AFL ladder: Hawthorn slide as Sydney take top spot after Round 22

A CRUCIAL loss has seen Hawthorn slide down the AFL ladder as Sydney takes top spot and Melbourne’s finals hopes end. HOW IS YOUR TEAM PLACED.

Sam Mitchell and Ben McEvoy after the loss to West Coast.

A CRUCIAL loss has seen Hawthorn slide down the AFL ladder.

At the conclusion of Round 22, the Hawks sit fourth, down from first, allowing Sydney to snare top spot with one game left.

Adelaide and Geelong have also jumped ahead of the reigning premiers thanks to their better percentage.

Meanwhile, the final eight is set after Melbourne’s loss to Carlton on Sunday.

1. SYDNEY SWANS 16-0-5, 145.1%, 64 points

Faced a team that brought a September intensity and did it without the usual input from Lance Franklin. Kurt Tippett can only benefit from the hit-out and with a home final likely, which team would you rather put your house on?

2. ADELAIDE CROWS 16-0-5, 142.3%, 64

Eddie Betts is on target for 70 goals as a small forward which puts him right in the elite bracket. A home final beckons if they repel the Big Birds, but again I argue do they have enough midfield cream to win it?

Mitch McGovern and Jake Lever celebrate a goal against Port Adelaide.

3. GEELONG 16-0-5, 137.7%, 64

There were times when their flow was back and Josh Cowan is repaying the club’s patience. But they have players who drift out of games for worrying periods. At least they know their best is highly competitive.

4. HAWTHORN 16-0-5, 119.7%, 64

Can you win a Grand Final without some form of tall forward structure? Probably not, making Ryan Schoenmakers an important cog, even if he hasn’t had enough football. And Jon Ceglar’s untimely demise obviously hurts.

5. GWS GIANTS 15-0-6, 142.5%, 60

Jon Patton has had two knee reconstructions so his recovery was always going to be lengthy. This might be a year too soon but would you want to play them in September? Steve Johnson deserves huge credit in the way he has handled his rejection by Geelong.

6. WEST COAST EAGLES 15-0-6, 129.5%, 60

Engine room and outside run was the best it’s been for two months, but a big part of that was Nic Naitanui. Have to suspect their chance of redemption evaporated with the tearing of a ligament known as the anterior cruciate.

Liam Picken tries to break the tackle of two Essendon defenders.

7. WESTERN BULLDOGS 15-0-6, 117.4%, 60

They have responded to a cruel injury run as well as possible but at some stage it will get them. Tom Boyd shows bits and pieces and now just needs a breakout game to put it all together.

8. NORTH MELBOURNE 12-0-9, 107.6%, 48

Brent Harvey responded to premature retirement calls in typical fashion. And his teammates played four committed quarters, which has been rare in 2016. Suspect they can get the Giants at Etihad, as long as they target pace at selection.

9. ST KILDA 11-0-10, 92.5%, 44

Important in that it would have been easy to pack up stumps and close shop after last week’s humiliation. Dylan Roberton and Leigh Montagna deserve credit for their 2016 consistency, while Blake Acres’ journey continues.

10. MELBOURNE 10-0-11, 103.5%, 40

Just when you thought you knew what you were going to get, they go and do this. What an inglorious way to finish their finals aspirations. At least they know what they have to fix.

Carlton fans jeer Jesse Hogan after he misses a shot on goal. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

11. PORT ADELAIDE 9-0-12, 105.0%, 36

At least they gave a yelp which came on the back of their guns in Ollie Wines, Travis Boak and Robbie Gray. At a stage where they need to trade hard, because they have players who have enough credits to be desired elsewhere.

12. COLLINGWOOD 9-0-12 95.4%, 36

Importantly keep finding players (Josh Smith and Tom Phillips) who may be a part of next year’s resurgence. And a resurgence it must be after three years of abject mediocrity. Suspect they are finals bound in 2017.

13. RICHMOND 8-0-13, 83.5%, 32

Game plans are closely guarded secrets but I don’t have any great desire to learn the Richmond model from Saturday. The week before they counter-attacked fast, a week later they bored spectators senseless.

14. CARLTON 7-0-14, 79.4%, 28

He didn’t have a lot of it but liked the look of David Cuningham. Expect the Blues to trade hard with Adam Tomlinson and Caleb Marchbank in their sights. That duo and maybe another could happen with their first pick.

Gold Coast players make their way off Etihad Stadium.

15. GOLD COAST SUNS 6-0-15, 78.4%, 24

Their problem is they will probably lose two gun midfielders, and while they will bring in more talent than any rival via this year’s draft, how long will they have to wait for dividends? Maybe too long for the Little Master

16. FREMANTLE 3-0-18, 72.7%, 12

One goal in three quarters did little to quieten the rumours of player discontent. What do they say, where there is smoke there is fire and change is happening at the purple club? They will be active players in a draft season that promises to be hectic.

17. BRISBANE LIONS 3-0-18, 61.5%, 12

Hope they get a compensatory selection because they have been ignored by big brother for too long. And it should be early rather than the end of the first round. There is still plenty of pain ahead.

18. ESSENDON 2-0-19, 58.6%, 8

Michael Hibberd is a handy player but retaining Michael Hurley was the priority. Suspect Joe Daniher is set to take the competition by storm next year. But they will try to add some tall forward support through the pre-season draft.

Originally published as AFL ladder: Hawthorn slide as Sydney take top spot after Round 22