Two former AFL greats, Garry Lyon and Tim Watson, have analysed where each of the top 11 teams are at after the first eight weeks of the 2018 season.
Lyon and Watson believe there is a gap between the top 11 teams and the remaining seven as sides in the top sector have only lost to sides down the bottom on three occasions.
Adelaide and Port Adelaide have both lost to Essendon and North Melbourne were beaten by Gold Coast in horrific conditions in northern Queensland.
Here is how the former Demon and former Bomber see the top 11 shaping up.
1st: RICHMOND:ย โTheir three wins against bottom seven sides has given them a real percentage boost so they are the real deal, theyโve given the top sides a whacking and theyโre smashing the bottom sides,โ Lyon toldย SEN Breakfast.
Versus top 11: 4-1 Bottom seven: 3-0
2nd: WEST COAST:ย โTheyโve lost to Sydney only the West Coast Eagles, their massive test comes on Sunday so a big tick for them. Theyโre doing everything right, theyโre 3-1 against those top 11 sides so canโt argue with that,โ Lyon said.
Versus top 11: 3-1 Bottom seven: 4-0
3rd: GEELONG:ย โTheyโve only played one of the bottom seven teams so theyโve got upside for sure. They beat Melbourne, Port and the Giants and the next three weeks theyโve got Essendon, Carlton and the Suns so youโd think they are beautifully poised,โ Lyon said.
Versus top 11: 4-3 Bottom seven: 1-0
4th: ADELAIDE:ย โI think their form stands up, theyโre fourth, they lost to Port Adelaide and Collingwood which is maybe a minor concern, theyโre going okay Adelaide,โ Lyon said.
Versus top 11: 2-2 Bottom seven: 3-1
5th: HAWTHORN:ย โI wouldnโt be saying theyโre a top four lock just yet, but between rounds 14 and 20, they play six teams who are currently in the bottom seven so they have a good run home,โ Lyon said.
Versus top 11: 3-3 Bottom seven: 2-0
6th: MELBOURNE:ย โMelbourne is why this is very interesting data. We as Melbourne supporters are sitting hoping that their bottom seven form can translate into more wins, but as such theyโve failed against the top 11 sides,โ Lyon said.
Versus top 11: 1-3 Bottom seven: 4-0
7th: SYDNEY:ย โTheyโre coming. Theyโre the big one to watch, only played one of the bottom seven. They play Fremantle at home, Lions at the Gabba, Carlton at home and St Kilda at Etihad in the next month,โ Lyon said.
Versus top 11: 4-3 Bottom seven: 1-0
8th: PORT ADELAIDE:ย โTheyโve got seven games to go against the bottom seven sides so their draw is not too bad,โ Lyon said.
Versus top 11: 3-2 Bottom seven: 2-1
9th: GWS:ย โTheyโre real problem is whether theyโre going to get some of their big names back into their side. We may not see Tom Scully again this year,โ Tim Watson said.
Versus top 11: 1-3 Bottom seven: 3-0
10th: NORTH MELBOURNE:ย โTheyโve still got eight games against bottom seven teams and theyโve hardly got an injury so theyโre really well placed,โ Watson said.
Versus top 11: 2-3 Bottom seven: 2-1
11th: COLLINGWOOD:ย โSo theyโve been belting up on weaker sides in the competition, their three wins have come against 15th, 17th and 18th, six of their next seven sides are against bottom seven teams so they can build some momentum,โ Watson said.
Versus top 11: 1-4 Bottom seven: 3-0
