September is just around the corner, and now the home-and-away season has concluded, this week's edition of the ESPN AFL Power Rankings ranks the top eight teams ahead of the finals and sorts through the bottom ten teams to see where they sit heading into what's sure to be a busy offseason.
It's no surprise that Sydney remain the league's form side after taking care of the Blues to the tune of 81 points at the weekend. Carlton have been hard to crack this year despite their low ladder position, but a ten-goal haul to Buddy capped off the remarkable turnaround in form for this remarkable club.
Interestingly, the Crows have fallen despite securing the minor premier's crown after their dead-rubber loss to the Eagles over in the west. Yes, they might have had top spot sewn up after GWS lost the night before, but we're not sure that messing with form and taking games lightly is a smart thing to do heading into the pointy end of the season.
The Dees slid out of the eight after a disastrous 48 hours which left the door ajar for the Eagles - who came from the clouds to sneak into the finals, while the Dogs miss out on September action after winning the flag just 11 months previously.
St Kilda's low ranking reflects the expectations we had for them in preseason, while the Lions, despite claiming the wooden spoon, were far from the lowest-ranked side at the conclusion of season 2017.
1. Sydney
Last week: 1 (no change)
Round 23: defeated Carlton by 81 points
The Sydney juggernaut just keeps on rolling, and it should make a number of teams very nervous heading into September. The post-season bye comes at a great time for the Swans, who have been "on" for weeks at a time without any real blemish. Their demolition of the Blues was also significant in that Lance Franklin is once again in ominous form. The Bulldogs managed to win the flag from outside the top four last year, and the Swans are the team most likely to achieve a similar feat in 2017.
Next: Essendon (SCG, Saturday 4:20pm local time)
2. Geelong
Last week: 3 (up 1)
Round 23: defeated GWS by 44 points
In smashing GWS by 44 points, the Cats have secured the double chance, meaning they're likely to regain fearless skipper Joel Selwood for at least one final this year. Geelong were masterful on Saturday night despite losing the tackle count (something on which the Cats pride themselves), contested ball numbers, inside 50s and free kicks - which simply says they're making the most of their opportunities. It seems like the Cats have primed themselves for finals, and with such an experienced group set to take on the young and inexperienced Tigers at the MCG on Friday next week, the Cats could be in a prelim before we know it.
Next: Richmond (MCG, Friday 7:50pm local time)
3. Adelaide
Last week: 2 (down 1)
Round 23: lost to West Coast by 29 points
When it was confirmed that Geelong had taken care of business against the Giants on Saturday night, Adelaide's clash with West Coast the next day suddenly became a dead rubber. It would seem logical, then, that Adelaide coach Don Pyke's priority would have been getting through Sunday unscathed, with winning the secondary objective. Having said that, Adelaide haven't been setting the world on fire in recent weeks, and while they finished 2017 as the minor premiers, messing with form heading into finals (and a week off) is risky at the best of times.
Next: GWS Giants (Adelaide Oval, Thursday 7:20pm local time)
4. Richmond
Last week: 5 (up 1)
Round 23: defeated St Kilda by 41 points
The great top-four choke was on the cards for the Tigers at the weekend - especially considering they were spanked by the Saints just a couple of months ago - but this seems like a different Richmond side to that which lost a few close ones in the middle part of the year. The Tigers are primed for September action, and with Brownlow favourite Dustin Martin in ominous touch (and Trent Cotchin quietly going about his business), an upset could be on the cards come Friday week. The double chance is a plus, but considering a rampant Sydney is a potential semi-final opponent if they lose, they'll be gunning hard for a first preliminary final berth since 2001.
Next: Geelong (MCG, Friday 7:50pm local time)
5. Greater Western Sydney
Last week: 4 (down 1)
Round 23: lost to Geelong by 44 points
The Giants might have secured the double chance, but their form in the second half of the year has been shakier than what coach Leon Cameron would have come to expect. A 44-point loss to the Cats on the eve of finals isn't the best preparation for a side which looked like finishing on top of the ladder earlier in the year, but the week off might let them regroup ahead of a qualifying final at Adelaide Oval. The Giants played the Crows in Adelaide earlier this year; in Round 1, the Crows were victorious by 56 points. They have their work cut out for them.
Next: Adelaide (Adelaide Oval, Thursday 7:20pm local time)
6. Port Adelaide
Last week: 6 (no change)
Round 23: defeated Gold Coast by 115 points
You really can't ask much more from Port Adelaide. Gold Coast are a rabble, and restricting the Suns to just five scoring shots was foot-on-throat stuff from a Power side with a chip on its shoulder. Port haven't beaten a true top-eight side all year, but now they're in September, the slate has been wiped clean. Port defeated the Eagles (in Perth) just one month ago, meaning coach Ken Hinkley will be confident his troops can get the job done on their own patch. Should they win, they play either Adelaide in a semi-final Showdown or GWS in Sydney.
Next: West Coast (Adelaide Oval, Saturday 7:20pm local time)
7. Essendon
Last week: 8 (up 1)
Round 23: defeated Fremantle by 15 points
There were some nervous moments in the final quarter of the Bombers' clash with the lowly Dockers on Sunday, but a typically-resilient Essendon managed to secure the win and a team-lifting finals berth. There's good news and there's bad news for the September-bound Bombers, however. The bad news is that they'll be facing an untouchable Sydney side at the SCG. The good news is that they ran the Swans to within a kick up in Sydney last time they met. They'll be rank underdogs in this one, but stranger things have happened... like Sydney losing their first six games only to make finals at the end of the year.
Next: Sydney (SCG, Saturday 4:20pm local time)
8. West Coast
Last week: 10 (up 2)
Round 23: defeated Adelaide by 29 points
Not many would have given the Eagles much hope heading into Round 23, but when GWS lost to Geelong on Saturday night, Adelaide were confirmed as minor premiers. Whether or not the Crows went easy against the Eagles (in order to avoid injuries or suspension), West Coast fans were beside themselves at the final siren on Sunday. The Eagles have a tough ask Saturday week - hence their eighth-placed ranking; the Power at the Portress. West Coast hosted Port barely a week ago and lost comfortably, so they'll need to be at their best to progress.
Next: Port Adelaide (Adelaide Oval, Saturday 7:20pm local time)
9. Melbourne
Last week: 7 (down 2)
Round 23: lost to Collingwood by 16 points
It's been a season of lost opportunities for Melbourne, who, less than a week ago, were almost certain to make the top eight. Playing a Collingwood side entranced in the bottom six on Saturday, Melbourne were asleep from the outset, leaving too much to do in the latter stages of the match. It's hard to pinpoint where exactly 2017 went wrong for the Dees, but losing to North Melbourne twice didn't help. Neither did lengthy suspensions to Jordan Lewis, Tomas Bugg and Bernie Vince, nor serious injuries to Jesse Hogan, Jack Viney, Max Gawn, Jack Watts and Nathan Jones. It's going to be a long offseason.
Next: N/A
10. Western Bulldogs
Last week: 9 (down 1)
Round 23: lost to Hawthorn by 9 points
The reigning premiers are the first side to miss the finals after winning the previous year's flag since Hawthorn in 2009. Luckily for the Dogs, there are a number of parallels between their side and that Hawthorn squad which went on to win three straight flags just a few years later. The Dogs have a young group of core players including superstars such as Bontempelli, Johannisen and Stringer, while their role players are more than solid. Add some class and maybe a free agent or two, and they'll be back in contention in no time.
Next: N/A
11. Hawthorn
Last week: 12 (up 1)
Round 23: defeated Western Bulldogs by 9 points
The Hawks' win over the Western Bulldogs on Friday night was a fitting farewell to club legends Luke Hodge and Josh Gibson. They might have missed the finals this year, but there are good signs going into the offseason for coach Alastair Clarkson; he's pumped games into the kids who might not have ordinarily had the opportunity had stars like Cyril Rioli, Grant Birchall and James Frawley not been injured. Any exposure of their kids to senior football will pay the Hawks back down the track, and there are already plenty of positives to be seen in Hawthorn's group of future stars.
Next: N/A
12. St Kilda
Last week: 11 (down 1)
Round 23: lost to Richmond by 41 points
Much like Melbourne, St Kilda were touted to make the finals in 2017. Much like Melbourne, the Saints wasted their year. The difference between the ninth-ranked Demons and the 12th-ranked Saints? St Kilda didn't battle injuries to the same extent as Melbourne, and they had fewer games missed through suspension. The list simply didn't live up to it's potential, and if the Saints want to make the big leap next year, they're going to need to squeeze more out of mid-range players such as Tim Membrey, Jack Newnes, Luke Dunstan and Jack Sinclair. At least they have Hawthorn's first-round pick.
Next: N/A
13. Collingwood
Last week: 13 (no change)
Round 23: defeated Melbourne by 16 points
It's been a good week for Collingwood. Not only did they knock off the Demons to prevent them from making finals, coach Nathan Buckley was also locked-in for a further two years. In fairness to Bucks, the Pies' second half of the year has been much better than their first half of the season, and if they can snag a key tall or two this offseason, they may content sooner than many may think. For a team down the bottom of the ladder, having two players named in the All-Australian squad of 40 is another positive - Adam Treloar and Jeremy Howe were named in the squad on Monday.
Next: N/A
14. North Melbourne
Last week: 16 (up 1)
Round 23: defeated Brisbane by 51 points
Ten minutes into the Kangaroos' match with Brisbane, you'd be forgiven for thinking the Roos were missing easy shots... on purpose. They started the match kicking one goal and eight behinds, and looked to be on track to "secure" the wooden spoon and their first ever No. 1 draft pick. But, to North Melbourne's credit, they rallied and knocked talk of tanking on the head. Ben Brown was magnificent - and one of the few shining lights for season 2017overall, while they didn't rely too heavily on veterans such as Ben Cunnington and Andrew Swallow to get the four points.
Next: N/A
15. Brisbane
Last week: 14 (down 1)
Round 23: lost to North Melbourne by 51 points
Ranked 15th in the Power Rankings despite securing the wooden spoon highlights the Lions' admirable finish to 2017. They now hold pick No. 1 in the National Draft, but have crucially exposed a number of first-and-second -year players to a handful of games which they might not have been given in other teams. The future is bright - particularly down the spine, with the likes of Eric Hipwood, Hugh McLuggage, Jarrod Berry, Daniel McStay and Harris Andrews all making great progress throughout the year. Coach Chris Fagan has said that midfield depth is the aim this draft period, and looking at their existing key position stocks, they could be contending sooner rather than later.
Next: N/A
16. Carlton
Last week: 15 (down 1)
Round 23: lost to Sydney by 81 points
The score-line wasn't pretty, but the baby Blues stuck with the rampaging Swans for two and a half quarters before throwing in the towel. In fairness to Carlton, they played their 'Grand Final' last week, breaking a 12-year drought against the Hawks in front of their home fans. Like the Lions, there is plenty to like about the Blues heading into the offseason; the games they pumped into first-year players Samo Petrevski-Seton, Zac Fisher and pick 61 Tom Williamson, as well as second-year players Charlie Curnow, Jack Silvagni and Jacob Weitering will, as coach Brendon Bolton says, pay them back in spades in the near future.
Next: N/A
17. Fremantle
Last week: 18 (up 1)
Round 23: Lost to Essendon by 15 points
Staring down the barrel of a third consecutive 100-point loss, the Dockers came out and gave the finals-bound Bombers a legitimate shock midway through the last quarter of their match on Sunday. They've regained a little respect, and have therefore jumped off the bottom of the rankings heading into an important offseason for the club. They're going to need to see improvement out of the likes of the Cam McCarthy and Lachie Neale (who didn't quite live up to expectations in 2017), and draft and trade smartly to rise back into finals contention.
Next: N/A
18. Gold Coast
Last week: 17 (down 1)
Round 23: lost to Port Adelaide by 115 points
You can count on one hand the number of scoring shots Gold Coast had in their match against the Power on Saturday night. The Suns could manage just three goals and two behinds in a performance which was indicative of where this club is now at. Lacking on-field leadership and a stable coaching panel, it's little wonder the Suns have limped to the finish line in 2017, meaning administrators and off-field staff have a mammoth task this offseason. Will Gary Ablett be traded home? Who will they select with pick No. 2? Who would want to join the Suns through free agency? There are lots of serious questions to be answered.
Next: N/A