AFL Power Rankings: Top teams stumble, but don't lose ground

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 | Round 18 | Round 19 | Round 20 | Round 21

1. Geelong
2021 record: 15-5
Previous ranking: 1

To rehash an old cliche, was that 'the loss they had to have'? Has anything changed in our minds after their loss to the Giants? No, they're still the flag favourites, and their body of work this season points to that. It's a mature, experienced group which will be able to move on pretty quickly.

This week's opponent: St Kilda (GMHBA Stadium)

2. Western Bulldogs
2021 record: 15-5
Previous ranking: 2

Like the Cats, we're not too concerned by the Bulldogs' loss to Essendon. The Bombers have been patchy at times, but their good footy is quite good. At the end of the day, the Bulldogs remain second in the rankings and on the ladder, but we're interested to see how the forward structure changes with Josh Bruce out for the remaining weeks.

This week's opponent: Hawthorn (UTAS Stadium)

3. Melbourne
2021 record: 15-4-1
Previous ranking: 3

Geelong's loss to the Giants and the Dogs' loss to the Bombers is the Demons gain, at least, on the ladder! The Dees go top after holding off a lightning quick comeback from the Eagles (see what we did there?!), but remain third on the pecking order in the Power Rankings. Will Ben Brown deliver in finals? Can they remain consistent throughout September? They're arguably the most interesting team in the top four, but we're not running a "Most Interesting Power Rankings".

This week's opponent: Adelaide (MCG)

4. Port Adelaide
2021 record: 15-5
Previous ranking: 5

For the first time since Round 6, Port Adelaide are in the top four of the Power Rankings. Peaking at the right time? Or just lucky to play a pretty poor team in the Crows this week while other sides faltered? Perhaps a bit of both, at this stage.

This week's opponent: Carlton (Adelaide Oval)

5. Sydney
2021 record: 13-7
Previous ranking: 4

While a loss for the Cats and the Bulldogs hasn't really changed too much for them at this point, Sydney's loss to St Kilda has. Their top four (and double chance) hopes are gone, and there's a very real possibility they face the Bombers in week one of the finals - a team that, yes, they've beaten pretty consistently in recent seasons, but in very, very tight games.

This week's opponent: North Melbourne (Marvel Stadium)

6. Brisbane
2021 record: 13-7
Previous ranking: 6

While other teams faltered, the Lions won, and won well. At the very least, they'll host a final this season, and if a number of extraordinary results go their way, they could scrape into the four. It took a few weeks but they seem to have found some semblance of a forward structure without Eric Hipwood.

This week's opponent: Collingwood (TBC)

7. Essendon
2021 record: 9-11
Previous ranking: 9

Good percentage (at least, better than any of the other teams with nine wins), and another winnable game this weekend against the Suns? Finals are calling for the Bombers! Can they make a run of it? Hell, maybe! It'll be fascinating to see the final seedings when the season is done and dusted.

This week's opponent: Gold Coast (TBC)

8. West Coast
2021 record: 10-10
Previous ranking: 8

If I was any visiting team coming to Perth, I'd be humbly requesting to play the Eagles at Optus, but on a Monday night! They're zero-from-two this season, with losses to North Melbourne and now Melbourne, but are still hanging onto a spot in the finals by a solitary win (their percentage is lower than that of both Essendon and Richmond who are one win behind). They need to find a late spark!

This week's opponent: Fremantle (Optus Stadium)

9. St Kilda
2021 record: 9-11
Previous ranking: 11

We mentioned this months ago, but St Kilda's poor percentage will ultimately keep them out of finals. Is there a team in the AFL with a bigger gap between their best and worst footy? Sure, they beat the Swans, but it's not going to help them. Reload for next season.

This week's opponent: Geelong (GMHBA Stadium)

10. Fremantle
2021 record: 9-11
Previous ranking: 7

We knew Freo's finals hope hinged on an unlikely home win over the Lions, and unfortunately, the Dockers (without some key players) just couldn't get the job done. You know what they can do, this week, though? Make it very tough for cross-town rivals West Coast to finish in the eight, if they can get a breakthrough derby win.

This week's opponent: West Coast (Optus Stadium)

11. Richmond
2021 record: 9-11
Previous ranking: 12

Richmond need to win well these next two weeks if they're to scrape into finals, but even then they'll be relying on other results to fall their way. It's been a year of learning for the Tigers and Damien Hardwick, who has openly admitted he doesn't like how footy is being played. To us, that's a sign that Richmond is being worked out. Perhaps some time at the drawing board this offseason will get them back into roaring contention next year.

This week's opponent: GWS (Marvel Stadium)

12. GWS
2021 record: 9-10-1
Previous ranking: 13

Up one spot only? Might seem harsh, but we'll believe the Giants are a finals-worthy team when they're in the finals. Inconsistent to the point where it's frustrating to even watch them, their win over Geelong just left us thinking 'where has this been all year'?

This week's opponent: Richmond (Marvel Stadium)

13. Carlton
2021 record: 8-12
Previous ranking: 10

Lose to North? Bad. Beat St Kilda to keep slim finals hopes alive? Good! Lose to Gold Coast at home? Good luck, David Teague. This group is not good enough for long enough, and hasn't been for the two years under Teague. Is that enough of a sample size for him to be sacked? With Clarkson and Lyon on the sidelines, it might be...

This week's opponent: Port Adelaide (Adelaide Oval)

14. Gold Coast Suns
2021 record: 7-13
Previous ranking: 15

Gutsy stuff from the Suns, who are just too young and too inexperienced to put together a full season of work. What that win over the Blues showed us is they're buying into what Stuart Dew is putting down, even if the results don't always fall their way. Seven wins is their most in some time, too.

This week's opponent: Essendon (TBC)

15. Hawthorn
2021 record: 6-13-1
Previous ranking: 17

Hawthorn looked like a top eight side against the Pies at times, and Champion Data has backed that claim in this week's podcast on 'the teams showing premiership traits'! Has Clarko let loose the shackles? Or does he not care about draft picks considering he won't be using them? Either way, they've been fun to watch these past couple of weeks.

This week's opponent: Western Bulldogs (UTAS Stadium)

16. Collingwood
2021 record: 6-14
Previous ranking: 14

Can Collingwood avoid a bottom four finish? With matches upcoming against the Lions and Bombers, signs are pointing to no, but an upset in either clash might be enough to leapfrog the Hawks and Suns, given the Pies' percentage. Small wins, right?

This week's opponent: Brisbane (TBA)

17. Adelaide
2021 record: 6-14
Previous ranking: 16

It's been a dirty week for the Crows ... an onfield loss in the Showdown only compounds (yet another) horror week off it. Check out our bonus podcast below for some home truths. They're almost lucky they're not on the bottom this week.

This week's opponent: Melbourne (MCG)

18. North Melbourne
2021 record: 4-15-1
Previous ranking: 18

We'll keep saying it - in most other years recently, this side is too good to be finishing 18th. They're just lucky that Adelaide somehow beat both Melbourne and Geelong, and that Hawthorn also had some crazy upsets. Plenty to work with, stay the course, etc.!

This week's opponent: Sydney (Marvel Stadium)