Every AFL club’s predicted ladder position on the ladder at the mid-season byes
He’s been hailed a generational talent and Harley Reid’s draft fate could be sealed as soon as round 10. Check out our predicted ladder at round 15 to see why.
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The mid-season byes are just around the corner and the AFL ladder is beginning to take shape as the best sides separate themselves from the rest.
We’ve taken a look at every team’s fixture over the next seven weeks in a bid to predict where each side might sit at the end of the bye rounds.
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE FULL PREDICTED LADDER
ADELAIDE
R9: St Kilda @ Adelaide (W)
R10: Western Bulldogs @ Mars (L)
R11: Brisbane @ Adelaide (W)
R12: Gold Coast @ TIO (W)
R13: West Coast @ Adelaide (W)
R14: Bye
R15: Collingwood @ MCG (L)
Predicted Record: 8-6
Predicted Ladder Position: 6th
The Crows are heading in the right direction and there are some very winnable games coming up before the bye. The side has won three of its past four games at the Adelaide Oval this year and has three of its next five games at the venue. All going well, Matthew Nicks’ side won’t be outside of the top-eight for long as it eyes a first finals appearance since 2017.
BRISBANE LIONS
R9: Essendon @ Gabba (W)
R10: Gold Coast @ Gabba (W)
R11: Adelaide @ Adelaide (L)
R12: Bye
R13: Hawthorn @ MCG (W)
R14: Sydney @ Gabba (W)
R15: St Kilda @ Marvel (W)
Predicted Record: 11-3
Predicted Ladder Position: 4th
Since a Round 3 loss to the Western Bulldogs, Brisbane has not put a foot wrong. The Lions have won their past five games and have scored 100 points or more in each of them. They should not have too much trouble against Essendon or Gold Coast in home games over the next two weeks. Adelaide on the road might be tricky, as could Sydney if the Swans get their game going again post-bye. But at the moment all roads lead to a fourth top-four finish in five years for Brisbane.
CARLTON
R9: Western Bulldogs @ Marvel (W)
R10: Collingwood @ MCG (L)
R11: Sydney @ SCG (L)
R12: Melbourne @ MCG (L)
R13: Essendon @ MCG (W)
R14: Gold Coast @ MCG (W)
R15: Bye
Predicted Record: 7-6-1
Predicted Ladder Position: 10th
It is a must win for Michael Voss’ men against Western Bulldogs this week. Lose that and Carlton will be in a world of pain with finals hopes quickly fading. If the Blues can get enough quality supply to their forwards, they should be able to trouble the Bulldogs’ defence. But that’s a big ‘if’. After that, games against the Pies, Swans and Demons will be incredibly tough. On current form, it is hard to see Carlton being inside the top-eight at the bye, which will leave much work to do in the final third of the season.
COLLINGWOOD
R9: GWS @ MCG (W)
R10: Carlton @ MCG (W)
R11: North Melbourne @ Marvel (W)
R12: West Coast @ Optus (W)
R13: Melbourne @ MCG (L)
R14: Bye
R15: Adelaide @ MCG (W)
Predicted Record: 12-2
Predicted Ladder Position: 1st
The Magpies just keep getting jobs done and sit a game clear on top of the ladder a third of the way through the season. Preliminary finalists last year, they are now outright premiership favourites this season at short odds of $4 after four wins on the trot. It’s hard to see Collingwood dropping any of their next four games, three of which are against bottom-six sides. The traditional King’s Birthday clash with Melbourne looks like being a top-of-the-table blockbuster.
ESSENDON
R9: Brisbane @ Gabba (L)
R10: Richmond @ MCG (L)
R11: West Coast @ Optus (W)
R12: North Melbourne @ Marvel (W)
R13: Carlton @ MCG (L)
R14: Bye
R15: Fremantle @ Optus (L)
Predicted Record: 6-8
Predicted Ladder Position: 12th
There are a few cracks starting to open up in the Bombers’ defence, after what was a positive start to the year. Essendon has now lost its past three matches – albeit against some quality sides in Port Adelaide, Geelong and Collingwood. A clash with fourth-placed Brisbane this week won’t be any easier a task, while the Bombers have lost their past 13 games against Richmond. The Bombers might sit ninth on the ladder now, but they have a lot more work to do if they want to be a genuine finals contender.
FREMANTLE
R9: Sydney @ SCG (L)
R10: Geelong @ Optus (L)
R11: Melbourne @ MCG (L)
R12: Bye
R13: Richmond @ Optus (L)
R14: GWS @ GIANTS (L)
R15: Essendon @ Optus (W)
Predicted Record: 4-10
Predicted Ladder Position: 15th
The Dockers got back on the winners’ board on the weekend, but so they should have at home against a struggling Hawthorn. The real challenges lie ahead in the next three weeks, when they face last year’s two Grand Finalists followed by second-placed Melbourne. There won’t be any revival from here from a side which featured in finals last season.
GEELONG
R9: Richmond @ MCG (W)
R10: Fremantle @ Optus (W)
R11: GWS @ GMHBA (W)
R12: Western Bulldogs @ Marvel (W)
R13: Bye
R14: Port Adelaide @ Adelaide (W)
R15: Melbourne @ GMHBA (W)
Predicted Record: 11-3
Predicted Ladder Position: 2nd
Those who wrote off the Cats after their sluggish first three weeks of the season are quickly backtracking. The reigning premiers have now won five games in a row and should be making that nine-straight before their bye. They still have seven games to come at GMHBA Stadium this season, so watch out.
GOLD COAST
R9: West Coast @ Optus (W)
R10: Brisbane @ Gabba (L)
R11: Western Bulldogs @ TIO (W)
R12: Adelaide @ TIO (L)
R13: Bye
R14: Carlton @ MCG (L)
R15: Hawthorn @ Heritage (W)
Predicted Record: 6-8
Predicted Ladder Position: 13th
The Suns have been pretty good over the past three weeks and were far from disgraced in a five-point loss to Melbourne last weekend. Expect them to return to the winners’ list this week, but there are some other tough games on the horizon against the Lions, Crows and Blues. If Gold Coast is serious about playing finals this year, it wins at least one – if not two – of those three.
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
R9: Collingwood @ MCG (L)
R10: St Kilda @ GIANTS (L)
R11: Geelong @ GMHBA (L)
R12: Richmond @ GIANTS (L)
R13: North Melbourne @ Blundstone (W)
R14: Fremantle @ GIANTS (W)
R15: Bye
Predicted Record: 5-9
Predicted Ladder Position: 14th
Of the Giants’ five losses this year, the biggest has come by 21 points against Brisbane. As much as it hasn’t scored too many wins, GWS has been highly competitive and has been in every game. The next month will be tough, but you wouldn’t rule out an upset coming somewhere.
HAWTHORN
R9: Melbourne @ MCG (L)
R10: West Coast @ UTAS (W)
R11: St Kilda @ Marvel (L)
R12: Port Adelaide @ Adelaide (L)
R13: Brisbane @ MCG (L)
R14: Bye
R15: Gold Coast @ Heritage (L)
Predicted Record: 2-12
Predicted Ladder Position: 16th
It was another ugly loss for the Hawks last weekend, beaten by Fremantle to the tune of 69 points. That defeat made for four losses of 59 points or more from just eight games this season. It might be another ugly one this weekend against second-placed Melbourne. The Round 10 clash with West Coast could go a long way to determining who wins the wooden spoon and gets their hands on No. 1 pick fancy Harley Reid.
MELBOURNE
R9: Hawthorn @ MCG (W)
R10: Port Adelaide @ Adelaide (W)
R11: Fremantle @ MCG (W)
R12: Carlton @ MCG (W)
R13: Collingwood @ MCG (W)
R14: Bye
R15: Geelong @ GMHBA (L)
Predicted Record: 11-3
Predicted Ladder Position: 3rd
The Demons have won five of their past six games and should be snagging a few more victories before their bye. Port Adelaide in Adelaide will be a challenge, but one that Melbourne will tackle head-on. Collingwood on King’s Birthday looks like being a blockbuster.
NORTH MELBOURNE
R9: Port Adelaide @ Blundstone (L)
R10: Sydney @ Marvel (L)
R11: Collingwood @ Marvel (L)
R12: Essendon @ Marvel (L)
R13: GWS @ Blundstone (L)
R14: Western Bulldogs @ Marvel (L)
R15: Bye
Predicted Record: 2-12
Predicted Ladder Position: 17th
The Kangaroos have lost their past four games by an average of 59.5 points and the going doesn’t get any easier over coming weeks. North Melbourne won its first two games of the season, but faces an uphill battle to add to that tally before its bye. A four-goal game against St Kilda on the weekend was as ugly as it gets.
PORT ADELAIDE
R9: North Melbourne @ Blundstone (W)
R10: Melbourne @ Adelaide (L)
R11: Richmond @ MCG (L)
R12: Hawthorn @ Adelaide (W)
R13: Western Bulldogs @ Marvel (L)
R14: Geelong @ Adelaide (L)
R15: Bye
Predicted Record: 8-6
Predicted Ladder Position: 9th
The Power have won five-straight games in a better than expected start to the season that has them eyeing off a return to finals. Pencil in wins against the Kangaroos and Hawks over the next month, but there are a few other games that will prove big challenges. Still, the Power should be firmly in the mix at the bye.
RICHMOND
R9: Geelong @ MCG (L)
R10: Essendon @ MCG (W)
R11: Port Adelaide @ MCG (W)
R12: GWS @ GIANTS (W)
R13: Fremantle @ Optus (W)
R14: St Kilda @ MCG (L)
R15: Bye
Predicted Record: 6-7-1
Predicted Ladder Position: 11th
We shouldn’t get too sucked in by a good second half against an injury-hit West Coast last weekend. The Tigers could well get brought back to earth by Geelong on Friday night – a team they haven’t beaten since the 2020 Grand Final. Regardless, Richmond should be favoured to beat Essendon in the Dreamtime clash, given they have won their past 13 games against the Bombers. There is still a glimmer of hope for the Tigers as their draw opens up and the injury crisis eases, but there is a lot of work to do.
ST KILDA
R9: Adelaide @ Adelaide (L)
R10: GWS @ GIANTS (W)
R11: Hawthorn @ Marvel (W)
R12: Bye
R13: Sydney @ SCG (L)
R14: Richmond @ MCG (W)
R15: Brisbane @ Marvel (L)
Predicted Record: 9-5
Predicted Ladder Position: 5th
The Saints won ugly against North Melbourne on Sunday, but they’ll take it. They will have to play a bit better – and kick a few more goals – if they are to beat Adelaide on the road this weekend. But even if they only win two of the next three, they will get to the bye in very good shape at 8-3. The imminent return of Max King will clearly help a surge towards September in the second half of the season.
SYDNEY
R9: Fremantle @ SCG (W)
R10: North Melbourne @ Marvel (W)
R11: Carlton @ SCG (W)
R12: Bye
R13: St Kilda @ SCG (W)
R14: Brisbane @ Gabba (L)
R15: West Coast @ SCG (W)
Predicted Record: 8-6
Predicted Ladder Position: 7th
Last year’s runners up are just going at the moment, having lost their past three matches including a 29-point defeat to Collingwood on the weekend. However, four of their next six games are home and some struggling opponents await in the Dockers, Kangaroos and Eagles. Sydney does not look a genuine premiership contender at the moment, but they should be qualifying for finals and anything can happen from there.
WEST COAST
R9: Gold Coast @ Optus (L)
R10: Hawthorn @ UTAS (L)
R11: Essendon @ Optus (L)
R12: Collingwood @ Optus (L)
R13: Adelaide @ Adelaide (L)
R14: Bye
R15: Sydney @ SCG (L)
Predicted Record: 1-13
Predicted Ladder Position: 18th
Another week, another loss and another long-term injury for the Eagles. A 46-point defeat to Richmond on the weekend was compounded by a season-ending injury to Jai Culley for a club that already barely has enough fit players to name their weekly emergencies. West Coast is favourite to win the wooden spoon – and with good reason.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
R9: Carlton @ Marvel (L)
R10: Adelaide @ Mars (W)
R11: Gold Coast @ TIO (L)
R12: Geelong @ Marvel (L)
R13: Port Adelaide @ Marvel (W)
R14: North Melbourne @ Marvel (W)
R15: Bye
Predicted Record: 8-6
Predicted Ladder Position: 8th
The Bulldogs have won their past three matches, but all of them have come against sides that sit among the bottom seven on the ladder. Some tougher opponents lie ahead before the bye, including fellow current top-eight in the Blues, Crows, Cats and Power. If they go 3-3 in the next six weeks, they should be in the top-eight at the bye. Anything more than that would be a bonus, anything less would be a blow.
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