Super Ladder: Tigers come up well short, Swans keep charging and Giants firm for flag

SUPER LADDER: The pressure was hot down at Geelong on Saturday and Richmond was left out in the cold. Are the Tigers set for more of the same come finals footy?

Harry Taylor celebrates a vital goal against Richmond. Picture: AAP Images

HAVE the Tigers been given a September wake-up call?

The pressure was hot down at Geelong on Saturday and Richmond was left out in the cold.

Are the Tigers now in trouble come finals? And were the premiers in action on Friday night?

Find out in this week’s Super Ladder.

THE TACKLE: SEE THE LIKES AND DISLIKES FOR ROUND 21

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MATCH REPORT: PIES GO DOWN TO POWER

ADELAIDE CROWS 62 PTS 142.1

Proved yet again they are a very good side, but are they a great one? Then again, maybe this year you don’t need to be. Mackay’s one- percenters typify what this murder of Crows is all about. Injuries: Sloane (knee), Walker (foot). SuperCoach: M. Crouch matched last week’s 139.

GWS GIANTS 56 PTS 117.7

Those present may just have seen the premiers. The season is more a Big M Marathon than Stawell Gift, and their timing is starting to look exquisite. Coniglio has been the spark. Injuries: Nil. SuperCoach: Josh Kelly (132) is well and truly back after a slight dip by his standards.

GEELONG CATS 54 PTS 115.4

Six players with less than 25 games, five in their first season. In context, Cam Guthrie’s best game of the season, Kolodjashnij’s best of his career. Danger, Selwood and Menegola 33 tackles between them. Injuries: Stanley (calf). SuperCoach: Danger (141), still the default captain of our age.

Richmond players leave the ground after Saturday’s loss. Picture: Getty Images

RICHMOND 52 PTS 110.5

Their skill execution let them down, due in large part to the pressure they were under. But that’s what will happen in September. Caddy’s hammy seriously hurt their forward structure. Injuries: Caddy (hamstring). SuperCoach: Prestia (126) backed up last week’s breakout tally.

SYDNEY SWANS 48 PTS 123.7

Frightening. Didn’t have a bad player and some of their guns in Parker, Rampe, Heeney and Hannebery are nearing peak output. Injuries: Newman (knee). SuperCoach: Buddy (164) had a monster day to bounce back from last week’s shocker.

PORT ADELAIDE 48 PTS 123.2

They will make the eight but aren’t going to be a serious threat for one reason, that being they aren’t good enough. Try to play a high-risk possession game that can result in stinging turnovers. Injuries: Nil. SuperCoach: Pittard’s best of the season with 111.

MELBOURNE 44 PTS 106

Effort outstanding, skill execution fair to good. They should make the eight but their problem will be kicking a score via a structured forward line rather than cobbling one together. Injuries: Nil. SuperCoach: Pedersen the pick with a surprise haul of 137.

WEST COAST EAGLES 44 PTS 105.7

Hope Kennedy wins the Coleman as he is clearly the best goalkicker in the game. As for his team, it requires a serious injection during the trade period to bridge the gap with the big boys. Injuries: LeCras (hamstring). SuperCoach: Kennedy’s six majors garnered him 120.

Josh Kennedy celebrates a goal against Carlton. Picture: Getty Images

WESTERN BULLDOGS 44 PTS 98.3

Too many good players were down, namely Libba, Wallis, Picken and Stringer. Liberatore should by now be vying for the title of best clearance player in the game, instead of a bit-part player. Injuries: Dahlhaus (cut face). SuperCoach: The Bont (108) scraped a third consecutive ton.

ESSENDON 40 PTS 104.5

Interesting how acts are viewed. Channel 7’s team thought Daniher’s hair ruffle was good harmless fun. I thought it disrespectful. A long way removed from how his father and uncles played. Injuries: Daniher (finger). SuperCoach: Heppell (59) back to mid-season slump levels.

ST KILDA 40 PTS 96.1

At least they know where their deficiencies lie. They need a star midfielder (Kelly) and outside speed. And McCartin and Goddard to get a clear run at it. There is nowhere to hide next year. Injuries: Stevens (concussion). SuperCoach: Billings (112) notched a third straight ton.

H AWTHORN 38 PTS 89.8

Might just be the hardest side to get a read on for next year. Put their best team on the park and suspect they would have made this year’s finals without going too deep. O’Meara and Rioli are handy recruits. Injuries: Nil. SuperCoach: Gunston (124) best with 11 marks, 27 disposals.

COLLINGWOOD 34 PTS 98.7

They reckon Burke and Wills went a bit wide late in their journey but they had nothing on this crew. Which is frustrating given their workrate matches the top dogs. Cox can hold his head up. Injuries: Hoskin-Elliott (thigh). SuperCoach: Adams (138) is enjoying his season’s second wind.

FREMANTLE 32 PTS 77.1

Wonder how Fyfe is feeling right now? Something like: “Don’t tell me I have to play out my career with these spuds?” Their performance ranks as the worst for the season. Injuries: Nil. SuperCoach: Fyfe (115) at least continued his resurgence.

GOLD COAST SUNS 24 PTS 80.5

There are no magical cures, such as sacking a coach who would have got it right in time, for a young list. The problem is it’s hard to start again in such a tenuous market. Injuries: Lemmens (ankle). SuperCoach: Jack Martin best with 127.

It was a fiery Q-Clash at the weekend. Picture: Getty Images

NORTH MELBOURNE 20 PTS 86.3

How to play Preuss and Goldstein in the same side? Sadly it doesn’t work long term and the former is naturally seeking a role where he gets 80 per cent on-ball time. Reckon one may be saying bye-bye. Injuries: Nil. Super: Coach McDonald (100) best of an average bunch.

CARLTON 20 PTS 79.8

The second quarter aside, there was plenty to like, suggesting they are well ahead of where they were at the same stage last year. Reckon Lamb will be a better player as the Blues improve. SuperCoach: Kreuzer (133) racked up his fifth score north of 130.

BRISBANE LIONS 20 PTS 74.5

When a young side should be tiring, the Lions are firing under a coach you underestimate at your peril. Ask Rockliff how he rates Fagan. The other aspect is their obvious “attitude”. Injuries: Nil. SuperCoach: Dayne Beams posted his second-best tally for the season with 138.