AFL Power Poll #11
July 1st 2009 06:25
WHO feels like a shake up?
Because that’s exactly what’s happening in this week’s Power Poll.
Carlton can no longer covet a top-four spot after receiving an almighty smacking at the hands of nemesis Essendon last Friday night.
Hawthorn is in the same boat.
Brisbane, pre-season fancy Collingwood and even Adelaide appear the most likely to grab the fourth spot.
Unbeaten clubs Geelong and St Kilda are all but assured of top-four finishes, as are the third-placed Western Bulldogs.
The Magpies’ cushy draw makes them favourites, but a Friday night showdown this week will show exactly how far they have come in their recent winning streak.
I rank the 16 AFL clubs on a weekly basis judged on current ladder position, form, injuries and long-term prospects.
I will display clubs’ pre-season and previous week’s ranking in brackets next to my latest rating and write a brief reason why.
PS: pre-season ranking
LW: last week’s ranking
1. Geelong (PS: 2; LW: 1)
The much-anticipated clash with St Kilda has arrived, but are the Cats ready? Of course they are. Geelong’s iffy form of recent weeks might as well be forgotten once it steps out against the Saints. I’m backing the Cats to defeat their latest challenger, but we all know what happened in last year’s grand final. ‘Frontal pressure’ will only get St Kilda so far – this one will be won in the midfield, where Geelong has no peer.
2. St Kilda (PS: 6; LW: 2)
The Saints embarrassed Richmond ahead of their meeting with the fellow unbeaten Cats. It was not much of a warm-up, but, in reality, nothing is. These two sides are so far ahead of the rest – don’t even mention the Bulldogs – that it’s not funny. St Kilda has the arsenal to not only trouble Geelong, but actually beat it. Whether that happens is a different story, but it’s sure going to be fun watching the Saints try.
3. Western Bulldogs (PS: 7; LW: 3)
The Bulldogs’ win over the Kangaroos was a lot tougher than the final scoreboard shows. But a grinding victory was just what they needed to prove they can win in other ways. North Melbourne has always been a bogy side for the Dogs, too, having won the clubs’ previous five contests until losing in round two this year.
4. Brisbane (PS: 8; LW: 6)
That’s right; I have the Lions – and not the Magpies – in fourth place. Brisbane has a tough month ahead, starting with Port Adelaide in South Australia this weekend, but is proving more than capable this year. The Lions face every challenge head-on and Jonathan Brown’s form is getting better every week. Daniel Merrett and Joel Patfull returned last week and Brisbane has a great midfield. Watch out.
5. Collingwood (PS: 3; LW: 7)
Five straight Magpie wins had to be rewarded eventually. They beat another mediocre opponent to do so, but winning form is good form. Essendon will be a big test this round before facing up against the Bulldogs the week after. Those two are huge if Collingwood is to maintain its credibility.
6. Adelaide (PS: 9; LW: 8)
Not as impressive as recent weeks, but the Crows outlasted the Swans in a danger match and must earn points for that. Adelaide has two relatively ‘gimme’ games ahead before locking horns with St Kilda. That will be the Crows’ litmus test. Fail miserably there and the footy community’s new-found respect for them will be shot. They must at least push the Saints.
7. Carlton (PS: 5; LW: 4)
The Blues could easily win their next three games, but last Friday night’s performance is not going to be forgotten in a hurry. Essendon made Carlton look nothing short of abysmal after the Blues had earned so much credit for almost rolling the Saints. Much like the clubs surrounding it, Carlton faces a season-defining clash in the next month – against Collingwood at the MCG on Friday night in round 17.
8. Essendon (PS: 13; LW: 9)
How could the Bombers be below the Blues? Quite easily. They have proven twice this year they have Carlton’s measure, but that doesn’t change where they’re at. Essendon has come a long way under Matthew Knights in 2009, but isn’t ready to mix it with all of the big boys just yet. I’m happy to be proven wrong.
9. Hawthorn (PS: 1; LW: 5)
Oh, how the mighty has fallen. Premiership player Rick Ladson returned to the Hawks’ line-up last week, but it made little difference – this year’s Hawthorn isn’t a patch on last year’s model. West Coast became the latest to humiliate the Hawks and the worst is not over: match-ups with the Bulldogs, Geelong and St Kilda are on the horizon.
10. Sydney (PS: 11; LW: 10)
Brave, but ultimately unsuccessful against the in-form Crows. Nevertheless, it wasn’t a bad effort and confirmed the Swans as the best of the sides not challenging for a finals position. The less said about Barry Hall the better. What a fool.
11. Port Adelaide (PS: 10; LW: 11)
The Power has an uncanny knack for competing well against the Cats and last Sunday was no different. But that improved form will go on show against Brisbane at home on Saturday afternoon. Port Adelaide won’t be favourite against the visitors, but it must believe it is a winnable encounter.
12. North Melbourne (PS: 12; LW: 12)
Good performance from the Kangaroos with inspirational skipper Brent Harvey back on deck. Harvey’s inclusion can only be a positive for them and will ensure they are a much more competitive unit on the run home. It will be interesting to see whether Lachie Hansen can make a fist of his new role as a forward after spending much of his AFL career down back thus far.
13. West Coast (PS: 14; LW: 15)
Three straight solid games were capped with success over Hawthorn last round. Consistency – or lack of it – has been one of the key reasons the Eagles have struggled so badly this year, but they are showing signs of improvement. The fact West Coast did it without All-Australian ruckman Dean Cox was also a major positive.
14. Richmond (PS: 4; LW: 13)
I really hate admitting my pre-season love for the Tigers on a weekly basis! Another horrid display from the Tigers against the Saints. Richmond’s latest bout of ineptitude included going scoreless for 80 minutes – yes, 80 minutes. Enough said.
15. Fremantle (PS 16; LW: 14)
I’m still trying to figure out how the Dockers managed to string three games together. I guess they did only beat Sydney, West Coast and Carlton. Sometimes playing youth isn’t enough to escape scrutiny – just ask Melbourne.
16. Melbourne (PS: 15; LW: 16)
The Jack Watts bagging rages on and so does the Demons’ losing streak. Their run of shocking efforts also reached three. Likely number-one pick Tom Scully is going to have to develop mighty quickly to carry this side on his shoulders. On a serious note, though, coach Dean Bailey must be wondering what went wrong over the past three weeks after a somewhat positive start to the season.
Because that’s exactly what’s happening in this week’s Power Poll.
Carlton can no longer covet a top-four spot after receiving an almighty smacking at the hands of nemesis Essendon last Friday night.
Hawthorn is in the same boat.
Brisbane, pre-season fancy Collingwood and even Adelaide appear the most likely to grab the fourth spot.
Unbeaten clubs Geelong and St Kilda are all but assured of top-four finishes, as are the third-placed Western Bulldogs.
The Magpies’ cushy draw makes them favourites, but a Friday night showdown this week will show exactly how far they have come in their recent winning streak.
I rank the 16 AFL clubs on a weekly basis judged on current ladder position, form, injuries and long-term prospects.
I will display clubs’ pre-season and previous week’s ranking in brackets next to my latest rating and write a brief reason why.
PS: pre-season ranking
LW: last week’s ranking
1. Geelong (PS: 2; LW: 1)
The much-anticipated clash with St Kilda has arrived, but are the Cats ready? Of course they are. Geelong’s iffy form of recent weeks might as well be forgotten once it steps out against the Saints. I’m backing the Cats to defeat their latest challenger, but we all know what happened in last year’s grand final. ‘Frontal pressure’ will only get St Kilda so far – this one will be won in the midfield, where Geelong has no peer.
2. St Kilda (PS: 6; LW: 2)
The Saints embarrassed Richmond ahead of their meeting with the fellow unbeaten Cats. It was not much of a warm-up, but, in reality, nothing is. These two sides are so far ahead of the rest – don’t even mention the Bulldogs – that it’s not funny. St Kilda has the arsenal to not only trouble Geelong, but actually beat it. Whether that happens is a different story, but it’s sure going to be fun watching the Saints try.
3. Western Bulldogs (PS: 7; LW: 3)
The Bulldogs’ win over the Kangaroos was a lot tougher than the final scoreboard shows. But a grinding victory was just what they needed to prove they can win in other ways. North Melbourne has always been a bogy side for the Dogs, too, having won the clubs’ previous five contests until losing in round two this year.
4. Brisbane (PS: 8; LW: 6)
That’s right; I have the Lions – and not the Magpies – in fourth place. Brisbane has a tough month ahead, starting with Port Adelaide in South Australia this weekend, but is proving more than capable this year. The Lions face every challenge head-on and Jonathan Brown’s form is getting better every week. Daniel Merrett and Joel Patfull returned last week and Brisbane has a great midfield. Watch out.
5. Collingwood (PS: 3; LW: 7)
Five straight Magpie wins had to be rewarded eventually. They beat another mediocre opponent to do so, but winning form is good form. Essendon will be a big test this round before facing up against the Bulldogs the week after. Those two are huge if Collingwood is to maintain its credibility.
6. Adelaide (PS: 9; LW: 8)
Not as impressive as recent weeks, but the Crows outlasted the Swans in a danger match and must earn points for that. Adelaide has two relatively ‘gimme’ games ahead before locking horns with St Kilda. That will be the Crows’ litmus test. Fail miserably there and the footy community’s new-found respect for them will be shot. They must at least push the Saints.
7. Carlton (PS: 5; LW: 4)
The Blues could easily win their next three games, but last Friday night’s performance is not going to be forgotten in a hurry. Essendon made Carlton look nothing short of abysmal after the Blues had earned so much credit for almost rolling the Saints. Much like the clubs surrounding it, Carlton faces a season-defining clash in the next month – against Collingwood at the MCG on Friday night in round 17.
8. Essendon (PS: 13; LW: 9)
How could the Bombers be below the Blues? Quite easily. They have proven twice this year they have Carlton’s measure, but that doesn’t change where they’re at. Essendon has come a long way under Matthew Knights in 2009, but isn’t ready to mix it with all of the big boys just yet. I’m happy to be proven wrong.
9. Hawthorn (PS: 1; LW: 5)
Oh, how the mighty has fallen. Premiership player Rick Ladson returned to the Hawks’ line-up last week, but it made little difference – this year’s Hawthorn isn’t a patch on last year’s model. West Coast became the latest to humiliate the Hawks and the worst is not over: match-ups with the Bulldogs, Geelong and St Kilda are on the horizon.
10. Sydney (PS: 11; LW: 10)
Brave, but ultimately unsuccessful against the in-form Crows. Nevertheless, it wasn’t a bad effort and confirmed the Swans as the best of the sides not challenging for a finals position. The less said about Barry Hall the better. What a fool.
11. Port Adelaide (PS: 10; LW: 11)
The Power has an uncanny knack for competing well against the Cats and last Sunday was no different. But that improved form will go on show against Brisbane at home on Saturday afternoon. Port Adelaide won’t be favourite against the visitors, but it must believe it is a winnable encounter.
12. North Melbourne (PS: 12; LW: 12)
Good performance from the Kangaroos with inspirational skipper Brent Harvey back on deck. Harvey’s inclusion can only be a positive for them and will ensure they are a much more competitive unit on the run home. It will be interesting to see whether Lachie Hansen can make a fist of his new role as a forward after spending much of his AFL career down back thus far.
13. West Coast (PS: 14; LW: 15)
Three straight solid games were capped with success over Hawthorn last round. Consistency – or lack of it – has been one of the key reasons the Eagles have struggled so badly this year, but they are showing signs of improvement. The fact West Coast did it without All-Australian ruckman Dean Cox was also a major positive.
14. Richmond (PS: 4; LW: 13)
I really hate admitting my pre-season love for the Tigers on a weekly basis! Another horrid display from the Tigers against the Saints. Richmond’s latest bout of ineptitude included going scoreless for 80 minutes – yes, 80 minutes. Enough said.
15. Fremantle (PS 16; LW: 14)
I’m still trying to figure out how the Dockers managed to string three games together. I guess they did only beat Sydney, West Coast and Carlton. Sometimes playing youth isn’t enough to escape scrutiny – just ask Melbourne.
16. Melbourne (PS: 15; LW: 16)
The Jack Watts bagging rages on and so does the Demons’ losing streak. Their run of shocking efforts also reached three. Likely number-one pick Tom Scully is going to have to develop mighty quickly to carry this side on his shoulders. On a serious note, though, coach Dean Bailey must be wondering what went wrong over the past three weeks after a somewhat positive start to the season.
| 37 |
| Vote |
Subscribe to this blog
