here are just six rounds left in the home and away part of the 2010 AFL season. Collingwood sit on top of the ladder and deserve to be there. They are playing great football as testament by their win over St Kilda. It has been a while since neither Geelong or St Kilda are on top of the ladder.
These two are both behind Collingwood with 12 wins and then there is Fremantle on 11 wins. It is hard to see anyone other than these four teams winning the premiership. Everyone else is just too inconsistent. In recent years the Bulldogs have been up there and they are again this year with 10 wins to date which puts them in fifth spot.
The Sydney Swans have rebounded from their embarrassing loss to Richmond with two wins on the trot against North Melbourne and Carlton respectively. They have nine wins as do Hawthorn.
Then you have Carlton and North who are both on eight wins. You would be hard pressed to find a bookmaker who thinks either of these sides is a genuine premiership contender.
Essendon are a bit of a rabble at the moment. Their season has descended into a farce and it remains to be seen if coach Matthew Knights will see out the season. Melbourne would feel happy with five wins although it can only be so long until they have such low expectations.
Brisbane and Port are also on five wins. Mark Williams has left Port Adelaide because of this. It was only at the beginning of the decade that Port Adelaide were the most powerful side in the competition. They eventually won their deserved flag in 2004 but could have won more.
Richmond and West Coast are also mired down the bottom of the ladder. For the West Coast it is also hard to remember how good they were but when you see Chris Judd and Ben Cousins running around playing for different teams you are reminded of it.
Richmond have done well to win five games but again there is only so long that can have such low expectations for.
In terms of Round 17 there are some interesting games. St Kilda take on Hawthorn which could go either way although you would have to say St Kilda are favorites. The match between the Bulldogs and Dockers should be a fiercely contested one and it will be a good test for Fremantle. Then there is the Adelaide showdown which is always an entertaining game.
Darren Albert writes for this blog. He also writes about live betting.
