Crikey’s NRL Hot Form Chart

It’s a bit annoying really. While Crikey’s Hot Form Charts love State of Origin as much as the next insightful, thought-provoking and humorous footy column, the disruption to the season gets a bit tedious.

Again, we have only five matches this weekend, and with the competition’s best backing up or missing due to representative commitments, tipping aint the monty it usually is.

The Dragons for instance have the hitherto unlikely chance of taking out both grand finalists in consecutive weeks. Manly, though, are not nearly as hard hit as Melbourne were last week, and we are expecting the Form Chart’s #1 to stay on top.

The Storm themselves are away again but this time to Souths, the most disappointing team of recent times … which is saying something.

There’s no prizes for guessing at whom Scott Prince will be directing the Titans attack when they play the Tigers this week. Oh, OK, we’ll put up a tea-towel or something. Send your entries to: theanswerisbenjimarshall@crikey.com.au

The Sharks and Roosters are re-emerging at the happy end of the Hot Form Chart and we’re tipping both to continue the charge with wins this weekend.

While it’s no stretch to tip against the Bulldogs, going against the Warriors at home may raise some eyebrows.

But that’s Crikey’s Hot Form Charts – we’re not just insightful, thought provoking and humorous, we’re ballsy too.

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

Crikey’s Hot Form Tips for Round 11 are:

  • Manly
  • Melbourne
  • Titans
  • Roosters
  • Cronulla

Last week: 6
Season: 42

Crikey’s AFL Hot Form Chart

Hard though it is to believe, we are eight weeks into the season and three teams remain undefeated. This says something about the form of Geelong, Hawthorn and the Dogs, and something about the state of the competition.

It also says something about the AFL’s draw which is surely the worst ever devised.

This week, footy lovers get the special treat of seeing Hawthorn thump Melbourne for the second time this season. The Hawks don’t run into the Cats until round 17, after playing the Bullies the week before. The Hawks-Dogs’ first (and only) match this season will take place in round 10.

Hawthorn and Carlton also play each other only once this season … in round 22.

Who in God’s name perused this schedule and thought it all looked tickety-boo? Everything, Albert Einstein once said, should be made as simple as possible. But the simple elegance of playing each team once before moving on to the lucky dip part of the draw seems lost on the powers that be.

The Hot Form Chart doesn’t see too much to trouble the three runaway leaders this weekend, although the Roos will keep Rocket Eade’s Bulldogs honest.

The Lions, a team on the up, host the Saints, a team on the down, and will show why pre-season predictions of St Kilda’s premiership viability were so ridiculous.

Richmond finally cops a break — it plays Essendon — and while the Hot Form Chart appauds their efforts in losing causes last week, it still can’t plump for wither of our friends from the West.

Crikey’s match of the round is certainly the Port-Sydney clash. Both teams have a bit in common too, with key personnel missing and both battling indifferent form. Last year’s runners-up almost had Hawthorn shot last week but another loss at home would put a big gap between it and the top four.

The Swans have an extra win and a half but their victories column (despite including the Power themselves) is a bit of a yawn really. So it’s the Teal Warriors to even the ledger.

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

Crikey’s Hot Form Tips for round nine:

  • Geelong
  • Carlton
  • Port Adelaide
  • Richmond
  • Adelaide
  • Brisbane
  • Hawthorn
  • Bulldogs

Last week: 7
Season: 47