With not all wins created equal the AFL ladder doesn’t always get it right. To right this wrong the Pinch Hitters attempt to provide a more accurate picture of where each team stands. With that in mind here is our take on just how well each team is going after Round Six.
1. (1) RICHMOND ⇔
The Tiger jugernaut continues after seeing off the Magpie challenge on Sunday. Next up the Dockers at the MCG.
Last Five: Adelaide (L), Hawthorn (W), Brisbane (W), Melbourne (W), Collingwood (W).
Next Five: Fremantle (H), North Melbourne (A), West Coast (A), St Kilda (H), Essendon (A).
2. (3) ADELAIDE ⇑
Adelaide got the job done against the Gold Coast at home to give them four wins from their last five games. The good form looks set to continue with Carlton up next before they face Port in the Showdown.
Last Five: Richmond (W), St Kilda (W), Collingwood (L), Sydney (W), Gold Coast (W).
Next Five: Carlton (H), Port Adelaide (A), Bulldogs (H), Melbourne (A), GWS (H).
3. (2) SYDNEY ⇓
The algorythm has been a little unkind to Sydney who had an impressive come from behind victory over the Cats in Geelong. The next five presents an opportunity to solidify their position in the top four.
Last Five: Port Adelaide (L), GWS (W), Bulldogs (W), Adelaide (L), Geelong (W).
Next Five: North Melbourne (H), Hawthorn (A), Fremantle (H), Brisbane (A), Carlton (H).
4. (7) WEST COAST ⇑
The Eagles winning streak extends to five after outlasting the Dockers in the Derby. It means they are perfectly placed, formwise, for the three week challenge that lies ahead with matches against Port, GWS and Richmond.
Last Five: Bulldogs (W), Geelong (W), Gold Coast (W), Carlton (W), Fremantle (W).
Next Five: Port Adelaide (H), GWS (A), Richmond (H), Hawthorn (A), St Kilda (H).
5. (5) COLLINGWOOD ⇔
After coming up short against the premiers, the Magpies winning streak was halted at three. They will be confident that they can get back on the winners list when they travel to the Gabba this weekend.
Last Five: GWS (L), Carlton (W), Adelaide (W), Essendon (W), Richmond (L)
Next Five: Brisbane (A), Geelong (H), St Kilda (A), Bulldogs (H), Fremantle (H).
6. (4) GEELONG ⇓
A tough home loss for the Cats against the Swans in Round Six. With matches against GWS and Collingwood in the next two rounds, they face a challenge to keep in touch with the top eight.
Last Five: Hawthorn (L), West Coast (L), St Kilda (W), Port Adelaide (W), Sydney (L).
Next Five: GWS (H), Collingwood (A), Essendon (A), Carlton (H), Gold Coast (A).
7. (8) HAWTHORN ⇑
The Hawks struggled to finish off a wasteful St Kilda in Launceston but were able to bank a valuable four points on the back of a dominant final quarter. At four and two after six rounds they have positioned themselves well for the year ahead. A clash with an arch rival awaits before they host the Swans in Round Eight.
Last Five: Geelong (W), Richmond (L), Melbourne (W), North Melbourne (L), St Kilda (W).
Next Five: Essendon (A), Sydney (H), Brisbane (H), West Coast (A), Port Adelaide (A).
8. (6) GWS ⇓
A disappointing result for the Giants against the Saints at Etihad Stadium undoing some of their good work of the first month of the season. In the end, they were perhaps a little lucky to sneak away with two points but it is an effort they can’t afford to replicate in the weeks to come.
Last Five: Bulldogs (W), Collingwood (W), Sydney (L), Fremantle (W), St Kilda (D).
Next Five: Brisbane (H), Geelong (A), West Coast (H), North Melbourne (A), Essendon (H).
9. (9) PORT ADELAIDE ⇔
Port Adelaide responded to their loss against Geelong at home with a comfortable victory over North Melbourne. The Kangaroos were no pushovers but more difficult opponents await with West Coast and Adelaide to play over the next fortnight.
Last Five: Sydney (W), Brisbane (W), Essendon (L), Geelong (L), North Melbourne (W).
Next Five: West Coast (A), Adelaide (H), Gold Coast (A), Hawthorn (A), Richmond (H).
10. (11) FREMANTLE ⇑
Although defeated in the Derby by West Coast, Fremantle again showed that their rebuild might be ahead of schedule. Two big road trips in the next three weeks, against Richmond and Sydney, will give us a better idea.
Last Five: Essendon (W), Gold Coast (W), GWS (L), Bulldogs (W), West Coast (L).
Next Five: Richmond (A), St Kilda (H), Sydney (A), North Melbourne (H), Collingwood (A).
11. (13) MELBOURNE ⇑
A win over Essendon brought an end to a fortnight to forget for Melbourne. After intense scrutiny on the club the next three weeks offers a big opportunity to get their season back on track.
Last Five: Brisbane (W), North Melbourne (W), Hawthorn (L), Richmond (L), Essendon (W).
Next Five: St Kilda (A), Gold Coast (A), Carlton (A), Adelaide (H), Bulldogs (A).
12. (12) NORTH MELBOURNE ⇔
Three and Three after Six Rounds, the Kangaroos have been one of the surprise packets of 2018. The next three weeks produce their biggest test to date though with matches against Sydney, Richmond and GWS.
Last Five: St Kilda (W), Melbourne (L), Carlton (W), Hawthorn (W), Port Adelaide (L).
Next Five: Sydney (A), Richmond (H), GWS (H), Fremantle (A), Brisbane (H).
13. (10) ESSENDON ⇓
In front of the eighth largest home and away crowd in AFL history, Essendon missed an opportunity to prove themselves on a big stage. Their good is very good, their bad is horrible. A big match lies ahead for them this weekend against the similarly disappointing Melbourne side who will be equally desperate to record a win.
Last Five: Fremantle (L), Bulldogs (L), Port Adelaide (W), Collingwood (L), Melbourne (L).
Next Five: Hawthorn (H), Carlton (A), Geelong (H), GWS (A), Richmond (H).
14. (15) WESTERN BULLDOGS ⇑
The Bulldogs were far from impressive against Carlton but got the job done in their Friday Night Football clash at Etihad Stadium. Further opportunities to improve present themselves with home matches against Gold Coast and Brisbane in the next two weeks.
Last Five: West Coast (L), Essendon (W), Sydney (L), Fremantle (L), Carlton (W).
Next Five: Gold Coast (H), Brisbane (H), Adelaide (A), Collingwood (A), Melbourne (H).
15. (14) ST KILDA ⇓
The Saints skill level was diabolical against the Hawks throughout their 35-point defeat in Launceston. High expectations are fading fast for Alan Richardson’s men and with two trips to Perth in the next five weeks things might get worse before they get better.
Last Five: North Melbourne (L), Adelaide (L), Geelong (L), GWS (D), Hawthorn (L).
Next Five: Melbourne (H), Fremantle (A), Collingwood (H), Richmond (A), West Coast (A).
16. (16) GOLD COAST ⇔
The Suns struggled to have an impact at Adelaide Oval against the Crows but they aren’t the first and won’t be the last side in 2018 to suffer this fate. After a positive start to the season, they have been unable to produce consistent effort. Stuart Dew will need to find a way to extract this consistency or it will be another long season on the Gold Coast.
Last Five: Carlton (W), Fremantle (L), West Coast (L), Brisbane (W), Adelaide (L).
Next Five: Bulldogs (A), Melbourne (H), Port Adelaide (H), Geelong (H), GWS (H).
17. (18) BRISBANE ⇑
The margin between Carlton and Brisbane is wafer thin and as a result, the Lions have climbed off the bottom rung despite failing to fire a shot against the Giants in Sydney. With the club in full rebuild mode there is bound to be an element of inconsistent performance from Chris Fagan’s young cubs but they have the building blocks to shock any team that takes them lightly.
Last Five: Melbourne (L), Port Adelaide (L), Richmond (L), Gold Coast (L), GWS (L).
Next Five: Collingwood (H), Bulldogs (A), Hawthorn (H), Sydney (H), North Melbourne (A).
18. (17) CARLTON ⇓
The Blues earned themselves a piece of unwanted history after their loss to the Bulldogs with it consigning the club to their first ever 0-6 start to a season. Coach Brendon Bolton announced afterwards that the club would not deviate from their strategy which prioritises the development of young players over the win-loss column. While it will hold the club in good stead for the future it might make for a few more dark nights for Blues fans before 2018 is over.
Last Five: Gold Coast (L), Collingwood (L), North Melbourne (L), West Coast (L), Bulldogs (L).
Next Five: Adelaide (A), Essendon (H), Melbourne (H), Geelong (A), Sydney (A).
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