Sunday, August 11, 2013

AFL Power Rankings: Round 20 2013

RISING UP

Things are close up the top of the rankings, and after losing the #1 position for a few weeks, Hawthorn is back in the spot it held for 30-odd weeks over most of 2012 and 2013. The Hawks got a slight bump in ranking points from thrashing St. Kilda, while the previous top-ranked team Sydney dropped a few points from losing at ‘home’ (well, at least in New South Wales) to Collingwood. (And yes, even if ANZ Stadium was considered neutral ground for the Swans, they would have lost the top spot anyway.) Geelong also moves just below the Hawks after Port Adelaide pegged back its lead this week at Simonds Stadium.

FALLING DOWN

Carlton and Essendon take the biggest hits this week, with the Blues losing to the relatively lowly Bulldogs, while the Bombers got thrashed at home by the relatively average Eagles. Both teams are now ranked exactly where they were (10th and 12th) at the start of the season.

ALSO OF NOTE

The top seven ranked teams could be said to have broken away from the rest. Six of those teams – also the top six teams on the AFL ladder – are now certain to be playing in the finals this year. Sadly for the seventh team, North Melbourne, its results haven’t lived up to its ranking.

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