The 2017 AFL season might now be 12 weeks old, but it's still anything but predictable, as the ESPN AFL Power Rankings once again show.
In some of the week's more shocking results, the Bombers managed to spank the fifth-placed Port Adelaide to the tune of 70 points, the second-last Blues somehow kept the second-placed Giants to just 70 points in their one-point win, and the 18th-placed Lions took a huge scalp in belting a hapless Fremantle by 57.
Remarkably, thanks in part to the bye week, GWS retains top spot on the form ladder, while the Cats also maintained their grip on second place.
Further down, the top eight hopefuls were shuffled around, with the Dees and the Bombers both making their move at the expense of Freo and the Power.
Meanwhile the form ladder also shows that Sydney is still a slight finals chance in 2017, St Kilda's tough run home could become a factor in the second half of the year, and Hawthorn would probably start tanking if it still had its 2017 first round draft pick.
And while the aforementioned Brisbane win capped off a memorable week for the club, in which key forward Josh Schache was re-signed, it just wasn't quite enough to result in a surge up the rankings for the Lions...
1. Greater Western Sydney:
Last week: 1 (no change)
Round 12: lost to Carlton by 1 point
They say bad kicking is bad footy, and it was certainly the case for the Giants on Sunday. GWS kicked nine goals and 16 behinds in their one-point loss to Carlton, and their afternoon was typified by mercurial forward Toby Greene's haul of five behinds. Full credit must go to the Blues, however, who were able to lock down Jeremy Cameron and Jonathon Patton. We're willing to cut the Giants some slack this time... there's no doubt they'll come out livid after their bye week. On a separate, interesting note, two of the Giants' three losses have come at Docklands - thankfully they're unlikely to play a final there.
Next: BYE
2. Geelong:
Last week: 2 (no change)
Round 12: BYE
Sitting pretty at 8-3 after their bye, Geelong is one form team most sides won't want to come up against in upcoming weeks. The Cats' chances on the road this week have also been bolstered considering West Coast is unlikely to regain key forward Josh Kennedy in time for Thursday, lessening the impact of Tom Hawkins' one-week suspension. This side is one to watch over the next month or two, with crunch matches against the Giants and Crows on the road set to define Geelong's season. Having said that, the Cats play three of their final four matches at Simonds Stadium leading into finals...
Next: West Coast (Domain Stadium, Thursday 6:10pm)
3. Adelaide:
Last week: 5 (up 2)
Round 12: defeated St Kilda by 57 points
The Crows have ticked off another huge win at home, this time at the expense of a St Kilda side which, simply, doesn't like to travel. While (kind of) impressive, Adelaide is going to need to do more if it is to convince the footy public that it deserves to be labelled a "genuine flag threat". In other words, if the Crows are to retake the crown as the league's form side, they're going to need to back it up with some strong performances on the other side of their bye week.
Next:BYE
4. Western Bulldogs:
Last week: 3 (down 1)
Round 12: lost to Sydney by 46 points
Credits in the bank will only get the Western Bulldogs so far... After yet another disappointing loss to the Swans on Thursday, the Dogs find themselves in eighth on the ladder - but only percentage behind Port Adelaide in fifth. In such an even season, the onus is now on the reigning premiers to remind the competition why they're a team with which to be reckoned. At their favoured Etihad Stadium this week, the Dogs should get the points against Melbourne, but if they lose, a big fall down the rankings awaits.
Next: Melbourne (Etihad Stadium, Sunday 3:20pm local)
5. Richmond:
Last week: 6 (up 1)
Round 12: BYE
It's been a good week for Richmond, which still finds itself fourth on the AFL ladder despite having the week off. Tiger fans can also thank Port Adelaide's poor showing for their incremental rise up the Power Rankings, too, after the Power went down by 70 to the Bombers. An interesting test looms for the Tigers, however, when Sydney visits the MCG on Saturday. Last time the Tigers played the Swans at the 'G, it was Sam Lloyd's after-the-siren heroics which secured the four points for the boys from Punt Road, and the Tiger Army will be hoping for a similar result this week.
Next: Sydney (MCG, Saturday 1:45pm local)
6. Melbourne:
Last week: 7 (up 1)
Round 12: defeated Collingwood by 4 points
With no recognised ruckman and down a key forward in Jesse Hogan, Melbourne produced a gutsy win on Queen's Birthday Monday. After trailing Collingwood by almost five goals at the main break, youngsters Christian Petracca and Jayden Hunt (along with one-time whipping boy Jack Watts) orchestrated a monster comeback to win by four points. The Dees are staying in touch with the eight, and with big Max Gawn set to return in the next month or so, Melbourne's midfield production could get a much-needed boost heading into the pointy end. Crucially, the Dees stopped their pattern of alternating wins and losses, having now won three of their last four.
Next: Western Bulldogs (Etihad Stadium, Sunday 3:20pm local)
7. Port Adelaide:
Last week: 4 (down 3)
Round 12: lost to Essendon by 70 points
Port Adelaide has recorded some massive wins in 2017 - over the likes of Brisbane, Carlton and the Gold Coast - but glaringly, the one thing they haven't been able to do is beat a top eight side. On Saturday, with a huge opportunity to break into the top four, the Power was shut off by the Bombers who ran away - quite literally - with a 70-point win. Port Adelaide relies on its repeat entry pressure, but the slick Bombers were able to circumnavigate the Power's press to perfection, drawing the blueprints for other sides to do the same. What saves Port from being even lower in the rankings is its favourable percentage - it could come in handy in the last few rounds of the year.
Next: Brisbane (Adelaide Oval, Saturday 4:05pm local)
8. Essendon:
Last week: 11 (up 3)
Round 12: defeated Port Adelaide by 70 points
They say speed kills, and it certainly killed Port Adelaide on Saturday night. The Bombers put on a clinical display, and deservedly rise up the rankings. Remember just a few weeks ago when coach John Worsfold declared his side had "hit a wall"? Well, the Bombers now sit seventh on the ladder and can add the scalp of a pretty good side heading into their bye week. It'll be interesting to see how they approach the second half of the season, with some crunch matches against Sydney (away), Collingwood and St Kilda - all sides competing for the last spot or two in the eight - to be played in the next month.
Next: BYE
9. West Coast:
Last week: 8 (down 1)
Round 12: BYE
Coming off a much-needed break, the West Coast Eagles will be hoping to arrest a three-game losing streak this week when Geelong comes to town. The Cats, too, will be fresh heading into the clash, which has major implications on the Eagles' top four hopes. Lose this, and the Eagles find themselves at parity at 6-6 on the year, meaning they'll be nestled amongst a pack of sides vying for the last few spots in the top eight. West Coast currently sits ninth on the ladder, but a win could push them as high as seventh this week.
Next: Geelong (Domain Stadium, Thursday 6:10pm local)
10. Sydney:
Last week: 13 (up 3)
Round 12: defeated Western Bulldogs by 46 points
Are the Swans still a chance in 2017? They might sit 14th on the ladder with just four wins, but if their recent form is any guide, they could be right amongst the 'chasing pack' in no time. Sydney was magnificent in the wet against the reigning premiers on Thursday night, proving they can still compete with the best when switched on. Some tough challenges await the Swans, starting with Richmond at the MCG...
Next: Richmond (MCG, Saturday 1:45pm local)
11. St Kilda:
Last week: 10 (down 1)
Round 12: lost to Adelaide by 57 points
St Kilda coach Alan Richardson must surely be worried about his side's form outside of Victoria. The Saints have won just one interstate match since Round 9, 2015, and if the Saints are to be taken seriously as a finals contender - something which they are currently not - then shoring up their form on the road must be a priority. The Saints travel three more times in 2017 - once to play Freo, once to play Port Adelaide and once to tackle the Swans. Throw in two matches against the Tigers and danger games against the Bombers and Dees, and it's beginning to look like a tough run home for the Saints.
Next: North Melbourne (Etihad Stadium, Friday 7:50pm local)
12. Fremantle:
Last week: 9 (down 3)
Round 12: lost to Brisbane by 57 points
The bye couldn't come at a better time for funny old Freo. The Dockers' first half of the year can be grouped into three distinct parts: the shocking start, the miraculous middle and the disappointing end. After winning six out of seven in the middle parts of the year, the Dockers then went on to lose to Adelaide by 100 points, Collingwood by 20 (at home) and Brisbane by 57 points. It doesn't get easier after their bye, with road trips down to the Cattery, Spotless Stadium, the SCG and Etihad (twice) looming.
Next: BYE
13. Collingwood:
Last week: 12 (down 1)
Round 12: lost to Melbourne by 4 points
Collingwood's three-game winning streak came to an abrupt end on Monday, after the Pies were unable to defend what should have been a match-winning five-goal lead. While Collingwood fans - particularly those in the cheer squad - were quick to blame the umpires for the narrow loss, ultimately it was the Pies' lack of pressure in the third term which blew it. Melbourne was without a recognised ruckman and their talented full-forward, but the Pies were unable to stop the flow of goals in the second half. Rubbing salt into the wound was Jack Watts ambling into goal to kick the sealer. Priceless.
Next: BYE
14. Gold Coast:
Last week: 15 (up 1)
Round 12: defeated Hawthorn by 16 points
Up one spot this week is a Gold Coast side which has now won two on the trot. Credit to the Suns, their record at the MCG wasn't very good heading into Saturday's match against the Hawks (two wins and nine losses), but they managed to put those demons aside to record a team-lifting win on the road. Most pleasing for coach Rodney Eade would have to have been the spread of goal kickers on the day, and the ability to hold off the fast-finishing Hawks. Carlton visits the Coast this week, giving the Suns an opportunity to win their third straight and remarkably keep in touch with the chasing pack.
Next: Carlton (Metricon Stadium, Saturday 7:25pm local)
15. North Melbourne:
Last week: 14 (down 1)
Round 12: BYE
Unlucky to have fallen one spot despite having the week off is North Melbourne. Had the Gold Coast Suns not beaten Hawthorn, the Roos might well have held onto 14th spot on the rankings, but a road win by the Suns was too hard to ignore. Regardless, North can put pressure on the teams above it with a win over St Kilda this week - a side which has had a disappointing last month of footy. Also, in the Kangas' favour is their recent record against the Saints; North has won the last six, with St Kilda's last win over the Roos coming in late 2011.
Next: St Kilda (Etihad Stadium, Friday 7:50pm)
16. Carlton:
Last week: 17 (up 1)
Round 12: defeated GWS by 1 point
How good was that?! Carlton fans and neutrals alike were in equal parts shocked and relieved that the Blues were able to hold off a desperate GWS outfit in the dying seconds of their clash on Sunday. The Blues led at every change and the gutsy performance has resulted in the Blues rising a place on the rankings, but the positives don't stop there; young midfielder David Cuningham won the side's third NAB Rising Star nomination in seven weeks - a promising sign of things to come for Brendon Bolton's baby Blues.
Next: Gold Coast (Metricon Stadium 7:25pm local)
17. Hawthorn:
Last week: 16 (down 1)
Round 12: lost to Gold Coast by 16 points
Just when you think the Hawks might be able to have some impact on 2017 (after they undid the Swans in Sydney a fortnight ago), they go and lose to the Gold Coast Suns at home. Tom Mitchell was again left to do all the grunt work with little support, while Jack Gunston played a very lone hand up forward. The Hawks desperately miss the class of Cyril Rioli, while James Frawley would also be handy right about now. With a match against Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval after their bye week, the Hawks are surely done and dusted in 2017.
Next: BYE
18. Brisbane:
Last week: 18 (no change)
Round 12: defeated Fremantle by 57 points
It's almost cruel for the Lions not to rise a spot in the rankings after their - let's face it - dominant display against Freo at the weekend, but they're still well-and-truly the competition's bottom side. Having said that, and to borrow a line from Carlton coach Brendon Bolton, there were plenty of green shoots on display. Young prospects Sam Mayes, Jake Barrett and Nick Robertson all impressed, while the two Daynes - Beams and Zorko - led from the front. Brisbane also managed a good spread of goal kickers, with key contributions from Zorko, Barrett, Lewis Taylor and Tom Cutler. Also, the re-signing of young forward Josh Schache must not be understated in the context of this side's future.
Next: Port Adelaide (Adelaide Oval, Saturday 4:05pm local)