On the eve of the 2019 H&A season the March Power Rankings are influenced by the current injury list at each team, there are a couple of significant downgrades this month.
1. RICHMOND
Previous Rank: 2 ⬆
2018 H&A Ladder Finish: 1
Round 1: vs Carlton (MCG)
Richmond will begin the 2019 H&A season with one of the healthier lists in the AFL, star recruit Tom Lynch will provide a different look up forward for the Tigers which could improve on the 97.9pts per game in the 2018 H&A season.
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2. WEST COAST
Previous Rank: 1 ⬇
2018 H&A Ladder Finish: 2
Round 1: vs Brisbane (Gabba)
West Coast will open their 2019 campaign in a relatively healthy position, Andrew Gaff remains suspended while Nic Naitanui could return prior to the halfway point in the season.
3. ADELAIDE
Previous Rank: 3 ↔
2018 H&A Ladder Finish: 12
Round 1: vs Hawthorn (Adelaide Oval)
Adelaide remain in the Top 4 for the March Power Rankings , the Crows are boasting a healthy list and have a favourable opening 9 games of the 2019 H&A season.
4. COLLINGWOOD
Previous Rank: 4 ↔
2018 H&A Ladder Finish: 3
Round 1: vs Geelong (MCG)
Collingwood do have plenty of depth to cover the current injury concerns, the Magpies should be able to take advantage of centre clearances with a strong midfield in ’19.
2019 Injury Report: Round 1
5. MELBOURNE
Previous Rank: 5 ↔
2018 H&A Ladder Finish: 5
Round 1: vs Port Adelaide (MCG)
Melbourne do have some injury concerns heading into their opening game against Port Adelaide, Steven May is also suspended for Round 1.
6. GWS GIANTS
Previous Rank: 7 ⬆
2018 H&A Ladder Finish: 7
Round 1: vs Essendon (Spotless Stadium)
Apart from a few key injuries GWS will start the 2019 season in good shape & with good depth on their list, Shane Mumford won’t be available until Round 3 due to a club suspension.
7. GEELONG
Previous Rank: 8 ⬆
2018 H&A Ladder Finish: 8
Round 1: vs Collingwood (MCG)
Geelong are also in a good position to start the 2019 H&A season, the Cats have no significant long term injuries.
8. ESSENDON
Previous Rank: 6 ⬇
2018 H&A Ladder Finish: 11
Round 1: vs GWS Giants (Spotless Stadium)
Key Essendon players have encountered an interrupted pre-season, Joe Daniher the latest to be ruled out for up to 6 weeks.
Injury Update: Joe Daniher
9. SYDNEY
Previous Rank: 9 ↔
2018 H&A Ladder Finish: 6
Round 1: vs Western Bulldogs (Marvel Stadium)
Sydney will await the availability of Lance Franklin for Round 1 with Dan Menzel set to miss the season opener, the Swans averaged 82.8pts FOR in the 2018 H&A season (Rank 12).
10. BRISBANE
Previous Rank: 10 ↔
2018 H&A Ladder Finish: 15
Round 1: vs West Coast (Gabba)
After a solid JLT Series Brisbane are set to be highly competitive this season, defensively the Lions should improve in 2019.
11. HAWTHORN
Previous Rank: 12 ⬆
2018 H&A Ladder Finish: 4
Round 1: vs Adelaide (Adelaide Oval)
The loss of Tom Mitchell is no doubt a big loss for the Hawks, expect a few emerging midfield players this season.
12. NTH MELBOURNE
Previous Rank: 13 ⬆
2018 H&A Ladder Finish: 9
Round 1: vs Fremantle (Optus Stadium)
The Kangaroos haven’t had a healthy pre-season, their depth will be tested in early games of the H&A season.
13. FREMANTLE
Previous Rank: 11 ⬇
2018 H&A Ladder Finish: 14
Round 1: vs Nth Melbourne (Optus Stadium)
Fremantle will start the 2019 season with a troubling injury list, nearly a third of the list is currently mentioned as injured or a test for Round 1.
14. WESTERN BULLDOGS
Previous Rank: 14 ↔
2018 H&A Ladder Finish: 13
Round 1: vs Sydney (Marvel Stadium)
Structurally the Bulldogs are a concern in 2019, injuries again have hit hard with Dale Morris the latest with an ACL.
Injury Update: Dale Morris
15. PORT ADELAIDE
Previous Rank: 15 ↔
2018 H&A Ladder Finish: 11
Round 1: vs Melbourne (MCG)
Port Adelaide are in a mini reset this season, up to 4 players could make an AFL debut in Round 1 for the Power.
16. ST KILDA
Previous Rank: 16 ↔
2018 H&A Ladder Finish: 16
Round 1: vs Gold Coast (Marvel Stadium)
The Saints pre-season woes went from bad to worse over the last month, Dylan Roberton will sit out 2019 with a heart irregularity while Jake Carlisle will miss most of the season after undergoing back surgery.
Paddy McCartin has been sidelined with another concussion, St Kilda had to utilise the SSP signing Jonathon Marsh & Sam Rowe.
17. CARLTON
Previous Rank: 17 ↔
2018 H&A Ladder Finish: 18
Round 1: vs Richmond (MCG)
The rebuild at Carlton is near completion, 2019 will still be a year of development.
18. GOLD COAST
Previous Rank: 18 ⬌
2018 H&A Ladder Finish: 17
Round 1: vs St Kilda (Marvel Stadium)
Gold Coast have been hit hard by injuries, it’s not an ideal way to start the 2019 season with already thin depth.
Bet Lab: Round 1 Markets
