Super Ladder: Jon Anderson reviews every AFL club after Round 18 of the 2019 season
Richmond is the sleeping giant of the competition and knocking Collingwood out of the top four this week will be sweet revenge after last year’s preliminary final letdown.
This Friday night’s blockbuster between Collingwood and Richmond will be huge with a top-four spot on the line.
The Tigers are on the charge, while the Magpies are spluttering.
Geelong’s hold on top spot is looking shaky and the Western Bulldogs squandered a big chance to close in on the eight.
Jon Anderson assesses where every clubs sits after Round 18.
WASTEFUL: FINALS APPEAR OUT OF REACH FOR DOGS
SECOND LAST: WE’RE SICK OF LOSING, SAYS GOODWIN
1. GEELONG 52 pts 135.8%
The Cats appear uncertain as to their best side. It will include Nakia Cockatoo, who is a chance for VFL action this weekend. It won’t include two or three who had little impact on Sunday. Ruckman Ryan Abbott will surely be looked at after Ben McEvoy dominated.
2. BRISBANE 48pts 114.9%
As his team goes on its fabulous winning ways, it has become easier for Luke Hodge to set-up across half-back. And that makes 16-17 games in 2020 a real possibility. We often want to end careers rather than celebrate them, so hopefully the body allows the knockabout from Colac to play again.
3. WEST COAST 48pts 113.5%
Was it the performance of a back-to-back premier? Normally you would say no but the nature of the season makes such predictions dangerous. Just can’t stop thinking losing Nic Nat was the key, because while he wasn’t there last year, Scott Lycett was.
4. COLLINGWOOD 44pts 111.9%
A game where injuries couldn’t be used as an excuse because the opposition had more of significance. And the Magpies were a long way off it, suggesting some issues in their mental preparation.
5. RICHMOND 44pts 107.5%
The sleeping Tiger is suddenly every team’s worst nightmare, a side desperately hurting at stuffing up last year. They can begin to rectify that this Friday against the Pies. Now it comes down to risking Alex Rance or not.
6. GWS 40pts 123.6%
One of the most significant wins in this club’s history. They still have to put up with the quips about all their talent, when in reality the 22 that beat Collingwood had plenty of blue collar workers. But they had spirit and that will count in September
7. ESSENDON 40pts 103.9%
In the words of Billy Ocean, “when the going gets tough, the tough get going”. It helps when Zac Merrett lifts his rating from “very good player” to “game changer”. Don’t tell me Aaron Francis can’t become a regular with some serious upside. Mitch Brown is a wonderful story of persistence
8. ADELAIDE 36pts 110.2%
The Crows get don’t get value from possession, their forays inside 50m resemble the meanderings of a Saturday-night drunk. Their midfield has a sameness, one that can be exposed by any team with serious wheels. And the side that squandered a five-goal lead is hardly full of kids.
9. PORT ADELAIDE 32pts 102.3%
The Power played with some resolve and simply came up short against a more talented opponent. This group has rolled along for a few seasons now, making no impact of significance. So if any team requires a post-season review, none is better qualified than Port.
10. HAWTHORN 32pts 101.9%
Their opposition may have had more tackles, but the Hawks produced the ones that counted. Most importantly, Mitch Lewis continued to look like a serious key forward, making the decision on Jarryd Roughead a correct one. Liam Shiels is a players’ player, no flashy extras but extremely reliable.
11. FREMANTLE 32pts 96.2%
Trying to rate where Ross Lyon sits with Australia’s leading comedians? His press conferences are a joy to behold, his comedic style based on years of feeding the media chooks. Now we wait for the next coming of his Purple Haze, an outfit that when fit may be closer than many realise.
12. WESTERN BULLDOGS 32pts 93.4%
Maybe the Dogs were due, but that doesn’t excuse the nature of Sunday’s loss given they were so poor early. Making up huge margins is nigh on impossible the way team’s can shut down defensively in today’s game. The Dogs are one of so many sides that could go either way next year.
13. NORTH MELBOURNE 28pts 94.8%
For evenness of performance in the past two months, they are up their with the Bombers. And Jed Anderson is a poster boy for hard-nosed consistency. Interesting that Rhyce Shaw is getting so much out of his senior group, setting up 2020 if the Joeys can produce natural improvement.
14. ST KILDA 28pts 82.9%
It would be intriguing to understand the mind-set of former coach Alan Richardson, to see players suddenly do what he has been asking for over six years. We’ve had three coaches depart mid-season before, but have we ever seen the interim men all get the full-time gig? The answer is not yet.
15. SYDNEY 24 pts 95.4%
They aren’t unlike Freo, a young team that is getting games into kids and as such are well placed for the future (hence their coach staying). Tom Papley’s infectious playing style needs to be matched by clinical finishing, although the Blues are determined to lure him home.
16. CARLTON 20pts 85.6%
When your brother is an excitement machine, it can be easy to be overlooked, but Ed Curnow’s form under David Teague has been exceptional. Harry McKay, as is the case with young tall forwards, has good and bad games but there is some serious mouth-watering upside.
18. GOLD COAST 12pts 64.8%
After some recent horror stories it was important to bring a competitive game. Jack Lukosius is going to be one right out of the box, so his and Ben King’s signatures can set the hapless Suns on a path pointing towards happiness. The alternative is too grim to contemplate.
Originally published as Super Ladder: Jon Anderson reviews every AFL club after Round 18 of the 2019 season
Hunter tragedy latest shock to strike the ‘good-time Eagles’
Ben Cousins was the poster boy for the downfall of West Coast before his remarkable life turnaround. Adam Hunter’s tragic death is the latest example that not every Eagle was as lucky.
Jamarra takes first step towards Bulldogs return
He may not be in Queensland with the rest of his teammates, but Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has taken the first steps towards a return as the Dogs near a decision on their final list spot.