AFL Insider Power Rankings: August 27 2007
1: Geelong Cats 17-4 win-loss record (1 in last AFL Power Rankings)
They don't have to worry about being asked about their huge winning streak now. Not that it mattered, if they had won they would finish on top and with the loss to the Power they are still on top. Bartel thinks he can return next week, so there should be no problem with his availability for the finals.
2: West Coast Eagles 14-7 (2)
The scans to determine the extent of Hansen's leg injury could determine how far the Eagles go in the finals. They don't want to be without their good luck charm for too long.
3: Port Adelaide Power 14-7 (5)
Williams should be the Coach Of The Year, not just for their success this season but also how he quickly he rebuilt the team. A lot of stars from the 2004 season retired in the last 12 months, but the Power made wise choices for their replacements. Close wins against Hawthorn and Geelong showed that the Power are again a force, but they will need to kick a huge score this week to stay in second spot on percentage.
4: Sydney Swans 11-9-1 (4)
They are just a Barry short, so when Leo is back they will play much better, although they will probably be without Hall for round 22. Hopefully John Longmire is in good health, in regards to the news about the horse flu.
5: Hawthorn Hawks 13-8 (3)
They can't afford to have another quarter like they did at the start of the Bulldogs game. If they do that again then their season will be over. But if they can replicate what they did for the rest of the game, then the Hawks will trouble some teams in the finals.
6: Collingwood Magpies 13-8 (6)
The Magpies have been one of the surprise teams this season, and it is something they will be able to build on next season. When Reid, Dawes and Brown are added in 2008 the Magpies will be aiming to finish in the top 2 spots.
7: Kangaroos 13-8 (7)
If Brent Harvey has another big game, and the Kangaroos defeat the Bulldogs, it could be enough for Harvey to win the Brownlow and for the Kangaroos to finish in the top 4.
8: Adelaide Crows 11-10 (11)
All they need is a match-winning performance from someone like Burton and they will grab the last finals spot. The Crows might have been looking to past successes to find a strategy to win now, as how they contained Brown was very similar to what they did against Loewe in the Grand Final a decade ago.
9: St Kilda Saints 10-10-1 (8)
It won't be easy as the other team has a Riewoldt too, and Richmond are coming off a confidence-boosting win too. The entire Saints' season depends on Collingwood winning.
10: Brisbane Lions 9-10-2 (9)
Brisbane can still win something, it is Brown versus Pavlich in the race for the Coleman. Brown might have a tougher time with Egan, Scarlett and Harley trying to stop him getting the ball.
11: Fremantle Dockers 10-11 (12)
The reception from the crowd might have been different this week if Pavlich had not extended his contract with the Dockers. The Power fans might remind him that Port Adelaide are going along just a bit better than the Dockers are at the moment.
12: Essendon Bombers 10-11 (10)
Their season did start off very well before it all fell apart. They need to start a new era now, which means finding a coach and getting a younger team on the field.
13: Western Bulldogs 9-11-1 (13)
Their skills and running ability were on display for the first quarter, and then their strength and height deficiencies were exposed for the rest of the match. Maybe McEvoy is the solution to some of their problems, and if they lose to the Kangaroos they could be in the right spot in the draft to take the big marking player.
14: Melbourne Demons 4-17 (14)
It is possible that the Demons will add Sheedy and the top pick in the draft, that would drastically improve their team in 2008.
15: Richmond Tigers 3-17-1 (16)
They will go into 2008 with a few reasons to be optimistic, due to finishing off the season much better than they started it. But it might actually be 2011 before they are a contender.
16: Carlton Blues 4-17 (15)
Their game against the Kangaroos was just as bad as anything they did under Pagan. Which could be beneficial when they play Melbourne in the "M1 Abrams Match", the one about the tank.
They don't have to worry about being asked about their huge winning streak now. Not that it mattered, if they had won they would finish on top and with the loss to the Power they are still on top. Bartel thinks he can return next week, so there should be no problem with his availability for the finals.
2: West Coast Eagles 14-7 (2)
The scans to determine the extent of Hansen's leg injury could determine how far the Eagles go in the finals. They don't want to be without their good luck charm for too long.
3: Port Adelaide Power 14-7 (5)
Williams should be the Coach Of The Year, not just for their success this season but also how he quickly he rebuilt the team. A lot of stars from the 2004 season retired in the last 12 months, but the Power made wise choices for their replacements. Close wins against Hawthorn and Geelong showed that the Power are again a force, but they will need to kick a huge score this week to stay in second spot on percentage.
4: Sydney Swans 11-9-1 (4)
They are just a Barry short, so when Leo is back they will play much better, although they will probably be without Hall for round 22. Hopefully John Longmire is in good health, in regards to the news about the horse flu.
5: Hawthorn Hawks 13-8 (3)
They can't afford to have another quarter like they did at the start of the Bulldogs game. If they do that again then their season will be over. But if they can replicate what they did for the rest of the game, then the Hawks will trouble some teams in the finals.
6: Collingwood Magpies 13-8 (6)
The Magpies have been one of the surprise teams this season, and it is something they will be able to build on next season. When Reid, Dawes and Brown are added in 2008 the Magpies will be aiming to finish in the top 2 spots.
7: Kangaroos 13-8 (7)
If Brent Harvey has another big game, and the Kangaroos defeat the Bulldogs, it could be enough for Harvey to win the Brownlow and for the Kangaroos to finish in the top 4.
8: Adelaide Crows 11-10 (11)
All they need is a match-winning performance from someone like Burton and they will grab the last finals spot. The Crows might have been looking to past successes to find a strategy to win now, as how they contained Brown was very similar to what they did against Loewe in the Grand Final a decade ago.
9: St Kilda Saints 10-10-1 (8)
It won't be easy as the other team has a Riewoldt too, and Richmond are coming off a confidence-boosting win too. The entire Saints' season depends on Collingwood winning.
10: Brisbane Lions 9-10-2 (9)
Brisbane can still win something, it is Brown versus Pavlich in the race for the Coleman. Brown might have a tougher time with Egan, Scarlett and Harley trying to stop him getting the ball.
11: Fremantle Dockers 10-11 (12)
The reception from the crowd might have been different this week if Pavlich had not extended his contract with the Dockers. The Power fans might remind him that Port Adelaide are going along just a bit better than the Dockers are at the moment.
12: Essendon Bombers 10-11 (10)
Their season did start off very well before it all fell apart. They need to start a new era now, which means finding a coach and getting a younger team on the field.
13: Western Bulldogs 9-11-1 (13)
Their skills and running ability were on display for the first quarter, and then their strength and height deficiencies were exposed for the rest of the match. Maybe McEvoy is the solution to some of their problems, and if they lose to the Kangaroos they could be in the right spot in the draft to take the big marking player.
14: Melbourne Demons 4-17 (14)
It is possible that the Demons will add Sheedy and the top pick in the draft, that would drastically improve their team in 2008.
15: Richmond Tigers 3-17-1 (16)
They will go into 2008 with a few reasons to be optimistic, due to finishing off the season much better than they started it. But it might actually be 2011 before they are a contender.
16: Carlton Blues 4-17 (15)
Their game against the Kangaroos was just as bad as anything they did under Pagan. Which could be beneficial when they play Melbourne in the "M1 Abrams Match", the one about the tank.
Molly
Molly
September starts and that means the Swans have an edge with the experience that their coach and players have.