GWS' shock loss to Essendon has continued its poor stretch of form against the bottom nine clubs, which is ironically in stark contrast to its performances against the competition leaders.
The Giants rank 16th (3-6) in clashes with those who sit outside the finals and Wildcard Round slots - barring 10th - but 2nd (5-4) against the top end of the league, producing the biggest disparity in the AFL.
But they're not alone.
Collingwood is undefeated (10-0) against teams that occupy the bottom nine positions on the AFL ladder, but struggled against the flag fancies, claiming only one draw from eight outings. The difference is 1st to 14th.
St Kilda faces a similar, inconsistent record, ganging up on the cellar dwellers more often than not (8-1), yet unable to win one match (0-9) against the top nine. The gap is 5th to 18th.
Unsurprisingly, Fremantle's record across the entire competition is extraordinary, dropping only two games for the year. The Dockers, along with the Giants and Geelong, are the only teams with a positive return from games against top nine sides.
Biggest Takeaways
- GWS has one of the biggest disparities. The Giants rank 2nd against the top nine (5-4) but 16th against the bottom nine (3-6), suggesting they've consistently risen for stronger opponents but dropped games they were expected to win. Wins against Brisbane, Fremantle and Geelong in recent weeks revived their season, but a loss to Essendon put them among the chasers for the Wildcard Round.
- Collingwood is the complete opposite. The Magpies are 14th against the top nine (0-1-7) yet 1st against the bottom nine (10-0). They've taken care of every lower-ranked side but are still searching for a statement win over a contender. They've run close to Hawthorn, Sydney, Fremantle and Melbourne.
- St Kilda is another extreme case. The Saints are 18th against the top nine (0-9) but 5th against the bottom nine (8-1), highlighting a side that has capitalised on favourable fixtures but struggled against finals-calibre opposition.
- Sydney (5-5 vs top nine, 7-0 vs bottom nine), Adelaide (5-5, 7-1) and Melbourne (4-4, 8-2) have produced balanced records. The Swans are only one game ahead of the Demons in sixth, with the Hawks, Lions and Crows vying for a top-four spot.
- Geelong (6-5 vs top nine) has a stronger record against quality sides than against lower-ranked teams (4-3), indicating the Cats have been challenged more by teams outside the top nine. They've lost to Port Adelaide, Carlton and GWS this year.
- Brisbane (4-5 vs top nine, 8-1 vs bottom nine) and the Western Bulldogs (5-6, 6-1) have largely banked the wins they should while remaining competitive against contenders.
- Fremantle has the most impressive profile in the AFL, losing only two games (Geelong and GWS) for the year.
