Finally, the best teams at the top in AFL

For the first time this season, the best credentialed teams in the competition have made their way into Crikey’s Hot Form Chart top four for AFL, writes Crikey's resident footy nerd.

Crikey’s NRL Hot Form Chart

Paul Gallen; Cronulla captain, NSW and Australian representative; a man more sinned against than sinning. Gallen is contesting a $10,000 fine for allegedly calling Mickey Paea a “black c—“. Gallen says he called Paea a “f—ing c—“. Perhaps a man whose club is mired in 10 different kinds of excrement should refrain from calling anyone a c— …

This week, the Sharks (minus said inspirational leader) take on Parramatta, a mob playing on the anatomically advanced level of “busted arses”. Join the dots and you will see a picture of the Eels winning.

The round kicks off tonight with Crikey’s number one and number three teams going up against each other in the undoubted match of the weekend. Penrith are in ripping form but will miss their origin stars against one of the most even teams in the competition. The Dragons by a nose.

With a little more luck, the Bulldogs would be two games clear on the NRL ladder but despite their form they are only giving up one player for representative duty this weekend. That makes the Dogs good things against Newcastle, especially with the Knights showing signs of a dip last week.

Canberra got back on the winner’s list last weekend but will find the Bunnies at home a much tougher proposition than New Zealand. The floor has fallen in under the Warriors and they make little appeal against Wests, even with Mt Smart’s sizable home ground advantage.

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

Dragons
Parramatta
Bulldogs
Tigers
Rabbitohs

Last week: 6 (Season total: 54)

Crikey’s AFL Hot Form Chart

For the first time this season, the best credentialed teams in the competition have made their way into Crikey’s Hot Form Chart top four. Staying there, of course, is another matter.

The Bulldogs were just a sharp banana away from toppling Geelong last week, and again have a mountain to climb when they face Sydney in Canberra. The Swans showed they are far from a spent force against Port but must overcome an opposition that has had their measure in recent outings.

Hawthorn travel to Adelaide and will find out whether the Crows have truly rediscovered their mojo. For all their first-half bravado against Melbourne, the Hawks still conceded almost 100 points and looked vulnerable to quick ball movement, a tactic Neil Craig is trying (without too much success) to institute at Adelaide.

But it is Geelong’s match that shapes as this week’s corker. Essendon has added belief and consistency to flair and now present as a danger team even to the very best. The Cats’ lack of a plan B was exposed last week and if the Bombers can heap on the pressure with their run-and-carry style, the pot may start bubbling even if it doesn’t boilover.

The Saints, one fancies, are a little jaded but a trip to the sodden Gold Coast to play Melbourne should pick them up. Form says the Lions are monties to topple North, but Brisbane should beware a let-down after running St Kilda so close last week.

And so to football’s quandaries: Fremantle and Port Adelaide. What can you do, eh? Certainly not tip them … unless, of course, the opposition happens to be Richmond.

And tonight, round nine’s most disappointing teams front up to each other. Carlton is slowly coming out of its delusion of being a top-four team. The Blues may wake up just in time to play the kind of basic football that is beyond West Coast’s meagre capabilities.

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	Hawthorn	4	7	W-W-L-W-W
4	Bulldogs	8	3	L-L-W-W-W
5	Essendon	10	4	W-L-W-L-W
6	Sydney	6	5	L-W-L-W-W
7	Brisbane	3	6	L-W-W-W-L
8	Fremantle	7	14	W-W-W-L-L
9	North Melbourne	12	12	L-L-W-L-W
10	Collingwood	13	10	L-W-L-L-W
11	Adelaide	14	11	W-L-L-L-W
12	Port Adelaide	5	8	L-W-L-W-L
13	Carlton	9	9	W-L-L-W-L
14	West Coast	11	13	L-L-W-L-L
15	Richmond	15	15	W-L-L-L-L
16	Melbourne	16	16	L-L-L-L-L