AFL Insider Power Rankings: January 1 2007
1: West Coast Eagles
They won in 2006 so they start on top here.
2: Sydney Swans
Addition of Everitt improves their team.
3: Fremantle Dockers
Tarrant and Solomon add more AFL Grand Final experience.
4: Western Bulldogs
Akermanis should take them further, and their injured players are coming back too.
5: Adelaide Crows
Some questions in the ruck and up forward.
6: St Kilda Saints
New coach and a couple of veteran ruckmen will help.
7: Richmond Tigers
Riewoldt, Polak and Kingsley will assist Richardson and the other Richmond talls.
8: Geelong Cats
Hawkins should take them to the finals in 2007.
9: Melbourne Demons
Didn't make changes during offseason.
10: Hawthorn Hawks
Young team that keeps improving.
11: Essendon Bombers
Mal Michael could push them a lot higher.
12: Port Adelaide Power
Extended their coach and will continue to build their young and quick team.
13: Collingwood Magpies
Reid and Brown are great, but won't be ready to fill the hole left by Tarrant next season.
14: Kangaroos
Hansen will need to dominate for them to improve.
15: Brisbane Lions
Looking at another rebuilding year but have a lot of the pieces there.
16: Carlton Blues
Coach and board problems, small ruckmen, it could be a long year.
The next Power Rankings will be out next month, and then they will be adjusted every week that there are games played. The Power Rankings take into account not only a team's ladder position but also the strength of their opponents, injuries, the toughness of their schedule, suspensions, where the games are played and anything as that is applicable.
Power Rankings will be useful during the season as it can provide a different outlook compared to the AFL ladder. As not all teams play each other twice, and some teams have easier schedules while others have a more difficult one, a better idea of how a team is going can be seen. For example, the team that starts the season winning three games at home against weak opponents might have a higher ladder position than a team that played on the road for one win and two losses that were close, while one team might be on top of the ladder the other team with the more difficult schedule could be the better one.
They won in 2006 so they start on top here.
2: Sydney Swans
Addition of Everitt improves their team.
3: Fremantle Dockers
Tarrant and Solomon add more AFL Grand Final experience.
4: Western Bulldogs
Akermanis should take them further, and their injured players are coming back too.
5: Adelaide Crows
Some questions in the ruck and up forward.
6: St Kilda Saints
New coach and a couple of veteran ruckmen will help.
7: Richmond Tigers
Riewoldt, Polak and Kingsley will assist Richardson and the other Richmond talls.
8: Geelong Cats
Hawkins should take them to the finals in 2007.
9: Melbourne Demons
Didn't make changes during offseason.
10: Hawthorn Hawks
Young team that keeps improving.
11: Essendon Bombers
Mal Michael could push them a lot higher.
12: Port Adelaide Power
Extended their coach and will continue to build their young and quick team.
13: Collingwood Magpies
Reid and Brown are great, but won't be ready to fill the hole left by Tarrant next season.
14: Kangaroos
Hansen will need to dominate for them to improve.
15: Brisbane Lions
Looking at another rebuilding year but have a lot of the pieces there.
16: Carlton Blues
Coach and board problems, small ruckmen, it could be a long year.
The next Power Rankings will be out next month, and then they will be adjusted every week that there are games played. The Power Rankings take into account not only a team's ladder position but also the strength of their opponents, injuries, the toughness of their schedule, suspensions, where the games are played and anything as that is applicable.
Power Rankings will be useful during the season as it can provide a different outlook compared to the AFL ladder. As not all teams play each other twice, and some teams have easier schedules while others have a more difficult one, a better idea of how a team is going can be seen. For example, the team that starts the season winning three games at home against weak opponents might have a higher ladder position than a team that played on the road for one win and two losses that were close, while one team might be on top of the ladder the other team with the more difficult schedule could be the better one.
