We hit the primary spherical of byes (if we neglect the horrendous fixturing of earlier this season), with all golf equipment having performed 11 of their 23 video games – the final time the ladder shall be on a fair keel till the top of June. Right this moment, let’s check out the highest half of the ladder, with a fast opinion on the place every group is at.
1. Sydney
The Swans are the clear standout within the competitors up to now, and there’s merely nothing they’re not doing effectively. They’ve kicked probably the most targets and conceded the least, and are two video games clear on prime of the ladder with a share greater than 30 factors greater than their nearest top-eight rival.
You would argue they might be exploited by a high quality key ahead duo down again, and that the McDonald, Amartey and McLean trio doesn’t precisely scream September glory up ahead, however they’ve all of their mid-size and smaller gamers completely flying and slicing up groups with their precision ball motion.
Chad Warner celebrates a aim. (Picture by Matt King/AFL Pictures/by way of Getty Photos)
2. Essendon
The Bombers talked a giant recreation within the low season, with portion of their record paying their very own method for an abroad pre-pre-season boot camp, and in addition going public with their want to play with “edge”. To their credit score, they’ve delivered past anybody’s wildest expectations, having solely tasted defeat twice this season.
What the Dons have achieved that places them forward of these under them, is that they have fronted up every week (with one exception). In a season that’s so even, the place groups have had so many ups and downs, enjoying with honesty and consistency is to not be undersold – credit score to them for delivering that.
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3. Port Adelaide
We’ve all seen this movie earlier than, and it doesn’t finish in a premiership or perhaps a grand closing berth. The Energy will win video games by 10 targets towards the likes of West Coast and North Melbourne, after which not fireplace a shot in a recreation of which means, or drop one to an inferior facet.
Port will be summed up by their stretch from Spherical 8-10 earlier in Might – kick 5 targets for the night time when getting thumped by Adelaide at residence, kick eight targets within the first quarter towards Geelong away, then get 41 factors down at residence towards Hawthorn, solely to conjure a last-minute miracle. They’re too flaky to be a reliable contender, and at all times shall be underneath Hinkley.
4. Melbourne
The Demons are one other facet that simply hold doing the identical factor time and again. There are occasions once they appear like they’ve probably the most dysfunctional ahead line within the competitors, however they’re saved in video games by an always-stingy defence and a midfield that’s at all times within the recreation due to Gawn, Petracca, Oliver and Viney.
However we’ve seen it’s exhausting for Melbourne to win video games in September once they can’t end their work, bundled out in straight units within the final two years. Fritsch is kicking targets however enjoying for straightforward kicks too usually, Van Rooyen nonetheless goes lacking for lengthy intervals, and Petty has been woeful.
5. GWS
The Giants began the yr in a blaze of glory, profitable 5 video games to open the season, however since then have gone 2-4. Wanting again, their scalps have been Collingwood (began the season very slowly), North (winless), West Coast (backside 4), Gold Coast (wildly inconsistent) and St Kilda (minnows that must be despatched to Tasmania), so maybe they weren’t all they have been cracked as much as be.
(Picture by Michael Willson/AFL Pictures by way of Getty Photos)
The ball motion of GWS was a characteristic earlier within the season, and so they averaged 107 factors per recreation over the primary seven rounds – that has dropped to 63 factors within the final month, and they should take inventory over their bye this week. They’re at their greatest when taking dangers, and never the protected, boring footy of current occasions.
6. Geelong
The Cats have been an unconvincing 7-0 to begin the season, however have misplaced their final 4 to now sit in the course of the pack that’s chasing Sydney. These items have a behavior of night out, and three of their final 4 losses have been by a single-figure margin.
It’s no coincidence that Geelong have discovered issues tougher when Tom Stewart has been getting extra consideration – after years of being ludicrously allowed to run his personal race by opposition coaches, and he is without doubt one of the greatest gamers within the league when allowed to take action. He’s having far much less impact in current occasions and it has destabilised their defence.
The Cats are additionally weak by the midfield, and have at occasions been comprehensively smashed in that a part of the bottom, whereas Tom Hawkins is lastly displaying indicators of slowing down. They’ve their challenges, Chris Scott’s males.
7. Collingwood
The Pies dropped three in a row to open the season, however haven’t misplaced a recreation since, whereas additionally enjoying in two attracts over the past 5 weeks. Many a premiership defence has began slowly, with a coach trusting their group to win sufficient video games to make finals and hoping they will peak in September.
How usually can Collingwood hold getting out of jail although? They’ve performed in 5 video games determined by lower than a aim this yr, and brought premiership factors from all of them, nevertheless it’s not a sustainable method of going about issues. There are ten groups with a better share than the Pies this season, which could be a more true reflection of the place they’re at.
There’s a lengthy harm record on the membership, little question, however what number of of them can actually lay declare to be locked in the perfect 22? Lower than a handful, one would possibly recommend.
8. Carlton
The Blues have additionally battled harm this season, however have had midfield depth to cowl Sam Walsh and Adam Cerra, whereas Adam Saad’s run was welcomed again final week to present Nic Newman a chop-off from being the first ball-carrier off half-back.
Tom De Koning and Matthew Kennedy. (Picture by Michael Willson/AFL Pictures by way of Getty Photos)
Carlton’s poorest recreation was once they have been fully out-classed by a rampant Sydney, and so they’re not the one group to endure that destiny within the first half of the yr, however exterior of that they’ve both received video games or put themselves able to take action.
Nonetheless, they should discover some defensive resilience – they’re ranked backside 4 for factors conceded this yr, and are too usually simply scored towards. Their Spherical 7 loss to Geelong was the obvious living proof.
9. Fremantle
As an additional, the Dockers are one group sitting precisely the place they need to be on the ladder, which is correct within the center. They’re but to beat a group above them on the ladder, and all of their wins have been towards these under. The one outlier efficiency was in Spherical 6 once they have been inept towards West Coast and located themselves 11 targets down at three-quarter-time.
Justin Longmuir claims that he needs to play attacking soccer, however too usually the gameplan appears to be arrange for Luke Ryan to pad his stats. Nice for Supercoach scores, not nice for group success. Josh Treacy has been a constructive up ahead, whereas Jye Amiss has struggled with set shot rhythm, and Caleb Serong has put himself within the dialog as a prime ten participant within the recreation.
Port Adelaide Energy
v
Carlton Blues
AFL : Head To Head
Thu, 30 Might 2024, 19:30
Collingwood Magpies
v
Western Bulldogs
AFL : Head To Head
Fri, 31 Might 2024, 19:40
Hawthorn Hawks
v
Adelaide Crows
AFL : Head To Head
Sat, 1 Jun 2024, 13:45
West Coast Eagles
v
St Kilda Saints
AFL : Head To Head
Sat, 1 Jun 2024, 16:35
Geelong Cats
v
Richmond Tigers
AFL : Head To Head
Sat, 1 Jun 2024, 19:30
Melbourne Demons
v
Fremantle Dockers
AFL : Head To Head
Solar, 2 Jun 2024, 13:00
Gold Coast Suns
v
Essendon Bombers
AFL : Head To Head
Solar, 2 Jun 2024, 16:00
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