2019 AFL power rankings: Round 15

Nine games of footy makes for a good weekend. Also, apparently, makes for a hard-to-tip weekend.

1. Geelong (last week: 1)
Coming off a shock loss, this was always a little bit of a danger game for the Cats. The Crows challenged early, but Geelong proved they’re top at the league (for now) and came away with a strong win.

2. West Coast (last week: 3)
I’m unable to lie; I was disappointed the Eagles got up. But I’m not foolish enough to claim they didn’t earn it; it was a classic, intense game of football. Good win. Derby next. I’ll keep my feelings on that quiet.

3. Brisbane (last week: 5)
They did what they had to do. They’re in the box seats for finals, but have a seriously tough fortnight coming up: GWS in Sydney and Port in Adelaide. Win one, that’ll be great. Win both, amazing. Neither…they’re in a little trouble.

4. GWS Giants (last week: 4)
They’d be fuming after that upset loss. For more reasons than one: their own performance letting it slip, and the league’s well-documented failures when it comes to goal review. They’re now a game behind the top three, but just a game ahead of multiple other sides hunting a top-four spot. An awkward position.

5. Collingwood (last week: 2)
Diabolically bad. Buckley alluded to it last week; it’s funny that most thought he was overreacting a little. The club’s got plenty of talent, and you’d bet they won’t stay down for too long.

6. Adelaide (last week: 7)
It’ll be pretty hard to criticise their effort, but they fell away badly when it mattered. Without sounding too overly admirable, the Crows’ showed they can (for a period) match it with the best. Big showdown next weekend.

7. North Melbourne (last week: 11)
Bit of a big jump in the Rankings for the Kangaroos this week; but perhaps I’d been overlooking them for a long while. Garnered a third win in four games; a comprehensive demolition of a terrible Magpies outfit. North are anonymously forging along, but doing some great work too.

8. Essendon (last week: 9)
Another team that pulled out a phenomenal win on during a stellar round of football. Essendon, like others, have been up and down this season, but a win like that keeps their finals chances open; it’s up to them to dictate their fortunes though.

9. Fremantle (last week: 6)
The worst part of a loss like this isn’t so much the loss – a close run defeat against a very spirited Carlton I can fathom. I even feel genuinely happy for the Blues. It’s the frustrating inconsistency of the club – and the pride some pundits have in revelling in the loss – that infuriate me. Freo’s still in finals contention, though, much to the chagrin of many.

10. Richmond (last week: 10)
Some see this win as a big stepping board back into legitimate contention; I see a team that only put away a gallant (and increasingly inaccurate) St Kilda late. The good news was that a bunch of returning players looked good, and they don’t have too bad a fixture over the next few weeks.

11. Port Adelaide (last week: 8)
Inconsistency is Port’s talent. I’m appreciative of the super rough conditions – Adelaide’s weather Saturday night was terrible – but Port are such a confusing team it is impossible to trust them. Now, watch how they’ll go and win the showdown to prove that point.

12. Sydney Swans (last week: 12)
In a weekend of upsets, the Swans did what they had to do: beat the Suns and kept their finals chances alive. The bad news is that they lost Callum Sinclar, which likely makes those aforementioned finals chances even more difficult.

13. Hawthorn (last week: 13)
Don’t be fooled by the loss, I thought the Hawks were beyond gallant in their exciting encounter against the reigning premiers. Sure, a win would have been nice, but it was hardly the poor performance many expected. I’d wager they’re a good chance to beat an out-of-sorts Collingwood next Friday, too.

14. Western Bulldogs (last week: 15)
A little water never hurt. The Bulldogs dominated a lacklustre Port, and with it claimed a big scalp in an otherwise middling season. Like their Bluebagger and Kangaroo counterparts, enjoy the upset, Doggies fans.

15. St Kilda (last week: 14)
Talk about teasing their fan-base! The Saints simultaneously displayed some of the best footy they’ve played and some of the most frustrating tendencies of their game. They took it right up to the Saints, albeit fell away badly to succumb to the loss most expected. Sigh.

16. Carlton (last week: 17)
Superb win. Seriously, superb win. The wheels are slowly turning at this club, and a no-Patrick Cripps, no-Charlie Curnow comeback win interstate was nothing short of perfect for the club. Enjoy the week, Bluebaggers.

17. Melbourne (last week: 16)

18. Gold Coast (last week: 18)
There’s not a whole lot I can say about them. Went into a game expected to lose, lost as expected. Nothing unremarkable – a second consecutive SCG upset would have been remarkable though.