SuperLadder: Where your clubs sits after Round 22
WITH just one round to play before finals, the top eight still isn’t set. GWS, Geelong, Richmond, Sydney and Essendon all had big wins but where will they finish? SEE WHERE YOUR CLUB SITS
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RICHMOND is back in the top four after its 100-point thrashing of GWS but the Tigers’ top four spot is not yet assured, with Port Adelaide and Sydney breathing down their neck.
Geelong overcame a gallant Collingwood after a scare at the MCG and now can win a home qualifying final it can beat GWS at Simonds Stadium.
THE TACKLE: DOGS SET FOR TORRID POST-SEASON REVIEWS
REPORT: TIGERS IN TOP FOUR AS THEY SHOW FREO NO MERCY
ROUND 23: WHO WILL MAKES FINALS, TOP FOUR, WIN WOODEN SPOON?
FINALS: WHAT THE ROUND 22 RESULTS MEAN FOR YOUR TEAM
Who will get the final spot in the eight? Essendon has it for now and would appear in the box seat after the win over Gold Coast but if this season has taught us anything, it’s expect the unexpected.
And who will win the wooden spoon? Only percentage separates North Melbourne and Brisbane with one round to go and guess what? They play each other this weekend.
JON ANDERSON analyses your team’s form ahead of the final home-and-away round.
ADELAIDE 62 points, 139.9%
They can say what they like but their flag hopes are very closely aligned to the Texan’s (captain Taylor Walker) form. If he plays well, they can win, if he just goes, leave me out. As for Sloane, don’t tag him at your peril.
GWS GIANTS 60 points, 118.3%
No injuries but more importantly the news that Josh Kelly and Jacob Hopper are close to re-signing. Now for the flag. Brett Deledio running into form plus their fullest list to pick from for the year points to happiness.
GEELONG 58 points, 115.5%
If they produce that kick to handball ratio against GWS, then good luck on the turnovers. Tom Stewart and Sam Menegola are outstanding examples of mature-age recruiting.
RICHMOND 56 points, 116.7%
OK, they beat a rabble but the best part was the evenness of performance. It wasn’t the Awesome Foursome that set it up, more like Nank (Toby Nankervis), Ellis the Brandon, Kane Lambert and Jacob Townsend.
PORT ADELAIDE 52 points, 123.1%
Travis Boak picked a good time to play his best game for the year, maybe two years. But the reality is they don’t beat the teams above them once, let alone three or four weeks in a row.
SYDNEY SWANS 52 points, 122.6%
Has there ever been a more dangerous floater outside the top four? Imagine finishing fourth, copping Adelaide or GWS interstate and then this mob. Zip-zip has a bad ring to it.
MELBOURNE 48 points, 106.4%
They have a wonderful sense of theatre the Demons, liking to draw their supporters out. But September should happen and a win would be a bonus. Just wish Christian Petracca would kick more.
ESSENDON 44 points, 106.1%
If any group deserves September action then this it. No sporting team in the world has gone though such mental torment which says so much about their character, and their coach.
WEST COAST EAGLES 44 points, 104.3%
Reckon their season was determined last year when Nic Nat went down. They needed to rebuild but clearly overrated their list, thinking they were a chance. Otherwise why recruit Sam Mitchell?
ST KILDA 44 points, 98.9%
The five Jacks had it over 130 times in a win that emphasised their upside. Being positive you would say they are well placed for a crack, being negative would lean towards a win or two short of where they should be.
WESTERN BULLDOGS 44 points, 97.4%
Little has gone right and part of that is not dealing with the glories of 2016. Still think they have enough young talent to mount a serious challenge next year but their forward mix is a mess.
HAWTHORN 38 points, 89.8%
Tom Mitchell has polled 12 votes in each of the last two Brownlows when playing third or fourth fiddle. So I reckon he can double that and then some. Maybe we have three blokes over 30 votes.
COLLINGWOOD 34 points, 98.1%
If Buckley is re-appointed because he’s the best possible candidate, then fair call. But if he stays because a bigger fish isn’t available, then what’s that say? Because a potential eight-win season is mediocre.
FREMANTLE 32 points, 73.8%
Just a normal day at work with a dysfunctional forward line that is good for nine to 10 goals. At some stage they have to snare a power forward who can change their entire structure.
CARLTON 24 points, 80.9%
Their season has been all about development and finding players. Jarrod Pickett will be one, Zac Fisher another. As for Liam Jones, do they have an award for the best spoiler in the game?
GOLD COAST SUNS 24 points, 79.8%
A very young side but the disappointing part is we haven’t seen enough to say their kids have got it, apart from Ben Ainsworth and Brayden Fiorini. Would appear a long way off finals but that will depend on player
NORTH MELBOURNE 20 points, 84.8%
The remarkable part of a mediocre year is how their coach has escaped the microscope. That suggests their members understand where they are at, a nice luxury to have.
BRISBANE LIONS 20 points, 75.0%
It won’t happen next year because it’s too soon for the kids, but you can sense something is building and it’s seriously exciting. And they don’t take any rubbish from the big boys.
Originally published as SuperLadder: Where your clubs sits after Round 22
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