AFL 2023 Power Rankings: Round Two

One-point wins, massive bags and huge margins, Round Two had it all.

Two weeks of the 2023 AFL season are now in the books with some serious surprises across both rounds. Find out how each team ranks in the Edge of the Crowd's Power Rankings this week.

To see the individual players who starred, check out the Team of the Week.

1. Brisbane (3)

The favourites going into the season the Lions are now back up the top after a key win against the Demons on Friday night. While the Lions struggled after the lights came back on their early work allowed them to dominate Melbourne, especially in the midfield. After being so close for the last five seasons could this finally be the year we see Brisbane get to the top?

Brisbane will be travelling down to Melbourne this week to face the Bulldogs on Thursday night. The Lions come in more fancied than the Dogs who also have plenty to prove.

2. Melbourne (1)

The loss of Max Gawn is a massive reason the Demons have fallen down the rankings, albeit only one spot. The loss to the Lions was unfortunate but playing a big team on the road is never easy. Brody Grundy will have to step up in the ruck now with Gawn out but that shouldn't be too much of an issue. The Demons are still clearly one of the best teams in the competition and will no doubt bounce back.

The Demons now get a long break before hosting the Swans in what should be one of the matches of the round at the MCG on Sunday afternoon. Feels like a 3.20 pm Sunday bounce doesn't do this game justice.

3. Sydney (4)

Currently sitting at the top of the ladder by a long way the Swans have been impressive in their opening matches. Having played two of the worst sides in the competition to start the season hasn't really tested last season's grand finalists. This is certainly a team that will be making the top eight but whether they can compete with the links of Melbourne is yet to be seen.

Sydney now has to take a weekend flight from Sydney out to Tullamarine before playing against the Demons on Sunday afternoon at the MCG.

4. Collingwood (5)

The Pies move up one spot after another impressive win, this time against the Power. The Daicos boys were in full flight kicking four goals and having almost 60 touches between them. Collingwood is putting together a really impressive footy resume and could easily move up the rankings over the next few weeks. Some have even suggested the Pies should be the current premiership favourites.

Friday night is set to be massive at the MCG with Collingwood taking on the Tigers. This match should be a real test for both teams, allowing us to know who are really finals contenders.

5. Geelong (3)

A big drop down the rankings for Geelong who have now lost both of their opening matches. The pressure has started to mount on Chris Scott with the team clearly starting slow, some of this must come down to a later pre-season start and having an older list. Geelong is certainly closer to the end of their premiership window than the start. An eight-point loss against Carlton wasn't all that bad but four points are really required now.

It's the unofficial Gary Ablett Jr cup this weekend with the Cats travelling up to the sunny Gold Coast to take on the 16th-placed Suns.

6. Richmond (6)

Richmond stay in the same place with the strong comeback after dropping their first match of the season. Winning in Adelaide is never easy and yet the Tigers managed to come back well in the final quarter to beat the Crows by 32 points. The Tigers are still somewhat of an unknown quantity with the question around their premiership window certainly in the air.

A massive game this weekend for the Tigers with them coming against the very strong Pies on Friday night at the MCG.

7. Carlton (7)

There is plenty to like about this Carlton side, from Cripps to Walsh to Acres and Saad there is quality throughout. Carlton fans are also certainly up and about for the first time in a long time after a good win against the Cats on Thursday night. Sitting seventh on the ladder feels a little low but the Blues still have plenty to prove.

A more low-key affair for the Blues this weekend as they travel out to Western Sydney to take on the mighty Giants.

8. Fremantle (8)

The Dockers came into this season as an unknown quantity, their fifth-placed finish in 2022 seemed out of place yet they just seemed to perform at the right moments. However, with a list that contains quality players but not being the strongest overall squad we still aren't closer to knowing how good this team could be. Their one-point loss to the Kangaroos at home certainly wasn't the performance of a team that should be in the top eight.

A massive Sunday afternoon game for the Dockers as they take on their hometown rivals, the Eagles. A game the Dockers should win.

9. Port Adelaide (9)

Port Adelaide does seem to be a middling team. They have consistently had problems beating top-eight teams over the last few years and that was the exact same problem once again with them losing to the Pies by the best part of 10 goals. The Port side has plenty of stars including some young rising stars, but can they do it consistently against the best teams? That's yet to be seen.

The Power of course takes on the Crows this week at Adelaide Oval. Port should win this showdown and take a big lead into the overall record which has seen Port win 27 of the 52 matches.

10. St Kilda (12)

Saints fans are up and about this week with the mighty albeit often cellar dweller Saints sitting in second spot. Ross 'The Boss' Lyon chants were also heard over the weekend during and after the 51-point win against the Dogs. The Saints' defence was perfect keeping the Dogs to just five goals while kicking 14 themselves, there is certainly plenty to like about this team.

Prime time for the Saints this week with them hosting Essendon on Saturday night at the MCG.

11. Western Bulldogs (11)

Luke Beveridge is under all kinds of pressure at the moment after having lost another match by a large margin. Beveridge did deliver a premiership but that was six years ago, with controversies about how he deals with the media and plenty of issues within the camp, he will need a turnaround if he wants to continue with the Dogs beyond 2023. A 51-point loss while only kicking five goals is something you would expect from Hawthorn, not a team who considers itself to be a contender.

The Dogs now have a massive Thursday night on their hands as they host the Lions at Marvel Stadium.

12. Essendon (14)

Another team with a new coach that's sitting 2-0 after two weeks. Essendon is an impressive side with plenty of runs and carry through the middle, perhaps the only thing to add is a really strong backman. But their 28-point win over the Gold Coast was an impressive performance, especially considering that there were eight lead changes through the match.

Esseneond goes to prime time this week as they fight for a top-four spot. They play the Saints at the MCG on Saturday at 7:25 pm.

13. Gold Coast (10)

After a poor performance in Round One, the Gold Coast have continued to serve up disappointing results with a 28-point loss to Essendon. The good news is that there was plenty of fight by Stuart Dew's men. They took the lead but just couldn't run out the game in the final quarter. Plenty to like for this side that seems to finally be building a team rather than losing all of its players.

The Suns now play Geelong at home on Sunday afternoon.

14. North Melbourne (16)

Clarkson is certainly building something fun at the Kangaroos. Don't be mistaken they aren't making finals this season or possibly even next season but there are some guns like Harry Sheezel coming. The antics on the sideline by Clarkson were a bit of love it or hate it, but he is certainly bringing together a group that has had plenty of issues in the last decade. Their victory over the Dockers away was certainly a surprise but a welcome one for the faithful.

The battle for Tasmania is what the Kangaroos are faced with next. They play Hawthorn at Launceston this Sunday.

15. GWS Giants (13)

The fall down of the Giants in the last couple of years has been a sad one. However, it's all part of the modern AFL cycle where it's extremely hard for teams to stay up the top forever. Their 19-point loss to the Eagles was simply unimpressive. It's all about the rebuild now.

The Giants will host the very fancied Carlton this weekend with the match starting at 4:35 pm Saturday.

16. Adelaide (15)

Another side in a serious rebuild the Crows will be both happy and disappointed by their performance against the Tigers in round two. They were in the game for a long time even taking the lead at different points. However, they just couldn't quite get the job done against a Tigers outfit that was simply, stronger and faster than them.

The Showdown is the next stop for the Crows in 2023 with them looking to bring the Showdown ledger a little bit closer.

17. West Coast (17)

Despite a big win by the Eagles at home it's hard to move them up the Power Rankings simply due to their list. They struggled with COVID in 2022 and haven't looked close to their pre-COVID form for a long time. A couple more wins will be needed before the Eagles can move up the rankings. Jake Waterman was certainly enjoyable to watch though with his four goals and 16 touches.

West Coast next play the Dockers in the derby.

18. Hawthorn (18)

The side that has wrongly been accused of tanking this week continues to sit at the bottom of the rankings table. Sam Mitchell has plenty to do with this side before they can get move up or even win a game. It should all be worth it though when the Hawks no doubt build a strong list to bounce back to the top. Their 81-point loss to the Swans, their former arch-rivals was certainly not a sign of fast improvement.

A massive game this weekend for the Hawks as they go down to Tasmania to host the Kangaroos.