AFL Power Rankings Round 12: Pies’ outdated boys give everybody a drive lesson as Freo after all appear to be a perilous contender

There used to be a lot of motion within the ratings this weekend, with some byes throwing in an additional size simply to make it tough.

Hawthorn persevered their slide with questions being requested if it’s a long-term or transient droop, whilst the Saints returned to the winners listing after the Demons couldn’t kick directly – and the “rabble” that’s the Swans this yr has just about hit all-time low.

The Cats lead the pack coming for the Magpies, who simply is also making improvements to each and every week.

Here’s how the groups stack up after Round 12.

1. Collingwood (Last week 1)

The Magpies juggernaut continues to energy on, this time demolishing the Hawks, a one-time top-four favorite.

It wasn’t only a win however a real beating, with Collingwood monstering the Hawks via authentic drive, and a surprising 82-38 take on rely.

Commentator David King later remarked: “I can’t recall seeing a home and away game played with such quality”. The query is, can the Pies deal with the fashion for every other 4 months, main the season from virtually begin to end?

There’s indisputably no person matching their stage and consistency at this degree.

2. Geelong (2)

The Cats got a scare over within the West through the Eagles, nevertheless it grew to become out to be just a minor mid-game blip after all as Geelong got here house with the 4 issues.

Another commanding efficiency from their stars: Jeremy Cameron completed with 5 targets and Bailey Smith racked up a season-high 38 disposals.

Not the hardest opponent and lots to beef up on for the simpler aspects, however Geelong did what they needed to do and were given the task completed with a 43-point win.

3. Brisbane (3)

The premiers’ elegance shone via after all, however they had been made to paintings tough for the victory.

The Bombers gave them a scare, combating again within the ultimate time period and having the momentum, sooner than Brisbane steadied with 3 directly targets to near out the win, finding out from their mistake in opposition to Melbourne a couple of weeks in the past.

At house, the Lions had been dominant in turnovers, generating a season-high ranking of 11.7 (73) from intercepts. Individually, Hugh McCluggage used to be simply fantastic for his aspect with a career-high 41 disposals.

It could have regarded shaky every now and then, however 4 issues is 4 issues, and the highest aspects know the way to recover from the road when examined in shut video games.

4. Adelaide (7)

The Crows proceed their surge up the ratings with an enormous win over the Swans.

At one level, it appeared like a coaching drill as Adelaide produced 12 unanswered majors on their strategy to 21 for the sport, with scoring shared amongst 14 goalkickers. But in addition to kicking 131 issues, they limited Sydney to simply 41.

It hasn’t been the most powerful opposition for the South Australians prior to now few weeks, a 90-point win comes after the 66-point victory over the Eagles final week.

It manner the Crows are firmly up the highest finish of the ladder and still have the most productive share within the league with greater than 139%.

5. Gold Coast (4)

The Suns had been crushed at their very own recreation. Coming into the spherical, they had been the highest scoring from ahead part intercepts, however the guests gained that fight 28-19 and scored 39 in their issues from it.

In a close-scoring recreation that used to be a very powerful.

Credit to Gold Coast for combating again after showing to be ruled within the first part to carry the lead at one degree within the 3rd time period, nevertheless it simply wasn’t sufficient after all. Noah Anderson remains to be a ball magnet with 39 possessions.

Outplayed within the head-to-head recreation, Damien Hardwick’s aspect remains simply forward of Freo within the ratings because of their consistency this season.

6. Fremantle (10)

The Dockers stood as much as be spotted and, for the primary time this yr, appeared like a perilous top-eight aspect.

The drive they had been placing on an in-form group within the Suns used to be making scoring tough at their house flooring.

It used to be a high-tackling recreation from all sides, even sooner than the tough rain arrived, with the Dockers neatly above their reasonable of 58.8 for the season with 86.

Jordan Clark and Andrew Brayshaw had 30 touches each and every, whilst Patrick Voss and Shai Bolton bagged 3 targets because the Western Australians needed to grasp out a overdue fightback.

It used to be Freo’s 3rd directly win, surging them into the highest 8 at the ladder.

7. Western Bulldogs (5)

The Bulldogs had the bye, permitting the sturdy performances of the Crows and Dockers to overhaul them within the ratings, and that used to be rather offset through the Hawks’ fall.

8. Hawthorn (6)

On the scoreboard, the Magpies gained through 51 issues – but if you happen to take a look at many of the statistics, you’d assume it used to be a hard-fought contest.

Just 11 disposals between the 2 aspects within the Pies’ favour, with Hawthorn profitable inside of 50 rely, clearances and contested possessions.

But as discussed previous, the adaptation used to be within the drive and tackles – Collingwood monstered the Hawks 82-38, and the interior 50 potency used to be simply 42%.

Sam Mitchell would have a lot of complications as he struggles to show his group’s variety round; now dropping 3 at the jump and kicking their lowest ranking of the season (56) with simply 8 targets for the sport.

9. GWS (9)

The Giants got an enormous scare through the Tigers on their house flooring in Sydney.

Trailing through 28 issues at three-quarter time, many are crediting the pep communicate from the injured Callan Ward within the huddle for the comeback, as GWS scraped over the road through simply 3 issues.

But the outcome and 4 issues remove rather from the Tigers’ efficiency; they bothered the Giants, who many had of their peak 4 this yr. After spherical 1, they’ve been very cold and hot.

Clinging onto a place within the 8, they may quickly to find themselves in hassle if a pair under them will get their act in combination within the quest for consistency.

10.  Essendon (11)

The Bombers had been merely outclassed through a greater aspect, however complete marks for effort and placing up this sort of problem within the ultimate time period.

Brisbane’s lead were given out to greater than 5 targets at the beginning, sooner than Essendon clawed their long ago into the sport.

Brad Scott’s males had been lacking a raft of tall avid gamers via damage, and had been simply outmarked through their combatants 136-77, however they nonetheless discovered techniques to check the premiers – most effective to simply fall quick after all.

Nate Caddy kicks a objective. (Photo through Russell Freeman/AFL Photos by means of Getty Images)

11. Melbourne (8)

The Demons’ profitable variety has come to an finish, in rather of a marvel in opposition to the Saints in Darwin.

A large fear for Melbourne might be scoring accuracy from that recreation; 28 scoring pictures for simply 63 issues – a whopping 21 behinds.

The Dees had been additionally neatly crushed at the ownership rely, with St Kilda having way more of the footy, 390-299.

Simon Goodwin’s aspect has gained the previous 5 out of 7, however will want to no longer let the wasteful kicking in entrance of objective change into a addiction.

12. North Melbourne (12)

North Melbourne had been a tough group to rank on their bye weekend, the Saints gained in opposition to the in-form Demons, however consistency proven from each groups heading into this spherical has the Kangaroos marginally forward – for now.

13. St Kilda (17)

Coming off the again of 3 directly losses, St Kilda stormed out of the blocks, kicking six unanswered targets within the first quarter.

It surprised Melbourne, who struggled to play catch-up soccer and inaccuracy in entrance of objective allowed St Kilda to deal with regulate right through.

The group had the highest six ownership getters of the fit. Callum Wilkie had a game-high 31 touches, and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera persevered his doable All-Australian variety with 29 disposals and 795 metres received.

A climb up the ladder and ratings, however extra consistency is wanted from the Saints to be a real risk.

14. Carlton (13)

A far-needed bye for the Blues, who now want to reset their season if they’ll make a rate for and be aggressive within the finals. St Kilda overtook them with a win.

15. Richmond (16)

Not for the primary time this season, the Tigers had been courageous in defeat, questioning how a recreation slipped away.

Richmond had been in regulate for many of the contest, however couldn’t fit it with the house aspect after they surged house within the ultimate quarter.

The Tigers had been the simpler aspect from the stoppage, profitable each the hit outs and clearances counts – and had been most effective simply run down after all.

It’s all a finding out curve; confidently, the tight video games generally is a lesson for the children.

16.  Port Adelaide (15)

A bye for the Power, permitting winners St Kilda and close to winners Richmond to overhaul them at the ratings, because the Swans fall under them.

Justin McInerney and the Swans glance dejected after their loss to Adelaide. (Photo through Mark Evans/AFL Photos/by means of Getty Images)

17. Sydney (14)

Wayne Milera labelled final yr’s grand finalists a rabble after the 90-point hammering – unquestionably supporters may just bring to mind a lot more potent phrases to explain the efficiency.

It’s tough to peer the place growth goes to come back from in a rush. That stated, final yr, the Swans had been embarrassed through Port Adelaide, just for that to encourage a late-season variety surge.

It used to be a fully other set of instances, however who is aware of, possibly historical past may just repeat itself – this humiliation may just by hook or by crook kickstart their season… one thing has to.

18. West Coast (18)

Co-captain Oscar Allen kicked 4 targets in his highest fit of the yr, nevertheless it used to be no fit for Geelong, because the Eagles slumped to loss No.11 for the yr.

There had been some excellent indicators, a fightback in the second one time period igniting the gang, sooner than protecting the Cats to an excellent 3rd time period, at 14 issues a work.

The hosts even had a possibility to get inside some degree at one degree, however Noah Long neglected from 35m out – and Geelong pulled away overdue within the recreation.

Signs of brotherly love are there in patches, however few and a ways between, which means West Coast hold to the ground.