SEN’s Dwayne Russell has named the five teams under the most pressure heading into Round 9.
Russell’s pressure meter ranks teams from 1-5, with number one having the most pressure on them and the most to lose heading into the round.
Check out Russell’s pressure meter below.
1 – Western Bulldogs
vs Richmond – MCG – Sunday night
“The Western Bulldogs obviously are number one, you can't avoid it.
“The Western Bulldogs are one and it's almost daylight second.
“They're 11th, they’re three wins and five losses.
“They play a team below them in Richmond with no real finals aspirations.
The Bulldogs I think have a list that even if it's not top four worthy, is top eight worthy.
“So, the Bulldogs are one on the pressure meter.”
2 – St Kilda
vs Hawthorn – UTAS Stadium – Saturday afternoon
“At number two, I've got St Kilda.
“They’re 14th on the ladder right now with three wins and five losses.
“They also play a team below them in Hawthorn. The Saints are slipping off the top eight pace after making the finals last year.
“The Hawks have won two of their last three and that game is played in Launceston where Hawthorn goes ok.
“So, I've got St Kilda at two.”
3 – Carlton
vs Melbourne – MCG – Thursday night
“I've got Carlton at three.
“If the Blues lose, they'll be out of the eight with over a third of the season done.
“They've lost their past two games and next week they play the top team on the ladder - the Swans at the SCG.
“The Blues are high on the pressure meter, and they could be higher given that if they lose tonight, it's three losses in a row and they'll be out of the eight.”
4 – Gold Coast
vs North Melbourne – TIO Stadium – Saturday night
“I've got the Suns at four.
“Gold Coast haven't won outside of the Gold Coast this year.
“Their Chairman Bob East spruiked finals as achievable for them this pre-season, that was what they were aiming for.
“Again, last week, they were a little embarrassing away from home.
“It's a home game away from home in Darwin against the winless North Melbourne.
“Lose, and this looks like being another season that fails to meet expectations.
“People say, ‘They'll be good next year’, that should be their club motto, because for 14 years, they've been telling us, ‘We'll be good next year’.”
5 – Brisbane
vs Adelaide – Adelaide Oval – Sunday afternoon
“At five, I've got some trouble with on the pressure meter.
“Is it Adelaide or Brisbane? It's almost an elimination final and 12th v 13th.
“Both teams are three wins, five losses … seventh or eighth is the best I reckon the loser could possibly wish for if they dropped this game.
“But it’s probably Brisbane given where the expectation was at the start of this year.”
