Super Ladder: Every club’s form rated after Round 11

Tom Lynch and Ben Brown have both copped heat this year. But Jon Anderson says the Tigers spearhead could learn plenty from the North Melbourne star.

Isaac Smith of the Hawks.

Tom Lynch and Ben Brown were two of the star attractions of Friday night footy in Round 11.

Many expected the Tigers spearhead to assert himself on the big stage, but it was Brown who led the way with five goals in Rhyce Shaw’s first match as coach.

Geelong put an eight-point gap on the competition in Round 11 after surprise stumbles from Richmond and Collingwood, who suddenly face a danger game next weekend..

Scroll down to see Jon Anderson’s take on every club’s form.

1. GEELONG 40pts 144.9%

For ball use, is there a better exponent in the game than Mitch Duncan? Brandan Parfitt’s game was good on the usual stats, but huge on second and third efforts. His team will welcome the upcoming break after a chance to win a finals-type game at the ’G. Esava Ratugolea played his best game with clean possession and slicker movement.

2. GWS GIANTS 32pts 139%

They remain the great unknown come September, because they will be there and in the top four. What they do boast is the hardest mobile tall forward crew to match up on in Jeremy Cameron, Jeremy Finlayson and Harrison Himmelberg, a different look than previous years

3. COLLINGWOOD 32pts 14.4%

To paraphrase that once passionate Pie in Paul Keating, this was the loss they needed to have. They have been winning of late while short of peak levels with Dayne Beams a long way off his best form. Suddenly, next Monday against the Demons becomes a far more challenging assignment.

Dayne Beams is well short of his best.

4. WEST COAST 32pts 108.8%

Darling, Jack, is firing. The Eagles are arguably the best-equipped side capable of scoring quickly. Home finals beckon.

5. BRISBANE LIONS 28pts 104.9%

To beat good teams in Adelaide and Hawthorn at their last home outings, with an agonising loss to Freo away in between, is compelling form. Harris Andrews is in the best three key defenders going around and Jarryd Lyons is one of those astute money ball selections at his third club.

6. RICHMOND 28pts 101.3%

The Tigers at Marvel Stadium resemble Superman and Kryptonite. Tom Lynch should emulate the running capacity of his opposite number in Ben Brown, because right now Lynch limits his scoring opportunities by not running enough. The absence of Toby Nankervis is akin to GWS losing Shane Mumford.

7. PORT ADELAIDE 24pts, 110.9%

It’s one thing to have promising kids, but even better when they are natural goalkickers such as Connor Rozee, Kane Farrell, Xavier Duursma and Riley Bonner. Then again, their team is turning Jiangwan Stadium into a fortress. Maybe they should convince the AFL to let them play more silly games there.

8. ADELAIDE 24pts 110.7%

Good to see Brad Crouch add serious hurt factor to his game via the scoreboard. And they won’t be going too far unless Tom Lynch is playing, given he is the best player of his type in the game. Importantly, Josh Jenkins started to look like a damaging footballer again

9. FREMANTLE 24pts 109%

In terms of travelling, beating GWS and Collingwood is the best form of any contender. Loved the game of Rory Lobb against Brodie Grundy while Reece Conca did the little things that matter. And this is a side barely recognisable from three-four years ago as Ross Lyon places his faith in kids.

10. ESSENDON 20pts 102.9%

In terms of hit-outs to advantage, Tom Bellchambers is as good as anyone going around. Matt Guelfi is just a hard-at-it, old-fashioned footballer, no power steering but straight ahead. Given the Bombers outs’, their win puts a temporary halt to talk about their coach.

11. HAWTHORN 20pts 101.2%

It’s about where they are at, never easybeats but very much in the category of “could make the eight but won’t go far if they do”. Isaac Smith isn’t going to get more than a year at a time on 2019 form, meaning he will become a trade target. Surely Jarryd Roughead comes right into calculations after the bye.

Isaac Smith will be a trade target at the end of the season.

12. ST KILDA 20pts, 85.6%

Starting to get a bit ugly but At least they have a manageable run home, if there is such a thing today. When they hollered for a Marshall in the 2017 rookie draft, they got more than they could have possibly hoped for in a ruckman named Rowan Marshall from Portland.

13. NORTH MELBOURNE 16pts 91%

Different coach, different positioning, allowing Luke Davies-Uniacke to show us what all the fuss was about. That’s what will really excite North fans — the kids in UDK, Jy Simpkin, Tarryn Thomas and the tackling machine Cameron Zurhaar. Strap the seatbelts for an interesting 11 matches to come under a Shaw thing.

14. WESTERN BULLDOGS 16pts 88.7%

As someone once dared suggest to Mick Malthouse, the Bulldogs came to play but were well short of the Eagles quality and, as such, short of September quality. Their list management is going to be interesting; are they prepared to give up a good one to get into the draft?

15. SYDNEY 12pts 84.5%

Trying to think of a player who gathers possessions with the same obscurity as Jake Lloyd. His team’s wastefulness cost it leading at halftime, and the chance to take the crowd out of it. Jordan Dawson’s journey continues upward, as does that of another Irishman in Colin O’Riordan.

16. MELBOURNE 12pts 77.8%

In terms of fluency and connection, their first half was the best they have looked this year. No coincidence that Clayton Oliver and Angus Brayshaw were at season-high levels in that period. Sadly, the eight is now a mirage but the team that takes them lightly on the way home will cop a spanking.

Clayton Oliver couldn’t lift the Demons to victory. Picture: Getty Images

17. GOLD COAST 12pts 69.8%

The worry was, and is, how long could this ravaged list remain competitive? They have to sell their dream so promising kids like Ben King are happy to remain in the land of much sun. Desperately require an experienced and successful head like Brisbane has done with Luke

Hodge. Maybe Isaac Smith?

18. CARLTON 4pts 74.3%

The Blues have one champion player Patrick Cripps who gets a heavy tag every week, and throwing him forward doesn’t work because the ball doesn’t go there often enough. So unless his midfield teammates can block, Cripps is in trouble. Darcy Lang’s job is to convert, not miss set shots.

Originally published as Super Ladder: Every club’s form rated after Round 11