AFL Insider Power Rankings: July 9 2007
1: Geelong Cats 11-3 win-loss record (2 in last AFL Power Rankings)
It's their biggest game of the season as Geelong will play in front of a huge crowd at the MCG against Collingwood. It is the last time they will play there until the finals, their only other game there this season was an early game against Melbourne. In round 16 the Cats have a rematch against the Bulldogs, so the next two weeks will be huge for Geelong.
2: West Coast Eagles 9-5 (1)
The club's medical staff and the AFL tribunal could determine the type of team that West Coast have available for this round. The Power, Swans, Bulldogs and Dockers are their next games and they will be hoping that Judd and Kerr can play.
3: Adelaide Crows 8-6 (3)
They didn't have any problems with Bassett out of the lineup. One reason was that the Crows had the ball so much that it didn't get deep into their back line a lot. They have games against Gehrig and Riewoldt, Pavlich and Tarrant, Lloyd and Lucas and then Tredrea and the Power in the next month so other defenders will need to keep stepping up to help Rutten.
4: Hawthorn Hawks 9-5 (4)
They hit a bump in the road in Adelaide. They should get going again with games against Richmond and St Kilda but it won't be as easy as some might think.
5: Collingwood Magpies 9-5 (5)
They are in the Match-of-the-Round as they play Geelong in one of their many games on the MCG to finish off the year, except for round 22 which is a roof game. Rocca is back and it will be interesting to see if they play him and Reid together or if Reid goes back to the VFL now.
6: Western Bulldogs 8-6 (6)
Every game is under the roof now except for a round 20 trip to Adelaide. Scott West's fitness will be something to watch this week, although they did play well against the Power after he went off and their round 15 opponent Essendon also has plenty of players out too.
7: Port Adelaide Power 8-6 (7)
It will be a big game when the Eagles visit on Saturday. Tredrea is kicking goals again and if he can break Glass it will go a long way to the Power defeating the Eagles.
8: Sydney Swans 7-7 (8)
They should win next week, a home game at the SCG against Carlton, although Hall's availability is still unknown. They might rest him a few more times this season.
9: Kangaroos 9-5 (10)
Their percentage is a concern, and they also have six games to go that could be tough to win. Next week's game at Fremantle will have a big say in the Kangaroos getting into the top 4 at the end of the season, if they lose that it will be a fight to make the top 8. The play of Petrie is great news for the Kangaroos, and he will have a big challenge as McPharlin could be his opponent next round.
10: Essendon Bombers 8-6 (9)
Injuries and possible suspensions could hurt their season more than the loss in round 14. Lloyd will return but there are going to be a lot of outs too.
11: Fremantle Dockers 6-8 (11)
They are close to being done for the year, and their next four games are not of the easy variety. They host the Kangaroos and then it gets a lot worse with a game at Adelaide followed by the Cats and Eagles at Subiaco.
12: St Kilda Saints 6-8 (12)
They are still a chance to finish on 12 wins for the year, they have a lot of games under the roof and that suits Gehrig, Riewoldt and Koschitzke. Their biggest test might be this round against Adelaide, and if they can defeat the Crows the Saints could get on a roll.
13: Brisbane Lions 5-8-1 (14)
The Lions ended their winless streak in the best way they could, an away win against the Eagles. With games against Melbourne and Carlton coming up they could get a winning streak going.
14: Melbourne Demons 3-11 (13)
They defeated Carlton on the weekend but it must make them wonder why they lost to them twice last year. Those two teams finish the season with a big game too, the winner will probably lose in the long run then as the loser might win a much better spot in the draft.
15: Carlton Blues 4-10 (15)
Still on target for the top pick. A lot of their fans will see the top pick as something that will ensure plenty of wins in the future. Other supporters will want results now. One more win will see them miss out on the top pick. Fevola is back now, but that doesn't mean he will be there next season.
16: Richmond Tigers 1-12-1 (16)
Riewoldt got into the team so there was some good news. The Tigers can have some fun to finish the year as they can play the role of spoiler for other teams trying to get into the finals. Hawthorn could be in trouble next week, especially if Richardson has a big game. Supporters of the Tigers can cheer for wins now, as unlike other teams, it won't hurt their draft spot. Richmond will also want Carlton to win that extra game too, which should send Kreuzer to Richmond.
It's their biggest game of the season as Geelong will play in front of a huge crowd at the MCG against Collingwood. It is the last time they will play there until the finals, their only other game there this season was an early game against Melbourne. In round 16 the Cats have a rematch against the Bulldogs, so the next two weeks will be huge for Geelong.
2: West Coast Eagles 9-5 (1)
The club's medical staff and the AFL tribunal could determine the type of team that West Coast have available for this round. The Power, Swans, Bulldogs and Dockers are their next games and they will be hoping that Judd and Kerr can play.
3: Adelaide Crows 8-6 (3)
They didn't have any problems with Bassett out of the lineup. One reason was that the Crows had the ball so much that it didn't get deep into their back line a lot. They have games against Gehrig and Riewoldt, Pavlich and Tarrant, Lloyd and Lucas and then Tredrea and the Power in the next month so other defenders will need to keep stepping up to help Rutten.
4: Hawthorn Hawks 9-5 (4)
They hit a bump in the road in Adelaide. They should get going again with games against Richmond and St Kilda but it won't be as easy as some might think.
5: Collingwood Magpies 9-5 (5)
They are in the Match-of-the-Round as they play Geelong in one of their many games on the MCG to finish off the year, except for round 22 which is a roof game. Rocca is back and it will be interesting to see if they play him and Reid together or if Reid goes back to the VFL now.
6: Western Bulldogs 8-6 (6)
Every game is under the roof now except for a round 20 trip to Adelaide. Scott West's fitness will be something to watch this week, although they did play well against the Power after he went off and their round 15 opponent Essendon also has plenty of players out too.
7: Port Adelaide Power 8-6 (7)
It will be a big game when the Eagles visit on Saturday. Tredrea is kicking goals again and if he can break Glass it will go a long way to the Power defeating the Eagles.
8: Sydney Swans 7-7 (8)
They should win next week, a home game at the SCG against Carlton, although Hall's availability is still unknown. They might rest him a few more times this season.
9: Kangaroos 9-5 (10)
Their percentage is a concern, and they also have six games to go that could be tough to win. Next week's game at Fremantle will have a big say in the Kangaroos getting into the top 4 at the end of the season, if they lose that it will be a fight to make the top 8. The play of Petrie is great news for the Kangaroos, and he will have a big challenge as McPharlin could be his opponent next round.
10: Essendon Bombers 8-6 (9)
Injuries and possible suspensions could hurt their season more than the loss in round 14. Lloyd will return but there are going to be a lot of outs too.
11: Fremantle Dockers 6-8 (11)
They are close to being done for the year, and their next four games are not of the easy variety. They host the Kangaroos and then it gets a lot worse with a game at Adelaide followed by the Cats and Eagles at Subiaco.
12: St Kilda Saints 6-8 (12)
They are still a chance to finish on 12 wins for the year, they have a lot of games under the roof and that suits Gehrig, Riewoldt and Koschitzke. Their biggest test might be this round against Adelaide, and if they can defeat the Crows the Saints could get on a roll.
13: Brisbane Lions 5-8-1 (14)
The Lions ended their winless streak in the best way they could, an away win against the Eagles. With games against Melbourne and Carlton coming up they could get a winning streak going.
14: Melbourne Demons 3-11 (13)
They defeated Carlton on the weekend but it must make them wonder why they lost to them twice last year. Those two teams finish the season with a big game too, the winner will probably lose in the long run then as the loser might win a much better spot in the draft.
15: Carlton Blues 4-10 (15)
Still on target for the top pick. A lot of their fans will see the top pick as something that will ensure plenty of wins in the future. Other supporters will want results now. One more win will see them miss out on the top pick. Fevola is back now, but that doesn't mean he will be there next season.
16: Richmond Tigers 1-12-1 (16)
Riewoldt got into the team so there was some good news. The Tigers can have some fun to finish the year as they can play the role of spoiler for other teams trying to get into the finals. Hawthorn could be in trouble next week, especially if Richardson has a big game. Supporters of the Tigers can cheer for wins now, as unlike other teams, it won't hurt their draft spot. Richmond will also want Carlton to win that extra game too, which should send Kreuzer to Richmond.
Now watch them lose to the Pies this week.