Thank Tony, who will be taking over the Power Rankings for us due to Deano having a break for the time been. Thank you Deano and Tony for your input!
Well it’s round 6 and we are starting to see patterns emerge. The strong teams are gravitating to the top, the weaker the other way and a log jam of also rans in the middle. Chances are, the ladder won’t shift around too much but a couple of key games loom in the next few rounds which will almost certainly settle the top from the bottom.
Melbourne are the big movers in this Power Ranking from Wooden spoon favourite to just being outside the top 8
Rankings Shaper Game of the Week: Brisbane Vs Fremantle
I think this game will tell us a lot about the Dockers. It’s the typical away game that they are renowned for losing. After working their way to victory in the derby, the Dockers probably held back in the first half but stepped it up in the second. The Lions lost their second in a row and are in danger of losing touch with the top 4 spots and end up in the scrum for 5th to 11th.
On The Up: Melbourne (+4)
Falling From Grace: Hawthorn (-4)
Team of the Week: Collingwood: Gave Carlton a football lesson. Quite a few cocky Carlton supporters were starting to strut again after the win against Geelong, but it counted for nothing, the Pies extending the game margin from 3 points late in the 3rd quarter to 53 points at the end of the game.
PS: Scrappy/crappy footy will not win favours with me so no matter what St Kilda do, I won’t be impressed.
Rank – (LW) – Diff Team Record Attack – Rank – Average Defence – Rank – Average
| 1.(1) - | St.Kilda | 5-1 | Offence (9th): 84.8 | Defence (1st): 60.2 |
| Well what can you say about the Saints, they just keep finding a way to win. If this happened, if that happened in the last 10 minutes of that game, they would have lost. But, that wasn’t to be. In a game some called ugly and boring and unattractive (me included), the Saints pressure finally broke the Bulldogs and the 4 points went to Moorabbin. Next 4: Carl, Ess, WCE(away), Adel. Almost certain to be 9-1 but not certain to beat the Blues. | ||||
| 2. (4) +2 | Collingwood | 5-1 | Offence (3rd): 109.0 | Defence (3rd): 77.2 |
| Two big wins over arch rivals has given the Pies confidence and shown that the hiccup against the resurgent Demons was a lapse in concentration and they are switched on and ready to go. Some tough games coming up, capable of winning them all, especially the interstate trips as they have an outstanding record on the round, but likely to drop one or two. Next 4: NM, Freo(away), Geel, Bris(away). May find the interstate trips difficult, Freo on fire and Lions always hard to beat,Looking at 7-3. | ||||
| 3. (2) -1 | Geelong | 4-2 | Offence (1st): 121.8 | Defence (7th): 88.5 |
| Well, they really didn’t beat much on the weekend. All you can do is win, and just keep on piling on the percentage. But it was last week that showed that there are problems at the cattery. Losing to the Blues showed that they really cannot combat the small forwards systems and they did admit that teams like the Blues and the Bulldogs do give them trouble. The drop in the rank is more a result of round 5, not by belting a hapless team like the Tigers. Next 4: Syd, Bris(away), Coll, Melb. Tricky run coming up, may win them all but injuries are starting to affect. 7-3 | ||||
| 4. (6) +2 | Sydney | 5-1 | Offence (4th): 106.5 | Defence (2nd): 72.8 |
| The swans have had what I would call a pretty soft draw up until last week. The Saints were rusty and managed to beat the Swans but since then they have beaten all the lower ranked teams until they faced and disposed of the somewhat (until Melbourne beat them) cocky Lions. Have the chance now to prove that they are a true contender and will need to post some wins over the more fancied sides to truly show that they deserve to be in the top four. Next 4: Geel(away), WB(neutral), Fre, Haw(away). Season defining stretch. 5-5 for mine. | ||||
| 5. (7) +2 | Fremantle | 5-1 | Offence (2nd): 112 | Defence (6th): 83.8 |
| Not sure what they are drinking over thee in Fremantle but whatever it is, it’s really working for them. Most of us were expecting another year of consolidation but Freo have played attractive footy and beaten sides that they should and a great win over the Cats to show that winning in Freo (or Subiaco) for visitors is no gimme this year as well as a sterling performance against the Saints which almost resulted in a shock win away from home. The next 3 weeks will be challenging, but they could win all 4. Next 4: Bris(away), Coll, Syd(away), NM. 7-3 would be a good result. | ||||
| 6. (5) -1 | Western Bulldogs | 3-3 | Offence (7th): 97.3 | Defence (5th): 80.5 |
| Hard loss last week, should have won it and will have to make up for it over the next 4 weeks if they want to keep up with the top teams. They should do it with only Sydney providing the most challenging game. Next 4: Melb, Syd(neutral), NM, Ess. Have a soft run so need to capitalise. 5-1 is a must. 7-3. | ||||
| 7. (5) -2 | Brisbane | 4-2 | Offence (6th): 95 | Defence (8th): 90 |
| Lions are starting to fall away on the road, losing to Melbourne (shocked) and Sydney (expected) they are probably living up to where most people would expect them to be. The early hype is wearing off and no real defence will see them struggle to hold out some potent sides over the next 4 weeks (Adelaide excepted). Next 4: Fre, Geel, Adel(away), Coll. Will struggle to break even and will slump to 5-5. |
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| 8. (8) – | Port Adelaide | 4-2 | Offence (14th): 80.1 | Defence (10th): 92.2 |
| Not exactly sure how Port have managed to be better than 50% at this stage but I guess a win against the Saints against the form line is a help (did Primus bet on Port???). It seems they have had a resurgence on the back of David Rodan’s return and should pick up at least 2 wins if not 4 in the next 4 weeks, all winnable games. Next 4: Ess(away), Carl, Melb(neutral), Rich. All winnable but likely to drop a couple to sit at 6-4. |
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| 9. (9) - | Carlton | 3-3 | Offence (5th): 98.7 | Defence (9th): 90.7 |
| Hard to read the Blues, they come out and beat the Cats convincingly and then played quite well in patches against the Pies but ultimately got smashed by 9 goals. The big Irishman has had a good patch of late and the three amigos are doing quite a bit of damage, but it’s in defence that they are leaking badly. Changes need to be made and it might be time for Henderson and Mclean to make way for a while. Next 4: St.K, PA(away), Haw, WCE. Might win 3 of 4 but more likely to break even 5-5. |
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| 10. (12) +2 | North Melbourne | 3-3 | Offence (13th): 80.5 | Defence (12th): 96.3 |
| A good win over a surging Melbourne team which showed that North’s youngsters are just ahead of the Demons boys as expected, but they don’t have the systems in place to challenge the big boys. The next 4 weeks will show how much they need to improve to be a challenger. Next 4: Coll, Ade, WB, Fre(away). Tough run 4-6 is a good result. |
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| 11. (15) +4 | Melbourne | 3-3 | Offence (8th): 86.7 | Defence (4th): 79.8 |
| A fair but of hysteria about the Demons as they managed to string 3 wins together, the most impressive was against a weakened Lions outfit (J Brown was not fit!) the others were against Tigers and Crows (nuff said). They are improving but are a long way from finals. Next 6: WB, WCE, PA(neutral), Geel. Very likely of being 4-6 with a tough run. |
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| 12. (13) +1 | Essendon | 2-4 | Offence (10th): 82.8 | Defence (13th):99.5 |
| A much needed win against arch rivals Hawthorn will only give the supporters some temporary excitement but ultimately they are rebuilding. Matthew Knights has some sort of plan, based on all out attack, but it comes at a cost and having the 4th worst defence is that cost. Unlikely to figure in the finals which could trigger a change at the top (as intimated by the CEO). Next 4: PA, St.K, Rich, WB. Not going anywhere 2-8. |
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| 13. (11) -2 | West Coast | 1-5 | Offence (11th): 82.7 | Defence (15th): 103.8 |
| Quite a disappointing season but they are rebuilding. Some injuries to key players and youngster Masten won’t help. To be honest, I haven’ seen much of them but what I hear is not good. Next 4: Haw, Melb(away), St.K, Carl(away). No end in sight to the misery 2-8. |
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| 14. (10) -4 | Hawthorn | 1-5 | Offence (12th): 80.7 | Defence (11th): 95.3 |
| Well, the club has been put on notice, DO SOMETHING! I see this on a cheer squad banner on the rare occasion that the Hawks kick a goal. Even they are pleading for someone to step up. It’s fair to say that they are decimated by injuries and going into each game with only half a ruckman (let’s be fair Renouf isn’t that good) put’s the Hawks behind the eight ball. Shoenmakers is no ruck and neither is Roughy (and he was definitely playing injured last week). Next 4: WCE(away), Rich, Carl, Syd. Could be embarrassed by Richmond next week but let’s say not, 3-7 at best. |
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| 15. (14) -1 | Adelaide | 0-6 | Offence (15th): 63.1 | Defence (14th): 102.3 |
| Many of us picked Adelaide to step it up this year but it seems that someone has taken the steps away, Adelaide are G.O.R.N. No defence, no forwards and no one sparking the midfield. Not much else you can say about Adelaide other than they might notch up a win against an even more hapless Tiger outfit. Next 4: Rich, NM(away), Bris, St.K(away). Might score against the tigers but that’s about it.1-9. |
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| 16. (16) - | Richmond | 0-6 | Offence (16th): 62 | Defence (16th): 126.1 |
| I heard the Tigers being compared to Fitzroy in their final year, but I think Fitzroy may have won a game in that year. Tigers are learning/rebuilding/embarking on another 5year plan, so let’s spare a thought for the coach and give them a chance. Next 6: Ade(away), Haw, Ess, PA(away). Virtually no chance of winning a game. 0-10. |
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May 6th, 2010 at 12:32 pm
Thanks Tony for keeping up the work and taking over from Deano who did a great job before in setting this up…
I am still undecided about Melbourne. I know they have won 3 but lets be honest are they really 11th material?
May 6th, 2010 at 1:56 pm
On current form they are well ahead of Tigers, Crows, Hawks and i know you’ll hate this, Eagles.
May 7th, 2010 at 9:17 am
@the_tony, yes yes rub it in…