SuperLadder: Where your AFL club sits after Round 4
No one batted an eyelid when St Kilda landed Dan Butler as the steak knives to an impressive trade haul. Yet four rounds into the season, the former Tiger is one of the top-ranked forwards in the AFL and might be the recruit of the year.
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Port Adelaide has built a ridiculous percentage buffer over second place Gold Coast that is almost like an extra win, while cross-town rival Adelaide props up the competition.
The Gold Coast Matt Rowells are the surprise packet of 2020 so far, while Hawthorn is the only Victorian team in the top 4 after four rounds.
Jay Clark looks at every team’s fortunes looking ahead to Round 5.
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AFL LADDER AFTER ROUND 4
1 PORT ADELAIDE — 16 points, 236.3%
Ken Hinkley has had his critics over the journey, including his own president at times, but this is the best Port has looked under him. And they’ve done it with a no-fuss attitude in a hub. Fit and so clean with the ball.
2 GOLD COAST — 12, 131.2%
Matt Rowell might be the best first-year player we’ve ever seen. A genuine Brownlow contender after only four AFL games is madness. The Suns dominated field position, clearances (25-15) and inside 50s (50-31).
3 BRISBANE — 12, 120.5%
Could have put the Crows to the sword if they kicked straight. Lachie Neale and Hugh McCluggage kicked an extraordinary 11 behinds between them. Charlie Cameron electric but Dayne Zorko injured again.
4 HAWTHORN — 10, 101.1%
It’s a tough fixture for the Hawks who will head up to Sydney to take on the Giants. First game for spearhead Jon Patton against his old teammates. Made a controversial call not to try to play for GWS late last season.
5 COLLINGWOOD — 8, 154.3%
A Brayden Maynard turnover in defence and a missed Chris Mayne set shot late were costly. As much as Jeremy Howe’s injury hurts, they have coverage. Jack Madgen, Matthew Scharenberg and even Lynden Dunn all work.
6 GEELONG — 8, 110.9%
The Cats controlled this game around the boundary line to ensure it wasn’t dragged into a frenetic end-to-end contest against Melbourne. But they almost let it slip late when Mark O’Connor coughed it up. Lachie Henderson potentially in for Tom Stewart.
7 ST KILDA — 8, 107.5%
Dan Butler was not in anyone’s top-20 best trade move lists, but he had the game of his life against his old side. Big ticks for the Saints’ gutsy list moves as Zak Jones and Brad Hill fired too. Jack Billings’ five clearances in the guts was a new high.
8 ESSENDON — 8, 106%
As much as Jacob Townsend’s late set shot almost pinched it for them, Carlton deserved the win, ending a weird week for Essendon on a flat note. All eyes will turn to Joe Daniher’s comeback bid, as he’s the type of key forward the Bombers are lacking.
9 NORTH MELBOURNE — 8, 102.9%
This is awkward, but should Curtis Taylor have let Ben Brown take the final-minute set shot when they both claimed the mark? He hit the post with the shot. Got to love how brave the Roos were fighting back without Ben Cunnington.
10 GWS — 8, 96.4%
The intensity and potency which had been missing around the ball returned in the win over Collingwood. Toby Greene remains a box-office hit, despite all the hate. Will the Giants continue to use Stephen Coniglio as a sacrificial forward?
11 SYDNEY — 8, 92.8%
The Swans are really struggling to win games at the SCG. The three tall experiment didn’t work against the Dogs but Sam Naismith’s knee injury forces them to change it. It’s Tom Papley and Isaac Heeney or bust in attack.
12 CARLTON — 8, 92.3%
For all of the hype about Charlie Curnow (knee) and Harry McKay (ribs), it was Levi Casboult and Mitch McGovern who delivered big on Saturday night. David Cuningham played his best game and Patrick Cripps didn’t have to carry the side. The Blues are turning around a poor start to the season.
13 WESTERN BULLDOGS — 8, 84.1%
Is Marcus Bontempelli an early contender as All-Australian captain. Has been enormous two weeks in a row and ruckman Tim English showed shades of Den Cox the way he can move and use the ball. Aaron Naughton leaves a huge hole though.
14 RICHMOND — 6, 87.9%
We were talking premiership dynasties before the season started, but the reigning premier is stuck in second gear. Dropped four players but still no spark against the Saints. The Tigers biggest names are the ones most out of form. Five-day break coming up too.
15 MELBOURNE — 4, 83.7%
The Dees need to go to school hard on making the most of their opportunities in the forward half. The method didn’t work again yesterday. Their midfield can win it, but conversion was amiss again. Kysaiah Pickett so exciting.
16 WEST COAST — 4, 68.8%
Looks like the Eagles can’t wait to get home. Tim Kelly and Nic Naitanui haven’t had the impact they would have liked and Port shut down their uncontested kicking game. Could be season over already if they lose a fifth-straight game to Richmond on Thursday.
17 FREMANTLE — 0, 78.4%
Going to lose Nat Fyfe for about three weeks to a hamstring injury which exposes the young midfield without its superstar. While it’s a good opportunity for some youngsters to step up, they could be headed for the spoon if they lose to Adelaide.
18 ADELAIDE — 0, 51.9%
Taylor Walker ignited the Crows’ comeback with two quick goals in the third term, taking some of the heat briefly off Matthew Nicks after another terrible first half. But the inside 50s (61 to 28) tell the story here.
MORE AFL:
The Tackle: Mark Robinson’s likes and dislikes from Round 4 of the AFL season
KFC SuperCoach: Fantasy Freako breaks down the key numbers of Round 4
AFL players put on notice over how holding-the-ball will be paid in the future
Originally published as SuperLadder: Where your AFL club sits after Round 4