Some teams are done and dusted for the season. There are just some formalities before the end of year beak. Some teams really want to make the finals and make their mark. They stood up.
Some other teams needed a miracle to stop their crumbling world falling apart. I believe they have been confirmed agnostic.
18. North Melbourne Kangaroos
North Melbourne have made some more valiant efforts which have been eventual losses. I really admire how some of the old professionals, such as Josh Walker and Todd Goldstein, continually give their all.
17. West Coast Eagles
Josh Kennedy has had a stellar career and brilliant last game. He was let down by his team. A team of older players; they used to be champion players.
A dismal end to a dismal season. The broom will come out over summer. Maybe a new game plan, maybe a new coach definitely some players pushed off into retirement.
16. Adelaide Crows
This was Adelaide’s chance to grab a late season victory. A powerful portend for next year. And they were up to the challenge.
Darcy Fogarty will be a star. Just needs the team to lift around him.
15. Essendon Bombers
Essendon, some great second half of the year wins and then this performance against the struggling Giants. From four points behind Collingwood to being beaten by five goals by the Orange boys. When does the cricket start?
14. Gold Coast Suns
Gold Coast challenged sides such as Brisbane but succumbed to thirteenth placed Hawks. A really disappointing fall way for the Suns.
Did the same solar eclipse happen last year? There is only one response to this, defeat the Cats next week.
13. Hawthorn Hawks
Hawthorn towelled the Gold Coast in frigid Tasmania. Well done and they are showing they have an upside for next year.
Tom Mitchell. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
12. GWS Giants
The Giants effort against the other Sydney was extremely poor. The win against Essendon was reassuring but was it just because the Dons faulted.
The Ferrari seems more like Fiat at the moment. And even then all four cylinders only fire every third week.
11 Port Adelaide
Port needed to win against the Magpies and absolutely had to win against the Tigers. This week’s effort was poor. They were never really in the game and they failed to roll the dice.
10. Western Bulldogs
The Bulldogs followed up a good touch up by the Cats with a tepid effort against the Dockers. All those dreams and hopes of emulating 2016 have evaporated.
They seem like they need some tall backman and some tall forwards and another two Marcus Bontempellis.
9. St Kilda Saints
St Kilda played their elimination final against the Cats. They didn’t play badly but they met the Cats in the full force. They were blown away in the third quarter.
Dan Hanneberry retired hurt, again. That recruitment really hurt. Number one rule; don’t recruit players who are continually getting injured, no matter how good they are at their best. I am sure Hawthorn won’t again.
8 Carlton Blues
Carlton were disappointing this weekend. They did make the score respectable but were they just junk time goals? This a week after being toasted by Adelaide.
A really disappointing time for the Blues. I feel that they should be eleventh but the Saints, Bulldogs and the Power are crumbling and are on the march down the power rankings.
7. Brisbane Lions
Brisbane really outclassed the Blues but they seemed to take the foot of the accelerator. Just like they did against the Tigers who beat them at the MCG.
I think this team may need a full personnel change to have any confidence at the MCG. Maybe 2028 could be their year.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
6. Richmond
Richmond after a truly awful slump have made it through to the other side. 2022 could have been 2021 revisited with the Tigers doing another Bradbury.
They have stood up. They want to play finals and they will play finals. It would be an incredible slump to lose to Hawthorn and Essendon in their last two games. Shai Bolton is pushing. He is a little inaccurate and he is a little hit and miss but he might just break out in the coming weeks.
The Tigers are playing in the finals, but I don’t think many of the five teams ranked above them have too many fears of meeting them in September.
5. Fremantle Dockers
Fremantle were on the skids. Couldn’t score any goals and couldn’t win games against quality opposition. Saturday’s game was a rebound.
The Bulldogs should have been desperate for a win. Rory Lobb and Matt Taberner finally played like key forwards should. With a couple of byes in the next few week, they should be champing at the bit in September.
4. Sydney Swans
The Swans have dropped a spot after a workman-like win over North. It isn’t so much their fall but the Magpies elevation. Sydney are the dark horse in this years eight.
They can beat anyone, but they seem to be a bit vulnerable to almost anyone.
3. Melbourne Demons
Melbourne are not playing badly. They have recovered from there mid year slump. It just seems that other teams have had a bit of think time on how to knock the off.
Instead of being the impregnable flag favourites, I think they are now just another team making up the eight.
(Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
2. Collingwood
Well that limb I have been standing on broke and I came crashing down to earth.
Collingwood were derided. The lucky side. The one that had a good schedule against the bottom sides. The team that kept falling over the line against nothing teams. That has changed.
The Pies had their Waterloo against the resurgent Demons. The 2021 premiers were there to challenge, to humiliate the uppity pretenders. Just like Wellington’s battle, the underrated Magpies gave Melbourne the cold steel. They were not intimidated.
They withstood anything last year’s premiers had to throw at them and gave it back. Good luck to the Demons playing against these pretenders in the finals. They did beat them twice, but they were lucky both times.
Jamie Elliot was being pushed into retirement at the start of the year. If they keep pushing he can tag with young Dahlhaus at the Geelong retirement village.
1 Geelong Cats
The Cats had the Saints measure. St Kilda kept pace until half time, mostly on kicking accuracy then the Cats found another gear, or two in the third quarter. It was a must win for the Saints to make the final. Cats were just too good as they were against the Bulldogs the week before. The Cats are cruising.
Tom Hawkins of the Cats competes with Jeremy Finlayson of the Power. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Max Holmes is just shy of twenty and has stepped up as a player. Just like the Cats, when he has the chance he takes the game on and with gusto. I think he quite enjoyed Selwood and Dangerfield sitting the game out.
So that is my power rankings. What are your rankings?
Dusty does Danger
Roar Rookie
Mud this Pies v Swans is big for us. If Pies win and we finish 7th we most probably take on the Swans, week 1
Clear as mud
Guest
to be honest that is probably the best result we can aim for now. hope it's 2019 and not 2020 still not convinced we won't go to sleep one more time. early game against Hawks. eeeeeeek.... (luckily my daughter's game overlaps so i can't really watch)
Dusty does Danger
Roar Rookie
One thing I agree with you Ang - like the horse. Just has a focus on what he can control. Get the 4 points, review where we can improve, move on. No gossip chat with me - do that with your friends over scones and tea!
Clear as mud
Guest
brilliant forward line but who gets it to them? Prestia has a lionheart and a hyena body and his disposal is yeah nah. Graham lacks the polish. Baker gets it and gets rushed. none of the kids have shown they have it. so it's scrag it, send it high and long, and hope that Lynch continues his brilliant run or can at least get it to ground? personally I think Melbourne, Geelong and the Swans have the great backlines to cover that now?
Clear as mud
Guest
i think the Swans will relish being away from Sydney, and from expectation that dogged them in 14 and 16 not sure they will win it, but they are the value proposition IMHO
Angela
Roar Rookie
Actually DTM, you're right going on Longmire's press conference where he did say that they took their foot off the pedal and didn't bring 'consistency' and 'pressure' for the whole game, which is essential. On the other hand, when asked about the ladder position he claimed it was the furthest thing on his mind as was the issue of Buddy. Horse's public persona is a well-honed, self-disciplined performance of bland and boring. No weird comments, hysterical outbursts, controversial blame-gaming. Not sure if he's the best coach (?Chris Scott, ?Clarkson) but he's stable, level-headed and has recently shown he's willing to adapt and change. Here's to Horse...we're lucky to have him.
Angela
Roar Rookie
'They can beat anyone, but they seem to be a bit vulnerable to almost anyone.' Great comment, nicely summed up (and I'm a Swans fan). Next Sunday will tell...
RT
Roar Rookie
Hope springs eternal.
fabian gulino
Roar Rookie
Brisbane are just pretenders.Magpies are the ones to watch these finals.melbourne won't win it this year's flag they are just not playing well.Sydney are hot and cold.carlton are falling apart. Tigers can be X factor.Geelong have been there and done that and fail again.
fabian gulino
Roar Rookie
Good comment anything is possible in the finals.
Dusty does Danger
Roar Rookie
Geez Kick, did the ladder again :shocked: , this time with Dees beating Lions. Now we take on Lions at the Gabba! :sick:
Dusty does Danger
Roar Rookie
Thanks Kick, just confirmed my worst thoughts :sick: chewing my nails already. Hoping we didn’t face them or Freo away week 1. Swans, Pies, I’m ok with.
Kick to Kick
Roar Rookie
I think our historical military metaphors are scrambled here. By convention it’s Napoleon’s last defeat to which the cliche refers. Successful as a military commander(except in Russia) , but politically ousted and exiled to the Island of Elba, Napoleon escaped and returned to reassume control of the French military. Waterloo was his final defeat at the hand of English commander Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington. Wellington was’t exactly an underdog. He’d fought around 60 battles in the Netherlands, India, Spain, and finally in the hundred days campaign against Napoleon. Most of his career battles were victories (none at sea - that was Nelson ). Wellington’s army of 68.000 men was about 5,000 smaller than Napoleon’s, but the British had an allied Prussian force of another 50,000 men to call upon so had a strong advantage. Wellington did nearly lose the battle, but for the timely arrival of those allied Prussian troops. To be strictly accurate, the battle was not really won by Wellington but by the Prussian general Blucher. I’m not sure what the parallel with Collingwood is with any of this except Wellington is apparently still sometimes taught in military schools for his brilliantly adaptive and flexible defence and opportunistic counter attacks. That may fit in with the Pies 11 week run of victories. Personally as a Swans supporter I’m hoping this Sunday is their Waterloo.
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
Fingers crossed its that easy and the kick up the backside we needed otherwise if we make the wrong choice now its going to be another long frustrating year next year.
Kick to Kick
Roar Rookie
By my ladder predictor the likely finish for Tigers is 7th. If Sydney lose to Collingwood they are unlikely to make top four and could finish 6th. Though in that scenario if Melbourne lose to Brisbane at the Gabba it will come down to percentage for 5th and 6th. If Pies lose to Sydney and Melbourne fall to Brisbane, Melbourne will finish 6th. Unless the Pies lose both remaining games they are unlikely to finish as low as 6th. So for me Tigers Pies is unlikely first week of finals. The more likely scenario will be the last two flag winners Dees and Tigers in sudden death elimination week one.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Maybe it’s your bad year before winning it like Melbourne had?
The General
Roar Rookie
It pains me to say but the only way I see Geelong not winning the whole damn thing is if they meet a Vic side in the final and even then probably still win it, an interstate team against them will not win. Really hope I'm wrong.
Dusty does Danger
Roar Rookie
Yes which Coleman medalist do you dump, Lynch or Jack? Just timing but Marbs can be hot and cold. I do think he fits into the Suns better than at the Tigs. BTW we have repaid the Suns for Prestia and Lynch, I don’t feel so bad now :happy:
Dusty does Danger
Roar Rookie
Only praise Tigers should get is from non supporting game day fans. They keep every team in the contest, doesn’t matter if it is the Cats or the Roos, it’s decided in the last play of the day. Makes exciting viewing but my heart is a little weaker now!
Dusty does Danger
Roar Rookie
Ssssssosh! OM, don’t let the Tiger out of the bag. Yes a lot of stats have us top 4 team but most of these scribes overlook this. I have to say we need Dusty back come finals or else we can’t compete in September. Hope Vlastuin will miss the last 2 games at most. Dixon cleaned him up big time. The bye might be a great helper for us. Not sure if Grimes gets back. I also think Shedda might be better off out of the team. Always said with our best team we can beat anybody. Just can’t afford any further injuries. How would our forward line be with Lynch, Cumberland, Dusty, Jnr, Jack and Bolton - best in the land! You can’t tag both Bolts and Dusty. Cotch needs to keep the clock turned back. Not sure if Sonsie or Ross gets dropped with Dusty returning? I think Soldo stays out and Miller stays in as a spare back/ruck.