Another week, another set of questions to be answered. The Brisbane Lions showed that they probably were a flash in the pan with their good start, but things have started to unravel now. The Dockers are now proving that they can win anywhere and are performing well. The Saints dropped a game they were expected to win and what we learnt was how to beat them, the commentators on the night pretty much telling Ross Lyon he needed to change his game plan or fail again in 2010. My advice, if Zac Dawson is moved forward, the game is over.
The Pies showed their class and belted the Argentina Roos and the Cats showed why you don’t count them out of the race. The formerly confident Swans were given a hiding which almost proved to all of us that they had not beaten much in the past 5 weeks. The Demons had another close one escape their hands and the Doggies just pulled a great Kevin Sheedy move with Lake going forward and nabbing a goal. In the games that no one really cared what happened, the Weagles won as did the Crows and Port.
Rankings Shaper Game of the Week: Fremantle vs. Collingwood
Fremantle and Collingwood play off for top spot.
Hard to pick a rankings shaper this week, so many even contests but I’ve gone for the obvious one, 1 v 2. Who would have thought this would be the top of the ladder clash? The Pies need this as they embark on a tough 4 weeks, while Fremantle have it fairly easy and would need to like to take their streak to 4 games. I’d say whoever wins this game will rise up the rankings.
On The Up: Many teams this week.
Falling From Grace: Brisbane (-2) (Combined -4 over 2 weeks)
Team of the Week: Fremantle: It was a toss-up between Geelong and Freo and what tipped it in the Dockers favour was that they travelled to the furthest part of the country and came away with a win. While it was close, it was the fact that the Lions bolted out of the gates with 4 goals to 1 but Freo pegged them back and held out a fast finishing Brisbane. Geelong on the other hand was expected to win at home and did, they outclassed the Swans but like Collingwood, they did what they had to do.
Rank
LW – TW – Diff Team Attack – Avg – Rank Defence – Avg – Rank
| 2 | 1 | 1 | Collingwood | 115.9 | 2 | 79.1 | 4 |
Okay, I may have drunk the cool aid, seduced by the Pies style in beating by 10 goals 4 teams that were hoping to have good years, but all you can do is beat the team that is put in front of you. Other teams are faltering or letting games slip that they should win and therefore don’t deserve the number 1 tag. Having also consulting the media commentators, who’ve all been very impressed (except for 1 bitter Age journo) are truly running other teams off their feet.
Next 4: Freo(A), Geel, Bris(away), WB. Expectations are high but the run is tough, still looking at 8-3 record. |
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| 3 | 2 | 1 | Geelong | 122.4 | 1 | 84.3 | 6 |
With the Saints faltering slightly, the Cats have steadied to move up the rankings. Again, beating the teams that are put in front of them, firstly the Tigers and then the Swans felt the full force of the Cats playing at their beloved home ground. With the best attack and a solid defence, the Cats can be expected to hold on to a top 4 spot.
Next 4: Bris(A), Coll, Melb, WCE (A). Fairly soft run, only test will be Collingwood, big chance to win all 4. |
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| 1 | 3 | -2 | St. Kilda | 82.4 | 13 | 70.0 | 1 |
Saints have started to unravel. With the lack of a potent forward line (13th best) they are highly dependant on the back 6. They were found out by a hard running Blues outfit blowing away their much taller opponents. It’s possible that the Saints underestimated the Blues but I suggest that they didn’t pick a team to curb the dangerous amigos. Do they have guys to defend such a fleet footed forward line? They now need to adjust to the opposition instead of only sticking to plan A.
Next 4: Ess, WCE(a), Adel, Rich. Easy run, will gather steam against this bottom 4 lot. |
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| 5 | 4 | 1 | Fremantle | 112.1 | 3 | 86.1 | 7 |
Fremantle jumps up a spot after performing well in Brisbane and proving that they are coping with travel this year much better than they have for the last ??? Years (probably since forever). Held off the fast finishing lions to set up a top of the ladder clash with the Pies.
Next 4: Coll, Syd(away), NM, Adel (A). May pick up 4 wins here and consolidate top spot. Who’d a thunk it? |
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| 6 | 5 | 1 | Western Bulldogs | 89.9 | 7 | 78.4 | 2 |
The bulldogs escaped with a win on a soaking wet Friday night. Some dubious goal umpiring decisions helped them along the way and I guess you might argue why have the gone up in the rankings, well it’s more to do with the Swans going down. The Bulldogs probably should have lost but they found a way (via Brian Lake) to get over the line.
Next 4: Syd(neutral), NM, Ess, Coll. Challenges ahead but they should break even or go 1 better. 7-4. |
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| 4 | 6 | -2 | Sydney | 99.7 | 5 | 80.4 | 5 |
Sydney took a belting this week which showed how vulnerable they are against a top team. Up til now, they’ve played against the bottom dwellers and beaten them soundly, but in their second true test they came up well short of the mark.
Next 4: WB(neutral), Fre, Haw(away), ESS. 2 wins/2 losses coming up. 7-4 |
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| 8 | 7 | 1 | Port Adelaide | 84.3 | 10 | 94.1 | 10 |
Port are coming of a fairly lucky but well fought out win. While Essendon faded, Port just kept on coming. With the loss of Tredrea, will Port find a way to goals without theformer captain? He may not have been brilliant, but he’s a dangerous forward that needed coverage.
Next 4: Carl, Melb(neutral), Rich, Haw (A). All winnable but likely to drop a couple to sit at 8-3. |
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| 9 | 8 | 1 | Carlton | 103.0 | 4 | 87.4 | 8 |
Carlton are showing the fans that they can score big without Fev. The excitement generated by the three amigos is really getting the faithful up and about. After making the finals last year, they can see that there will be more around the corner. A relatively soft run over the next 5 weeks will help the cause.
Next 4: PA(a), Haw, WCE, Melb. Could win all 4 and cement a top 8 spot by round 11. 7-4 |
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| 7 | 9 | -2 | Brisbane | 95.7 | 6 | 93.3 | 9 |
The Lions graph is pointing down. The problem doesn’t seem to be how the twin towers can play together, the suppliers are just not getting it upfield. Voss won’t want this trend to continue and they need to make a statement, unfortunately they play the Cats but what better team to make a statement against.
Next 4: Geel, Adel(a), Coll, NM (A). Not a great run, break even will see them at 6-5. |
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| 11 | 10 | 1 | Melbourne | 83.3 | 11 | 78.4 | 3 |
Lot to like about the Demons, the youngsters are proving that they can match it against most teams, falling short by less than a goal again, some would argue they were robbed, but they essentially let the last 5 minutes slip and bang the game was lost. Great effort though.
Next 4: WCE, PA(neutral), Geel, Carl. Playing well but may start to fatigue. Have to play well to get to 5-6. |
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| 10 | 11 | -1 | North Melbourne | 82.0 | 14 | 105.0 | 15 |
Well and truly beaten by the Pies, North couldn’t live up to the form they showed against the Demons in round 6. They were run off their feet and some injuries during the game played havoc with their rotations. This is pretty much where they belong though, not a true finals contender until they find some consistent form week to week.
Next 4: Ade, WB, Fre(away), Bris. Not much joy coming up, 4-7. |
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| 12 | 12 | 0 | Essendon | 86.1 | 8 | 100.9 | 13 |
Bomber supporters immediately go for the coach. Bring back Sheedy, get Hirdy in they, we want a true Bomber to be coach. Problem is, they still don’t have much cattle to get them up where they would like to be. The drought is set to continue and with the CEO basically saying that “We made the finals last year, the coach and footy department will be measured against that” it could almost be time to say good-bye to Knighter.
Next 4: St.K, Rich, WB, Syd (A). Tough run except for the dream-time game, 3-8. |
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| 13 | 13 | 0 | West Coast | 85.4 | 8 | 102.4 | 14 |
It seems the bottom 5 or 6 teams are going to play for 11th spot. The Eagles are a mystery to us here on the east coast. Other than Josh “forever remembered in the deal for Judd” Kennedy, the easgles are playing for pride and next seasons contracts. They played weel against the Hawks but, in the end, it was just the Hawks.
Next 4: Melb(A), St.K, Carl(A), Geel. Melbourne might be the only chance from this quartet, but… 2-9. |
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| 14 | 14 | 0 | Hawthorn | 82.6 | 12 | 96.3 | 12 |
Hawthorn are struggling, not ruckman, one power forward down and so many 2nd rung players who have not taken the next step. There was a major cull last week but still no result. Dermie was pleased with what he saw after naming names the week before, but the tide ain’t turning yet. Other than Richmond next week, it’s hard to see where the streak of wins will come.
Next 4: Rich, Carl, Syd, Port. May beat Richmond, the rest are gimmes (at this stage), 2-9 at best. |
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| 15 | 15 | 0 | Adelaide | 69.0 | 15 | 95.4 | 11 |
A WIN!!! Finally, the team that Garry Lyon tipped to win the flag has finally won…. A game. It’s hard to decypher how the Tigers lost by so much in such a short amount of time. 15 more minutes of pressure and they could have signed the end of Neil Craigs stint as coach, but alas they stopped and the Crows just saunted away with the game.
Next 4: NM(A), Bris, St.K(A), Fre. Unless there is new belief in Crow town they won’t win any of these, 1-10. |
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| 16 | 16 | 0 | Richmond | 60.9 | 16 | 123.0 | 16 |
Golden opportunity went begging as the Tiger left the ground early to catch an early flight home. They’d be disappointed but they do know that they need to keep the pressure on for 120 minutes if they are to win. Special mention to Jack Reiwoldt, that mark was fantastic.
Next 4: Haw, Ess, PA(A), St K. Virtually no chance of winning a game. 0-11. (only the numbers will change). |
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May 13th, 2010 at 10:08 pm
Eagles form is a mystery to the East Coast? They are even a mystery to us fans, we played exciting footy in the last 5-6 games last year yet this year they look rubbish. Have they gone backwards???
Still surprised to see the saints above Freo. The Saints have been playing badly for the last 3 weeks yet Freo have not put a foot wrong all year.
Apart from that I cannot really argue too much with your power ranking…
May 14th, 2010 at 5:42 am
I think that Freo need to take another big scalp to break into the top 3. saints have a really soft run coming up so they will have the opportunity to hold their ranking.
May 14th, 2010 at 10:20 am
Aren’t you being a bit harsh on Carlton? Thrash both last years Grand Finalists (ranked 2 and 3) and they only get ranked at 8?
Do you think the 8 will change before then end of the season. Unless Bris improve, I can’t see it changing much, just the order.
May 14th, 2010 at 10:43 am
@Bob, Yep I’m harsh on Carlton only because when you look at their best and worst results, there is a massive gap between them. I counter your 2 wins versus the grand finalist with a loss to Essendon and belted by Collingwood.
If I gave Carlton a higher ranking, then where do I go after this week? I know they have a soft draw coming up and if they win them all, they climb. If they only win half, then it will be status quo. If they lost this week at Port, then I still think 8th is about right.
May 14th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
A top four side does not play great one week (defeated Geelong), crap the next (lost to Collingwood by 50+ points) and then great the week after (smashing ST Kilda)…