Crikey’s NRL Hot Form Chart

It is said often, but not often with any truth: the Bulldogs were robbed last week. Unfortunately, a poor refereeing decision at a critical time also robbed the crowd of a fairytale finish and the Dogs of top spot on the Hot Form Chart.

They could go someway to reclaiming it with victory this week but first must get over a Melbourne outfit that may just have been run into some attacking form by Canberra last week. Of course, the Raiders could run the Amish into attacking form — a theory that will be tested when they play the equally as unimpressive Warriors on Sunday.

The Form Chart likes the Rabbitohs and Broncos in tonight’s double-header, and it’s just too easy to see the words “Cronulla” and “Roosters” and immediately tip the other team.

The Knights face a stern test immediately upon assuming the mantle as Crikey’s top team with a trip to the tropics to take on Crikey’s number two, North Queensland. The Cowboys are always tough to topple at home and are in red-hot form to boot.

The Titans are back at home and will need every bit of the advantage to overcome their form slump and an opposition that is slowly building. With everything that has happened in and around Brookvale this season, it is easy to forget that hiding inside Manly somewhere is a very, very good football team. Sunday may be the first time the Sea Eagles really show it.

Form* Team Last week NRL ladder position Sequence
1 Newcastle 2 2 W-L-W-W-W
2 Cowboys 5 9 W-W-L-W-W
3 Bulldogs 1 1 W-W-W-W-L
4 Melbourne 3 5 L-D-W-W-W
5 Penrith 4 7 L-L-W-W-W
6 Manly 6 12 W-L-L-W-W
7 Dragons 7 3 L-W-W-L-W
8 Brisbane 9 4 W-W-L-L-W
9 Rabbitohs 11 6 L-L-W-L-W
10 Tigers 10 10 L-W-W-L-L
11 Titans 8 8 W-L-W-L-L
12 Warriors 13 11 L-W-D-L-L
13 Parramatta 14 13 L-L-L-W-L
14 Roosters 15 15 L-L-W-L-L
15 Canberra 12 14 W-L-L-L-L
16 Cronulla 16 16 L-L-L-L-L

*Form over the past five games

Crikey’s Hot Form Tips for round 11 are:

  • Broncos
  • Rabbitohs
  • Bulldogs
  • Panthers
  • Dragons
  • Warriors
  • Manly
  • Cowboys

Last week: 6 (Season total: 48)

Crikey’s AFL Hot Form Chart

On the face of it, Crikey‘s AFL Hot Form Chart has a clear match of the round this weekend. The Saints and Lions sit right next to each other on the chart and have impressive form going into Sunday’s clash. But looks, they can be deceiving.

St Kilda has three games on the next best teams in the competition (with one notable exception) and that gap will become apparent when an injury-riddled Brisbane makes the trip to Docklands — a venue St Kilda has not lost at in 11 games.

In a similar vein, tonight’s match pits second and third against each other but few will give the Bulldogs much of a show. In reality, Jason Akermanis has more of a chance of being invited to the Brisbane Lions flood relief fundraiser than his team does of knocking off the Geelong juggernaut.

But that’s where the no brainers end. Sure the Hawks should beat Melbourne but the premiers are still far from the mob that went around last year, and the improved Demons are no longer a bye. Collingwood are suddenly uncompetitive (but don’t tell Mick Malthouse) and will struggle in the west.

Carlton would be favoured to beat Adelaide at home, except are away, except the Crows have yet to win a home game in 2009. And Port have the talent to get over Sydney, except are away too, except the Swans almost got done by West Coast in Sydney last week. Fremantle are actually better than North Melbourne, except … well, the normal rules don’t apply to Freo. To tip this game flip a coin, or cast bones, or pull apart a chicken. And then do the opposite of what the soothsaying tells you.

And how will the week that has been affect Richmond? It is easy to forget in all the turmoil that the Tigers were 90 seconds away from pulling off a stunning comeback against Port Adelaide last week. The Bombers were brave, and occasionally brilliant, against the Saints and must now repeat that form against a team with several points to prove.

Form* Team Last week AFL ladder position Sequence
1 Geelong 1 2 W-W-W-W-W
2 St Kilda 2 1 W-W-W-W-W
3 Brisbane 4 5 L-L-W-W-W
4 Hawthorn 6 7 L-W-W-L-W
5 Port Adelaide 7 4 W-L-W-L-W
6 Sydney 11 9 W-L-W-L-W
7 Fremantle 3 14 L-W-W-W-L
8 Bulldogs 10 3 L-L-L-W-W
9 Carlton 14 6 L-W-L-L-W
10 Essendon 5 8 L-W-L-W-L
11 West Coast 8 10 W-L-L-W-L
12 North Melbourne 9 13 W-L-L-W-L
13 Collingwood 12 11 W-L-W-L-L
14 Adelaide 13 12 L-W-L-L-L
15 Richmond 15 15 L-W-L-L-L
16 Melbourne 16 16 W-L-L-L-L

*Form over the past five games

Crikey’s Hot Form Tips for round nine are:

  • Geelong
  • Fremantle
  • Carlton
  • West Coast
  • Essendon
  • Port Adelaide
  • St Kilda
  • Hawthorn

Last week: 7 (Season total: 37)