AFL 2018 report card: Every club rated after four rounds

IS your team where you expected it to be four rounds into the 2018 season? DAN BATTEN rates your side after the first month. Tell us what you think.

Collingwood players mob Jordan De Goey after a goal in the win over Adelaide. Picture: AAP

IS your team where you expected it to be four rounds into the 2018 season? DAN BATTEN rates your side after the first month.

REBUILD REVIEW: HAVE BLUES RECRUITS BEEN PASS OR FAIL?

FLAG DROUGHT: DEMONS PREPARING FOR ANOTHER RAID

HODGE DEBATE: LIONS BOSS SLAMS ‘CLOWN’ FRAWLEY

EMPTY STANDS: HOW MANY FANS WILL SAINTS PULL?

ADELAIDE (2-2, 9th)

Surprise packet: Tom Doedee

Downer: Rory Sloane

Grade: D

We expected the Crows to bounce back strongly after last year’s Grand Final loss. They haven’t. The Crows were alarmingly outplayed by Collingwood at home, which brought back memories of that failed September performance.

BRISBANE (0-4, 17th)

Surprise packet: Allen Christensen

Downer: Dayne Zorko

Grade: C+

Despite an insipid display on the weekend, the signs are there. The Lions came close to Melbourne at the Gabba and gave Port Adelaide an almighty scare away from home. In previous seasons, these would have been drubbings.

CARLTON (0-4, 18th)

Surprise packet: Zac Fisher

Downer: Jacob Weitering

Grade: F

The Blues have fallen well below their fans’ levelled expectations. After two years of growth under Brendon Bolton the spotlight is well and truly on their rebuild, with their new attacking brand leaving their defence bare. Sam Docherty missing from their side has hurt big time.

Jacob Weitering has been under the pump in defence. Picture: Michael Klein

COLLINGWOOD (2-2, 10th)

Surprise packet: Sam Murray

Downer: Taylor Adams

Grade: B

Nathan Buckley’s men have faced great adversity and have fought gallantly. Since their Round 1 loss to Hawthorn, the Pies have been superb, with their defensive pressure a feature. Considering their hefty injury list it’s been a mighty effort from the Pies. With the likes of Alex Fasolo, Taylor Adams, Darcy Moore and Jamie Elliott to return from injury, there is plenty to like.

ESSENDON (2-2, 11th)

Surprise packet: Devon Smith

Downer: Zach Merrett

Grade: C

It has been a rollercoaster month for the Bombers. Potential flag winners after their gutsy win over Adelaide, bottom-eight finishers after their loss to the Bulldogs and after their shock win over the Power, nobody is sure where they will end up. Essendon is an enigma. Its best is fantastic but can it produce it consistently?

FREMANTLE (2-2, 13th)

Surprise packet: Alex Pearce

Downer: Shane Kersten

Grade: B

Fremantle has blooded four debutants along with the recruits of Nathan Wilson and Brandon Matera and it looks fresh and exciting, which is unlike Ross Lyon-coached teams of the past. Losses to the Power and Giants were reasonable, but by no means devastating and the win over Essendon was promising. If the All-Australian side was picked now, Alex Pearce would be in it.

GEELONG (2-2, 8th)

Surprise packet: Tim Kelly

Downer: Zac Smith

Grade: D

Despite conceding an lot of inside-50s over the first month, the Cats still sit in the eight. Gary Ablett won plenty of footy before he succumbed to injury, but it is the mature-age Tim Kelly that is the early favourite for recruit of the year. The backline injuries and their ruck dilemma are a massive cause for concern despite their star-studded midfield.

Tim Kelly has been an excellent recruit for the Cats. Picture: Getty Images

GOLD COAST (2-2, 14th)

Surprise packet: Nick Holman

Downer: Michael Barlow

Grade: B

Many pencilled in the Suns for the wooden spoon until they burst out of the blocks with two wins to start the season. Admittedly they were against Carlton and North Melbourne, but there is life in this Ablett-less Gold Coast outfit. David Swallow and Jarryd Lyons have lifted in the little master’s absence and Tom Lynch has started promisingly.

GWS GIANTS (3-1, 1st)

Surprise packet: Jeremy Finlayson

Downer: Harrison Himmelberg

Grade: A

The Giants sit atop the ladder despite a disappointing loss to their cross-town rivals in Round 3. They have unearthed a hidden gem in Jeremy Finlayson to fill the gaping hole left by Zac Williams and Nathan Wilson, and their midfield depth is among the best in the competition. Injuries have plagued them, but still they stand strong.

HAWTHORN (3-1, 4th)

Surprise packet: Jaeger O’Meara

Downer: Will Langford

Grade: A

Alastair Clarkson is a genius. The supercoach has managed to rejuvenate his side, culminating in a 67-point victory against Melbourne. Tom Mitchell is a ball-winning machine, Jaeger O’Meara is improving by the week and Ben McEvoy has started the season with a bang. It’s hard to believe 12 months ago the Hawks were entering Round 5 off consecutive 80-point losses.

Hawks midfielder Jaeger O’Meara is getting better with each game. Picture: Michael Klein

MELBOURNE (2-2, 12th)

Surprise packet: Jesse Hogan

Downer: Michael Hibberd

Grade: D

Sunday afternoon was a game the Dees had to win if they were to be counted as legitimate contenders. Sure enough, they failed to live up to the challenge. Their win against the Lions left a lot to be desired and their loss to the Cats epitomised their ninth-place finish last year. Jake Lever hasn’t lived up to his price-tag as of yet and Michael Hibberd is a shadow of his All-Australian 2017 season.

NORTH MELBOURNE (2-2, 7th)

Surprise packet: Jarrad Waite

Downer: Todd Goldstein

Grade: B

Expectations were non-existent for the rebuilding Roos and they find themselves nestled inside the eight. Their Round 1 loss to the Suns was poor but their big win over the Saints was encouraging. It may not be as extensive a rebuild as most pundits thought. Jarrad Waite is keeping his career alive with fantastic form and Jack Ziebell as a mid/forward is working.

Age hasn’t stopped Jarrad Waite. Picture: Getty Images

PORT ADELAIDE (3-1, 5th)

Surprise packet: Riley Bonner

Downer: Tom Rockliff

Grade: B

Port has faltered after its most inspiring win in recent memory. The victory against the Swans showed what this group is capable of, but their efforts against Brisbane and Essendon over the past fortnight have been second-rate. Still, they sit in fifth despite losing All-Australian ruckman Paddy Ryder. Jack Watts and Steven Motlop have justified their inclusions thus far and Riley Bonner is emerging into a genuine weapon off half-back. Tom Rockliff is averaging just 12 touches a game and must not be 100 per cent fit.

RICHMOND (3-1, 3rd)

Surprise packet: Reece Conca

Downer: Kane Lambert

Grade: B

A win in the Grand Final rematch would have been nice, but the Tiger faithful can’t complain about their start to 2018. Dusty Martin is firing up forward, Alex Rance has been solid down back and fringe players such as Reece Conca are lifting. The Tigers are the envy of opposition sides with Daniel Rioli their only injury concern, with premiership player Nathan Broad unable to get a look in. No hangovers here.

ST KILDA (1-3, 16th)

Surprise packet: Blake Acres

Downer: Jack Billings

Grade: F

The Saints’ blueprint for success is looking very doubtful. The club wanted to become a top-four side by 2018, yet it couldn’t overcome a likely bottom-four side in North Melbourne. Their lack of a genuine game-changer continues to haunt them, while former No. 1 pick Paddy McCartin cops the brunt of the blame. Their delivery up forward has been horrendous, as has their kicking for goal.

Saints forward Jack Billings is in a slump. Picture: Getty Images

SYDNEY (3-1, 6th)

Surprise packet: Callum Sinclair

Downer: Dan Hannebery

Grade: B

Sydney was lucky to get away with one against the Bulldogs but nevertheless its start has been positive. The Swans’ defiant win over the Giants stood out among the rest while their loss to the Power appeared to be a blip on the radar. Lance Franklin has been formidable but the Swans need to be less ‘Buddy conscious’, otherwise they will get found out against the better sides.

WEST COAST (3-1, 2nd)

Surprise packet: Jack Darling

Downer: Jack Redden

Grade: A

Many experts are eating their words after they said pre-season that West Coast was set to plunge down the ladder. The highlight was its win over Geelong, clutching victory from the jaws of defeat in the last quarter. Jack Darling is in career-best form and returning star Nic Naitanui is changing games even with limited game time. Are they a finals smokie?

WESTERN BULLDOGS (1-3, 15th)

Surprise packet: Toby McLean

Downer: Tom Boyd

Grade: D

If they were graded a fortnight ago, it would be a lot worse. The Bulldogs have bounced back in their past two matches against Essendon and Sydney and should have two wins on the board. Let’s not blame Josh Dunkley for that — it was poor conversion all-round that lost them that close encounter against the Swans. Their lift in pressure has to continue for the rest of the season if they are to have any chance of making the eight.