Hawthorn has third-best record against top teams in 2017 despite sitting outside top eight

IF Isaac Smith had nailed a last-minute goal against Geelong, Hawthorn would be in the eight and the most feared club again. Their record against top sides is among the best in 2017. LISTEN TO THE DRILL PODCAST

HAWTHORN was one Isaac Smith kick away from sitting on top of the ladder against top-eight sides.

In another Alastair Clarkson miracle, the likely finalists would be breathing a sigh of relief the Hawks are set to miss out on September this season.

LISTEN TO THE DRILL PODCAST BELOW AND SEE THE RECORD OF ALL TEAMS AGAINST TOP EIGHT SIDES BELOW

The Hawks’ record of five wins and one draw against top-eight sides is equal with GWS and just two points below league leader Adelaide Crows.

If Smith’s flying kick in the dying seconds against Geelong at the MCG in Round 17 had sailed through, the Hawks would be half a game clear on the top-eight ladder and a strong finals chance.

Isaac Smith kicks for the win against Geelong.

The ladder against top-eight sides, as revealed on this week’s The Drill podcast, makes for grim reading for Port Adelaide and Western Bulldogs.

That pair faces off in Ballarat on Saturday with the clubs combining for just four wins from 19 matches against top-eight sides.

The Dogs’ record is almost identical to lowly Carlton — both are 2-8 with a percentage separated by just two points.

The Bulldogs have won just two matches from 10 attempts against top eight teams. Picture: Getty

The Bulldogs started the season promisingly, beating Sydney in Round 2, falling to GWS by two points in Round 6 and then coming from behind to defeat Richmond in Round 7.

But the premier has lost its past seven against top-eight teams, with four of those margins blowing out beyond 40 points.

Ladder versus top eight teams

No.	CLUB	MATCHES	WINS	LOSSES	DRAWS	%	POINTS
1	Adelaide	8	6	2	0	137.8%	24
2	GWS	9	5	3	1	104.2%	22
3	Hawthorn	11	5	5	1	88.7%	22
4	Geelong	8	4	3	1	98.0%	18
5	Sydney Swans	7	4	3	0	101.2%	16
6	Richmond	8	4	4	0	92.7%	16
7	Collingwood	9	3	5	1	94.5%	14
8	West Coast Eagles	7	3	4	0	99.2%	12
9	Essendon	9	3	6	0	96.6%	12
10	Melbourne	8	3	5	0	87.7%	12
11	St Kilda	11	3	8	0	85.1%	12
12	North Melbourne	9	3	6	0	83.6%	12
13	Port Adelaide	9	2	7	0	85.9%	8
14	Western Bulldogs	10	2	8	0	75.5%	8
15	Carlton	10	2	8	0	73.4%	8
16	Gold Coast Suns	8	2	6	0	62.9%	8
17	Fremantle	10	2	8	0	61.1%	8
18	Brisbane Lions	9	0	9	0	53.9%	0