St Kilda and Fremantle moving up while Melbourne and Port Adelaide slip in Round 7

ST KILDA is in the eight while Fremantle are knocking on the door after big wins in Round 7 as Adelaide remain a game clear on top despite its loss.

Jack Steven celebrates a goal in the win over GWS.

ADELAIDE remains a game clear on top of the ladder after Round 7 despite its shock loss to North Melbourne.

However, there are plenty of challengers with five teams on 20 points.

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Meanwhile, St Kilda has moved into the eight and Fremantle is knocking on the door after big wins over GWS and Essendon respectively.

At the other end of the table, Sydney is out of the basement after picking up its first win of the season, beating Brisbane - who take over cellar-dweller duties.

1. ADELAIDE (6-0-1) 138.1%, 24PTS

Their flogging was good for the competition and possibly not a bad thing for them. Suspect the days of teams winning 19-20 games are gone. Rory Sloane can expect more regular tags.

2. GWS GIANTS (5-0-2) 123.5%, 20PTS

They are just going. Did the Giants just think it was all going to happen? Right now they make an interesting case study. The surprising part was their capitulation in the midfield. Lachie Whitfield’s imminent return will help.

The Giants slipped to their second loss of the season.

3. GEELONG (5-0-2) 121.9%, 20PTS

When a 16-team competition became 18, the talent pool was spread thin meaning most sides have two or three whose deficiencies would have previously made them AFL redundant. The Cats are no different.

4. WEST COAST (5-0-2) 112.9%, 20PTS

Looked up journeyman in the pocket Oxford and there was a photo of Jonathan Giles. What a story of persistence. As for his team, the midfield was rampant, often roving to Giles’ opposite number Paddy Ryder.

5. WESTERN BULLDOGS (5-0-2) 110%, 20PTS

Hawthorn and Geelong used to win the really tight games, now it’s the Dogs. And it often comes from young players such as Lachie Hunter, Jack Macrae, Jason Johannisen and “The Bont”.

6 . RICHMOND (5-0-2) 109.6%, 20PTS

An almost perfect response to the horrors of Adelaide. Liked the games of Brandon Ellis and Josh Caddy. But they are a side that doesn’t ooze talent, meaning they have to play close to 100 per cent each week.

Richmond were brave in defeat against the Western Bulldogs.

7. PORT ADELAIDE (4-0-3) 141.4%, 16PTS

Haven’t played a bad game but are they brilliant enough when Robbie Gray and Ollie Wines are quiet? As for their game plan, there is such a thing as over-possessing the ball.

8. ST KILDA (4-0-3) 108.9%, 16PTS

If Paul Keating truly followed the AFL, he would describe this as the win the saints had to have. They looked every bit a genuine top-four challenger, or not dissimilar to the Bulldogs last year.

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9. FREMANTLE (4-0-4) 83.6%, 16PTS

Getting six goals out of Matt Taberner and Shane Kersten is a bonus, the key is getting similar returns over the coming weeks. History says it won’t happen.

10. MELBOURNE (3-0-4) 106.7%, 12PTS

Like our weather, you get all four seasons in a day with the Demons. And sides that give up six-goal starts, often claw their way back into the game but rarely win. Ahhh, the Dees.

Callum Ah Chee celebrates a goal against Geelong.

11. GOLD COAST (3-0-4) 93.8%, 12PTS

Jarrod Witts is looking a very smart moneyball pick. David Swallow’s grunt was vital. I read just last week how Rodney Eade would supposedly be out of a job come season’s end. Don’t bet on it.

12. ESSENDON (3-0-4) 87.8%, 12PTS

Their schedule since Anzac Day has been harder than Collingwood given the Perth travel, so they deserve votes. For their troubles they only get six days before Geelong. Go figure.

13. CARLTON (3-0-4) 80.6%, 12PTS

Samo the hyphen’s enthusiasm is infectious, the poster boy for the re-set as coach Brendon Bolton likes to call it. And Levi Casboult’s improved conversion is vital. Marc Murphy’s first half set the tone.

14. NORTH MELBOURNE (2-0-5) 96.8%, 8PTS

This was supposed to be the most even season in years and thanks to North it has now become so. And who’s to say the Roos can’t play finals. Key forwards, developing mids and goal options.

Jarrad Waite was the star in North Melbourne’s win over Adelaide.

15. COLLINGWOOD (2-0-5) 90.4%, 8PTS

Brodie Grundy looks like he needs assistance or a rest. Hang on, didn’t they let Jarrod Witts go up north where he’s flying? As for their forward set-up, it displays a lack of immediate planning.

16. HAWTHORN (2-0-5) 69.6%, 8PTS

It was the old firm of Shaun Burgoyne and Luke Hodge when it counted but importantly Tim O’Brien and James Sicily controlled the airwaves. Not enough to suggest they are back but certainly not catastrophic.

17. SYDNEY SWANS (1-0-6) 87.4%, 4PTS

The Buddy Show aside, it was the easy kill they had to have and one where they got some form into Isaac Heeney, Harry Cunningham, Dean Towers and Tom Papley. Should become a factor in determining the eight.

18. BRISBANE LIONS (1-0-6) 67%, 4PTS

Get in the queue if you backed them for the most unwanted of spoons. They can’t handle the absence of any guns as in Dayne Beams, and their road for a year or two will lack bitumen.

Originally published as St Kilda and Fremantle moving up while Melbourne and Port Adelaide slip in Round 7