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AFL Power Rankings: Round 15

Posted on | Posted by Digby Beacham

1. MELBOURNE

Last week: 1

Bounced off their mid-season bye with a grinding win on Saturday night. Remain difficult to score against. Built for finals football and efficient at the MCG. Healthy as well.

Next up: GWS

2. WESTERN BULLDOGS

Last week: 4

Couldn’t have been more impressive against West Coast. Boast the best player in the land in Marcus Bontempelli and a midfield that is genuinely frightening with scope to get better.

Next up: North Melbourne

3. BRISBANE

Last week: 3

Building nicely. Had Geelong on the back foot from the outset last round. No team will want to play them at the Gabba, yet whether they host matches there again from here on in will be interesting.

Next up: Adelaide

4. GEELONG

Last week: 2

Had a rare off night against the Lions. Their body of work prior to that was exceptional. Don’t disregard.

Next up: Essendon

5. PORT ADELAIDE

Last week: 6

Chalked up a win over Sydney that kept them in the top-four frame. Are they winning the premiership? Not convinced.

Next up: Hawthorn

6. WEST COAST

Last week: 5

Not for the first time in 2021, the Eagles weren’t tough enough for long enough. The margin between their best and worst is too great.

Next up: Sydney

7. SYDNEY

Last week: 8

Would love to be hosting West Coast this week at the SCG, but GMHBA Stadium is a decent enough alternative. Any time you have Lance Franklin in your side, you are a chance of winning games.

Next up: West Coast

8. RICHMOND

Last week: 7

Who saw that coming? That the Tigers could manage just two goals on a cold, but fine night against St Kilda at the MCG beggars belief. Wobbly and on the ropes.

Next up: Gold Coast

9. FREMANTLE

Last week: 11

It might be a year or two too soon, but Justin Longmuir’s men are trending the right way. Alex Pearce makes a difference and Liam Henry is going to be a star. Now for Nat Fyfe to return.

Next up: Carlton

10. GWS

Last week: 10

Loved their willingness to own the loss to Hawthorn. Bit stiff they couldn’t host the Hawks at Giants Stadium. A draw to North Melbourne and the defeat in round 15 will haunt them.

Next up: Melbourne

11. ESSENDON

Last week: 9

They are legit. Have the weapons and dare to be a worthy finalist, but need to take a scalp or two to be assured of a post-season berth. The trajectory under Ben Rutten is solid.

Next up: Geelong

12. ST KILDA

Last week: 15

Paddy Ryder and Rowan Marshall in the same side transforms the Saints from middle of the road to something considerably better. Need to back it up.

Next up: Collingwood

13. CARLTON

Last week: 13

Good on them for chalking up the win that guaranteed David Teague’s employment for another week. Four goals in three quarters though against a bottom-eight team isn’t going to get it done long term.

Next up: Fremantle

14. ADELAIDE

Last week: 12

Continue to have patches in games where they are off with the fairies. They’re not the first young side to experience that. Going okay.

15. HAWTHORN

Last week: 16

Granted, they sit 17th, but they’re better than that right now. Have taken down Sydney and GWS since their bye. Where was this in the first half of the year?

Next up: Port Adelaide

16. COLLINGWOOD

Last week: 14

There was a distinct tweak to the game plan in Robert Harvey’s first game at the helm. The result though mirrored that of many in the first half of the season.

Next up: St Kilda

17. NORTH MELBOURNE

Last week: 18

Almost certainly will finish last. The signs are there, but thanks to the return of some senior personnel, there is light at the end of the tunnel. The kids are progressing also.

Next up: Western Bulldogs

18. GOLD COAST

Last week: 17

Sit a game-and-a-half clear of North Melbourne in 16th position, but have hit their annual second-half season wall. Continue to tease, only to disappoint.

Next up: Richmond

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