After showing impressive form, Collingwood moves up two spots this week to fifth. Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs also move up after impressive victories, whilst Richmond and Gold Coast both go down despite recording wins.
1. (Last week – 1) Hawthorn Hawks – Record: 16-3
The Hawks enjoyed a routine victory on Friday night, accounting for the Saints in comfortable fashion. Hawthorn could have embarrassed St Kilda in the second quarter when it kicked 5.10, but it mattered little in the end. The Hawks will now switch their focus to this Friday night, when they meet Collingwood at the MCG.
2. (2) Sydney Swans – 14-1-4
While Kurt Tippett was outstanding up forward, Sydney was out gunned in the midfield on Saturday night. Collingwood’s midfield hit its straps and Sydney couldn’t stop the Magpies dominance. The Swans will need to return to form in preparation for September, and they will hope to do that when they face the Saints on Sunday.
3. (3) Geelong Cats – 15-4
Geelong returned to the official top two on Saturday, but remains third on this ladder following a disappointing final quarter against Port Adelaide. After dominating the first quarter and setting themselves up for a massive victory, the Cats eased off the pace and allowed the Power to control the final term. It didn’t affect the result, but Geelong will need four-quarter performances in the lead up to the finals.
4. (4) Fremantle Dockers – 14-1-4
Fremantle took its chance to make a big statement, crushing Greater Western Sydney by 113 points. The Dockers had 15 goal scorers and simply embarrassed the Giants, as they fine-tuned their game plan in time for the finals.
5. (7) Collingwood Magpies – 13-6
Collingwood continued its return to form on Saturday night, defeating the Swans in convincing fashion. The Pies won the game in the middle, with Dane Swan, Scott Pendlebury and Dayne Beams all having outstanding games. According to the Fox Footy Analyst, it was the 37th time that both Swan and Pendlebury had 30 or more disposals in a game. Collingwood has won 33 of those games.
#aflswanspies, #feelsliketeenspirit, Brodie Grundy & Shane Mumford, pic.twitter.com/R2oXmSXkPa
— Wayne Ludbey. (@WLudbey) August 10, 2013
6. (5) Essendon Bombers – 13-6
In what has become tradition in recent years, Essendon is fading in the closing stages of the season once again. While its top tier players played well, the Bombers lacked depth and struggled to find a winner up forward. If it is going to make an impact come September, Essendon is going to have to find form, starting with its match against North Melbourne on Saturday.
7. (6) Richmond Tigers – 13-6
A powerful first half set up a comfortable victory for the Tigers on Saturday. After kicking 11 goals to four in the first half, Richmond relaxed and cruised towards the four points, making it mathematically impossible for it to miss the finals. Richmond will continue to try and build form when it meets Carlton on Saturday.
8. (8) Port Adelaide Power – 11-8
On the back of a seven-goal haul from Angus Monfries, Port Adelaide consolidated a terrible start, to finish with an honourable loss against Geelong on Saturday. The Power definitely looked a step below the Cats, proving that it still has a long way to go to catch up to the elite teams in the competition.
9. (9) Carlton Blues – 9-10
With Port Adelaide losing earlier on Saturday, Carlton wasted a golden opportunity to close the gap on the top eight. Dogged by injuries, including one to former captain Chris Judd, the Blues ran out of legs in the final quarter which saw its finals hopes continue to slip. With a tough run home and facing three sides above it on the ladder, it would appear Carlton is out of the finals race.
10. (10) North Melbourne – 8-11
For the second time this season North Melbourne was overrun in the final term by Adelaide. This loss marked the seventh time North has lost by two goals or less this season. The Kangaroos now face the Bombers on Saturday afternoon.
11. (12) Adelaide Crows – 8-11
Adelaide held on to a strong lead on Sunday, but only just. After dominating the first half, the Crows let the Kangaroos back in to the contest in the third quarter. In the fourth though, led by Patrick Dangerfield and Rory Sloane, Adelaide dominated play and only poor kicking kept the scoreline close.
12. (11) Brisbane Lions – 8-11
A poor first half stifled any chances Brisbane had on Saturday against Richmond. Facing a 45-point deficit at half time, the Lions, led by Tom Rockliff, battled manfully but couldn’t bring themselves back into the game. Brisbane will hope for a victory when it faces Greater Western Sydney next week.
13. (13) West Coast Eagles – 9-10
It’s too late for a finals push, but West Coast showed the form that made it a premiership threat last season, on Sunday. Led by Matt Priddis in the midfield and Mark LeCras up forward, the Eagles were simply too good for the Bombers.
14. (15) Western Bulldogs – 6-13
Seemingly out of nowhere, the Bulldogs have become one of the feel-good sides of the second half of the season and are giving their fans plenty to feel positive about. Despite a shocking incident involving Tom Cambell and a goalpost, the Western Bulldogs ran over an injury depleted Carlton, to record its sixth win of the season.
15. (14) Gold Coast Suns – 7-12
With Gary Ablett being negated (legally or not), the Suns had other players step up on Saturday night. It was important for Gold Coast to win without its skipper dominating, and David Swallow, Harley Bennell and Dion Prestia stepped up to play great games for their team. The Suns were a little lucky that Melbourne missed some simple shots at goal.
16. (16) St Kilda Saints – 3-16
In what was generally a dull affair, St Kilda put up little on Friday night against Hawthorn. After a competitive first quarter, the Saints dropped off and were lucky that the Hawks sprayed some shots at goal. Once again Jack Steven was the only young player amongst St Kilda’s best, while Leigh Montagna continued his good season.
17. (18) Melbourne Demons – 2-17
Melbourne will feel it let one slip on Saturday night, when it went down to Gold Coast. The Demons led in most statistical categories, but missed some crucial shots at goal, including kicking 2.6 in the final quarter.
18. (17) Greater Western Sydney Giants – 1-18
The Giants return to the bottom of this ladder this week after an insipid performance against the Dockers. Coming off its first win of the season, GWS was smashed in every category, and once again Jeremy Cameron played a lone hand up forward with four goals.
Josh Barnes is a first-year Bachelor of Journalism (Sport) student at La Trobe University. You can follow him on Twitter: @barnseyy
(Photo: Twitter – @WLubdey)
