AFL Power Rankings: Round 5 2015

There was some action at the top, middle, and bottom of the rankings this week.

At the top last year’s premier Hawthorn are now clearly the number one team, with about two goals break on the Swans. Meanwhile Sydney’s loss to the Bulldogs has put it closer to the teams ranked third to fifth: Port Adelaide, Fremantle, and West Coast. Perhaps Sydney’s win against Port a few weeks back was its last gasp for 2015 as a clear top two side?

In the middle, Collingwood rises up a few spots, with the Magpies having won four of their first five games for 2015. There is an argument that these rankings have been underrating the Magpies this year. While Collingwood was horrid towards the end of 2014, that may have been due in part to its significant amount of injuries, which these rankings do not account for.

At the bottom Brisbane replaces St. Kilda as the lowest-ranked team. Arguably it became clear a couple of weeks ago that the Lions are now the worst team in the AFL. While the Saints have still been bad they have put in a couple of decent performances. Most of Brisbane’s performances this year have been dreadful. The way things are going I can’t see Brisbane giving the bottom spot back for more than a week or two before the season is finished.