Nick's Collingwood Bulletin Board

Yes, it's that time of the year again! With 3 rounds down (and Carlton's slaughter at the hands of Essendon almost complete), I think I've finally got enough data to put together the first form ladder of 2014.

Anyone wondering what this is all about should read this:

http://magpies.net/nick/bb/viewtopic.php?t=70563

In the meantime, here's the form ladder for round 3:

1. Hawthorn
2. Essendon
3. Fremantle
4. West Coast
5. Port Adelaide
6. Geelong
7. North Melbourne
8. Gold Coast

9. Collingwood
10. Richmond
11. Western Bulldogs
12. GWS
13. Sydney
14. Carlton
15. St. Kilda
16. Brisbane
17. Adelaide
18. Melbourne

I'd divide this ladder into four distinct groups: 1) the top two, Hawthorn and Essendon, who are already way out in front of the pack; 2) the rest of the top eight, all doing well without looking like serious premiership contenders; 3) teams nine to thirteen, who have all been mediocre but shown some positive signs; and 4) the bottom five, none of whom I would expect to come close to making the 8 this year.

Some hard calls: I initially had Port in fourth and West Coast fifth, but decided the Eagles' performance against the Bulldogs was the most impressive of either club so far. I really struggled to place the two Sydney teams, initially having Carlton above them before tonight's effort. And lastly, there may be a few raised eyebrows with having us in 9th spot, but I think we've played well the past two weeks and can possibly move as high as 7th with a good performance next week.

What do you all think? Any major disagreements?

David, funnily enough, I reckon I've seen enough to call the top 8 for this year and it's your top 8 as posted, but not necessarily in that order.

Who's in your top four? I guess Hawthorn, Essendon and Fremantle are all in there?

Essendon will lose the plot when the peds wear off

...or the suspensions arrive, whichever comes first! But for now, in my view, they're doing significantly better than 16 other teams.

Given the past couple of seasons, it almost seems inevitable that the wheels will fall off by July. I guess we'll see.

without looking, how does the form ladder compare to the actual ladder at this stage?

There are some similarities. The biggest differences are that West Coast are currently 1st, GWS are 6th, St. Kilda are 9th, North Melbourne are 10th and we're 13th. Otherwise, there are a few subtle differences in position.

All right, here's a stab at round 4. See what you think!

1. Hawthorn
2. Fremantle
3. Geelong
4. Essendon
5. Port Adelaide
6. North Melbourne
7. West Coast
8. Collingwood

9. Gold Coast
10. Western Bulldogs
11. Richmond
12. GWS
13. Sydney
14. Adelaide
15. St. Kilda
16. Carlton
17. Melbourne
18. Brisbane

Amazingly, given how few games have passed, only one team outside that top 8 (Gold Coast) looks like a genuine chance to play finals right now. Richmond, Adelaide and Sydney could perhaps make it if they get their act together, but none of the above have been playing anything like top 8 teams.

Essendon can't (in any sane universe) be 4th. Also, since the Dees just flogged the Scum, there is no sensible basis for saying their form is reversed. I would have been inclined to the view that kicking 7 goals in a game against the Dees qualified a team for VFL ranking.

Somewhere between 7th and 12th. They got North before the season started properly and, since then, they've only beaten the Scum, which - as is becoming obvious - is a little like beating the Oodnadatta thirds.

North should be above Port, they beat them and both have only lost the once.

West Coast shouldn't be in the 8. Have beaten no one and were flogged by the only someone they have played. Not sure which team should be though .

Thrashing the Bulldogs wasn't a bad effort, given that they've been pretty competitive in their other matches. But yeah, otherwise not much to write home about.

It also seems that Essendon were a bit too cute withdrawing chappie fletcher and Myers at the last minute and being forced to play injured Goddard on a stinking hot day in Perth.