There are plenty movers and shakers in this week's edition of the ESPN AFL Power Rankings. They say a week is a long time in football and, after another round of upsets, it just goes to show this whole 'equalisation' thing being peddled by the AFL seems to be working.
The Suns smashed the Hawks, the Pies pipped the Swans, the Dockers dumped the Dogs and the Crows rule in South Australia. Adelaide remains our early-season premiership favourite, while the Tigers finally get some recognition after another strong display against the West Coast Eagles.
The Blues have risen following a gutsy win against their arch-rivals Essendon on Sunday, the Dees fell after things went from bad to worse on the back of Max Gawn's injury news, while a couple of teams 'playing the kids' have been placed as such (we're looking at you, but not hatin' on you, North and Sydney).
Hawthorn fans might want to look away, however. From three-peat to zip-and-three in 2017, your team is bottom of the form ladder this week.
1. Adelaide:
Last week: 1 (no change)
Round 3: defeated Port Adelaide by 17 points
The Adelaide juggernaut just keeps on delivering. After a sluggish start in the Showdown against the Power, the Crows showed their mettle and solidified their flag credentials with a 17-point win over their cross-town rivals. Led by Rory Sloane in the midfield and Taylor Walker and Eddie Betts up forward, the Crows' depth across the board was evident despite concerns in the preseason. Richard Douglas took his game up a notch, as did Matt Crouch, while Jake Lever slotted into the backline for his first match of the year and will be better for it in the long run. Mitch McGovern looks to have hurt his hammy but with others willing and able to step up when it matters, it doesn't seem like such a big deal...
Next: Essendon (Adelaide Oval, Saturday, 7:10pm local)
2. Geelong:
Last week: 4 (up 2)
Round 3: defeated Melbourne by 29 points
Flying almost under the radar in the early parts of the year, the Cats were clinical in their five-goal win over the Dees at the weekend. The dynamic duo of Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood was again outstanding, while forward line leaders Daniel Menzel and Tom Hawkins also found some encouraging form. Between the midway point of the first quarter and a few minutes into the last, the Cats kicked a staggering 16 goals without missing - a testament to the quality of ball users that coach Chris Scott has at his disposal. At the end of the day, the Cats beat a confident Demons outfit by five goals, and will have an eight day break before having the chance to extend its winning streak to four against a Hawthorn side which has been seriously underwhelming.
Next: Hawthorn (MCG, Monday 3:20pm local)
3. Greater Western Sydney:
Last week: 6 (up 3)
Round 3: defeated North Melbourne by 42 points
After their stinging first-round loss to Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval, the Giants have reminded us why they're still the flag favourites with the bookies. Down in Tassie, North Melbourne pushed last year's preliminary finalists for about three quarters before the Giants flexed their muscle and ran out classy 42-point winners. Realistically, the Giants could have won by more; they had 34 scoring shots to North's 17 on the day, proving wasteful but good enough to get the job done comfortably against a relatively inexperienced side. Next up, the Giants head to their second home in Canberra, where they meet fellow 2-1 side, Port Adelaide.
Next: Port Adelaide (UNSW Canberra Oval, Saturday 4:35pm local)
4. Richmond:
Last week: 9 (up 5)
Round 3: defeated West Coast by 11 points
While it might not have been part of the original 'five-year plan', Richmond seems to be building something special if the first three weeks of 2017 are anything to go by. Yes, we've been hesitant to give them the plaudits before now, and yes, we're happy to eat humble pie. The Tigers were excellent in testing conditions against the Eagles on Saturday, and were probably slightly better than the 11-point margin suggested (LeCras' late goal was the definition of 'junk time'). Richmond has a dangerous modern-day 'mosquito fleet' and a midfield which bats deep, and while its backline is probably its weakest line, there's enough talent there to suggest they could be finals contenders.
Next: Brisbane (GABBA, Sunday 4:40pm local)
5. Western Bulldogs:
Last week: 2 (down 3)
Round 3: lost to Fremantle by 16 points
Are we simply seeing a delayed 'premiership hangover', or is there cause for concern after the Bulldogs let slip a 14-point lead to lose to the Fremantle Dockers in a stunning upset? The Dogs seemed to run out of puff against a youthful Fremantle outfit despite the usual suspects being among the best again: Bontempelli, Murphy, Hunter, Liberatore and Dahlhaus led the way, but big men Tom Boyd, Travis Cloke and Zaine Cordy all seemed to struggle with the pace of the game. It'll only get tougher this week - the Dogs face a six-day break after their trip to Perth, and North will come out all guns blazing on Good Friday - a game and stage the Roos have been chasing for a long time.
Next: North Melbourne (Etihad Stadium, Friday 4:20pm local)
6. West Coast:
Last week: 4 (down 3)
Round 3: lost to Richmond by 11 points
The West Coast Eagles would have loved nothing more than to waltz into Melbourne, show up at the MCG, put the Tigers back in their place and fly home with four points sitting at 3-0 ... Unfortunately they struggled against the Tigers' small forward brigade and now face just a five-day break before they host the Swans at Domain Stadium. While not disgraced, the Eagles still seem to struggle playing at the 'G, and while only time will tell if Richmond are a worthy contender, it's games like these fans want to see the Eagles win if they're to be a genuine flag threat come September.
Next: Sydney (Domain Stadium, Thursday 6:10pm local)
7. Port Adelaide:
Last week: 5 (down 2)
Round 3: lost to Adelaide by 17 points
After the Power surged their way to 2-0, the weekend's Showdown was billed as the biggest ever. They very nearly caused an upset, too, before the Crows came storming home to cement themselves as a team to watch come the pointy end. So, what can we take out of Port's performance? Plenty; they started sharply and nearly took the lead early in the last quarter, but as Ken Hinkley said post-match, they just couldn't match the Crows on the outside for long enough to assert control at critical points throughout the match. After starting two-and-zip, Port could easily find itself 2-2 after four rounds, with a vital clash against GWS in Canberra scheduled for Saturday afternoon.
Next: GWS (UNSW Canberra Oval, Saturday 4:35pm local)
8. Essendon:
Last week: 8 (no change)
Round 3: lost to Carlton by 15 points
The Bombers are lucky to hold their spot in the rankings' top eight this week after a poor showing against the Blues on Sunday. Outcoached, outmuscled and beaten at all ends of the ground, Essendon could have been smashed had Carlton been more accurate in front of goal. They were cherry ripe for the picking after an emotional Round 1 effort against the Hawks and a scare up in Brisbane in Round 2, so has the magic of the comeback story worn off? Is Essendon really a finals contender? Stay tuned ... the Bombers have Adelaide, Collingwood and Melbourne in coming weeks in what could well be season-defining matches.
Next: Adelaide (Adelaide Oval, Saturday 7:10pm local)
9. St Kilda:
Last week: 12 (up 3)
Round 3: defeated Brisbane by 31 points
It might have been an ugly win, but the Saints are officially on the scoreboard in 2017. They ran out 31-point victors over the Brisbane Lions, and while coach Alan Richardson would be bemused by their score line (of 14.23-107), it does show the Saints have the firepower up forward to do some serious damage when on-song. Nick Riewoldt made a wonderful return from injury while young guns Seb Ross, Jack Newnes and Luke Dunstan were all influential. It would be easy to disregard the Saints last week, after their 0-2 start, but let's not forget many pundits backed them for finals following the JLT series. An intriguing Round 4 match against the Pies at Etihad awaits...
Next: Collingwood (Etihad Stadium, Sunday 3:20pm local)
10. Melbourne:
Last week: 7 (down 3)
Round 3: lost to Geelong by 29 points
What a week it has been for the Dees. Since taking care of business against the Blues in Round 2, they've lost Jordan Lewis for three weeks for his brain fade; key ruckman Max Gawn for three months with a hammy, been beaten by five goals against Geelong and full-forward Jesse Hogan was found puffing away at a Perth festival while serving his two-week tribunal suspension. Coach Simon Goodwin needs to take charge of this outfit and get season 2017 back on track, because losing to Fremantle at the MCG this week could put a dent in the Demons' finals aspirations. With games against the red-hot Tigers and similarly-placed Bombers (at Etihad) in coming weeks, the Dees need to get back on track - and fast!
Next: Next: Fremantle (MCG, Saturday 1:45pm local)
11. Collingwood:
Last week: 15 (up 4)
Round 3: defeated Sydney by 1 point
Breathe a sigh of relief, Nathan Buckley. Friday night's match, while not one of the most skilled affairs, was just made for a last-minute Buddy Franklin winner in his 250th game. To Collingwood's credit, the team was able to stand up when it mattered most, typified by a stunning match-winning effort from the boundary line by Will Hoskin-Elliot in the final few minutes. Young Pies Adam Treloar, Alex Fasolo, Jack Crisp and Taylor Adams were all among the best, while imports Levi Greenwood and Travis Varcoe also showed why they were brought into the club. With Jamie Elliott, Tom Langdon and Jordan de Goey just some of the names to return over the next few weeks, Collingwood's season doesn't look 'as over' as it did this time last week.
Next: St Kilda (Etihad Stadium, Sunday 3:20pm local)
12. Carlton:
Last week: 16 (up 4)
Round 3: defeated Essendon by 15 points
Is there anything sweeter than breaking your 2017 duck with a gutsy win over hated rivals in the wet? Judging by the Carlton players' reactions following the siren on Sunday, probably not. The Blues were impressive against the Dons; they took the game on, kicked long and amassed a club record 111 tackles. For the second straight week, Brendon Bolton outcoached his opponent, while the young backline of Caleb Marchbank, Harrison Macreadie, Lachie Plowman and Sam Docherty was magnificent. The Blues have a winnable match this week against the Suns, and could be 2-2 after four rounds.
Next: Gold Coast (Etihad Stadium, Saturday 7:20pm)
13. Fremantle:
Last week: 18 (up 5)
Round 3: defeated Western Bulldogs by 16 points
Six new faces? No worries! Credit where it is due, coach Ross Lyon (finally) rolled the dice with youth and it paid off. Running the reigning premiers off their feet with an impressive 14-point win, debutants Harley Balic and Griffin Logue got a taste for AFL footy, and fourth-gamer Brady Grey also impressed. In addition, old heads David Mundy and Stephen Hill were crucial, racking up a combined 1072 metres gained, while Nat Fyfe was Nat Fyfe. It just shows Lyon isn't as done-and-dusted as some may have thought. Give him some time with the kids to develop with his brand of footy and they could be back up and running in no time.
Next: Melbourne (MCG, Saturday 1:45pm local)
14. Gold Coast:
Last week: 17 (up 3)
Round 3: defeated Hawthorn by 86 points
With their backs against the walls, the Suns, led by ex-skipper Gary Ablett, were irresistible against the Hawks on Sunday. Dominating the scoreboard with 34 scoring shots to 18, Alastair Clarkson had no match for the pace of Gold Coast's midfield. Touk Miller, Aaron Hall, Adam Saad, Ablett and David Swallow were far too slick for the Hawks in the middle, while Brandon Matera and Jack Martin provided a much-needed spark up forward. Steven May also showed why he is attracting interest from Victorian clubs with his 23 touches and eight marks on the day. The reprieve for coach Rodney Eade might be short-lived, however, with a hungry Carlton on the road sure to prove another test.
Next: Carlton (Etihad Stadium, Saturday 7:20pm local)
15. Sydney:
Last week: 10 (down 5)
Round 3: lost to Collingwood by 1 point
We've been willing to cut sides such as Sydney and Hawthorn some slack in the early rounds of 2017, given they have credits in the bank, but it's evident now that Sydney are well off the pace. Forced to blood an unusually high number of young kids - who, admittedly, haven't looked all that bad - the Swans have fallen to their first 0-3 start since 1999. With names such as Heeney, McVeigh, Rohan and Tippett all on the sidelines, Sydney's best 22 is severely compromised, and with huge games against West Coast (in Perth) and GWS in the next two weeks, the Swans could be 0-5 in the blink of an eye.
Next: West Coast (Domain Stadium, Thursday 6:10pm local)
16. North Melbourne:
Last week: 13 (down 3)
Round 3: lost to GWS by 42 points
While many would have expected GWS to run away with this match early, to North Melbourne's credit they stuck with the premiership favourites for three quarters of footy. The Giants were able to run away with the match in the last, piling on six of the last eight goals, but there were some good signs from the young Roos. Braydon Preuss was impressive in just his third game, while Aaron Mullett and Jack Ziebell both racked up 28 touches to be among the best. The challenge from here is ensuring that developing players such as Ryan Clarke and Trent Dumont can turn their 14-possession games into 25-possession games. Memo to Brad Scott: Keep playing the kids.
Next: Western Bulldogs (Etihad Stadium, Friday 4:20pm local)
17. Brisbane:
Last week: 14 (down 3)
Round 3: lost to St Kilda by 31 points
For all their efforts against the Saints last week (including taking the lead in the third quarter), the Brisbane Lions really should have been smashed. St Kilda had 37 scoring shots to Brisbane's 21 and managed just a five-goal win over the young Lions, who continued to introduce youth into their side. No.3 pick in the 2016 draft, Hugh McLuggage debuted with 14 possessions while fellow debutant Jarrod Berry also contributed with eight touches and a goal, but ultimately the Lions were simply a class below the Saints. A tough test awaits the Lions this week when the undefeated Tigers come to town.
Next: Richmond (Gabba, Sunday 4:40pm local)
18. Hawthorn:
Last week: 11 (down 7)
Round 3: lost to Gold Coast by 86 points
Fool us once, shame on you. Fool us twice, shame on us. Fool us three times and you'll find yourselves at the bottom of the Power Rankings. Put simply, Hawthorn threw up an insipid display against the embattled Gold Coast Suns and got what it deserved - an 85-point shellacking. Players seemed disinterested, ex-Sun Jaeger O'Meara could manage just 14 touches and forward Tyrone Vickery was held goalless for the second time in three matches. Simply, captain Jarryd Roughead deserved better; he kicked three of his side's 7 goals in what has to be described as one of Hawthorn's poorest losses of the last decade. Oh, and the Hawks have Geelong and West Coast over the next fortnight.
Next: Geelong (MCG, Monday 3:20pm local)