1. (1) GEELONG
Were challenged but rose to the occasion against the Crows, look almost certain to finish with the minor premiership.
LAST FIVE: GC (W), Syd (W), Rich (W), PA (L), ADE (W).
NEXT FIVE: WB (A), StK (H), Haw (H), Syd (A), Fre (A).
2. (5) WEST COAST
Were pushed all the way by the Hawks at the MCG but found a way to win unlike many other favourites on the weekend.
LAST FIVE: Ade (W), WB (W), Syd (L), Ess (W), Haw (W).
NEXT FIVE: Fre (A), Coll (H), Melb (A), NM (H), Carl (A).
3. (2) COLLINGWOOD
We will stick with the Magpies for now despite a horrid display against North Melbourne but their top four credentials will be put to the test over the next month.
LAST FIVE: Syd (W), Fre (L), Melb (W), WB (W), NM (L).
NEXT FIVE: Haw (A), WCE (A), GWS (A), Rich (H), GC (H).
4. (3) GWS
Like the Magpies we will stick with the Giants for now but they will need to improve drastically if they are to survive the next month with their premiership dreams intact.
LAST FIVE: Melb (W), GC (W), Ade (L), NM (W), ESS (L).
NEXT FIVE: Bris (H), Rich (A) Coll (H), PA (A), Syd (H).
5. (4) ADELAIDE
Didn’t get the points but will be buoyed by their efforts against the Cats at GMHBA Stadium. Will be looking to get their campaign back on track against the Power at home this weekend.
LAST FIVE: WCE (L), Melb (W), GWS (W), Rich (W), Gee (L).
NEXT FIVE: PA (H), GC (A), Ess (H), Carl (A), StK (H).
6. (8) BRISBANE
Looming as the feel good story of the season the Lions found another gear in the last quarter to power away from the Demons. How far can they rise in the last eight weeks of the season?
LAST FIVE: Fre (L), Haw (W), Carl (L), StK (W), Melb (W).
NEXT FIVE: GWS (A), PA (A), NM (H), Haw (A), WB (H).
7. (9) SYDNEY
We had the Swans dead an buried a few weeks ago but after three straight wins they are back in the chasing pack for eight place on the ladder.
LAST FIVE: Coll (L), Gee (L), WCE (W), HAW (W), GC (W).
NEXT FIVE: Ess (A), Carl (H), Fre (A), Gee (H), GWS (A).
8. (11) NORTH MELBOURNE
One of the form teams in the competition, North Melbourne were far too strong for Collingwood on the weekend. Can Rhys Shaw lead them to an unlikely finals berth?
LAST FIVE: WB (W), Rich (W), GC (W), GWS (L), Coll (W).
NEXT FIVE: StK (A), Ess (A), BL (A), WCE (A), Haw (H).
9. (10) RICHMOND
Were far from impressive for much of their round 15 encounter with the Saints but did enough to run away with a relatively comfortable victory. Will need to be better if they are to genuinely contend.
LAST FIVE: Ess (W), NM (L), Gee (L), Ade (L), StK (W).
NEXT FIVE: GC (A), GWS (H). PA (H), Coll (A), Melb (A), Carl (H), WCE (H), BL (H).
10. (12) ESSENDON
Thursday nights victory was the kind that seasons are built upon. Can John Worsfold’s men turn around a season that looked lost and make a run at the finals?
LAST FIVE: Rich (L), Carl (W), Haw (W), WCE (L), GWS (W).
NEXT FIVE: Syd (H), NM (H), Ade (A), GC (A), PA (H).
11. (6) PORT ADELAIDE
The Power’s rollercoaster of a season continued with a defeat to the Bulldogs after their seeming season defining victory over the Cats a week earlier. The next month should tell us whether Port are contenders or pretenders.
LAST FIVE: Haw (L), StK (W), Fre (L), Gee (W), WB (L).
NEXT FIVE: Ade (A), BL (H), Rich (A), GWS (H), Ess (A).
12. (7) FREMANTLE
A loss at home to the bottom team missing a number of key players is a low point in a season that at different stages has shown promise. Rather than consolidating their place in the eight they find themselves tinkering on the edge.
LAST FIVE: BL (W), Coll (W), PA (W), Melb (L), Carl (L).
NEXT FIVE: WCE (H), Haw (A), Syd (H), WB (A), Gee (H)
13. (15) WESTERN BULLDOGS
Super impressive in the wet at the Adelaide Oval, the Bulldogs now find themselves in the middle of a bunch of teams with a sniff of a top eight finish.
LAST FIVE: NM (L), WCE (L), Carl (W), Coll (L), PA (W).
NEXT FIVE: Gee (H), Melb (H), StK (A), Fre (H), BL (H).
14. (17) CARLTON
A victory away from home without a number of key stars could be the turning point that Carlton have been waiting some time for. They now have two wins from three games under caretaker coach David Teague and have show a real appetite for the fight.
LAST FIVE: StK (L), Ess (L), BL (W), WB (L), Fre (W).
NEXT FIVE: Melb (H), Syd (A), GC (H), Ade (H), WCE (H).
15. (13) ST KILDA
A lack of class and polish let the Saints down after a spirited opening had them in control of their contest against the Tigers in the first half.
LAST FIVE: Carl (W), PA (L), GC (W), BL (L), Rich (L).
NEXT FIVE: NM (A), Gee (A), WB (H), Melb (H), Ade (A).
16. (14) MELBOURNE
Challenged Brisbane all the way at the Gabba but couldn’t compete when the Lions found another gear late.
LAST FIVE: GWS (L), ADE (L), COLL (L), Fre (W), BL (L).
NEXT FIVE: Carl (A), WB (A), WCE (H), StK (A), Rich (H).
17. (16) HAWTHORN
The Hawks looked likely winners in the final quarter against the Eagles but in the end couldn’t hold onto their hard fought lead and fell to their fourth consecutive defeat. Only the Suns have a longer current streak.
LAST FIVE: PA (W), BL (L), Ess (L), Syd (L), WCE (L).
NEXT FIVE: Coll (H), Fre (H), Gee (A), BL (H), NM (A).
18. (18) GOLD COAST
Brave, competitive but beaten. The same story as almost all of their defeats in 2019.
LAST FIVE: PA (L), Gee (L), GWS (L), NM (L), StK (L), Syd (L).
NEXT FIVE: Rich (H), Ade (H), Carl (A), Ess (H), Coll (H).
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