AFLW Round 3 Power Rankings

As we cross the halfway mark of the 2019 AFLW season and cast one eye to the finals farce that the AFL have created, we start to see that almost every single game from Round 4 onwards has finals implications. Scroll down to read our write up for each club.


1. North Melbourne 

Deserved premiership favourites. Trying to find a weakness and struggling mightily. Maybe a lack of speed down back? 

The Roos get their first real solid test of the 2019 AFLW season this week, coming up against a very good Demons clearance team, with a fast, small forward-line and strong key position marking options. Lauren Pearce and Elise O’Dea will ensure the Kangaroos can’t just rush it out of the middle with ease, and the slightly more contested game will bring Meg Downie and Bianca Jakobsson into the game.

North have cleared every bar put before them and markets like them a lot to clear this one as easily as they leapt over the Dogs last Friday, but expect it to be a pretty close game, this one. It is going to be windy at Casey Fields on Saturday which should keep it close so whichever team takes their chances with the breeze will win it.

2. Melbourne FC

Despite a dominant win against the Lions on Sunday, the Demons still sit slightly below the Kangaroos due to the Roos' strength over three consecutive weeks. There is not much between them and the next two - but plenty of room below, mind you - and it will be very interesting to see how hard they push the Kangaroos. A win for Melbourne would break Conference A wide open.

Karen Paxman showed the AFLW competition that O’Dea is not the only a-grade midfielder in that Demons on-ball unit, whilst their zippy mid/half forward posse of Hanks, Hore, Newman and Mithen make it really easy for them to put a team under pressure. It seems liked they outnumbered the Lions at every contest last Sunday, and that’s because they did. 

Going to be a corker of a game on Sunday, the Demons are almost 2-goal underdogs, despite a 40 point drubbing of the Lions, but they can win it if they kick straight and take their chances in front of goal.

3. Fremantle Dockers

Right up there with the best sides in the AFLW 20109. Kiara Bowers has elevated their midfield and the Fremantle forward line is firing. Small question mark on their defence against teams like Adelaide and North - who have multiple attacking weapons - but you can only beat who is in front of you, and so far the Dockers are 3/3.

A next-up win against the Crows on Saturday would go a very long way to seeing the Dockers play in their first AFLW Final.

4. Adelaide Crows

Showed what they can do when the goals go through. The Crows were just as dominant against the Dogs earlier, as they were on Sunday against Geelong - they just couldn’t kick it through the big sticks that day. With Anne Hatchard developing into A-grade midfield status, the Crows might just boast the best starting midfield in the AFLW in 2019.

Fremantle will be their biggest test so far, because they are a great clearance team as well and the Dockers speed might trouble the Crows defense. Both forward lines look more dangerous than their defensive opponents so winning the clearances out of the middle will be a huge factor in this one. The Chelsea Randall v Ebony Antonio matchup probably decides this game. If Antonio can stop Randall from floating around and intercepting across half back, then the Crows may struggle to contain Fremantle.

5. Western Bulldogs

Both the Dogs and the Brisbane Lions look one elite midfielder short of being able to compete with the top teams. The fact they also have no real ruck department is a concern. Lamb and Blackburn are guns, and Conti also - when used at stoppages - but if one is tagged hard then there is too much for the others to do, and when opposition teams win the clearance, the Bulldogs on-ballers are left to watch an understrength defence deal with the inside 50.

Katie Brennan is holding the Dogs forward line intact, to the point where they look very dangerous when going forward, but it is just not happening enough, and they are leaking too many shots on goals going the other way. Looking forward to Huntington’s return in the coming weeks but can’t have them featuring in AFLW Finals given they are in the pool of death. with North Melbourne, Melbourne, Adelaide and Fremantle.

6. Carlton FC

Big movers following Round 3. It's very tough to pinpoint just how bad GWS were, as opposed to how well Carlton played. The Giants were so fumbly, so rushed. Yes; Carlton put rubbed some salt into the wounds, but it wasn’t that much. Davey played better but she's still not tearing games up, and another 3-4 free kicks right in front of goals helps.

If Carlton bring that pressure AND their forward line fires again then they can win this week but I expect McDonald, Hickey and McMahon to give a much better account of themselves down back for Geelong. The Cats are crazy if they don’t tag Maddi Prespakis, this kid is a gun.

7. Geelong Cats

They got smacked by the Crows in Adelaide but alot of their game is good enough to beat the Blues on Saturday. If Nina Morrison hadn’t gone down I’d be very bullish about Geelong, but any team that loses their best young midfielder is going to struggle – imagine Carlton without Prespakis.

The Cats have a chance to play AFLW Finals if they win this game (as - somehow - do Carlton!) and with Cranston and Hickey both having had a game under their belt, expect these two to make Geelong a lot better second up. If Phoebe McWilliams and Meg McDonald both have good games, the Cats will be top of Conference B heading into Round 5.

8. Brisbane Lions

Crucially important game for Brisbane this week if they want to stay in the AFLW Finals hunt. With the four other teams in their conference having games against fellow pool members, the Lions simply need to win or they will find themselves as low as fourth in their pool if the Giants beat Collingwood.

Brisbane have plenty of issues at the stoppages, with Ally Anderson and Nat Exon currently carrying a few others, but their main concern is the plethora of injuries they have in their backline. Expecting a really tough game for what is an AFLW Grand Final replay – if the Lions can keep that aggression channelled for four quarters they can win.

9. Collingwood FC

The Magpies need to play at full strength to win in Round 4, and with Bonnici unlikely to play (ribs) and Ash Brazill (concussion) also in doubt, Collingwood will need plenty of luck at the selection table. Mel Kuys returning is far from the answer. Teams will be important here but even at full strength, Collingwood have a serious clearance issue and will be up against a very angry Alicia Eva, Courtney Gum and Alyce Parker. Their best chance yet for a win, but still doesn’t look great. 

10. GWS Giants

The Giants have fallen so far that I am genuinely unsure whether they will beat Collingwood and that is saying something. The good news for the Giants is Collingwood won't tag their on-ballers, nor will they apply the kind of midfield pressure that Carlton were able to. The bad news is the Pies do have a fairly dangerous forward line, so if they are able to win the clearances, they can be efficient. This game looks like it's already playing off for the 2019 AFLW wooden spoon and I’m expecting the Giants to avoid it (just).

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Dan Fraser

Former ABC Journo and Champion Data stats nerd who loves his fantasy sport, punting, footy, cricket, golf - you get the point. More than prepared to take driver off the deck from 250 out (especially if it's for a beverage or two!) but will also happily take my medicine when the occasion calls for it. Pumped to be part of the Stats Insider team - if it's value and it's footy, I'm all over it in 2019 folks!

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