SuperLadder: Jon Anderson looks at every club after a huge round of football

Buckley, Thomas, Daicos and Pendlebury. As Jon Anderson writes, Scott Pendlebury deserves to be rated among the top Magpies of the past 50 years. Where is your club at after Round 6? Check out Ando’s SuperLadder.

Dyson Heppell and the Bombers are showing plenty of encouraging signs. Picture: AFL Photos

They may have walked away from their Anzac Day blockbuster against Collingwood with a loss — but there was plenty to like from the Bombers.

Herald Sun journalist JON ANDERSON has seen enough of Essendon over the past month to confidently say their game style can stand up under the pressure of finals.

Meanwhile, Ando loves what the Tigers have been able to put together on the run but has some concerns for a couple of other Melbourne clubs.

BAROMETER: SEE EVERY CLUB’S INJURY LIST

SUPERCOACH: WHO DOMINATED IN ROUND 6?

MALTHOUSE: WHY CRIPPS IS IN THE SELWOOD CLASS

Where is your club at after a massive Round 6? Check out Ando’s Super Ladder.

GEELONG 20 PTS 146.9

Ablett and Hawkins were instrumental in so many score involvements but they would be delighted with O’Connor, Henry, Miers and Constable. O’Connor has some serious skill as his story evolves.

FREMANTLE 16 PTS 128.1

Last year they scored 69 points in the same game, on Saturday night it was 89 points. And they are getting them from talls or smalls, with Matera playing like his uncle Phil. Mundy deserve every accolade he gets, Seymour’s finest son who plays it hard and fair. Loved Wilson’s run and carry.

COLLINGWOOD 16 PTS 122.1

Buckley still gets my vote due to versatility and kicking penetration, but Pendlebury is right in the mix of the finest Magpies in the past 50 years alongside Peter Daicos and Len Thompson. Like Buckley, he rarely misses and has an extraordinary level of consistency.

Nathan Buckley with Scott Pendlebury after the Anzac Day presentation ceremony. Picture: AAP Images

GWS 16 PTS 118.8

Think their age and games profile suggests a premiership is possible. Hopper and Taranto proved how deep they bat in the midfield, even with Whitfield injured. Is there a more natural footballer in the game than Greene? Or a better floating defensive mark than Haynes? It might just be the year of the Giant.

PORT ADELAIDE 16 PTS 116.4

At some stage they have to be spoken of as a September threat. Maybe some have been scared off by some recent seasons of promising much and delivering little. Sense this crew is capable of more given younger participants in Bonner, Rozee, Butters, Drew and Powell-Pepper.

ST KILDA 16 PTS 105.2

When Adelaide are on, they will beat a lot of teams so no need to push the panic button. Against that, they have been playing on a high so a taxing next three weeks could really sort them out. We are going to find out a lot about their young characters.

BRISBANE 16 PTS 103.9

Neale was clearly stung by a sub standard Rd 5 and was the difference via his decision-making. His mate Robinson is a poster boy for those who make up for a lack of silk with a manic desire to play the game. The win keeps them in the hunt, although finals might be more realistic next season.

RICHMOND 16 PTS 102.4

Last year Vlastuin was the best defender in the game with a beard, this season he’s the best with a mo. Stack plays a very firm game, reminiscent of a half back flanker named Hardwick, who now happens to be his coach — and mentor. Something very exciting about how this side has been added to on the run, and they do owe themselves one after last year.

ADELAIDE 12 PTS 113.9

Keath has gone from a Test cricket hopeful to one of the best defensive talls in the game. Up the other end Walker played to his high-level talent. And when Smith, Laird and Atkins are allowed that much ball, they will be in most games. Himmelberg is an interesting work in progress.

ESSENDON 12 PTS 107.3

Shiel will not play too many games where he wins the ball so impressively, or too many others where he uses it so poorly. His teammates proved to themselves they can play a brand that will stand up in September. And their take off from half back is one of football’s most exciting brands.

The Bombers are playing an exciting brand of football. Picture: AAP Images

HAWTHORN 12 PTS 101.2

Lose and they could just about kiss September goodbye as the eight starts to take shape. It was a blue collar worker in Shiels, a cool dude named Sicily and the budding champion O’Meara who lifted them back into it.

WEST COAST 12 PTS 88.2

A pale imitation of the 2018 brand, and one in danger of being accused of a nasty premiership hangover. Their good players were OK, their bottom ones fair to poor at best.

GOLD COAST 12 PTS 77.3

Coach Dew and his team deserve credit for being largely competitive to date, although that desire was sadly lacking after halftime. Fiorini and Miller can’t be placed in that bracket, but a glance at their bottom six reveals a mixture of kids and journeymen.

WESTERN BULLDOGS 8 PTS 90.7

Brave, persistent and ultimately not quite good enough, which is probably where they are at. All their good midfield deeds amount to not much once they venture inside 50m. Dunkley is showing what he will become, while young Smith was a ray of sunshine.

CARLTON 4 PTS 93.6

This would have hurt coach Bolton as much as any recent loss. Reality says they have a couple who pick and choose, and others who drift out of games. One positive is you take them as easybeats at your peril.

SYDNEY 4 PTS 80.3

They hung in through effort before class became the difference. Not getting enough out of their tail which is as long as it has been for 15 years. But they have been seriously hurt by the absence of Smith, Grundy and McVeigh up back, although they are all near the end meaning replacements must be found.

The Kangaroos continue to struggle. Picture: Getty Images

NORTH MELBOURNE 4 PTS 69.9

Predictably Cunnington and Ziebell responded to criticism as very good players do. In fact it was their senior names who led the way, although Larkey’s spark up forward was a massive plus. They are a team that requires some serious X factor, because right now they lack spark.

MELBOURNE 4 PTS 69.2

Their strategies were sound with McDonald back to Lynch and Hibberd to blanket Martin. And their effort was obvious, which makes it all the more worrying. Their respective on-field playing groups seem totally disconnected. But it can change very quickly as Essendon has proven.