AFL
Matt Walsh, Assistant Editor 7y

AFL Power Rankings, R18: Swans surge, North sink

AFL

We may be entering the home straight of season 2017, but there's still plenty of movement in the ESPN AFL Power Rankings after 18 rounds.

After falling to as low as 17th in the rankings after Round 6, it's Sydney that have soared to the top after winning their 10th match of the year - and, remarkably, their 10th from their past 11 matches.

The Swans performed a straight swap with the Cats, who are down two places to third after they succumbed to the second-ranked Crows, while GWS's continued form slump means they've fallen out of the rankings' top four for just the first time since Round 2.

Further down, there continues to be movement in the bottom half of the top eight, with Melbourne swapping places with Port Adelaide and Essendon doing the same with West Coast after the Eagles threw up a heartless display against the Pies.

St Kilda have fallen to 12th, with their finals hopes now hanging by a thread, while Collingwood have restored some pride in a week in which CEO Gary Pert resigned.

The Lions have also climbed off the bottom of the rankings with a solid win over the Blues; as a result, the Kangaroos find themselves at the foot of the table after yet another loss - this time at the hands of Essendon.

1. Sydney
Last week: 3 (up 2)
Round 18: defeated St Kilda by 42 points

There is simply no doubt about it, Sydney are the form team of the competition. After losing to Carlton in Round 6, they've won a staggering 10 of a possible 11 and are now one game (and percentage) clear inside the top eight. In fact, looking at a form ladder from Round 7 onwards, the Swans are three games ahead of the next best side. Coach John Longmire also seems to have nailed the mid-year rebuild, summed up by the success of in-form backman Lewis Melican, who was taken at pick 52... not in the 2015 National Draft, but in the 2015 Rookie Draft. This week, the Swans take on Hawthorn - the only team to have beaten Sydney in the last three months.

Next: Hawthorn (MCG, Friday 7:50pm local)

2. Adelaide
Last week: 2 (no change)
Round 18: defeated Geelong by 21 points

The Crows are six points clear on top of the ladder with just five weeks left, meaning a top-four finish is almost a certainty. Adelaide were great to watch on Friday night, taking care of a Geelong side which, going into the match, had won five in a row against the South Australians. Adelaide smashed the Cats in the clearances 47 to 27, while Rory Sloane brushed off concerns about his concussion with 28 touches and three goals. After a mid-season lull, the Crows seem to be back, but a goalless last quarter took the gloss off what could have been an even bigger win.

Next: Collingwood (MCG, Sunday 3:20pm local)

3. Geelong
Last week: 1 (down 2)
Round 18: lost to Adelaide by 21 points

By virtue of GWS's loss to Richmond, the Cats have managed to hold onto second place on the ladder, but the cut-throat nature of the competition means they've fallen two spots in the rankings after going down to the Crows on Friday night. It might have been panic stations for coach Chris Scott had Geelong not managed to stage a mini-comeback in the fourth quarter, but he will no doubt be keen to move on and focus on this week's clash with cellar-dwellers Carlton at Etihad Stadium.

Next: Carlton (Etihad Stadium, Saturday 7:25pm local)

4. Richmond
Last week: 5 (up 1)
Round 18: defeated GWS Giants by 19 points

This was a big win for the Tigers, who no doubt still have top-four aspirations in 2017. In driving rain at the MCG and led by a bullocking Dustin Martin, Richmond were able to outmuscle and outwill the Giants to clinch a 19-point victory and overtake Port Adelaide on the ladder. They can further solidify their position with a win this week; they travel north to play a patchy Gold Coast side at Metricon Stadium in what should be a percentage booster for the finals-bound Tigers.

Next: Gold Coast (Metricon Stadium, Saturday 7:25pm local)

5. Greater Western Sydney
Last week: 4 (down 1)
Round 18: lost to Richmond by 19 points

Don't worry about West Coast, the Giants might just be the worst MCG team in the league. GWS have won just one of their 11 matches at the home of footy - a track record that doesn't bode well for finals, particularly if they can't secure a top-two finish and home finals throughout September. Toby Greene will miss the next fortnight after whacking Alex Rance, yet again raising questions about whether the Giants are a tight-knit team, or team of individuals. We're hesitant to write then off, however, as they have the talent to take them all the way.

Next: Fremantle (Spotless Stadium, Saturday 2:10pm local)

6. Melbourne
Last week: 7 (up 1)
Round 18: defeated Port Adelaide by 23 points

After going down to the Crows in Darwin last week, the Dees returned to the MCG and reminded the competition that they're still a tough side to beat. The Demons certainly have the hallmarks of a successful team; looking at the crop of contenders, it is the Dees who look the most likely to "do a Bulldogs" in 2017. Like the Dogs last year, Melbourne will likely have a full-strength line-up come the end of the season, meaning they could time their run perfectly into September. The question which remains, however, is whether they can go all the way.

Next: North Melbourne (Blundstone Arena, Saturday 1:45pm local)

7. Port Adelaide
Last week: 6 (down 1)
Round 18: lost to Melbourne by 23 points

At least Port Adelaide are consistent in being unable to beat top-eight sides. Power coach Ken Hinkley described his side's performance against Melbourne as "really poor", and not one befitting of the tag "finals contender". Melbourne's pressure meant the Power were unable to play with their signature dash, while Port were, oddly, also smashed in the inside 50s - a stat upon which they normally pride themselves. Regardless of the result, they remain in the hunt and are still fifth on the ladder with excellent percentage. They can boost their top-four chances with a big win this week - against a St Kilda side which has struggled on the road in recent times.

Next: St Kilda (Adelaide Oval, Saturday 4:05pm local)

8. Essendon
Last week: 9 (up 1)
Round 18: defeated North Melbourne by 27 points

The Bombers are in a pretty good position heading into the back-end of season 2017. Sitting eighth both on the ladder and the Power Rankings, they have the best percentage of the four teams on nine wins (ahead of the Eagles, Dogs and Saints), but they cannot rest on their laurels. This week's clash with the Dogs is an eight-point match; win and streak further ahead of the pack, while a loss will hand the reigning premiers (and others) one last chance to sneak into September. While the Dogs have been patchy in the second half of the year, their win last week against the Suns reflected how good they can be on their day. A win is crucial. No pressure, Bombers.

Next: Western Bulldogs (Etihad Stadium, Sunday 1:10pm local)

9. West Coast
Last week: 8 (down 1)
Round 18: lost to Collingwood by 8 points

Many West Coast fans would agree that this side doesn't deserve to play finals after dishing up what it did on the weekend. With six minutes left in the match, the Eagles were four goals up against the Pies at Etihad Stadium. What followed was one of the all-time choke jobs, which, understandably, left coach Adam Simpson gutted. It was heartless, and has sent the Eagles out of the top eight and into a tight battle to get back in. If ever there was an unlosable match, it would be this week's clash with the Lions in Perth. West Coast couldn't lose this one, could they?

Next: Brisbane (Domain Stadium, Sunday 2:40pm local)

10. Western Bulldogs
Last week: 11 (up 1)
Round 18: defeated Gold Coast by 54 points

The reigning premiers have kept their September hopes alive with a massive win over the stagnant Suns, but to paraphrase Dory, they now need to "just keep winning". The Dogs' run home isn't easy; after the Bombers, the Bulldogs face the Lions (away), Giants (home) and Power (in Ballarat). They simply can't afford to lose any of these, not least of all this week's crucial clash with the Bombers. Put simply, if the Dogs win, they leapfrog the Bombers, but a loss leaves them two wins behind (considering their mediocre percentage).

Next: Essendon (Etihad Stadium, Sunday 1:10pm local)

11. Hawthorn
Last week: 12 (up 1)
Round 18: defeated Fremantle by 52 points

Credit to the Hawks. Like Sydney, they've seemingly undergone a mid-season rebuild to great effect - uncovering some top young talent and exposing them to 10-15 games they might not have ordinarily been given. While they're still unlikely to play finals, they're likely to deny St Kilda a top-five pick in this year's draft after the Jaeger O'Meara trade. This week's match-up is a beauty, too, as Hawthorn are the only side to have beaten the Swans since Round 6. Sydney will be out for revenge, but there's something about Hawthorn playing under Friday night lights which should make the Swans nervous.

Next: Sydney (MCG, Friday 7:50pm local)

12. St Kilda
Last week: 10 (down 2)
Round 18: lost to Sydney by 42 points

For a team with high hopes, St Kilda were never in the contest against Sydney. There's a lack of a killer instinct in that midfield, while they don't seem to possess a real "game-breaker" like a Dustin Martin or a Patrick Dangerfield. Simply, if they lose this week, it's all over and as we know, the Saints are notoriously poor on the road. They play Port in Adelaide, and given the Power's form against teams not in the top eight (especially at home) then it's likely to be 'Goodnight Irene' for St Kilda in 2017. There are better teams vying for the same spot in the eight.

Next: Port Adelaide (Adelaide Oval, Saturday 4:05pm local)

13. Collingwood
Last week: 14 (up 1)
Round 18: defeated West Coast by 8 points

Not only have Collingwood harpooned West Coast's chance of a top-four finish, they could well have ended the Eagles' season. While the Pies themselves won't be featuring in September, there's no sweeter feeling than stopping another team from doing so, and Sunday's victory has made it very hard for Adam Simpson's Eagles. Collingwood didn't come away unscathed, however; Travis Varcoe fell awkwardly on his face in a marking contest, while young forward Darcy Moore was also taken to hospital for scans on his neck. It's a shame there were only 23,000 on hand to watch what was a wonderful victory.

Next: Adelaide (MCG, Sunday 3:20pm local)

14. Fremantle
Last week: 13 (down 1)
Round 18: lost to Hawthorn by 52 points

For the second week in a row, the Dockers failed to crack 50 points in a match. Crucially, both matches have been at their home ground, meaning they desperately need another big forward presence. Ex-Giant Cam McCarthy is still coming back from a year away from footy and his best is still well ahead of him, Hayden Ballantyne isn't what he used to be, while Shane Kersten has been hit-and-miss. The Dockers will need to hit the offseason hard in order to bounce back up the ladder.

Next: GWS (Spotless Stadium, Saturday 2:10pm local)

15. Gold Coast
Last week: 15 (no change)
Round 18: lost to Western Bulldogs by 54 points

Against a Bulldogs side struggling for some consistency and continuity, one could have expected the Suns to come out with an ambition to take it up to the reigning premiers. Instead, and almost predictably, Gold Coast were outclassed from halfway through the first term. In fact, after the Suns kicked the first three goals of the match, the Dogs kicked 16 of the next 21 to run away with a nine-goal win. It doesn't get any easier for Gold Coast, as they welcome Richmond to Metricon Stadium this week, in yet another game that could get ugly.

Next: Richmond (Metricon Stadium, Saturday 7:25pm local)

16. Brisbane
Last week: 18 (up 2)
Round 18: defeated Carlton by 30 points

The Lions were justly rewarded for their efforts over the last six or so weeks in Sunday's big win over the Blues. There were positives all over the ground, from Dayne Zorko's three majors, to Hugh McLuggage disposing at 100 percent efficiency. Chris Fagan also seemed to outcoach his Carlton counterpart. There is plenty to like about the Lions, and the future certainly is bright.

Next: West Coast (Domain Stadium, Sunday 2:40pm local)

17. Carlton
Last week: 16 (down 1)
Round 18: lost to Brisbane by 30 points

Yet another slow start left the Blues with too much to do. Carlton were down by almost 10 goals in their match against the bottom-of-the-ladder Lions on Sunday, and while they managed to get within 11 points halfway through the last quarter, they were ultimately unable to run out the match. Bryce Gibbs was kept to single figures, while the holes left by Patrick Cripps and Ed Curnow have never been more obvious. The silver lining is that Carlton played nine players from their past two draft classes - an impressive effort whichever way you look at it.

Next: Geelong (Etihad Stadium, Saturday 7:25pm local)

18. North Melbourne
Last week: 17 (down 1)
Round 18: lost to Essendon by 27 points

While North Melbourne only went down to Essendon by 27 points, the ugly "T word" has reared its head again. The Roos have been accused of tanking by some in the media, with the decision to rest skipper Jack Ziebell for the Dons clash questioned. It will be interesting to see how North approaches this week's game against Melbourne; the Roos have dominated the Dees in recent times, having won the past 16 matches between these sides.

Next: Melbourne (Blundstone Arena, Saturday 1:45pm local)

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