The AFL season is eight days away and we now have all possible information available from the off-season to make some judgements.
With that in mind, we have crafted our AFL team power rankings at the conclusion of the summer and going into Round 1.
We have factored in last year’s ladder positions, the trade period, draft, off-season injuries, both pre-season games and, of course, the general vibes.
Here’s how things sit!
1. Geelong
The runaway reigning premiers only got better in the trade period. We’re not holding a pre-season loss against them. They sit atop until somebody knocks them off.
2. Brisbane
Did anyone have a better off-season than the Lions? Stars added in the trade period, potentially the best player in the draft, a new captain, a re-signed coach and a tick-the-boxes pre-season win over the reigning premiers. They couldn’t have asked for much more.
3. Melbourne
David King watches every team train closely over the summer and has raved about Melbourne’s intensity. They smacked Richmond in their pre-season hit-out and their trade period additions looked immediately impactful.
4. Sydney
History suggests teams drop away after a big Grand Final loss, but the Swans looked sharp in the pre-season and are a young team with key players who can go to another level. They deserve a top four spot here.
5. Western Bulldogs
Remember when the Bulldogs were playing Lin Jong and Mitch Wallis as key forwards? Yeah, well now they have Aaron Naughton, Rory Lobb, Sam Darcy and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan. Fair to say they have overcorrected. Can the Dogs get back to 2021 levels?
Stay up to date with all the latest news from SEN. Sign up HERE.
6. Fremantle
Fremantle got the job done against Port Adelaide in the pre-season, Nathan Fyfe looks energised, Luke Jackson and Jaeger O’Meara bring a new look and they have a dream opening five weeks fixture wise.
7. Collingwood
They’ve had two decent hit-outs in the pre-season, but Pat Lipinski’s serious shoulder injury put a dampener on that and Jack Ginnivan’s suspension isn’t ideal. The off-season recruits have hit the ground running though!
8. Richmond
The Tigers got run out of Casey Fields by Melbourne and Dion Prestia and Jayden Short are touch-and-go for Round 1, but the Tigers know how to time a run across a season. If they’re back in the premiership mix, thanks to a strong trade period, they’re not going to be too bothered about hitting next Thursday night at full steam.
9. Carlton
The Blues beat Melbourne in a pre-season game and then peaked in Round 1 against Richmond 12 months ago. They appear a bit steadier going into this season. The injury list is (again) already long. It will be fascinating to watch how they build their innings in 2023.
10. Adelaide
The Crows appear to be this year’s pre-season darlings! Everyone loved what they saw in pre-season wins over Fremantle and West Coast. Izak Rankine and Josh Rachele look great! All roads lead to GWS at Giants Stadium in Round 1, which is a great early test of where they sit.
11. Port Adelaide
After being crowned the 2022 AFL trade period winners, it’s been a rocky few weeks for the Power. They’ve looked off the pace against Fremantle and West Coast. Is it the lingering presence of last year’s 0-5 start?
12. GWS Giants
They have a new coach to freshen things up and are still brimming with talent across all three lines. Are we overlooking the Giants going into 2023? It’s unclear how much to read into their pre-season pummelling of Gold Coast.
13. St Kilda
Do the Saints have the list talent to make the top eight this year? Can they do it with Max King missing seven weeks and then needing to find his feet for another month? The practice match against Essendon was comfortably the lowest standard of the weekend (yes, it was windy).
14. Gold Coast
It’s time for the Suns to play finals. They have the list, they have the stability and Ben King is back. It’s hard to know how much to read into their belting at the hands of GWS. An early test looms against Sydney in Round 1.
15. West Coast
Adelaide carved the Eagles up in the pre-season, but they did look good against Port Adelaide the week before. They have stars back in the fold and will obviously look better than they did this time 12 months ago. The question is how far they can rise.
16. Hawthorn
The trade period was a self-inflicted blood bath, but a blood bath nonetheless. Expectations are so low that the SEN membership day pitch from the Hawks is to hold the faith through tough times! But they play a fun style and clearly have a strong leader in Sam Mitchell.
17. Essendon
Landing Brad Scott was a big win, but no team had a more turbulent off-season than Essendon. Their pre-season performance was also incredibly underwhelming. Imagine if they lose to Hawthorn in Round 1.
18. North Melbourne
When you win back-to-back wooden spoons, you probably have to start the power rankings list from the bottom, but the only way is up for the Roos! It may take Alastair Clarkson time to bed down his philosophies, but the talent across the board will be fun to watch develop.
