'Fair bit of a gap': Matthew Lloyd narrows AFL premiership race after four rounds

Matthew Lloyd has named the four clubs he has leading the race for the premiership after four rounds of footy, leaving out the fast-starting Adelaide and Gold Coast.

The in-form Suns sit undefeated after three games with a percentage of 172, but Lloyd is yet to be fully convinced.

He has also left veteran sides in Collingwood and Geelong out of the mix.

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"I don't think the Suns are ready, but Hawthorn, Brisbane, GWS and the Swans are my four," he said on 3AW Radio.

"And the Cats are always a danger, but they would need to play a lot better.

"Brisbane are just doing it with ease at the moment, they're just doing what they have to to win games of football. I think Hawthorn are outstanding to watch.

"The good sides are strong. It's always nice when you have nine or 10 teams fighting it out right until the end, but I think there's a fair bit of a gap.

"I don't think there are many strong sides in the competition. I know it's only round four, but I think we're down to 11 already. 12th to 18th look like they're in serious trouble.

"On the weekend it was pretty predictable how the games were going to pan out and there were some absolute beltings. North Melbourne were awful, the Eagles too.

"I don't know if the Eagles have hit rock bottom yet. If Harley Reid and Oscar Allen leave at the end of the year, that is really rock bottom for them."

Reid and Allen have both been linked with moves out of the Eagles. Both are out of contract and have big calls to make.