SEN’s Dwayne Russell has named the five teams under the most pressure heading into Round 4.
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 - Adelaide
vs Melbourne – Adelaide Oval – Thursday night
“The pressure meter is pretty obvious, Adelaide is number one,” Russell said on SEN Afternoons.
“They’re winless, they’ve lost to three teams that finished below them last season.
“They were expected pre-season to make the eight and got all uppity during the pre-season when some suggested their list was not that good.
“Now they have a home game in a primetime slot for Gather Round against Melbourne to kick it all off tonight.
“No team is under more pressure than Adelaide is heading into Gather Round.”
2 - Brisbane
vs North Melbourne – Norwood Oval – Friday evening
“The obvious number two is Brisbane.
“They’re winless, they were expected to be making the top four this year coming off a great Grand Final where they nearly won the flag.
“It's a premiership-worthy list and they're staring at a 0-4 start if they lose to North Melbourne.
“After North Melbourne, they've got Melbourne at the MCG, Geelong at the Gabba and the Giants at Manuka.
“If they lose to North Melbourne this weekend, they could end up 0-7.”
3 – Port Adelaide
vs Essendon – Adelaide Oval – Friday night
“I think the obvious number three is Port Adelaide.
“They lost a game at home last week that they blew, and they wouldn't want to blow another home game this week at the Adelaide Oval.
“It’ll be in front of a big home crowd against Essendon, a team that missed the eight last year.
“So, Port Adelaide's three for me.”
4 – St Kilda
vs Richmond – Norwood Oval – Sunday
“At four, I've got the Saints.
“I think they need to beat Richmond at Norwood Oval.
“It's a strange variable Norwood Oval … it’s narrower than Kardinia Park, it’s a strange oval.
“It's not that long... but it's definitely the narrowest of any ground in the AFL.
“I think this is a game St Kilda need to win given where they are on the ladder and how they started this season.”
5 – West Coast
vs Sydney – Adelaide Hills – Saturday
“I've got the West Coast Eagles fifth.
“They just have to do better, West Coast.
“I mean, someone's going to finish last.
“Someone's going to be bad every year, but let's not be as bad as West Coast is bad right now and the Adelaide Hills ground gives them the chance, it’s a strange ground.
“When the Swans come to town, I hope the Eagles put up a better fight this week than they did last week.”