See the full AFL ladder at the conclusion of the 2018 home-and-away season
GEELONG arguably has more brilliance than their September rivals but can they be a brilliant team when it matters most? Plus, can Collingwood compete, can Melbourne’s bottom six deliver and the Hawks are back in the top four.
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RICHMOND has claimed its first minor premiership since 1982 while Carlton is wooden spooners for the first time since 2015.
The home-and-away season is over and now we look ahead to a cracking finals series.
TACKLE: WHO HAS FLAG MOMENTUM?
PREVIEW: HOW GRUNDY, MAGPIES CAN FLIP SCRIPT
FIXTURE: TIGERS, HAWKS BLOCKBUSTER TO KICK OFF FINALS
Reigning premiers Richmond swept into September with a tough win over the Bulldogs while West Coast is also in a Grand Final box seat after sealing a home qualifying final.
The biggest question is Geelong and whether Chris Scott can get his inconsistent team to find its best after back-to-back preliminary final exits.
1. RICHMOND (18-0-4) 136.1% 72pts
Happy to put it down to self-preservation and a preoccupation with ensuring Jack Riewoldt won the Coleman. Trent Cotchin hasn’t been free-flowing of late so a week off is desirable. Dusty is purring. Injuries: Nil. SuperCoach: Will Dusty’s (104) at 61 per cent disposal efficiency be enough to claim three votes? Toby Nankervis (135) the top Tiger. Josh Caddy (44) and Cotch (50) down on usual numbers.
2. WEST COAST (16-0-6) 121.4% 64pts
The Eagles totally deserve the double chance and home final, yet they don’t quite have the respect that should come with second place. They can change that with an “us against the rest” mentality. SuperCoach: After six tons in the first nine rounds, Jack Darling (110) gets his first since then.
3. COLLINGWOOD (15-0-7) 120.4% 60pts
Typically brave but slightly alarming at the same time. The worry is tiredness creeping into some of the Pies kids, and a forward line that can be haphazard in its functioning. Injuries: Will Hoskin-Elliott (leg). SuperCoach: Brodie Grundy (150) huge again and averages 131 — an AFL high. Was Jordan de Goey (51) fully fit?
4. HAWTHORN (15-0-7) 120.1% 60pts
Some players embrace big moments, Harry Morrison and James Worpel being two of them. As for Tom Mitchell, his “quiet” game included 11 tackles and 16 contested possessions. Oh for mediocrity. Injuries: Nil. SuperCoach: Tom Mitchell’s 114 and average of 129 saw him lose No.1 season rank to Pies’ Brodie Grundy.
5. MELBOURNE (14-0-8) 131.4% 56pts
If the Dees are to go deep then it has to come from their lesser lights, and on Sunday Charlie Spargo, Jay Kennedy-Harris, Aaron vandenBerg and Sam Weideman played their roles. Now for their 2018 nemesis in Geelong. Injuries: Dean Kent (shoulder), Dom Tyson (wrist), Jake Melksham (head). SuperCoach: Max Gawn scored fewer than 90 just twice all year. Sunday’s 156 was his 18th ton.
6. SYDNEY (14-0-8) 109.5% 56pts
Starting to run out of numbers with Alex Johnson, Lewis Melican, Callum Mills, Sam Reid and Nick Smith missing but underestimate this crew at your peril. Jordan Dawson and Tom McCartin are fine long-term prospects. Injuries: Dan Hannebery (knee). SuperCoach: Jake Lloyd (149) averages 112. Not bad for a defender!
7. GWS GIANTS (13-1-8) 114.3% 54pts
The Giants looked big, slow and extremely basic when going forward. Suspect they will go straight out but judge them when they have a fit list, meaning 2019 is still an open flag window. Injuries: Rory Lobb (back). SuperCoach: Stephen Coniglio’s seventh 120-plus score of the year (149). Average never dropped below 104.
8. GEELONG (13-0-9) 131.6% 52pts
The Cats arguably have more brilliance than their September rivals but can they match the “team” aspect? Harry Taylor finding form but what is his best match-up? Gary Ablett ready to wind the clock back. Injuries: Cam Guthrie (leg). SuperCoach: Danger (187) started the party and Tomahawk (144) joined him. Seven Cats broke ton.
9. NORTH MELBOURNE (12-0-10) 48pts 108.9%
The Roos deserve a healthy pass mark and continue to transition their list. But they require two guns come trade time (Andrew Gaff and Jared Polec) and a tall key (forward or back) in the draft. Injuries: Mason Wood (hamstring) SuperCoach: Big finish from Trent Dumont (160). Shaun Higgins (129) ends a season with a 100-point average for the first time in his career.
10. PORT ADELAIDE (12-0-10) 107.6% 48pts
Ken Hinkley says he will embrace the pressure and it will come after one final in four years. He said he will rectify the problems so may as well start by teaching his players to tackle. Injuries: Nil. SuperCoach: Paddy Ryder (147) finished on a high. Justin Westhoff (120) averaged 101 for season to pip Ollie Wines and Robbie Gray for power honours.
11. ESSENDON (12-0-10) 105.1% 48pts
The Dons need an outside midfielder so Dylan Shiel is an obvious target. A real positive has been their player development with Aaron Francis, Kyle Langford, Jayden Laverde and Conor McKenna. Injuries: Matthew Leuenberger (calf). SuperCoach: Mitch Brown led seven Dons above the ton. Dyson Heppell averaged 102 for year, one more than Zach Merrett.
12. ADELAIDE (12-0-10) 104.1% 48pts
Arguably the biggest disappointments of 2018 (ahead of their neighbours Port). One concern is the Crows’ age and games profile is very much about now, and now ain’t happening. SuperCoach: Rory Laird (138) was one of 11 players to hit 95 or more in romp. Josh Jenkins (129) had last-game of year romp with seven goals.
13. WESTERN BULLDOGS (8-0-14) 77.3% 32pts
At least the Dogs finished the season playing a scoring brand that can beat good sides. But their last two seasons, while injury-marred, have been largely unacceptable given 2016. Injuries: Nil. SuperCoach: Jack Macrae (163) finished season on a high. Five other Dogs cracked ton. Toby McLean (66) missed again.
14. FREMANTLE (8-0-14) 76.2% 32pts
At least a suggestion of promise after the horrors of the previous week. Ed Langdon, Taylin Duman, Sam Switkowski are names for the future but guess what, the Dockers still kicked just nine goals? Injuries: Nil. SuperCoach: Lachie Neale (140) finished year with an average of 112 and Taylin Duman (126) is one to watch next season. Nat Fyfe (66) bombed.
15. BRISBANE (5-0-17) 89.1% 20pts
A season of considerable growth under a coach who commands respect. And the Lions have picked the right midfielders via the draft. Ten wins next year is achievable. SuperCoach: After a slow start, Dayne Beams (125) scored 13 centuries in his last 17 games.
16. ST KILDA (4-1-17) 75.6% 18pts
The Saints went out true to their season, which was poor to fair at best. Or in the words of the Coodabeens Champions, they need to take a GHLAT (good hard look at themselves). SuperCoach: Jack Steven (153) scores his 10th ton of the year. Jack Steele (139) completes a good end to the season with a fourth-straight century, just his seventh of 2018.
17. GOLD COAST (4-0-18) 59.9% 16pts
Four wins camouflages a wretched percentage of 59 and a list that requires urgent panel beating. If the Suns don’t get concessions then what is the point of their existence? Injuries: Jack Leslie (knee). SuperCoach: Michael Barlow (105) was the only Sun to break 90. Jarrod Witts averaged a club-high 92 for season.
18. CARLTON (2-0-20) 59.3% 8pts
At least the Blues didn’t sugar-coat one of the worst years in a once-proud history. And it isn’t immediately obvious how 2019 is going to be much better. Summer training will be hellish. SuperCoach: Patrick Cripps (108) deserves a break after averaging 119 for season. Jacob Weitering (101) showed good signs until a knock.
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Originally published as See the full AFL ladder at the conclusion of the 2018 home-and-away season
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