SuperLadder: Jon Anderson analyses every club after Round 1
We managed to squeeze in one round of the AFL season before the coronavirus crisis claimed the game until at least May 31. So who gets bragging rights throughout the break? Jon Anderson looks at every club.
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Port Adelaide will spend the coronavirus-enforced break on top of the AFL ladder after its slaughter of Gold Coast, which lands in a familiar position holding up the rest of the competition.
The upstart Dogs are the real surprise, hammered by Collingwood, while the Hawks, as has been tradition, are in the top four.
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Jon Anderson runs the rule over the AFL ladder after Round 1 as the competition faces 10 weeks on the sidelines after the competition chose to suspend play until May 31.
1 PORT ADELAIDE — Points: 4 Percentage: 262.1%
The Power’s first half was a brand of football that should see it playing finals. After that Port kept kicking points, but a bigger worry were some injuries to good players. From a list profile Port has every base covered, with good kids and so much top-end experience
2 COLLINGWOOD — 4, 252.9%
Nathan Buckley would have loved the evenness across the ground, from the pressure of Josh Daicos and the Brown brothers to nine separate goalkickers. Suspect this is an outfit that will rarely if ever be badly beaten. Brodie Grundy is deserving of Len Thompson comparisons.
3 WEST COAST — 4, 152.9%
The Eagles performance matched the expectation. Tim Kelly was good but the cream was a kid called Jarrod Brander who looks so capable as a key marking target. And then there is Nic Nat.
4 HAWTHORN — 4, 145.2%
Watching the nonchalant ease with which Luke Breust plays the game is a thing of beauty. Ben McEvoy playing back and ruck can work, which is a testament to his athleticism.
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5 GWS GIANTS — 4, 143.8%
Sam Jacobs might just be the missing piece of the puzzle along with Harry Perryman, a boy from the Riverina, who is ready to fully emerge in his fourth season. Does any rival boast a better top six than GWS … namely Whitfield, Cameron, Coniglio, Kelly, Haynes and Greene?
6 RICHMOND — 4, 129.6%
Played in patches and at times on their own terms, but loved the defensive aspects of Marlion Pickett’s game, and the potency of a small forward trio in Shai Bolton, Daniel Rioli and Jason Castagna that is the envy of 17 opposition teams.
7 ESSENDON — 4, 110.5%
The Bombers were better for longer with their version of today’s game, which is take possession in the back half, handball straight away even if kicking is an option, watch as your teammates handball four more times then charge for the other end like Usain Bolt (i.e. Dylan Shiel, Andy McGrath and Adam Saad).
8 SYDNEY — 4, 104.2%
Just when you get ready to send them on a downward spiral, the Swans produce a first-up win against the odds. So typical of John Longmire-coached teams. I hope Isaac Heeney gets the opportunity in 2020 to blossom into the superstar he clearly will become.
9 NORTH MELBOURNE — 4, 103.7%
First half: How many times were the Roos a clean possession away from a promising attack, only to fumble and turn it over? Second half: Clean, predictable to each other and extremely brave. A funny game is football.
10 ST KILDA — 0, 96.4%
Enough to like about a very new team and one that will obviously improve once the Saints get to know each other, but you can’t sugar-coat losing from where they did. And dropping their pressure levels so badly.
11 ADELAIDE — 0, 95.9%
The Crows just had too many passengers after the first quarter. Six players didn’t touch it at all in the second term, four in the last. Their depth has taken a hit and they were smashed in the centre and around clearances, despite the fanatical presence of Rory Sloane
12 FREMANTLE — 0, 90.5%
The transformation in this playing list is arguably greater than any, making the Dockers' performance acceptable given they will require time to grow together under a new coach. Their time isn’t now (is anybody’s) but suspect they have a rosy future.
13 CARLTON — 0, 77.1%
Jacob Weitering has sometimes been criticised for zoning off his opponent. On Thursday night he resembled Stephen Silvagni, such was the job he did on Tom Lynch. And there were periods to like from his Blues teammates, particularly regarding contested possession. Now to get their goalkickers back.
14 GEELONG — 0, 69.5%
There was enough from Darcy Fort to suggest a genuine future, particularly after another pre-season. You wonder how the inevitable season closure will influence Gary Ablett’s future, given he clearly has good football left in him? Could we see Gaz in 2021?
15 BRISBANE — 0, 68.9%
The Lions lacked cohesion up forward and you can see why Joe Daniher’s name has
been linked with them. We may never find out, but 2020 was always going to be an interesting year for the 2019 revelations.
16 MELBOURNE — 0, 65.4%
Nothing wrong with the Dees intent but everything went wrong once they attacked. Their forward structure lacks the necessary components to play finals football. Fortunately, it won’t be a long season.
17 WESTERN BULLDOGS — 0, 39.5%
Such an insipid display after so much pre-season hype. Ten players combined for just 26 possessions in the first half which is actually hard to achieve, even in today’s shortened game. And too many of those who did win possession butchered the ball
18 GOLD COAST — 0, 38.2%
Poor to fair at best, particularly after a pre-season of promise. Yes, the Suns have recruited the right kids, but physically those boys need help, and it wasn’t forthcoming. Name names? OK, let’s start with Sam Day and Jarrod Witts, who have to play by example