SuperLadder: Jon Ralph assesses your club at Round 12
RICHMOND’S grip on the top two was weakened as Sydney emerged as a premiership contender, while Adelaide fell further off the pace. JON RALPH looks at where your club sits.
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RICHMOND is in danger of losing its position in the top two as Port Adelaide made a statement on last Friday night.
Sydney and Geelong emerged as premiership contenders as Adelaide slipped further off the pace.
JON RALPH takes a look at where your club stands at Round 12.
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GAME ANALYST: ANONYMOUS ‘GENIUS’ DEES’ SECRET WEAPON
TOUGH CALL: KANGAROOS HAVE DILEMMA WITH ATLEY
1. WEST COAST (11-0-1) 133.5% 40pts
Friday’s clash against Swans in Sydney shapes as match of the year so far. Shuey and Liam Ryan just about ready to return, Darling (leg) has time to build towards finals. A team once known as the evil enemy might be the league’s saviour with high-octane, highly watchable footy.
2. RICHMOND (9-0-3) 135.6% 36pts
The Tigers won a flag on star power, pressure and zero injuries. Didn’t have any of them on Friday and played accordingly. Must go all out for top-two with Eagles the No.1 seed and Sydney surging.
3. SYDNEY (9-0-3) 125.7% 36pts
How can Suns and Saints youngsters flail yet kids of same talent instantly make a splash at Sydney? Culture. Missed finals once since 2003, remarkable really. Clear premiership contender. Hannebery (three kicks) still a worry.
4. MELBOURNE (8-0-3) 140.2% 32pts
Please let Monday’s game live up to the hype in a drab season of many unwatchable games. Who said there isn’t revenge in footy? Pies ended Dees’ finals chances in Round 23, can they put things right? Gawn must run hard forward to goal on Grundy.
5. GEELONG (8-0-4) 131.1% 32pts
Blicavs rivals Caddy as 2018’s most-improved player. The Cats’ defensive mechanism gives them a finals strength they haven’t had for years amid a recent 3-8 finals record. Danger finally looks injury-free.
6. NORTH MELBOURNE (7-0-5) 125.1% 28pts
The Roos were far from disgraced despite the margin. Waite’s availability is crucial as Brown gets triple-teamed in his absence. Jacobs playing well enough to make All-Aus selectors consider a tagger.
7. COLLINGWOOD (7-0-4) 115.7% 28pts
A season-defining contest today for the Pies. Knock over the Dees and they get to 8-4, with Carlton, Gold Coast (otherwise known as the bye) and Essendon ahead, plus Moore, Elliott and Varcoe to return. Can Pendles knock over the ginger ninja (Oliver) at the stoppages?
8. PORT ADELAIDE (7-0-4) 108.2% 28pts
Line-in-the-sand win for Port, with seven Adelaide Oval fixtures still to come. Wines was Voss-like. Wonder if a Vic club offering him funny money (something like $8m over six years) is reason for contract pause?
9. GWS (6-1-5) 112% 26pts
De Boer (three goals) one of footy’s great survivors, Cameron showed again why he could be great if he pulled his finger out. Flag chances still rise and fall on Greene’s toe.
10. ADELAIDE (6-0-6) 106.1% 24pts
Two games and percentage off top four. Would have to do an... Adelaide to win the flag. We know about the injuries. But if we laud Betts’ brilliance, we have to wonder if his 2.6 cost them on Sunday night.
11. HAWTHORN (6-0-5) 104.8% 24pts
The Hawks need to win seven of 11 to make finals and face the Suns, Dogs, Lions, Carlton, Freo, Essendon and St Kilda, so a huge chance. Midfield still short of one more A-grader but Cyril back soon and heaps of development in a year Clarko knows probably won’t see a flag.
12. ESSENDON (5-0-7) 90.2% 20pts
Not much to get renowned jokester Woosha cracking gags. But sometimes you just need the four points. Stringer has strung three good ones together, as the name suggests.
13. FREMANTLE (5-0-7) 82.8% 20pts
No jokes here, Cox’s breakout game (four goals) was a cracker. With no Fyfe and Sandi, so much to like about the kids. Brayshaw good, Rising Star chance Cerra great. Ed Langdon is a ripper.
14. WESTERN BULLDOGS (4-0-7) 75.2% 16pts
Picken’s return from concussion is imminent, Naughton and Richards are exciting finds. Apart from that, hard to find another positive from the first 11 rounds. If Dahlhaus and Roughead want quality deals, time to earn them. Wallis surely going elsewhere at year’s end.
15. GOLD COAST (3-0-7) 62.1% 12pts
The Suns are a drain on the league — unwatchable, devoid of star power, devoid of hope. Gave up pick No.2 for Weller, who is just going. Only argument now about Lynch is whether they match a bid or accept a top-5 pick as compensation.
16. ST KILDA (1-1-10) 68.7% 6pts
The Wallabies were wonderful. Because who didn’t start flicking back and forth after St Kilda’s worst quarter in years? Pathetic, really. Kind of loss that for the first time makes board members start whispering.
17. BRISBANE (1-0-11) 78.7% 4pts
That one stings. A dishonourable loss given equal shots at goal and Heppell down and out. Hodge’s “sorry, not sorry” hit on Heppell won’t see him suspended, Andrews the sleeper for All-Australian full-back.
18. CARLTON (1-0-11) 63.5% 4pts
Six winnable games in the Blues’ run home — Freo twice, Brisbane, St Kilda, Gold Coast and the Dogs. Fear for Cripps’ body with the load he carries. Must keep Murphy and find a strong-bodied free-agency midfielder. Need to see more from SPS, Weitering, Lang, Cuningham.
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Originally published as SuperLadder: Jon Ralph assesses your club at Round 12
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