With a week off to prepare for the home stretch of the home-and-away season, hawthornfc.com.au takes a look at the current occupants of the top four spots on the AFL ladder.
1st Sydney
Wins: 13
Losses: 3
Percentage: 143.5 %
Points: 52
Run home: Hawthorn (MCG), Essendon (SCG), Port Adelaide (AO), St Kilda (SCG), Western Bulldogs (ES), Richmond (ANZ).
After a shaky start to the season, Sydney has surged to equal the club record of 12 straight wins - placing them a game clear on top of the ladder.
The Swans’ three losses came in the first four rounds of the season, with a shock defeat at the hands of the Giants in round one - then consecutive losses to Collingwood and North Melbourne in rounds three and four - sparking a more determined Swans outfit into gear.
During the streak the Swans recorded wins over top four hopefuls Hawthorn, Fremantle, Port Adelaide and Geelong - the latter to the tune of 110 points pivotal in the percentage battle at the top end.
Ex-Hawk Lance Franklin is a critical reason for the Swans’ resurgence, kicking 40 goals from eleven games throughout the Swans’ winning streak.
Their tough and contested game style has them leading the league in average contested possessions (150) and one percenters (57.1), while they also rank in the league’s top three for disposals (381.2), tackles (75.4) and inside-50s (56.7) per game.
On the flip side, the Swans sit well below the Hawks in effective disposal percentage (14th), marks (16th) and uncontested possessions (sixth), all of which were seen to be key to Hawthorn’s winning formula last year.
It will take a few upsets for the Swans to finish anywhere other than top four on the ladder, but a loss to the Hawks next Saturday at the MCG would thicken the plot of the top-four fight.
2nd Fremantle
Wins: 12
Losses: 4
Percentage: 142.5 %
Points: 48
Run home: St Kilda (ES), Carlton (PS), Geelong (SS), Hawthorn (PS), Brisbane (G), Port Adelaide (PS).
After dropping four of its first eight games, Fremantle has typically floated under the radar for the middle part of the season. But after turning that around and winning its past eight games by an average of 46 points - albeit against teams outside the top eight - Fremantle might have timed its run to perfection. The Dockers could welcome back damaging forward Michael Walters and key defender Luke McPharlin from injury next week, with the bulk of the Dockers squad in good shape approaching the home stretch.
The Dockers remain one of the best teams in defence, conceding the fewest points of any team with an average 65 points against per game.
Ross Lyon’s unit play a distinctly tough brand of football, ranking in the top four of the competition for stoppages (27.6), hit-outs (53.6), contested possessions (146.7) and contested marks (10.9) per game.
Upcoming games against the Cats, Hawks and Power will determine how many finals the Dockers host in the west – a dangerous proposition for any side.
3rd Hawthorn
Wins: 12
Losses: 4
Percentage: 139.9 %
Points: 48
Run home: Sydney (MCG), Western Bulldogs (AU), Melbourne (MCG), Fremantle (PS), Geelong (MCG), Collingwood (MCG).
Despite a number of interruptions and challenges that have been presented throughout the year, Hawthorn has held on to sit third on the ladder heading into the split round. With a week off following an empowering win over the Crows at Adelaide Oval, the players will use the time off to reflect and prepare for a series of tough challenges to come. The Hawks have the toughest run home of any side in the competition, facing each of the other current top four sides between now and the end of the season. Those crucial matches will have a massive say in the Hawks premiership chances, with games against Sydney, Fremantle and Geelong vital to the ladder order and subsequent home finals.
The Hawks currently lead the league in average points scored (114.1), disposals (395.9), clearances (41.7) and inside-50s (57.7) – all key elements that are crucial to success.
With Josh Gibson and Bradley Hill possible returns from injury against the Swans, Brian Lake set to resume from suspension against Fremantle in round 21, and Cyril Rioli on track to return in time for finals, there is improvement still to be had in the Hawthorn line-up.
4th Geelong
Wins: 12
Losses: 4
Percentage: 112.4 %
Points: 48
Run home: GWS (SPO), North Melbourne (ES), Fremantle (SS), Carlton (ES), Hawthorn (MCG), Brisbane (SS).
Each of the Cats’ four losses received a lot of publicity for an array of reasons, but could end up being the red herring that allows them to fly under the public radar. Port Adelaide affirmed itself as a premiership threat following the round six win over the Cats at Adelaide Oval; Fremantle got its season back on track after defeating the Cats the week after their bye; Sydney’s 110-point win over Geelong was perhaps the most dominant performance of the season; and the loss to the Suns had a number of commentators jumping to write off the Cats as a premiership contender. But despite the hysteria resulting from those four losses, the Cats quietly sit fourth on the ladder – equal on points with Hawthorn and Fremantle – and shape as a major player in the back end of the season.
The Cats’ breed of football is hard to combat and is reflected by their statistics, getting the ball inside-50 quickly via the corridor to rank in the top five of the league for inside-50s (52.1), marks (93.2), contested marks (10.9) and marks inside-50 (13.9).
The Cats face a split of top and bottom placed sides in their run home, with focal games against North Melbourne, Fremantle and Hawthorn mixed with games against GWS, Brisbane and Carlton.
