Power Rankings

Pies continue to rise as Blues face nervous few weeks: AFL Power Rankings – Round 21

See where your team sits after Round 21 👇

Published by
Danielle Sorati

With just two rounds left, there's not too much movement on the leaderboard despite the race to finals heating up. Geelong flexed their premiership credentials, while Collingwood's eleventh win in a row sees them climb a spot.

Despite walking away with the win, Brisbane fall a spot after failing to put the Blues to the sword, while Carlton's finals hopes continue to take a hit.

Heading into Round 22, here's how Zero Hanger's Power Rankings are shaping up.

Geelong (-)

The Cats put in an impressive display against the Saints, despite missing Joel Selwood and Patrick Dangerfield. Geelong stormed home to a 45-point win at home with ease, strengthening their premiership credentials as they soared to an eleventh win in a row.

Perhaps the Cats are due a loss, but with matches against Gold Coast and West Coast coming up to end the season, they may remain undefeated, and at the top of the table, for the remainder of the season.

Melbourne (-)

Despite a loss to Collingwood on Friday night, Melbourne keep a hold on their top two standing. Melbourne look dangerous heading into finals despite their patchy win-loss record over the past month, and if the stats are to be believed, should have run out winners against the Pies.

The Demons face Carlton and Brisbane to end the season, a big test to determine where they sit come September.

Collingwood (+1)

An eleventh win in a row has Collingwood doubters slowly starting to believe in their finals credentials. The Pies were down by as much as 23 points against the Demons but never looked like they lacked belief, storming home to a seven-point win. Momentum is a hell of a thing in footy, and the Pies have plenty of it now. Hard to see them slipping out of the top four with two weeks remaining.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 25: Darcy Cameron of the Magpies celebrates a goal during the 2022 AFL Round 06 match between the Essendon Bombers and the Collingwood Magpies at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on April 25, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Brisbane (-1)

Though the Lions got the job done against Carlton, they still find themselves being overtaken by Collingwood in the standings. The Lions did flex their finals credentials in the up and down match, ending the day with a 33-point win. The Lions kicked 17 goals, with each point valuable as the top four may come down to percentage.

Fremantle (-)

The Dockers' win over the Western Bulldogs has guaranteed them a finals spot this season, regaining some of the form that had them labelled as genuine finals contenders earlier in the season.

With matches against West Coast and GWS to end the season, the Dockers should be making the most of their opportunities and gain some momentum heading into finals.

Sydney (-)

The Swans were clinical against North Melbourne on Sunday afternoon, earning themselves a 38-point win and a potential double chance come finals. Sydney have very quietly established a five-game winning streak, now set to face Collingwood and St Kilda to try and extend that further.

The Swans could be ranked higher, but with their last three wins coming against Adelaide, GWS and North Melbourne, they need to face a genuine contender to prove their mettle.

Richmond (-)

The Tigers are gearing up to cause some trouble in September, finding themselves inside the eight with just two rounds left. Their 38-point Saturday night win over Port Adelaide was convincing, now leaving their finals destiny in their own hands.

Face Hawthorn next, then Essendon in two very winnable matches.

Bulldogs (+1)

The Bulldogs may have fallen by 17-points to Fremantle, but they have gained a spot in place of the disappointing Blues. Finals are still very much up for grabs, with games against GWS and Hawthorn to come. Will need to find something more though than what they produced on Saturday afternoon.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 24: Tom Liberatore of the Bulldogs celebrates a goal during the 2022 AFL Round 02 match between the Western Bulldogs and the Carlton Blues at Marvel Stadium on March 24, 2022 In Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Carlton (-1)

Despite attempting a spirited comeback at various points during their loss to the Lions, the Blues looked lacklustre. Despite sitting in the top eight, and at times the top four, for most of the season, the club's finals chances are now slipping out of their grip. Injuries have taken a toll, but the Blues also look like they've run out of steam.

St Kilda (-)

Despite their best early season efforts, St Kilda look primed to miss finals for the second year in a row after a spirited 2020 campaign. Saturday night's performance against Geelong was disappointing, in that it was more of the same from the men from Moorabbin. Finals are still possible, but unless something big shifts at the Saints, they will remain exactly where they are.

Hawthorn (+1)

Hawthorn ended Gold Coast's slim finals chances with their seven-point victory on Saturday afternoon. The Hawks have now won four of their last five games and while those victories haven't come against high-ranked teams, the club has at least shown some genuine improvement amid a rebuild.

Dylan Moore and Will Day during the AFL match between Hawthorn and St Kilda in Round 4, 2022 (Photo by Cameron Grimes / Zero Digital Media)

Port Adelaide (-1)

The Power had few answers for Richmond on Saturday night, ending the night with a 38-point deficit on the scoreboard. Port are now on a four-game losing streak, with a match against Essendon to come next.

Gold Coast (-)

Gold Coast's hopes of a maiden finals campaign have been dashed after their loss to the Hawks in Tasmania. Stuart Dew's men have performed admirably in 2022, with their new recruits giving them plenty of hope heading into next season.

Adelaide (+1)

The Crows rained on Josh Kennedy's retirement parade as they claimed a 16-point win on Sunday afternoon. With Essendon stumbling in their match against the Giants, the Crows have climbed back up the rankings with winnable matches against North Melbourne and Port Adelaide to come.

GWS (+1)

GWS interim coach Mark McVeigh wanted a response from the Giants and they delivered with a convincing win over the Bombers. GWS' pressure was impressive as they ended their four-game losing streak, a small positive in a disappointing season.

Essendon (-2)

The end of the season can't come quick enough for the Bombers after a disappointing 2022 campaign. Their effort against the Giants was palatable in the first half, before they let GWS get on top in the final term. Not much else to say about the Bombers, with matches against Port Adelaide and Richmond to end the year not looking like easy victories.

West Coast (-)

The Eagles came ever so close to securing their third win of the season in Josh Kennedy's farewell game, but fell by seven points to the Crows. The Eagles' recent form is far better than that of the early stages of the season, but they haven't managed to convert that to wins on the board.

MELBOURNE, VICTORIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Josh Kennedy of the Eagles celebrates a goal during the 2018 AFL Grand Final match between the Collingwood Magpies and the West Coast Eagles at Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 29, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/AFL Media/Getty Images)

North Melbourne (-)

Sunday afternoon's loss to Sydney was yet another one to add to the tally for North. The Kangaroos pushed the Swans in the first half with impressive pressure, but were no match for finals bound Sydney as the game progressed. Two more games against Adelaide and Gold Coast to come, with the chance of avoiding the wooden spoon still alive.

Published by
Danielle Sorati