AFL Power Rankings – Round One (or how quickly the best laid plans can come undone)

Rank

LW

Team

Record

Comment

1

-

St Kilda

1-0

The Saints just got the job done in Sydney; this week against North should be a much easier task.

2

-

Collingwood

1-0

The Pies looked good – real good. If you hate Collingwood, this might be a good year to have an AFL sabbatical.

3

-

Geelong

1-0

The Cats were lucky that the young Essendon side don’t really know how to win yet. They won’t be able to give the Hawks a 5 goal lead this week.

4

-

Bulldogs

o-1

5

-

Hawthorn

1-0

The Hawks were flying, but the Demons are not Geelong, the Bulldogs or Collingwood – and that’s who the Hawks face now. By Round 5 we’ll know if this is Hawks 08 or Hawks 09.

6

-

Carlton

1-0

The Blues were flattered by the Tiger’s ineptitude. With a run of Brisbane, Essendon, Adelaide, Geelong, Collingwood and the Saints ahead, we’ll know where they really are very quickly.

7

-

Brisbane

1-0

The Lions took a while to heat up, but when they did, they ran away with it. Fev’s haul of 3.7 is something the Lions’ fans should get used to – frustration due to such amazing potential.

8

-

Essendon

0-1

The Bombers should have had the game won twice, and they failed to put the Cats away. There’s some good signs, but the best early guide will be Round 3 against Carlton.

9

-

Sydney

0-1

The Swans were more wasteful than the Saints – and they need more out of Bradshaw than 1.1. A tough match in Adelaide this week against the Crows, before they meet the Tigers at the SCG.

10

-

Fremantle

1-0

The Dockers were fast and disciplined – they dealt the Crows easily, now they face a tough three weeks of Essendon, Geelong, and the Saints.

11

-

Adelaide

0-1

The Crows were lacking a ruckman and made far too many poor decisions. They looked awful and if they lose at home to Sydney, a season that was meant to be one full of promise, may quickly be full of something else less enjoyable.

12

-

West Coast

0-1

For 3 quarters the Eagles looked the goods, then in the blink of an eye, they were flying home winless. If they’re winless after meeting Port this week, they’ll be in for a long, painful season.

13

-

Port Adelaide

1-0

Port at one stage led by 50 points, but they let the percentage booster slip as North outscored them in the 2nd half 8 goals to 3 – not a good sign.

14

-

North Melbourne

0-1

You can bet if the Saints get 50 points ahead of North this week, they won’t be letting them come back like Port did. 

15

-

Richmond

0-1

The difference between this year’s Round 1 loss to Carlton and last year’s is that this year no one really expected them to win. Round 4 against Melbourne may be the only time this season that expectation changes.

16

-

Melbourne

0-1

If the game had stoped at the 10 minute mark of the 3rd quarter, the Demons would have had a percentage of 13%.