In this week's edition of ESPN's AFL Power Rankings, just one team remains in their spot from last week after a week of upsets and shocks. The Dees once again rise to the top, but the Eagles' wings have been clipped.
NOTE: THIS WEEK'S RANKINGS ARE HERE. NEWSLETTER HAD THE WRONG LINK!
Note: Throughout the year, ESPN will rank all 18 teams, from top to bottom, taking into account which teams are playing the best footy, injuries, each team's recent opponents, and which teams are looking most like flag contenders.
Previous rankings (prior to): Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Round 5 | Round 6 | Round 7 | Round 8 | Round 9 | Round 10 | Round 11 | Round 12 | POST BYE | Round 15 | Round 16 | Round 17
1. Melbourne
2021 record: 13-3
Previous ranking: 3
Win on the road against another top eight team? Nice. We still aren't sure the Dees are the premiership favourites at this point but given the weekend of upsets we've had, they've almost 'Bradbury'd' themselves back into the No. 1 spot. The same concerns about their forward structure remain, but everything else is solid. It's tight at the top of the Power Rankings.
This week's opponent: Hawthorn (MCG*)
2. Geelong
2021 record: 12-4
Previous ranking: 4
That was a good win against the Blues, who were terribly inaccurate all night. In fact, the Cats were possibly outplayed for most of the match, but as we've come to expect from this professional outfit, they'll just get the job done. Geelong are humming along, and Joel Selwood back and re-signed, it's been a good news week down at the Cattery.
This week's opponent: Fremantle (Optus Stadium)
3. Brisbane
2021 record: 11-5
Previous ranking: 1
Take a tumble, Lions! It seems the Power Rankings are a bit of a poisoned chalice. In the last fortnight, the two teams that topped the Rankings lost the following week, and Brisbane's loss ... wasn't great. Eric Hipwood's injury is a major bummer, too. Let's hope they can gather themselves ahead of the Richmond game!
This week's opponent: Richmond (MCG*)
4. Western Bulldogs
2021 record: 12-4
Previous ranking: 2
A home loss for the Doggies, but let's not sell the Swans' effort short. They're becoming one of the form teams of the competition - at the right time of the year, too. The Dogs will regain Aaron Naughton this week, so let's see how they fare against a Gold Coast side which has won two on the trot.
This week's opponent: Gold Coast (Metricon Stadium)
5. Sydney
2021 record: 10-6
Previous ranking: 6
BOOM! Cue the 'contenders' talk. Even on the ESPN Footy Podcast this week, we talked about how they're playing a 'premiership style' of football. They're young, hungry and good, and a win like that over the Western Bulldogs is exactly what they needed to show the footy world they're serious. And how good was Jordan Dawson?
This week's opponent: GWS (Mars Stadium*)
6. Port Adelaide
2021 record: 11-5
Previous ranking: 5
If Port Adelaide are anything, it's honest. They tend to struggle against the sides above them on the ladder, but beat those below. It's a shame, though, as 2021 has been a step backwards from their minor premiership year last year, but injuries to key players at different times have played their part. This week is a big test; the Saints are snapping at the heels of the teams above them on the ladder - it's a match to watch with great interest.
This week's opponent: St Kilda (Marvel Stadium*)
7. Fremantle
2021 record: 8-8
Previous ranking: 11
Ah, nothing like a smashing to boost the percentage and keep you above the cross-town rivals! The Dockers are lining up for a finals tilt - but it's a tough run home.
This week's opponent: Geelong (Optus Stadium)
8. St Kilda
2021 record: 8-8
Previous ranking: 10
We'd just about written off the Saints, but given the capitulations we've seen from some sides above them on the ladder, they're suddenly well back in contention. The percentage issue (which we've highlighted a few times) still remains, but they're within striking distance despite a tough run home.
This week's opponent: Port Adelaide (Marvel Stadium*)
9. Richmond
2021 record: 7-9
Previous ranking: 7
Can you call what happened on Sunday anything other than a capitulation? Five goals up on Collingwood, a typical Richmond team of the past four years would have won by eight goals or more, but this isn't the same Richmond. They're set to regain some talent, however, and it is Jack Riewoldt's 300th this week. If that doesn't get them up and about, what will?
This week's opponent: Brisbane (MCG*)
10. GWS
2021 record: 7-8-1
Previous ranking: 8
The last two minutes from the Giants in Ballarat almost defied belief. Down a point, GWS fluffed about with ball in hand and failed to even trouble the scorers despite getting a number of (at the very least) half looks on goal. Phil Davis, Toby Greene ... this side just keeps shooting themselves in the foot and it will cost them a spot in the eight.
This week's opponent: Sydney (Mars Stadium*)
11. Essendon
2021 record: 7-9
Previous ranking: 12
The Bombers were the only 'home' team to win last round, and it was a beauty too - boosting their percentage to north of 103, which is well above every other team vying for the last two spots in the top eight. They have a chance this week to add to that, and in doing so, add to the likelihood of playing finals.
This week's opponent: North Melbourne (Marvel Stadium*)
12. West Coast
2021 record: 8-8
Previous ranking: 9
They might just be scraping into the eight on the actual AFL ladder, but make no mistake, in terms of 'power rankings', they're not even a finals contender at this point. There's obviously time to turn it around, and this week's opponent has lost five of their last six, but after losing at home to North Melbourne, confidence isn't high for this group.
This week's opponent: Adelaide (Adelaide Oval)
13. Carlton
2021 record: 6-10
Previous ranking: 13
Beating Geelong was always going to be a tough ask, but having a scoreline of 1.13 at one stage makes it near impossible. The Blues were arguably the better side for most of the night, but back kicking is bad footy. The prospect of Charlie Curnow returning to the seniors in the next fortnight is tantalising, though.
This week's opponent: Collingwood (MCG*)
14. Collingwood
2021 record: 5-11
Previous ranking: 15
An improbably win is still a win, and one which could kickstart Robert Harvey's tenure. They are still a dour team to watch, and they're probably lucky they came up against a Richmond side which looks out of tickets, but four points is four points. They play the old enemy Carlton this week, against whom the Pies have a stellar record...
This week's opponent: Carlton (MCG)
15. Gold Coast Suns
2021 record: 6-10
Previous ranking: 16
Two on the trot! We almost feel bad for declaring they wouldn't win another game for the year a fortnight ago! Fair play to the Suns, they could have coughed up victory to the Giants in those final frantic minutes, but held firm with some amazing marks inside defensive 50. A homecoming to Metricon looms, but so do the Dogs. Three in a row is looking unlikely.
This week's opponent: Western Bulldogs (Metricon Stadium)
16. Adelaide
2021 record: 5-11
Previous ranking: 14
Another loss for the Crows, whose recent run of form has been pretty dismal. They've players some great football at times this season, and it looks like they're on the right track, but performances like that thrown up against the Bombers reminds us that they are a bottom four side still. Having said that, there's no better time than now to face the Eagles away from Perth...
This week's opponent: West Coast (Adelaide Oval)
17. North Melbourne
2021 record: 3-12-1
Previous ranking: 18
Gutsy. North played the conditions better than West Coast, and to come away with a win in Perth as the team on the bottom of the ladder is such a positive - the belief it breeds in players, fans, and the coaching staff is invaluable.
This week's opponent: Essendon (Marvel Stadium*)
18. Hawthorn
2021 record: 4-12
Previous ranking: 17
A bad loss in Launceston (remember when it was an absolute fortress?!) and the Hawks find themselves on the bottom of the Rankings once again. There are good signs, such as those shown by Lachie Bramble, but they're few and far between at this point.
This week's opponent: Melbourne (MCG*)