AFL Insider Power Rankings: July 16 2007
1: Geelong Cats 12-3 (1 in last AFL Power Rankings)
The only problem Geelong had was the striking train drivers, it will be interesting to see what happens if they pull that stunt again during September. The problem for Geelong this week is they face the team that was too fast and too good for them at the start of the season, the Western Bulldogs. For years, some Geelong fans thought that Kingsley was the biggest reason for why they didn't win, and judging by what is happening this season there must be some merit to that theory.
2: Hawthorn Hawks 10-5 (4)
Their forward line of three talls is very effective. It all starts with Lance "A Lot Of Talent" Franklin and then they can put around him a combination of Roughead, Boyle, Croad and now Thorp. They don't have any easy games now, although a couple will be played at "Fortress Tasmania". The Hawks play the Saints this week, and it could be a great game as two talented forward lines have a shootout, or it could be a repeat of their game from the MCG earlier in the year.
3: West Coast Eagles 9-6 win-loss record (2)
Obviously Graham Arnold must have gotten into the place and talked about strategy and teamwork. It's a rough month for the Eagles and it doesn't get any tougher than Sydney next week, if the Eagles lose to the Swans they could have a big fall in the standings.
4: Adelaide Crows 8-7 (3)
When they are kicking goals they look like the best team in the AFL, but there are too many games when they can't kick goals and there is no quick fix for that. If Rutten joins Bassett on the injured list, the Crows might need to move Bock back to the back line.
5: Collingwood Magpies 9-6 (5)
Collingwood will get a lot of their veterans back in the next few weeks. Clement will be very important when he returns, and they would probably like to have Prestigiacomo available in a couple of weeks when they play the Lions and Brown.
6: Western Bulldogs 9-6 (6)
They won, without West and Grant, so that was a big accomplishment. An even bigger one will be defeating the top of the ladder Cats. They used speed and the talent of Brad Johnson to get it done against Geelong earlier in the year.
7: Port Adelaide Power 9-6 (7)
They were not just good, they were really great against the Eagles. They have games against Richmond, Melbourne, Carlton and Fremantle still to come so the Power should be back in the finals. C Cornes for the Brownlow could be a real possibility.
8: Sydney Swans 8-7 (8)
If they were in the Grand Final right now they would probably be the favourites, next round in Perth should sort that out. The Eagles were undermanned at the start of the year too but still did enough to defeat the Swans so Sydney will not want a repeat of that.
9: Kangaroos 10-5 (9)
While they do have the score on the board when it comes to wins, their percentage is low and they do have five really tough games still to play. They not only need to win next week, against Melbourne, but they need to crush them to get some percentage. Their games after the Demons are the Hawks, Lions away, Eagles and Cats.
10: Essendon Bombers 8-7 (10)
It looks like they are finished, they have two trips to Perth still to come and also play the Crows and Hawks. Before those games they have the big match on the MCG against Collingwood, that should be a fierce encounter.
11: St Kilda Saints 7-8 (12)
They have 5 more roof games to come, and if they win them all there could be a finals spot for them, especially as their last game of the regular season is at the MCG against Richmond.
12: Brisbane Lions 6-8-1 (13)
While the finals are still mathematically possible, they have some tough teams on the schedule, like Geelong and Sydney. But on their current form anything could happen, and if Brown continues to kick goals a lot of teams will be scared of the Lions.
13: Fremantle Dockers 6-9 (11)
The season is gone, the coach is very close to being gone and Pavlich might move on too. It is a big fall from their position last year, and now the Dockers have to figure out if they overachieved last season or underachieved this year and make changes.
14: Melbourne Demons 3-12 (14)
It could not have been much worse on Saturday night for Melbourne. They played without Bruce, they showed up for their "home" game with white shorts, Brisbane were coming off their best win in four years, so it wasn't a surprise that the Lions defeated them. Maybe the only way it could have been worse was if Steve Bracks' son, Paris Bracks, was driving the team bus. Next round should be much better, with Bruce and maybe Neitz in the team.
15: Carlton Blues 4-11 (15)
The Blues are just like the toilets at Melbourne Central, they stink. Although that is a good thing for Carlton, and not just because they have fans. If they win a game they lose the top pick. A couple of months of losing, and then picks 1 and maybe 3, should turn things around at Carlton and help them build a winner for the future. One thing that has to happen is the removal of their draft pick killer coach. Gibbs in a back pocket, Mr Kennedy in the ruck, they seem to be a bit out of position. They should set the team to Kreuzer Control and play all their young players to end the year, Sam Jacobs playing in the ruck for Carlton next week might be a good idea.
16: Richmond Tigers 1-13-1 (16)
At least their VFL fans are having fun, they get to see Riewoldt every week. The Tigers might have last spot on the ladder nearly guaranteed but they don't have the top pick yet, it might be a bit odd but Richmond fans need to cheer for a Carlton win.
The only problem Geelong had was the striking train drivers, it will be interesting to see what happens if they pull that stunt again during September. The problem for Geelong this week is they face the team that was too fast and too good for them at the start of the season, the Western Bulldogs. For years, some Geelong fans thought that Kingsley was the biggest reason for why they didn't win, and judging by what is happening this season there must be some merit to that theory.
2: Hawthorn Hawks 10-5 (4)
Their forward line of three talls is very effective. It all starts with Lance "A Lot Of Talent" Franklin and then they can put around him a combination of Roughead, Boyle, Croad and now Thorp. They don't have any easy games now, although a couple will be played at "Fortress Tasmania". The Hawks play the Saints this week, and it could be a great game as two talented forward lines have a shootout, or it could be a repeat of their game from the MCG earlier in the year.
3: West Coast Eagles 9-6 win-loss record (2)
Obviously Graham Arnold must have gotten into the place and talked about strategy and teamwork. It's a rough month for the Eagles and it doesn't get any tougher than Sydney next week, if the Eagles lose to the Swans they could have a big fall in the standings.
4: Adelaide Crows 8-7 (3)
When they are kicking goals they look like the best team in the AFL, but there are too many games when they can't kick goals and there is no quick fix for that. If Rutten joins Bassett on the injured list, the Crows might need to move Bock back to the back line.
5: Collingwood Magpies 9-6 (5)
Collingwood will get a lot of their veterans back in the next few weeks. Clement will be very important when he returns, and they would probably like to have Prestigiacomo available in a couple of weeks when they play the Lions and Brown.
6: Western Bulldogs 9-6 (6)
They won, without West and Grant, so that was a big accomplishment. An even bigger one will be defeating the top of the ladder Cats. They used speed and the talent of Brad Johnson to get it done against Geelong earlier in the year.
7: Port Adelaide Power 9-6 (7)
They were not just good, they were really great against the Eagles. They have games against Richmond, Melbourne, Carlton and Fremantle still to come so the Power should be back in the finals. C Cornes for the Brownlow could be a real possibility.
8: Sydney Swans 8-7 (8)
If they were in the Grand Final right now they would probably be the favourites, next round in Perth should sort that out. The Eagles were undermanned at the start of the year too but still did enough to defeat the Swans so Sydney will not want a repeat of that.
9: Kangaroos 10-5 (9)
While they do have the score on the board when it comes to wins, their percentage is low and they do have five really tough games still to play. They not only need to win next week, against Melbourne, but they need to crush them to get some percentage. Their games after the Demons are the Hawks, Lions away, Eagles and Cats.
10: Essendon Bombers 8-7 (10)
It looks like they are finished, they have two trips to Perth still to come and also play the Crows and Hawks. Before those games they have the big match on the MCG against Collingwood, that should be a fierce encounter.
11: St Kilda Saints 7-8 (12)
They have 5 more roof games to come, and if they win them all there could be a finals spot for them, especially as their last game of the regular season is at the MCG against Richmond.
12: Brisbane Lions 6-8-1 (13)
While the finals are still mathematically possible, they have some tough teams on the schedule, like Geelong and Sydney. But on their current form anything could happen, and if Brown continues to kick goals a lot of teams will be scared of the Lions.
13: Fremantle Dockers 6-9 (11)
The season is gone, the coach is very close to being gone and Pavlich might move on too. It is a big fall from their position last year, and now the Dockers have to figure out if they overachieved last season or underachieved this year and make changes.
14: Melbourne Demons 3-12 (14)
It could not have been much worse on Saturday night for Melbourne. They played without Bruce, they showed up for their "home" game with white shorts, Brisbane were coming off their best win in four years, so it wasn't a surprise that the Lions defeated them. Maybe the only way it could have been worse was if Steve Bracks' son, Paris Bracks, was driving the team bus. Next round should be much better, with Bruce and maybe Neitz in the team.
15: Carlton Blues 4-11 (15)
The Blues are just like the toilets at Melbourne Central, they stink. Although that is a good thing for Carlton, and not just because they have fans. If they win a game they lose the top pick. A couple of months of losing, and then picks 1 and maybe 3, should turn things around at Carlton and help them build a winner for the future. One thing that has to happen is the removal of their draft pick killer coach. Gibbs in a back pocket, Mr Kennedy in the ruck, they seem to be a bit out of position. They should set the team to Kreuzer Control and play all their young players to end the year, Sam Jacobs playing in the ruck for Carlton next week might be a good idea.
16: Richmond Tigers 1-13-1 (16)
At least their VFL fans are having fun, they get to see Riewoldt every week. The Tigers might have last spot on the ladder nearly guaranteed but they don't have the top pick yet, it might be a bit odd but Richmond fans need to cheer for a Carlton win.
