Crikey’s NRL Hot Form Chart

For three years Melbourne has swayed atop the NRL tree, but just as it seems the branches underneath it are cracking along comes a Finch. Theoretically the Storm’s new recruit will shake up their currently predictable game-plan but it may just be that Melbourne has already fallen from the perch.

There is steam back in the Sea Eagles’ engine but a loss to the impressive Rabbitohs — a far from implausible scenario — would see them drop three games away from the top four, and four away from the top two which is where future premiers tend to find themselves; a spot the Bulldogs should be aiming for after their super start to the season. They should further erase the handicap of lost premiership points with a win over a battling, and broke, Parramatta.

Tonight should make Queenslanders jolly with Brisbane and the Titans favoured, but a maroon trifecta is unlikely. Sure, the Cowboys only play Cronulla but they are interstate … even if it is South Australia. Of course, we’re all hoping for a North Queensland win just to see what new witticism Sharks’ coach Ricky Stuart will throw referee Ashley Klein’s way.

Hot Form leaders St George will make it five in a row over Newcastle and New Zealand, despite little to recommend it of recent times (the rugby league team, not the country) will pop the champers cork for the first time in four weeks at the Roosters’ expense.

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

*Form over the past five games

Crikey’s Hot Form Tips for round six are:

  • Brisbane
  • Titans
  • Dragons
  • Manly
  • Bulldogs
  • Cronulla
  • Warriors
  • Melbourne

Last week: 7 (Season total: 26)

Crikey’s AFL Hot Form Chart

In the absence of off-field misogyny and violence, the footy world has this week trained its cross-hairs on Terry Wallace. Should Richmond be upset by Melbourne on Sunday, the trigger will be pulled.

But Wallace is not the only one under pressure. Fremantle is winless and face the St Kilda ant army at Docklands. West Coast has Subi at its disposal but the Bulldogs are more at home their than in Melbourne. A poor showing from either club will see speculation rise. And don’t forget Collingwood, who despite pre-season chatter about premierships, could well be 1-3 in less than eight hours’ time.

The Blues’ arrival was delayed by Essendon last week, an unfashionable mob that boast a good recent record over Carlton. So it’s déjà vu all over again in Sydney on Saturday; the Swans have won their last 11 against Carlton, a run that surely must end soon.

Don’t worry about Hawthorn — they’ll fix up Port, a team that play like a talented teenager with an attitude problem. And Geelong will keep the Hot Form top spot but it will be hard work against the Crows in Adelaide, the place where “indefinite” actually means “one week”.

And the Hot Form chart says the Bombers will hand North Melbourne its third defeat in a row on Sunday. With the way the Kangaroos have gone about it recently, who are we to argue?

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

*Form over the past five games

Crikey’s Hot Form Tips for round four are:

  • Brisbane
  • Carlton
  • Hawthorn
  • St Kilda
  • Geelong
  • Essendon
  • Richmond
  • Bulldogs

Last week: 5 (Season total: 15)