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 Eight.
1. (1) RICHMOND ⇔
The Tigers overcame a spirited North Melbourne team to extend their winning streak to six. As a result, we have the mouth-watering prospect of a top of the ladder clash between them and the high-flying Eagles. In front of a packed house at Optus Stadium, it should be a riveting contest.
Last Five: Brisbane (W), Melbourne (W), Collingwood (W), Fremantle (W), North Melbourne (W)
Next Five: West Coast (A), St Kilda (H), Essendon (A), Port Adelaide (A), Geelong (A).
2. (2) WEST COAST ⇔
The Eagles met their end of the bargain in setting up next weeks Top of the Ladder clash by beating GWS in Sydney. In the midst of a seven-game winning streak, the Eagles are the best-credentialed side to knock the Tigers off their perch atop the AFL ladder.
Last Five: Gold Coast (W), Carlton (W), Fremantle (W), Port Adelaide (W), GWS (W)
Next Five: Richmond (H), Hawthorn (A), St Kilda (H), Sydney (A), Essendon (H).
3. (3) GEELONG ⇔
Geelong got the job done against Collingwood on Mothers Day to claim their fourth win from their last five matches. Having improved their ladder position to third they have a favourable draw over the next three weeks before facing testing encounters against North Melbourne and Richmond.
Last Five: St Kilda (W), Port Adelaide (W), Sydney (L), GWS (W), Collingwood (W)
Next Five: Essendon (A), Carlton (H), Gold Coast (A), North Melbourne (H), Richmond (H).
4. (5) SYDNEY ⇑
A seven-goal performance from third-gamer Ben Ronke, saw the Swans past Hawthorn in a thriller at the MCG. Despite an up and down season to date, Sydney find themselves in the logjam of teams with a five and three record from third to eight. The next four weeks offers an opportunity to solidify their position in the top eight before they face the challenge of the Eagles at home in Round 13.
Last Five: Bulldogs (W), Adelaide (L), Geelong (W), North Melbourne (L), Hawthorn (W).
Next Five: Fremantle (H), Brisbane (A), Carlton (H), St Kilda (A), West Coast (H).
5. (4) ADELAIDE ⇓
It was heartbreak for the Crows in the Showdown against Port Adelaide on Saturday night, losing by five points to their bitter rivals despite retaking the lead themselves in the dying stages of the match. A challenging five matches lie ahead for the Crows, with trips to the Northern Territory, Perth and Melbourne to take on Melbourne, Fremantle and Hawthorn.
Last Five: Collingwood (L), Sydney (W), Gold Coast (W), Carlton (W), Port Adelaide (L)
Next Five: Bulldogs (H), Melbourne (A), GWS (H), Fremantle (A), Hawthorn (A).
6. (6) NORTH MELBOURNE ⇔
North Melbourne was far from disgraced in their defeat at the hands of Richmond on Sunday at Etihad. An out of form GWS team is next for the Kangaroos before a trip to Perth and matches against Brisbane, Geelong and the Bulldogs. Having beaten Sydney and Hawthorn in recent weeks, it is a stretch of matches that won’t hold any fears for the resurgent Kangaroos.
Last Five: Carlton (W), Hawthorn (W), Port Adelaide (L), Sydney (W), North Melbourne (L).
Next Five: GWS (H), Fremantle (A), Brisbane (H), Geelong (A), Bulldogs (A).
7. (7) HAWTHORN ⇔
A disappointing loss for a Hawks team that has had an impressive start to the season after the disappointments of last year. The Lions will be a spirited opponent next week before a difficult three week spell against West Coast, Port Adelaide and Adelaide will test their Top Eight credentials.
Last Five: Melbourne (W), North Melbourne (L), St Kilda (W), Essendon (W), Sydney (L).
Next Five: Brisbane (H), West Coast (A), Port Adelaide (A), Adelaide (H), Gold Coast (H).
8. (8) COLLINGWOOD ⇔
The Pies were spirited in their defeat to Geelong at the MCG on Sunday but find themselves on the outside of the eight looking in at the minute. Their next five matches give them a strong chance to put themselves amongst the top teams at the half way point of the season.
Last Five: Adelaide (W), Essendon (W), Richmond (L), Brisbane (W), Geelong (L).
Next Five: St Kilda (A), Bulldogs (H), Fremantle (H), Melbourne (A), Carlton (H).
9. (10) PORT ADELAIDE ⇑
With their season on the precipice, Port got the perfect result in their last-gasp victory over cross-town rivals Adelaide. A trip to China lies ahead before challenging assignments against Hawthorn and Richmond to come in the next few weeks.
Last Five: Essendon (L), Geelong (L), North Melbourne (W), West Coast (L), Adelaide (W).
Next Five: Gold Coast (A), Hawthorn (A), Richmond (H), Bulldogs (H), Melbourne (A).
10. (11) MELBOURNE ⇑
The Dees have soared back into the top eight on the back of a three-game winning streak over strugglers Essendon, St Kilda and Gold Coast. They have a strong chance to make it four with Carlton up next before they face Adelaide in red centre.
Last Five: Hawthorn (L), Richmond (L), Essendon (W), St Kilda (W), Gold Coast (W).
Next Five: Carlton (A), Adelaide (H), Bulldogs (A), Collingwood (H), Port Adelaide (A).
11. (9) GWS ⇓
GWS have been anything but a premiership contender in their last five matches, with a draw and wins over Fremantle and Brisbane all they have to show for their efforts. Outside the eight with difficult matches against North Melbourne and Adelaide to come in the next three weeks, the Giants season is on the brink.
Last Five: Fremantle (W), St Kilda (D), Brisbane (W), Geelong (L), West Coast (L).
Next Five: North Melbourne (A), Essendon (H), Adelaide (A), Gold Coast (H), Brisbane (A).
12. (12) FREMANTLE ⇔
The Dockers kept themselves within touching distance of the top eight with their 30-point victory over the wayward Saints. Facing Sydney, North Melbourne, Collingwood and Adelaide to come, their hopes this season could be decided over the next month.
Last Five: GWS (L), Bulldogs (W), West Coast (L), Richmond (L), St Kilda (W).
Next Five: Sydney (A), North Melbourne (H), Collingwood (A), Adelaide (H), Carlton (A).
13. (13) WESTERN BULLDOGS ⇔
The Bulldogs have done what they have needed to over the next three weeks in recording victories over the bottom three teams in the competition. We will have a much better idea of where the Bulldogs truly site after their next five games against Adelaide, Collingwood, Melbourne, Port Adelaide and North Melbourne.
Last Five: Sydney (L), Fremantle (L), Carlton (W), Gold Coast (W), Brisbane (W).
Next Five: Adelaide (A), Collingwood (A), Melbourne (H), Port Adelaide (A), North Melbourne (H).
14. (15) ST KILDA ⇑
The Saints rise in the rankings owes more to the performances of others than of their own. They kicked themselves out of the contest against Fremantle registering 2.9 across three of the games four quarters. Things don’t get any easy for them in the near future either with Collingwood, Richmond, West Coast and Sydney to come.
Last Five: Geelong (L), GWS (D), Hawthorn (L), Melbourne (L), Fremantle (L).
Next Five: Collingwood (H), Richmond (A), West Coast (A), Sydney (H), Gold Coast (A).
15. (14) ESSENDON ⇓
The Bombers season is officially in free fall after their defeat to Carlton at the MCG on Saturday. After four straight defeats, things don’t get much easier for Essendon with matches to come against Geelong, GWS and Richmond in their next three starts.
Last Five: Port Adelaide (W), Collingwood (L), Melbourne (L), Hawthorn (L), Carlton (L).
Next Five: Geelong (H), GWS (A), Richmond (H), Brisbane (A), West Coast (A).
16. (16) GOLD COAST ⇔
The Suns were no match for the Demons at Metricon Stadium on Saturday Night. With only a win against Brisbane to show for their last five games, they have a trip to China and home matches against Geelong and GWS to get through before they host the Saints in a winnable game in Round 13.
Last Five: West Coast (L), Brisbane (W), Adelaide (L), Bulldogs (L), Melbourne (L).
Next Five: Port Adelaide (H), Geelong (H), GWS (H), St Kilda (H), Hawthorn (A).
17. (18) CARLTON ⇑
The Blues first win of the season, against the Bombers at the MCG on Saturday, lifts them off the bottom of the power rankings. The result was a fair reward for a team that has suffered their way through the clubs worst ever start to a season. They have a difficult series of matches ahead, but will pose problems for any team that underestimates them before the season is out.
Last Five: North Melbourne (L), West Coast (L), Bulldogs (L), Adelaide (L), Essendon (W).
Next Five: Melbourne (H), Geelong (A), Sydney (A), Fremantle (H), Collingwood (A).
18. (17) BRISBANE ⇓
The Lions pushed the Bulldogs all the way before succumbing to their eighth defeat of the season. Despite arguably showing more promise than a few of the teams around them on the bottom rungs of the ladder, as the last team to remain without a win in 2018 there is no other place than 18th for them in the Power Rankings. More than due for their opening win of the season, their opponents would be unwise to take them too lightly in coming weeks.
Last Five: Richmond (L), Gold Coast (L), GWS (L), Collingwood (L), Bulldogs (L).
Next Five: Hawthorn (H), Sydney (H), North Melbourne (A), Essendon (H), GWS (H).
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