Here are our pre-season AFL Power Rankings - factoring in last year's form, off-season changes and pre-season and form and our overall thoughts.
1. Richmondย
Despite not having the best pre-season, it would be disrespectful to not have the Tigers number one. After belting GWS in the grand final where they booted 17 goals, one would have thought they would continue that high scoring game. That wasn't the case as the Pies restricted them to just six goals in their first hit out of the pre-season.
They managed to rebound kicking 14 goals against GWS in the second week but they still managed to kick 11 behinds and went down by 14 points. Marlon Pickett could have a more vital role this year as he gathered 20 disposals.
2. GWSย
After being thrashed in their maiden grand final appearance by Richmond by 89 points, it is no wonder that the Giants wanted to stamp their authority as quickly as possible. The Giants wasted no time and let everyone know they are a force to be reckoned with in 2020 with convincing pre-season wins over Sydney and Richmond and boosting over 100 points in both games.
There were many players that stood up for the Giants in the pre-season most notably against Richmond where Stephen Coniglio collected 32 disposals and kicked two goals, Toby Greene 21 disposals and five goals, Jackson Hately 29 disposals and Josh Kelly 34 disposals are all leading the Giants 2020 charge. Their midfield depth offsets Tim Taranto's shoulder injury that will sideline the young gun for 4-5 months.
3. West Coastย
They have serious reason to be optimistic about season 2020 as one of the chief flag favourites. Adam Simpson's side showed plenty of determination both against Essendon and Fremantle despite going down by eight points and one point.
Tim Kelly looks right at home and in his first showing in West Coast colours he managed 27 disposals and then against Fremantle in a low scoring game he gathered 29.
4. Collingwoodย
To start your pre-season off by having a win against the premiers is a start that everyone wants and the Pies did just that. Not only did they win but they did it convincingly too as they won by 40 points and even restricting the Tigers to 44 points.
That's as good as it got as they suffered a defeat to St Kilda the week after. They can head into the season with good confidence knowing they have a recipe in place to stop the premiers.
5. Brisbane Lionsย
The Lions were the good news story of the AFL last year when they rose to prominence and finished second on the ladder. It seems they are still continuing that form in the pre-season albeit losing one game against Port Adelaide.
However, it was a good lesson for the young team as they responded the following week demolishing Carlton by 45 points in which they putย 111 points on the scoreboard, with Charlie Cameron kicking five goals. Lachie Neale and Dayne Zorko look set to bolster the Lions as they both collected 22 and 23 disposals respectively.
6. Western Bulldogsย
The Western Bulldogs have all the tools to challenge for the cup this year. They spread the play tough, exhilarating football and often find plenty of spaces on the park even when it is congested.ย They managed to match it up quite easy against North Melbourne and blew them out of the water as the game went on.
The Dogs had a bit more of a fight against Port Adelaide when they went down by 10 points, however, Marcus Bontempelli stepped up and collected 27 disposals, Josh Dunkley had 28 disposals and Lachie Hunter had 29. Meanwhile, Josh Bruce kicked four goals.
7. Geelongย
It wasn't the pre-season that they wanted, but there is enough reason to be buoyant about the Cats in 2020. First, they went down to the Suns by 68 points then going down narrowly to Essendon by four points.
It is hard to find too many positives but the way the Cats responded after being thrashed by Gold Coast can only be seen as a positive even if they did lose narrowly. Quinton Narkle showed what he is capable of after collecting 26 disposals against the Suns and 24 against the Bombers.
8. St Kildaย
Season 2020 could shape as one of the most important seasons for the Saints as they had the perfect preparation and won all their games. First, they saw off Hawthorn at their spiritual home at Moorabbin as Tim Membrey stepped up and kicked four goals.
In their second pre-season clash, the Saints slogged it out for a hard-fought win over Collingwood as Jack Lonie kicked four goals. Brad Hill looks set to reignite the Saints' belief after a stellar show against the Pies as he collected 28 disposals, and would be great fit in an already young midfield that has shown plenty of promise this pre-season.
9. Essendonย
Essendon won both of their games to have a perfect 2-0 record in the pre-season. They won against West Coast by eight points and then against Geelong by a closer margin of four points.
Kicking seems to be the biggest issue facing the Bombers as in both games - they kicked 11 behinds. On the plus side, it could be the season where Andrew McGrath takes his game to a higher level as he collected 24 disposals against West Coast and 32 against Geelong.
10. Melbourneย
After making a preliminary final to then finishing 17th last year, it is no wonder the Dees were eager to hit the ground running and they did just that. They ran over Adelaide in round one of the Marsh series as Christian Petracca made a statement as he collected 38 disposals.
They used their fitness again in Tasmania when they played Hawthorn. Bailey Fritsch could be a vital player up forward for the Dees as he kicked five goals.
11. Hawthornย
Hawthorn didn't really assert themselves as they lost to St Kilda by 21 points where they kicked 13.12 and then they lost to Melbourne by 32 points, where once again their kicking became an issue. Against the Dees, they kicked 6.13, bu the good news for the Hawks faithful is that they were well in the contest in both games up until the main break.
Tom Mitchell looks to spearhead the midfield this season as he gathered 24 disposals against the Dees and 21 against the Saints.
12. Port Adelaideย
Another team that has won all its pre-season games and with a big point to prove in 2020 where they are eyeing finals. They play a tough brand and high-pressure game which was evident against the Brisbane Lions and against the Western Bulldogs as they look reinvigorated to make the top eight this year.
Travis Boak looks set to play a crucial part this season as he collected 33 disposals against the Lions and then backed it up against the Bulldogs where he collected 29.
13. North Melbourne
North Melbourne have shown what they can do this pre-season with a win against Sydney in the last round which saw Jy Simpkin gather 26 disposals and Nick Larkey booting three goals. There were glimpses of what they can achieve when they played the Bulldogs however, they ran out of steam in the second half.
14. Carltonย
Carlton look set to move up the ladder in season 2020 but they have a lot of work to do if that is the case. Against Fremantle they showed what they could do like spreading the play and picking out spaces however, they need to do it for aย longer period.
Against Brisbane, they scored 66 points despite kicking the first couple of goals. Despite losing both games by 45 and 47 points respectively, there is still reason to be optimistic as a Blue Bagger.
15. Gold Coastย
After being cellar dwellers for the last couple of years, there is finally some hope and positivity for the Gold Coast. They smashed Geelong by 68 points and followed that by a seven-point win against Adelaide.
This could be a big year for Stuart Dew's men as they have showed signs that they canย match it with the top half teams. Alex Sexton is vital to the Suns if they want to step it up this season as he kicked six goals against the Cats and two against the Crows
16. Fremantleย
Don't expect too much from the Dockers this year despite winning both of their pre-season games. They outclassed Carlton when they kicked 90 points and ultimately winning by 47 points in the end.
However, they had an arm wrestle against their rivals West Coast Eagles in what as a scrappy game. Andrew Brayshaw looks to take his game to another level this year as he collected 19 disposals against Carlton and 24 against the Eagles.
17. Adelaideย
It was a mix bag of results for the Crows as they lost their first game to Melbourne by 33 points and then they lost to the Suns by a smaller margin of seven points. The scores that the Crows have boosted in the two games is also an interesting aspect as they kicked 10.10 (70) against the Dees and then 9.10(64) against the Suns.
18. Sydneyย
Sydney got off to the worst possible start as they lost to GWS by 94 points and to make matters worse they only kicked three goals. They regrouped in round two against North Melbourne in what was a better display putting up a fight but went down by 11 points. Josh Kennedy tried to do his best against the Kangaroos when he gathered a whopping 37 disposals.
