AFL Insider Power Rankings: June 4 2007
1: West Coast Eagles 8-2 win-loss record (1 in last AFL Power Rankings)
They made it through one game without Hansen up forward, they now have to visit Fletcher, Michael and Ryder and their forward line will have to be at its best. Someone who was at his best was Dean Cox, if he continues to play like that then the Eagles won't lose another game.
2: Sydney Swans 5-5 (4)
They didn't lose by much. Where they lost was of greater importance, as the SCG is usually a happy place for them, they won't be back on the SCG for another month. Apparently the umpires are disrespecting Hall, and the umpire's boss agreed, so that is something to watch next week.
3: Adelaide Crows 6-4 (2)
They need to have Burton out there with Ricciuto and that could happen next round. Perrie might miss a few weeks, and that might not be a bad thing.
4: Geelong Cats 7-3 (5)
Their run will end next week, if Adelaide get some players back. It's Geelong and it is inevitable that the bubble bursts. The key to their winning form is Bartel, he is allowed to do whatever he wants and is the driving force behind the Cats' streak. Wojcinski is also playing an important role. Geelong are paying attention to the other teams' great players, Ling again had success in containing a star as Dal Santo was stopped.
5: Port Adelaide Power 6-4 (3)
The Burgoynes got going again, the Cornes brothers were still great, so it is a mystery as to why they have fallen away. Salopek was the ultimate warrior for Port Adelaide as he returned to the field after a big collision, he is a very important player for them and when they were winning their early games he was playing well.
6: Hawthorn Hawks 7-3 (9)
It's another win and they will have plenty of confidence as they face Peter Everitt next weekend. The improvement of Campbell last season made the departure of Everitt inevitable and they should have a good contest on the MCG. The tough part for the Hawks is that the Swans also have Jolly who is one of the best ruckmen in the league at the moment, so Taylor will also have a big part to play if the Hawks are to continue dispatching interstate teams.
7: Collingwood Magpies 7-3 (7)
Heath Shaw and Prestigiacomo are a bit sore and they can't afford to have them miss, even though they might get Clement back. Their game against the Demons is a danger game now that Melbourne has finally figured out how to win.
8: Western Bulldogs 5-5 (6)
Murphy could be back, but they need to change their thinking and use him as a secondary marking option in their forward line. McDougall could help them next week, while Grant might help them soon too.
9: Essendon Bombers 6-4 (11)
Not the easiest schedule as they face the Grand Finalists from the past two years in consecutive weeks, they defeated the Swans and have the personnel to make it difficult for the Eagles, and just as importantly they have home ground advantage.
10: Fremantle Dockers 4-6 (8)
They have another "coach killer" game coming up, if they lose at home to Richmond then it might be Harvey who takes control for their next game, which is against the Bulldogs. Last season the Dockers only got going in the second half of the year, so maybe they use games against the Tigers, Bulldogs and Blues to get some momentum going.
11: Kangaroos 6-4 (12)
They were competitive for some of the game against the Eagles, and they can now get back to winning with a game against the Saints.
12: St Kilda Saints 4-6 (13)
L Fisher might be joining their injury list. They play the Kangaroos and then travel to face the Eagles, in three weeks when they face the Tigers it could be the Saints who are the underdogs for that match.
13: Brisbane Lions 4-5-1 (10)
Everyone will be watching Akermanis as he returns to Brisbane, but the Lions have a lot more things to think about. The back line was a strength earlier in the season but it is a problem now. Teams are also finding ways to contain Brown while Brisbane isn't able to use their free players that double-teaming Brown can create, they obviously miss Bradshaw although Clark has played well the past two weeks. Chris Johnson could miss with plantar fasciitis, Brisbane will also be hoping that Power returns.
14: Carlton Blues 3-7 (14)
A couple more wins and they are out of the running for a priority pick before the first round begins. They are not thinking about that. Blackwell, Bentick and Koutoufides only played half the game on the weekend, so when they were on the field they gave it everything they had. An interesting tactic and it worked against the Bulldogs, but if Bentick played most of the game he might get 20 tackles and if Blackwell also had a big increase in playing time he would get close to 30 possessions.
15: Melbourne Demons 1-9 (15)
They were playing well and losing, they fixed that against the Crows and continued to play well but got the win. The Magpies, Tigers, Bombers and Blues are their next opponents.
16: Richmond Tigers 0-9-1 (16)
Simmonds might return for their game in Fremantle. The Tigers should be happy to at least have some points on the board, two is better than nothing, and it was an inspiring comeback that they performed in the second half against Brisbane. Kingsley's goal was far from the greatest moment in AFL history, it might be time for him to go back to the VFL.
They made it through one game without Hansen up forward, they now have to visit Fletcher, Michael and Ryder and their forward line will have to be at its best. Someone who was at his best was Dean Cox, if he continues to play like that then the Eagles won't lose another game.
2: Sydney Swans 5-5 (4)
They didn't lose by much. Where they lost was of greater importance, as the SCG is usually a happy place for them, they won't be back on the SCG for another month. Apparently the umpires are disrespecting Hall, and the umpire's boss agreed, so that is something to watch next week.
3: Adelaide Crows 6-4 (2)
They need to have Burton out there with Ricciuto and that could happen next round. Perrie might miss a few weeks, and that might not be a bad thing.
4: Geelong Cats 7-3 (5)
Their run will end next week, if Adelaide get some players back. It's Geelong and it is inevitable that the bubble bursts. The key to their winning form is Bartel, he is allowed to do whatever he wants and is the driving force behind the Cats' streak. Wojcinski is also playing an important role. Geelong are paying attention to the other teams' great players, Ling again had success in containing a star as Dal Santo was stopped.
5: Port Adelaide Power 6-4 (3)
The Burgoynes got going again, the Cornes brothers were still great, so it is a mystery as to why they have fallen away. Salopek was the ultimate warrior for Port Adelaide as he returned to the field after a big collision, he is a very important player for them and when they were winning their early games he was playing well.
6: Hawthorn Hawks 7-3 (9)
It's another win and they will have plenty of confidence as they face Peter Everitt next weekend. The improvement of Campbell last season made the departure of Everitt inevitable and they should have a good contest on the MCG. The tough part for the Hawks is that the Swans also have Jolly who is one of the best ruckmen in the league at the moment, so Taylor will also have a big part to play if the Hawks are to continue dispatching interstate teams.
7: Collingwood Magpies 7-3 (7)
Heath Shaw and Prestigiacomo are a bit sore and they can't afford to have them miss, even though they might get Clement back. Their game against the Demons is a danger game now that Melbourne has finally figured out how to win.
8: Western Bulldogs 5-5 (6)
Murphy could be back, but they need to change their thinking and use him as a secondary marking option in their forward line. McDougall could help them next week, while Grant might help them soon too.
9: Essendon Bombers 6-4 (11)
Not the easiest schedule as they face the Grand Finalists from the past two years in consecutive weeks, they defeated the Swans and have the personnel to make it difficult for the Eagles, and just as importantly they have home ground advantage.
10: Fremantle Dockers 4-6 (8)
They have another "coach killer" game coming up, if they lose at home to Richmond then it might be Harvey who takes control for their next game, which is against the Bulldogs. Last season the Dockers only got going in the second half of the year, so maybe they use games against the Tigers, Bulldogs and Blues to get some momentum going.
11: Kangaroos 6-4 (12)
They were competitive for some of the game against the Eagles, and they can now get back to winning with a game against the Saints.
12: St Kilda Saints 4-6 (13)
L Fisher might be joining their injury list. They play the Kangaroos and then travel to face the Eagles, in three weeks when they face the Tigers it could be the Saints who are the underdogs for that match.
13: Brisbane Lions 4-5-1 (10)
Everyone will be watching Akermanis as he returns to Brisbane, but the Lions have a lot more things to think about. The back line was a strength earlier in the season but it is a problem now. Teams are also finding ways to contain Brown while Brisbane isn't able to use their free players that double-teaming Brown can create, they obviously miss Bradshaw although Clark has played well the past two weeks. Chris Johnson could miss with plantar fasciitis, Brisbane will also be hoping that Power returns.
14: Carlton Blues 3-7 (14)
A couple more wins and they are out of the running for a priority pick before the first round begins. They are not thinking about that. Blackwell, Bentick and Koutoufides only played half the game on the weekend, so when they were on the field they gave it everything they had. An interesting tactic and it worked against the Bulldogs, but if Bentick played most of the game he might get 20 tackles and if Blackwell also had a big increase in playing time he would get close to 30 possessions.
15: Melbourne Demons 1-9 (15)
They were playing well and losing, they fixed that against the Crows and continued to play well but got the win. The Magpies, Tigers, Bombers and Blues are their next opponents.
16: Richmond Tigers 0-9-1 (16)
Simmonds might return for their game in Fremantle. The Tigers should be happy to at least have some points on the board, two is better than nothing, and it was an inspiring comeback that they performed in the second half against Brisbane. Kingsley's goal was far from the greatest moment in AFL history, it might be time for him to go back to the VFL.
And power rankings are better suited to leagues such as the NFL, NBA & Major League Baseball, to use as a guide since teams don't get to play against each other.
Sydney didn’t move up as much as the two South Australian teams moved down a bit this week.
It was the Cats management who recently suggested that they were a bit like the inconsistent and temperamental cricket teams from the sub-continent. If the Cats are playing as well in August as they are now then they will deserve their first or second favourite ranking to win this year, but as the Lions and Power made an early run it could be that Geelong have an injury or suspension that stops them too. If it is a battle of the coaches next week then Geelong are at a disadvantage, although it looks like Burton may not play which would hurt Adelaide’s chances.
Having said this, the Carlton game is the one that scares me the most. We really have a way of droping the games we shouldn't.
Molly
It will be interesting to see what happens with the Swans and Hawks, a great team that might be slipping a bit against a young team that is on the rise and might actually have already risen. Hall is the key, if he gets on a roll it will be hard for the Hawks to stop him.