JLT Ladder 2018: Richmond finish on top, send ominous warning to rivals

FIVE clubs came through pre-season undefeated, the same number failed to register a win. What does the JLT ladder tell us about what this season has in store?

Dustin Martin of the Tigers in action during the AFL 2018 JLT Community Series match between the Richmond Tigers and North Melbourne

SEVENTEEN AFL clubs are faced with a scary prospect after Richmond completed their pre-season series undefeated — and the early signs are Dustin Martin and the reigning premiers can get even better.

The Brownlow Medal winner was at his bullocking best last week as the Tigers rode their vaunted manic pressure to a 19.14 (128) to 8.10 (58) win over North Melbourne at Ikon Park and have finished top of the ladder based on pre-season results.

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The impressive performance capped an ominous pre-season series for Damien Hardwick’s men, who belted Essendon by 87 points in their other warm-up match. Five months after the Tigers thumped Adelaide in the Grand Final, Hardwick’s men have picked up where they left off.

Along with Richmond, four other clubs — Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne and Carlton — were unbeaten.

It was not such good news for North Melbourne who sit bottom of the ladder having failed to register a win along with Brisbane, Geelong, St Kilda and Hawthorn.

JLT SERIES LADDER

RICHMOND 2-0, 261.1%

GOLD COAST 2-0, 188.7%

SYDNEY 2-0, 159.5%

MELBOURNE 2-0, 148.2%

CARLTON 2-0, 116.5%

GWS GIANTS, 1-1, 141.5%

FREMANTLE, 1-1, 120.7%

PORT ADELAIDE 1-1, 118.8%

WESTERN BULLDOGS 1-1, 94.2%

ADELAIDE 1-1, 91.1%

COLLINGWOOD 1-1, 84.7%

ESSENDON 1-1, 62.4%

WEST COAST EAGLES, 1-1, 41.9%

HAWTHORN 0-2, 86.6%

ST KILDA 0-2, 76.9%

GEELONG 0-2, 71.4%

BRISBANE 0-2, 56.9%

NORTH MELBOURNE 0-2, 51.2%

Dustin Martin of the Tigers in action during the AFL 2018 JLT Community Series match between the Richmond Tigers and North Melbourne