SuperLadder Round 2: Jon Anderson looks at all 18 teams on the AFL ladder

A loss to the Bulldogs will not sit well with Hawthorn but don’t underestimate what will come of it. Meanwhile, Melbourne and Essendon — both tipped ot be big improvers in 2019 — are in all kinds of trouble.

Some picked Geelong to miss the finals all together, but the Cats are purring with two big wins from as many starts to top the ladder, while Melbourne and Essendon — both tipped ot be big improvers in 2019 — sit in the AFL cellar.

JON ANDERSON puts every side under the microscope.

THE TACKLE: WHO WAS THE AFL’S BIGGEST LOSER?

No wonder Tom Hawkins is smiling — the Cats are on top of the ladder! Picture: AFL Photos

1. GEELONG — 8 POINTS, 178.4%

Is there a team that has changed complexion more, up back with Clark and O’Connor, midfield in Constable and Ratugolea, forward through Dahlhaus, Rohan, Atkins and Miers? A Rebuild by architects Scott-Wells. Injuries: Henry (hamstring). SuperCoach: Danger (154) showed why he is the No.1 forward to have this season.

2. BRISBANE — 8 POINTS, 144.1%

Batman and Robin have nothing on Cameron and McCarthy. And as good as Beams was, maybe Neale is a better version. And younger, plus he wants to be there. The Big O (McInerney) is an exciting work in progress. Injuries: Rayner (thigh), McStay (face). SuperCoach: McInerny’s $317K price tag might put you off, but he’s fun to watch. Neale (140) is now No.1 on rankings.

3. PORT ADELAIDE — 8 POINTS, 131.6%

Boak is in his best nick for sometime, while the baby-faced assassin Butters will be a ripper. Dixon is a few weeks off but his presence is vital because his team can over-possess. Injuries: Watts (leg), Amon (knee). SuperCoach: Lycett (167), who knew. Rocky (116) and kids Drew (90), Butters (88) and Rozee (85) all bargains.

4. WESTERN BULLDOGS— 8 POINTS, 123.7%

Never give a sucker or Hawthorn an even break, and that’s exactly what the doggies did in the second quarter. So to come back again displayed some serious character, which can become infectious. Injuries: Nil. SuperCoach: Libberatore (128) showed why you must have him. Macrae (127) ain’t cheap, but is gold.

5. ST KILDA— 8 POINTS, 108.1%

Have said it before and will say it again, Marshall is a beauty. His follow up work gives them an extra midfielder. What his teammates need to do is convert, which is a repeating horror movie. Injuries: Nil. SuperCoach: Gresham (121) and Marshall (114) great, while if Parker (89) is not in your side, but now.

The Saints are on top of the ladder, with Josh Bruce in red-hot form.

6. FREMANTLE — 4 POINTS, 165.8%

Flirted with 100-plus scoring but didn’t like the view before reverting to their predictable 60-odd points. A strange football team, impossible to label until they get numbers back. Injuries: Nil. SuperCoach: Walters (50) crashed but Brad Hill (133) pipped Fyfe (124).

7. COLLINGWOOD — 4 POINTS, 126.8%

In terms of athleticism, no centre half-back is closer to the great Peter Knights than Darcy Moore. His ability to close space will pose sleepless nights for opposition analysts. Injuries: Nil. SuperCoach: Grundy (137) back to last year’s glory, but not alone. Ten Pies broke ton.

8. GWS — 4 POINTS, 113.9%

No need to hit the panic button given Ward, Mumford, Greene and Kelly were missing. But the Giants didn’t run hard enough the other way which is a cardinal sin against the Eagles. Injuries: Davis (eye). SuperCoach: Whitfield (123) the only Giant worthy out west.

9. HAWTHORN — 4 POINTS, 108.1%

Seemed to have corrected as insipid second term, so to lose like that is both unacceptable and rare under Clarkson, although don’t underestimate their lack of run with two down. Injuries: Shiels (hamstring), Burgoyne (hamstring). SuperCoach: Henderson (136) had day out, but Scrimshaw’s 79 makes him a handy cash-cow.

The Hawks weren’t a happy team after squandering a big lead against the Bulldogs. Picture: AAP

10. WEST COAST — 4 POINTS, 105.2%

Hickey showed Lycett’s defection can be covered. Then it came down to their 2018 flag heroes. The Eagles dominate home games like Nadal on clay. Now they return to the G as outsiders. Injuries: Nil. SuperCoach: Gov (134) back to best, while Hickey (139) worth considering.

11. GOLD COAST — 4 POINTS, 101.4%

Given he has been there from the start, and unlike most others hasn’t left, Harbrow deserves to be rated the Suns’ finest player. Swallow is on his way to next best. Injuries: Nil. SuperCoach: Swallow (140) led five Suns over 100, but avoid Lukosius (16).

12. ADELAIDE — 4 POINTS, 96.0%

The Crows dropped their Leyland Brothers impersonations by taking a more direct route, and didn’t Walker and Jenkins love it? The one-tjme Matthew Hayden wannabe in Keith is a quiet achiever. Injuries: Jacobs (knee). SuperCoach: Milera and Sloane topped list with 105.

13. RICHMOND — 4 POINTS, 93.7%

You are cruisin’ for a bruisin’ when you allow a good team so much easy ball. Maybe the bagmen are the best to ask. Tigers went from $4.50 to $9 for the flag. Injuries: Riewoldt (wrist) Vlastuin (thumb). SuperCoach: 15 scores below 70 and not one above 100. Short (91) was best.

14. SYDNEY — 0 POINTS, 74.7%

In cricket parlance, the Swans have a fair tail and no longer boast the same number of guns. To have remained final eight competitive for most of the 2000s is a credit, but wasn’t it a Walrus who said the time has come? Injuries: Heeney (ankle). SuperCoach: Heeney’s 67 and injury equals trade now. Lloyd (124) now a must have.

15. CARLTON — 0 POINTS, 73.5%

You can see the midfield blossoming, with Petrevski-Seton, Dow and Walsh combining with ruckman Phillips. Weitering was composed and Gibbons’ forward pressure was compelling. Injuries: C.Curnow (jarred knee). SuperCoach: Cripps (116) still All-Australian hot. Cash-cows all went OK.

16. NORTH MELBOURNE — 0 POINTS, 58.9%

Get the bloke who cloned that Jolly Jumbuck named Dolly, and get him to produce a couple more Cunningtons. As for his team, they seem to lack a bit of cream. Injuries: Williams (ankle). SuperCoach: Scott (24) injured, so keep an eye on Tarryn Thomas (46) next week but few to get excited about except Cunnington (159) and Davies-Uniacke (118).

17. ESSENDON — 0 POINTS, 55.9%

The absence of Hooker and Daniher is significant, but not enough to explain such an insipid start. Not sure what the Dons stand for in playing style. Too many chiefs, not enough Indians. Injuries: Stringer (ankle). SuperCoach: Shiel (1116) and Saad (104) scored well again, but 14 under 80.

18. MELBOURNE — 0 POINTS, 50.2%

Nothing is as bad as it seems, although Hogan’s forward absence is creating a void that Tom McDonald, Petracca, Weideman and Fritsch are as yet unable to fill. But they will click. Injuries: May (groin). SuperCoach: Oliver (141), Gawn (116) and Viney (109) rebounded after last week.

It’s been an ugly couple of weeks for the Demons. Picture: Getty Images

Originally published as SuperLadder Round 2: Jon Anderson looks at all 18 teams on the AFL ladder