SuperLadder: Where your team sits after Round 8
COLLINGWOOD has dropped to second last on the AFL ladder in Nathan Buckley’s make or break year, while Richmond missed a huge opportunity. WHERE YOUR CLUB SITS
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DESPITE another shock loss Adelaide remains on top of the AFL ladder after eight rounds but GWS and West Coast are below the Crows on percentage only.
Richmond was one of the big losers of the round despite their narrow loss, missing the opportunity to join the trio as equal-league leaders, separated only by percentage.
Collingwood supporters might be proud of their team's efforts against GWS according to coach Nathan Buckley but one of the ramifications of the honourable loss is slumping to second last on the ladder.
THE TACKLE: BUCKLEY JUST CAN’T TAKE A TRICK
UMPIRING: WERE THE TIGERS ROBBED?
ANALYSIS: CATS ARE PLAYING BRUISE-FREE FOOTY
MATCH REPORT: ARE THE SWANS BACK?
The Magpies expect to be playing finals this season and despite a tough early-season draw, the club wouldn’t have expected to be ahead of only Brisbane.
St Kilda was one of the big winners, jumping from eighth to sixth after their win over Carlton, while Geelong has dropped again after their third-straight loss.
Where does your club sit?
ADELAIDE 24pts, 127.2%
What a fickle friend she is, that mistress named form. I will ask the question again, if their midfield classy enough come September? Their response to a pair of shockers will tell us plenty.
GWS 24pts, 120.6%
Nothing the genius would like more than being declared dead and almost buried, just to kick the match-winner. How we will miss him, but hopefully not until some more glory days.
WEST COAST EAGLES 24pts, 112.9%
Sure, they win by more if they kick straight but they also require a more significant output from their small and mid-size forwards to compliment a rampant midfield. Top four is very realistic.
PORT ADELAIDE 20pts, 150.8%
Just reward for a remarkably consistent side. Coach Hinkley would be pleased with the spread of effort. Not sure if they are classy enough but confident they’ll be in the firing line.
GEELONG 20pts, 116.5%
Who could hold their head up after an insipid first half? Cockatoo doesn’t win enough ball, Stanley and Smith float in and out of the game and Blicavs is well short of his optimum.
ST KILDA 20pts, 110.7%
The knock would be over-possession given the amount of ball they had for just 12 goals. That’s why McCartin is vital because he runs straight and hard. He would have booted six with that supply.
RICHMOND 20pts, 108.2%
Yes, they made it hard but still missed three very gettable set shots late. And ignored two vital handball gives inside 50m, which comes down to playing for your team and not yourself.
WESTERN BULLDOGS 20pts, 107.8%
Like Marvellous Marvin Hagler in his prime, they just keep coming. Haven’t been settled in team selection at any stage so 5-3 is acceptable, if slightly precarious, making Geelong vital.
FREMANTLE 20pts, 85.4%
Walters being released up the ground compensated for the loss of the older Hill. Kersten’s link-up forward work was a vital cog. And then there was Mundy’s kick, straight out of a text book.
MELBOURNE 16pts, 111.9%
Up with their most significant wins in the past decade. And what were they, five goals down during the second quarter? The undersized Pederson is highlighting just how the ruck position faces extinction.
ESSENDON 16pts, 91.4%
Just what John Worsfold ordered to keep this season on track. And their best players were the future of the club. Merrett backs up his obvious class with a rare workrate.
GOLD COAST SUNS 12pts, 86.2%
Not a lot to write, or text, home about. “We just saw lots of Chinese, plenty of rice and even more Port Power backsides”. PS: Plus Tom and Gazza didn’t get a kick when it mattered.
CARLTON 12pts, 80.3%
Weitering should be allowed to develop as a key back and in time form a defensive unit with Marchbank, Docherty, Byrne and Plowman. So let’s see McKay up forward.
HAWTHORN 12pts, 76.5%
Reckon you could throw Mitchell into the Champions League for Real Madrid and he would find plenty of it. Importantly Burton, Hartung and Howe had their best games for the season.
SYDNEY SWANS 8pts, 94.3%
It was always too bad to be true. And no coincidence that Heeney is flying again. Can the Swans make the eight? Of course they can given there are few really good sides in it.
NORTH MELBOURNE 8pts, 92.1%
The Roos aren’t going to win too many if Brown and Wood aren’t factors, but still an extremely disappointing team performance after flogging the Crows. Not the effort of a finals side.
COLLINGWOOD 8pts, 91.4%
Not sure Buckley got it right when he declared finals or bust for him. What about extreme competitiveness every week and ninth spot with 12 wins? Does he keep his job then, and for one or two years?
BRISBANE LIONS 4pts, 67.0%
For the third year in a row they are copping the wrong end of the stick with injuries. It does get games into the kids although you prefer them not to be in beltings.
Originally published as SuperLadder: Where your team sits after Round 8
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