In review: Brisbane, Fremantle, Western Bulldogs

Elo ratings can tell a lot about the quality of a team, much more than a win/loss/draw ratio can. Teams that have lost a significant rating over the course of 2018 are not improving, and an argument could be made that they have taken steps backwards.

Brisbane

Brisbane finish 2018 with a net gain of 64 rating points. Brisbane are the only team in the bottom six to have a gain over the 2018 season. This is great news if you are a Brisbane supporter! A positive rating change shows that the team is improving. That being said, they finish the season with a rating of 1387, so still a lot of room for improvement. Their biggest gain was against Hawthorn in round 9. Their biggest loss was only 15 rating points, which was against North Melbourne in round 11.

Fremantle

Fremantle finished the season with a rating of 1312, and a loss of 34 rating points. Their rating got as high as 1416 in round 8, so their second part of the year hasn't been as good. Their biggest gain was 42 rating points vs Western Bulldogs in round 5. Their biggest loss was 52 rating points in round 15 vs Brisbane.

Western Bulldogs

Their flag performance was well and truly a rags to riches story. Maybe the competition was caught off guard with the introduction of the bye round, maybe the Bulldogs just got lucky, maybe Sydney choked. Whatever the case, The Bulldogs went into the 2017 Grand Final with a rating of just 1582. Since the national competition started in 1990, only six teams (including the Bulldogs) have won a flag with a rating of less than 1700. The Bulldogs lost 116 rating points this year finish the year with a rating of 1383. To be fair, their last four weeks have been better (they had a rating of 1333 after round 19). Their biggest rating points gain was in round 21 vs St Kilda. Their biggest loss was in round 5 vs Fremantle.