Summary of AFL Power Rankings 2012

 With the AFL Power Rankings over for another home-and-away season I thought I'd once again provide a graph summarising each team's progression in 2012 (click to enlarge obviously):

And here’s a team-by-team summary:

Adelaide: The big improvers of the season. The Crows started in 13^th spot, and though they improved in ranking points they were still there in Round 6. After that though they steadily climbed up the rankings, and were 3^rd by Round 17, which is where they ended up finishing. Final (actual) ladder position after AFL home & away season: 2

Brisbane: Started in 11^th, but spent the majority of the season in 13^th or 14^th spot, and settled in 13^th from Round 17 onwards. Final H&A position: 13

Carlton: The Blues regressed by a large margin this season. They started in 4^th, then held the #2 rank from Rounds 2-5, but then they crashed to 9^th by Round 10, and barely got in the top half of the rankings again. Final H&A position: 10

Collingwood: Though they started in 2^nd spot, the rankings soon made clear that the Pies had lost a bit from the past couple of years, and they spent most of time in the region of 4^th to 6^th. Final H&A position: 4

Essendon: In the mainstream media the Bombers were considered among the premiership favourites at one stage but they never were here, despite some good performances in April and May. They touched 6^th for one round, but otherwise were in the 8-12 region. At least they inspired this anonymous comment for posterity. Final H&A position: 11

Fremantle: The Dockers started in 14^th, and were still in 13^th spot by Round 16. Then suddenly the Dockers hit the biggest purple patch they’ve ever had, and they ended up in the top half of the rankings (and the finals). Final H&A position: 8

Geelong: The reigning premier and #1 ranked team fell back to the pack and was #9 in Round 16. As soon as they hit their nadir though they hit form again, and finished ranked #4. Final H&A position: 6

Gold Coast: Spent the season in 17^th spot, except for Rounds 1, 7, 10-12 and 14 when they were stone motherless last. Final H&A position: 17

Greater Western  Sydney: Spent the season in stone motherless last, except for the rounds where Gold Coast were there. Final H&A position: 18

Hawthorn: The minor premiers and premiership favourites spent most of the season in the top spot, where they took roost from Round 10 onwards (after a brief stint there in Rounds 7-8). Started in 3^rd and was never lower than 4^th, despite their ladder position early on. Final H&A position: 1

Melbourne: Mostly in 16^th position, with some rounds in 15^th spot. Final H&A position: 16

North Melbourne: Along with the Bombers and the Tigers, the Kangaroos were a model of averageness. They started in 8^th, spent an extended period in 11^th during the middle of the season, climbed back up to 7^th when they hit good form in the latter half of the season, and finished in 10^th. Final H&A position: 8.

Port Adelaide: Alternated between 15^th and 16^th, until Round 14, where the Dogs kicked them out of the bottom four and they took 14^th spot, which is where they stayed. Final H&A position: 14

Richmond: Finished 9^th. Thank God they didn’t finish there on the actual ladder. Final H&A position: 12

St. Kilda: The Saints’ ranking belied their ladder position for a lot of the season. They were always in the top half, and were as high as 3^rd for three rounds. Blame the narrow losses for their absence from the finals. Final H&A position: 9

Sydney: Initially, the rankings suggested that the Swans would spend another year in the lower half of the eight, when lo and behold, they jumped to 2^nd spot in Round 12, and that was pretty much where they stayed. Final H&A position: 3

West Coast: Starting in 5^th spot, the Eagles sat atop the rankings for one solitary week in Round 9. They then fell back to 9^th by Round 20 as injuries took their toll, but a few good performances at the end saw them finish where they started. Final H&A position: 5

Western Bulldogs: Another big regressor; the Dogs started in 9^th, but by Round 14 had fallen to 15^th, and finally finished in 16^th spot. Final H&A position: 15