per @AFLxScore<\/a>). When you\u2019re creating that many high-quality chances, you\u2019re gonna kick a big score. The defence is still a worry compared to Fremantle\u2019s, but they\u2019ve got just enough time to fix it.<\/p>\nThis week: Essendon at the Gabba, Sunday 4:40pm<\/p>\n
Lions continue assault with 4th-straight | 03:28<\/p>\n
3. GEELONG (9-7, 117.1%)<\/p>\n
Last week: Ranked 2nd, lost to Brisbane by 22 pts<\/p>\n
We\u2019re not keeping the Cats in third because we\u2019re massively confident in them – trust us, we saw how bad the defence and Jeremy Cameron both looked on Thursday night. It\u2019ll be very hard for them to make a Grand Final with both him and the backline faltering, never mind with both. But the Power Rankings are also a comparative tool; and we still think at their best, the Cats are better than the Swans (who looked even worse against Brisbane), the Hawks (when was the last time the Cats trailed any team by 96 points?), the Crows (just wobbly enough we can\u2019t trust them as a true flag contender) and the Demons (it is still unfathomable this group can actually win the flag… even though they\u2019re in the top four race and any team that finishes in the top four CAN win the flag). Unfortunately for Chris Scott, the finals are determined by the ladder and not our opinion, so after losing four of five games there\u2019s a very real chance the Cats finish 7th and get stuck in the wildcard round. Which would mean they cannot win the flag.<\/p>\n
This week: GWS at ENGIE Stadium, Saturday 4:15pm<\/p>\n
Lachie Neale on his future | 02:07<\/p>\n
4. SYDNEY SWANS (13-3, 136.9%)<\/p>\n
Last week: Ranked 3rd, def Western Bulldogs by 35 pts<\/p>\n
The common wisdom on anything is usually delayed, because it takes time for people to accept and then adjust to new information. So when we looked at the Coleman Medal leaderboard after Friday night and saw Charlie Curnow leading it, we were a bit confused because our perception was that he\u2019s been disappointing. That\u2019s now clearly out of date – he\u2019s had a fantastic six weeks – though to be fair, there\u2019s merit in the idea his resume has been boosted by a reliance on bags of goals against the worst defences. Like his 19 goals in two games against West Coast in 2023, helping him win the Coleman by two. And of this year\u2019s 45 goals, 21 have come in three games against the Bulldogs and Tigers. You would prefer an ideal player who kicks as many goals against the best and he does against the worst… though does that player really exist? It\u2019s simplistic to say \u2018the Swans wanted to help their attack, they got Curnow, they have the No.1 attack in the comp, Curnow has worked\u2019. But it\u2019s not an incorrect statement either.<\/p>\n
This week: Fremantle at Optus Stadium, Thursday 8:10pm<\/p>\n
Curnow kicks six in Swans statement win | 02:23<\/p>\n
5. HAWTHORN (10-5-1, 110%)<\/p>\n
Last week: Ranked 4th, lost to Melbourne by 35 pts<\/p>\n
Wow, the Hawks kicked 12 straight goals in the space of a quarter! They must\u2019ve really built some percentage against the Demo… oh. Oh, right. At least that draw against the Pies means their percentage is basically irrelevant. The Hawks just need to hope they don\u2019t run into Melbourne during the finals, because their two worst games of the season by far have come against Steven King\u2019s side. Their only other bad day was the GWS game back in Opening Round, which was a full four months ago and hardly matters now. They\u2019re still good, and with the easiest remaining draw in the comp, there\u2019s no need to panic.<\/p>\n
This week: Carlton at the MCG, Saturday 7:35pm<\/p>\n
Demons beat Hawks in incredible match | 01:37<\/p>\n
6. MELBOURNE (10-6, 106.3%)<\/p>\n
Last week: Ranked 8th, def Hawthorn by 35 pts<\/p>\n
This is one of those tricky rankings scenarios. The Demons are pretty clearly better than the Hawks – they\u2019ve pumped them twice. Yet we think Hawthorn is better overall and more likely to actually make a Grand Final, especially when fully healthy. Still, Melbourne is giving itself a shot at an even more unlikely premiership than 2021 (remember they were pretty good in 2020, barely missing the eight, and got hurt by the season being shortened). They\u2019re clearly in the hunt for a top-four finish, and are an impressive 5-4 against the top 10. So we know they can beat the good teams… and history tells us if you make the top four, you can win the whole thing.. it\u2019s entirely within the realms of possibility the Demons will be 2026 premiers. Think how ridiculous that sentence would\u2019ve sounded four months ago!<\/p>\n
This week: Richmond at the MCG, Sunday 3:15pm<\/p>\n
Gawn struggles for words after Dees win | 00:44<\/p>\n
7. ADELAIDE CROWS (10-6, 111.4%)<\/p>\n
Last week: Ranked 6th, def West Coast by 25 pts<\/p>\n
It might be harsh to drop them after a win, but we\u2019re just a little bit worried about the Crows dropping out of the top six thanks to their tricky remaining draw – including the Swans and Freo away, plus the frisky Pies and Giants at home. If we assume they lose two of that quartet, which seems pretty realistic, there\u2019s definitely a world where they end up finishing seventh; though that win over Melbourne a couple of weeks back could prove the difference. We wouldn\u2019t mind seeing them really put the foot down against the Suns on Saturday night, because percentage is probably going to matter for them. <\/p>\n
This week: Gold Coast at Adelaide Oval, Saturday 8:10pm<\/p>\n
Carlton move into wildcard contention | 03:18<\/p>\n
8. CARLTON (8-8, 96%)<\/p>\n
Last week: Ranked 9th, def Richmond by 2 pts<\/p>\n
We could\u2019ve sworn we saw a guy calling himself Nichael Voss in a suspicious moustache was in the coaches\u2019 box on Saturday night. That\u2019s the only way we can explain Carlton suddenly having the exact same game against Richmond, again – weirdly close all night before the Tigers\u2019 charge fell just short. Thankfully for the Blues, the whistle got crazy fast in the final 30 seconds, helping them cling on to victory. The winning streak is well and truly on the line against Hawthorn this Saturday night, though there\u2019s no shame in a loss; it\u2019s more important they get the job done against the Magpies and Suns over the following two weeks.<\/p>\n
This week: Hawthorn at the MCG, Saturday 7:35pm<\/p>\n
Tigers\/Blues in ANOTHER brawl! | 01:33<\/p>\n
9. COLLINGWOOD (8-7-1, 104.4%)<\/p>\n
Last week: Ranked 11th, def Gold Coast by 6 pts<\/p>\n
The Pies are finding a bit of form just in time, scoring over 100 points two weeks in a row (plus 78 points vs Port Adelaide the week prior, which is solid given how good the Power are defensively). We say just in time because they basically have to win their next two games – North at Marvel, Carlton at the MCG – before four of their last five games are against top-six contenders. Knowing this group, they\u2019ll scrap their way to beating someone like Adelaide or Geelong anyway, but they can make things much easier on themselves by being 10-7-1 with five games remaining. Hard to miss the top 10 from there.<\/p>\n
This week: North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium, Friday 7:40pm<\/p>\n
‘Weak as piss’: Kingy slams MRO decision | 04:00<\/p>\n
10. WESTERN BULLDOGS (9-7, 90.8%)<\/p>\n
Last week: Ranked 7th, lost to Sydney by 35 pts<\/p>\n
It\u2019s starting to feel a bit like they\u2019re going to limp into September and struggle to fire a shot once there? They should be banking the three more wins required for a wildcard spot against the Eagles, Tigers and Kangaroos – and maybe throw in beating the Suns (away) or Blues for good measure. But they\u2019re clearly closer to the level of Carlton, Collingwood, St Kilda or GWS (the sides they\u2019d likely face in a wildcard final) than any of the sides above them on the ladder. Their season probably has to be considered a success if they win that wildcard final but it\u2019s not gonna feel great, especially if they get belted on their way out the next week.<\/p>\n
This week: West Coast at Marvel Stadium, Sunday 1:10pm<\/p>\n
‘He might be in some trouble’ Ralphy | 00:33<\/p>\n
11. ST KILDA (7-9, 105.5%)<\/p>\n
Last week: Ranked 12th, def Essendon by 67 pts<\/p>\n
We know we\u2019ve been making a similar point for a while now, but there are still plenty of people out there who disagree, so it\u2019s worth a reminder. The Saints have definitely improved! Stop just looking at the ladder! You can most clearly see it in their percentage, which has risen 17 points from last year\u2019s 88.5%. But it\u2019s also worth remembering how exactly they finished 12th last year – the Saints were a woeful 5-13 before winning four straight games by single-digit margins over even worse teams, including nearly losing to a VFL-level Essendon side, and needing one of the biggest comebacks in league history to upset Melbourne. Just imagine a Lionel Hutz meme. There\u2019s 12th (shakes head angrily)… and there\u2019s 12th (cheesy smile)!<\/p>\n
This week: Port Adelaide at Marvel Stadium, Saturday 1:15pm<\/p>\n
Saints bounce back against the Dons | 01:33<\/p>\n
12. GWS GIANTS (7-9, 100.8%)<\/p>\n
Last week: Ranked 14th, def Fremantle by 21 pts<\/p>\n
We don\u2019t know how we\u2019re supposed to analyse a team that smashes Brisbane and Melbourne, and ends Fremantle\u2019s huge winning streak, yet loses to West Coast, St Kilda and Carlton. The latter is likely to cost them a chance to face any of the former in September, though they love playing the Cats – as a Geelong fan, this is the match-up we currently dread the most. If Adam Kingsley\u2019s men win it, they will have beaten five teams from the top half of the ladder, and only four from the bottom half. Buncha weirdos.<\/p>\n
This week: Geelong at ENGIE Stadium, Saturday 4:15pm<\/p>\n
Giants in no rush over Greene deal | 01:15<\/p>\n
13. PORT ADELAIDE (6-10, 102.5%)<\/p>\n
Last week: Ranked 13th, def North Melbourne by 21 pts<\/p>\n
We presume Josh Carr delivered a furious spray at halftime, and while his side lifted in the third quarter and let North Melbourne back into the game, they sadly powered over the line to record a win. Worryingly, the Power are now just one win out of 13th, and two wins out of the wildcard spots. This ethical tank is falling apart. What\u2019s even worse is we could absolutely see them beating the Saints…<\/p>\n
This week: St Kilda at Marvel Stadium, Saturday 1:15pm<\/p>\n
14. GOLD COAST SUNS (7-9, 100.7%)<\/p>\n
Last week: Ranked 10th, lost to Collingwood by 6 pts<\/p>\n
The Suns were fourth on the ladder after Round 10, and fifth on the ladder (with a game in hand) after Round 12. They are now 14th, and could genuinely finish in the bottom four. The always-useful AFL Tables website tells us that, only counting from after the season\u2019s halfway point, the biggest fall in ladder history came from 1997\u2019s Hawthorn side – who went from 5th to 15th. Then there\u2019s 2024\u2019s Essendon, who went from 2nd to 11th, and a handful of teams who dropped eight places. This is the sort of very sad history the Suns are threatening to make… and while we\u2019re not certain, this would likely be the biggest in-season fall for a team that was premiership favourite at one point.<\/p>\n
This week: Adelaide at Adelaide Oval, Saturday 8:10pm<\/p>\n
Roos sweating on Wardlaw injury | 00:36<\/p>\n
15. NORTH MELBOURNE (8-8, 91.1%)<\/p>\n
Last week: Ranked 15th, lost to Port Adelaide by 21 pts<\/p>\n
This is kinda it for the Kangaroos, who dropped out of the 10 with their loss to the Power – a perfect \u2018see, the Power Rankings were more accurate than the ladder\u2019 result. Though the Power Rankings said nothing about seven bajillion free kicks being paid in that game. If they can\u2019t beat the Magpies, there just aren\u2019t enough winnable games left on North\u2019s fixture for the miracle wildcard run. If they end up finishing the year something like 9-14, we\u2019ll still feel pretty positive about their season; they\u2019ve gone from bad to mediocre, which sounds like an insult yet is meant as a genuine compliment. Back-ending all of their losses is gonna leave a bit of a sour taste, though.<\/p>\n
This week: Collingwood at Marvel Stadium, Friday 7:40pm<\/p>\n
16. WEST COAST EAGLES (4-12, 71.5%)<\/p>\n
Last week: Ranked 16th, lost to Adelaide by 25 pts<\/p>\n
We\u2019re torn between liking the Eagles as a sneaky upset chance against the Bulldogs – because that huge upset late in 2023 is stuck in our heads – and reminding ourselves of the Eagles\u2019 record at Marvel Stadium since that game. Which is 0-11 with an average losing margin of 10 goals. So… yeah.<\/p>\n
This week: Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium, Sunday 1:10pm<\/p>\n
“It is less than a feather” | 00:54<\/p>\n
17. RICHMOND (2-14, 63.3%)<\/p>\n
Last week: Ranked 17th, lost to Carlton by 2 pts<\/p>\n
Still better than Essendon, which is all that matters.<\/p>\n
This week: Melbourne at the MCG, Sunday 3:15pm<\/p>\n
18. ESSENDON (1-15, 69%)<\/p>\n
Last week: Ranked 18th, lost to St Kilda by 67 pts<\/p>\n
Eww.<\/p>\n
This week: Brisbane at the Gabba, Sunday 4:40pm<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Welcome back to the Power Rankings. It\u2019s time to admit the footy world has gotten Charlie Curnow wrong…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":783408,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[560],"tags":[638,64,63,55,639,85],"class_list":["post-783407","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-afl","tag-afl","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-australian-football-league","tag-australianfootballleague","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/783407","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=783407"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/783407\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/783408"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=783407"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=783407"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=783407"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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