AFL Power Rankings after Round 4

1 Geelong (3-1)
Comprehensive performance by the reigning premiers beating the Power by almost 100 points yesterday. Had five players who scored multiple goals, while the Cats claimed a staggering 479 possessions for the game, 128 more than Port. Defensively the Cats returned to their brilliant best allowing just 4 marks inside 50, a remarkably low 37 inside 50 entries which netted Port just 10 goals for the match.

2 St.Kilda (4-0)
Excellent win by the Saints in their first week of life without Riewoldt. Full credit to Lyon and co who experimented with a variety of forward combinations in the absence of the skipper and of course the suspended Koschitzke. The Saints kicked sixteen goals against the considerably improved Dockers with Goddard and Mllne kicking 10 between them while Dal Santo was suburb, often drifting forward himself and kicking 2 goals to go with his 35 disposals. Only 5 players have averaged more touches than his 29 possessions per game this year.

3 Brisbane (4-0)
Their first real test of the year against the Bulldogs and the Lions passed with flying colours. Truth be told Brisbane were quite brilliant in its victory over the pre-season winners on Saturday night. Brown and Fevola once again proving the most damaging forward combination in the league combining for 6.7, (they've kicked 32 between in 4 games so far) which helped Brisbane for the fourth consecutive week score over 100 points, something the club hasn't done since mid 2005. Brisbane had 33 more inside 50's than the Dogs and really should have won by a lot more. Won't face another team who made the finals last year until they host Geelong in round 8.

4 Fremantle (3-1)
The Dockers first loss of the year against the Saints did nothing to stain what's been a remarkable turnaround. Really took the game to the Saints for three quarters yesterday exhibiting a defensive side rarely witnessed in Freo teams over the years. After playing four finalists from last year over their first four games Freo have an easier section of their draw coming up with games against Richmond and West Coast which should move the Dockers to 5-1.

5 Collingwood (3-1)
A position under Fremantle based on the two clubs performances against ladder leader StKilda. The Pies will be rapt with their demolition of the Hawks on Saturday night which was highlighted by 38 scoring shots (though the bulk inaccurate) and 70 inside 50's which was 37 more than the Hawks. Collingwood laid 24 more tackles than than Hawthorn and won the contested possession tally quite convincingly. Still some small queries about the Pies, once again beaten in the ruck however a better performance by Jolly who did kick a couple of goals. Big questions also over their lack of a power forward however probably have the best set of small forwards in the league with Davis, Thomas, Didak and Medhurst always dangerous and collectively combining for 10 goals. Are averaging an incredibly poor 17 behinds per game which is second to no one in the competition.

6 Sydney (3-1)
A 40 point win by the Swans, their third in a row, and this time achieved with a return to the kind of commitment to defensive pressure and harassment they pioneered. Kept North to a season low 280 possessions which produced just 8 goals and and limited North to just 10 marks inside 50. Kirk and Bolton combined for 24 tackles which is more than a third of what the entire North team achieved. Will be extremely encouraged by the form of second year player Dan Hanneberry who topped the Swans possession tally with 27, while they'll of course be rapt with the form of their most prized recruit, Daniel Bradshaw who kicked four on Saturday to go with the 4 he kicked the week before. After this week's game face Brisbane, Geelong and the Bulldogs. The Swans are giving up just 209 uncontested possessions a game this year which is second only to the Saints.

7 Western Bulldogs (2-2)
Extremely disappointing performance by the Dogs failing once again against quality opposition. The Dogs now find themselves 2 games adrift from the top clubs and should have probably lost by a lot more on Saturday night seeing as they had 33 less inside 50 entries and 17 less scoring shots than the Lions. Their trademark free flowing, precise kicking was again foiled, with a kicking efficiency of just 64% while accumulating a season low 202 uncontested possessions, an area so important for the Dogs.

8 Hawthorn (1-3)
In a small hole at 1-3 however have had to play 3 games in 12 days and against 3 teams who were all preliminary finalists last year. The workload and some key injuries caught up with the Hawks on Saturday night and despite a further injury setback to another of their costly off season acquisitions the Hawks will need to regroup as they desperately need to beat North this week. Will have Franklin, and quite possible Sewell back.

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9 Carlton (2-2)
It seems as though it's a one week good, one week bad proposition when it comes to the Blues this year. Were brilliant in their demolition of Adelaide on Saturday and relished having Judd back in the team. In fact the Carlton midfield looks quite solid when you consider they have the luxury of floating Gibbs, Murphy, Simpson and Walker through in addition to first year player Kane Lucas who once again gathered more than 20 touches in just his second game. Have got Geelong, Collingwood and Stkilda over the next 3 weeks which will give us a perfect idea of just where Carlton are seeing as so far their 2 wins have comes against teams yet to win a game themselves.

10 Melbourne (2-2)
Quite incredible that Melbourne are presently out of the 8 only on percentage and could be as high as 6th had it not been for their one point loss to the Pies on Easter Saturday. Easily accounted for the Tigers yesterday scoring 133 points which is their second highest tally since round 2, 2005. Like the Blues, their 2 wins have both come against teams who haven't won a game themselves however the Demons will be rapt with some of the key areas they've focused on, chief among them tackling where Melbourne rank 2nd in the league, while only 4 teams have conceded less points than them this year.

11 West Coast (1-3)
Very important win by the Eagles, their first of the year, and showing signs that they might not be as bad as originally thought. Great return to form by Cox who had 19 touches and 30 hitouts, while Priddis continued his excellent form with another 30 possession game. The Eagles don't play another team who made the finals last year until round 9 when they host StKilda.

12 Essendon (1-3)
Very bad performance against the Eagles, with some respectability salvaged in the last quarter when they kicked 5 goals to 2. Apart from that it was a pedestrian performance by the Bombers who for the fourth week in a row failed to kick 100 points with questions again being asked of their forward line with Williams and Gumbleton combining for just 14 possessions and 1 goal. They'd also be very concerned with the form of Paddy Ryder who's numbers are well down across the board.

13 Port Adelaide (2-2)
Smashed by almost 100 points yesterday by the Cats which exposed many of their deficiencies. Mainly Port can't really get their hands on the ball this year. They're ranked 14th for total disposals, 15th for marks and dead last for hitouts. They've also given away more free kicks than any other side and along with Essendon and and the Tigers are the only team to not post 100 points in game this year, while only Richmond have conceded more points. Are scheduled in with a date with the Saints this week.

14 North Melbourne (1-3)
Their third loss of the season on Saturday, scoring just 60 points and looking quite dull across the board. Had a measly 280 touches against the Swans on Saturday which is consistent with their form so far as they're ranked second last in that category. A good sign for the Roos is that some of their best players this season have been first and second year personnel in Anthony, Ziebell and Basticnac.

15 Adelaide (0-4)
Hard to believe that this is a team who've played finals in the past 5 seasons. Are averaging just seven goals this year which is dead last in the competition while they've also laid fewer tackles than any other team. Kurt Tippet's kicked just 1 goal this year. Some relief after this weeks game against the Dogs with games against Port, Richmond and North all scheduled.

16 Richmond (0-4)
These guys are really bad. If I could pick just one area that stands out it would be the 303 uncontested possessions they're giving up per game. 303! The next worse is North on 256. They're next two matches are against Freo in Perth followed by Geelong.