plaudits for the clash.

Last week: 16

Yeah, that was the most Melbourne-esque win ever. Concede a goal, score a goal, hit the post – all in the final minute. And clinch the win. Wowee.

Last week: 15

At the very least, they kept it competitive. Not a whole lot else to write home about, to be honest.

Last week: 18

They clinched the win! But it was Essendon, so I’m not entirely sure how much I rate Sydney’s narrow Friday night victory.

Last week: 17

It feels super, super harsh dropping them down even despite the effort they put in on Saturday. A lot of conjecture about umpiring on Saturday, but it was Collingwood’s experience and class that prevented Carlton from clinching that one.