Flat-track bullies and contenders: How every club has fared against the top sides

Every team you come up against must be respected, but there can be a big difference between facing a bottom or top eight team. So how does your club stack up against the best?

Jake Stringer of the Bombers after kicking a goal from the pocket 4th qtr during the round 17 AFL match between Essendon and Adelaide at Marvel Stadium on July 8, 2023. Photo by Michael Klein.

Carlton skipper Patrick Cripps says his team can defy the numbers and claim a rare win over a finals-bound side this weekend, with the Blues one of several teams who battle against the best.

Marvel Stadium will be packed on Saturday afternoon as the Blues put their resurgence to the test against Port Adelaide, and Fox Footy ambassador Cripps said his team was ready to snap Ken Hinkley’s 13-game win streak “when we have a bit of form behind us”.

But the Blues have wilted against the best this year, having won just once in seven games against teams sitting currently in the top eight.

Cripps’ team is also zip and three against the true contenders in the top four, having done their best work against the strugglers.

Cripps said his team doesn’t look into the poor record against the best.

“Like any competitor you want to tackle the best sides and I think this week, to play Port, we want to measure ourselves against the best when we have a bit of form behind us,” he said.

“I don’t want to read too much into that stuff because at the end of the day, if we bring our pressure and play together, no matter who we play, if we play the right way we can beat anyone.”

Carlton has won six of nine games against the bottom 10 teams – each of the last three season-saving wins have come against clubs in that bracket – and the Blues aren’t alone in beating up on the battlers.

Patrick Cripps and his Blues struggle against the top eight teams. Picture: James Worsfold/AFL Photos

Essendon’s statement win over Adelaide on Sunday was a rare win over a side in the top half of the ladder, but with the Crows not currently inside the top eight, the Bombers have sung the song just once after beating a side currently set for finals – Melbourne in round 5.

In contrast, Brad Scott’s men have won once from seven starts against teams in the top eight and have gone 8-1 against those in the bottom 10.

Those figures suggest the monkey of not winning a final since 2004 will remain on the back for the Dons.

Luke Beveridge’s Western Bulldogs sit alongside the Bombers with the biggest gap.

The Dogs were blown away in 20 minutes by Collingwood last week and that has been the story for the season – the Dogs have gone 8-1 against the bottom 10 and 1-6 against the top eight.

The Dogs challenged Collingwood but fell short. Picture: Michael Klein.

If they hold their spot in the finals come September, its hard to see a barnstorming run like 2016 or 2021 from this team.

Fremantle’s season is teetering on the edge thanks to a failure against the also-rans.

The Dockers have gone 4-5 against bottom 10 teams and 3-4 against those inside the eight as losses against North Melbourne (round 2) and Richmond (round 13) at home have cruelled the season for the men in purple.

Geelong’s record tells a similar story.

The Cats are the only team outside the ladder’s top three to have a positive record (3-2) against the top eight but losses to Gold Coast and GWS Giants propelled them to a break-even of five wins, five losses and one draw against bottom 10 sides.

Tom Hawkins and the Cats have a good record against finals-bound teams. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Geelong has played the least amount of games against the best sides so far this season but run the gauntlet on the way home, with six of Geelong’s final seven games against those in the eight.

“(That record) speaks of consistency I reckon,” Cats spearhead and fellow Fox Footy ambassador Tom Hawkins said.

“We just haven’t quite consistently got our game going for long enough periods. There has been a variety of reasons for that. We probably haven’t been as healthy as we would have liked for the most part of the year.”

Port Adelaide has done everything right to prove it deserves to be alongside Collingwood at the top of premiership favouritism.

The Power has played against top eight sides more than any other team and has won eight of their nine matches against those teams.

Port Adelaide is joined by Brisbane Lions as the only sides with a positive record (both 2-1) against the top four, with Adelaide (2-2) behind them.

The Magpies have won one of three games against the top four.