AFL Insider Power Rankings: May 28 2007
1: West Coast Eagles 7-2 win-loss record (1 in last AFL Power Rankings)
The Eagles do not have to worry about their two losses, they won't be playing in Geelong or Tasmania again this season. What they do have to worry about is their forward line, Lynch has been getting the ball but too far up the ground and Hansen will miss quite a few games with a hand injury. Mitch Brown might be someone they use now in a bigger role.
2: Adelaide Crows 6-3 (3)
Mattner may be in trouble while Griffin is injured, so they do have some concerns. Johncock will be much better next week after returning from injury against Carlton and Ricciuto could once again be a possible inclusion.
3: Port Adelaide Power 6-3 (2)
Geelong had a win over the Eagles and then a couple of weeks later they defeated the Power, now Port Adelaide will have to face Hawthorn who are also coming off a win against the Eagles.
4: Sydney Swans 5-4 (4)
They were in trouble a few weeks ago, now all their problems have been solved and they are again a big contender. Important games against the Bombers, Hawks and Magpies will test them over the next three weeks.
5: Geelong Cats 6-3 (6)
They could be for real, although they have had runs like this in other seasons and then fallen over soon after. They can't afford a loss to the Saints next round, a much bigger test will be when they return to Adelaide after that to face the Crows.
6: Western Bulldogs 5-4 (5)
If the Bulldogs had Murphy, Griffen and McMahon they would have been much more competitive on the weekend, luckily for the Bulldogs they should all return for this round. They are still a but short at both ends so maybe they address that, someone like Williams would have been a player to use on Goodes.
7: Collingwood Magpies 6-3 (9)
Wins in Adelaide and Brisbane, and they were close in Perth against the Eagles, so the Magpies could be a legitimate finals team. On current form they should defeat the Dockers at the MCG, that is a big test for both teams.
8: Fremantle Dockers 4-5 (8)
Tens of thousands of people will attend the MCG just to boo Chris Tarrant, if he can kick 4 goals it will silence the crowd, get the Dockers the win and get their season back on track. The unexpected return of Peake brought a much better balance to their midfield, they will also have J Carr back next round too.
9: Hawthorn Hawks 6-3 (11)
A great win but there won't be any finals games played in Tasmania. A few extra wins down there could help them get into the finals so that is good news, later in the season the Hawks play the Kangaroos and Power in Tasmania. They have the Power in Adelaide next round, that will show if Port Adelaide's loss against Geelong was an anomaly and whether the Hawks' win over the Eagles was a fluke. With the great play of Luke it probably wasn't a fluke, but the Hawks need to prove themselves against the Power.
10: Brisbane Lions 4-5 (7)
Their early season run is over, but there are still a few options for Coach Matthews to go with to get them going again. He successfully stopped the double-teaming of Brown with the inclusion of Clark. Leuenberger is reportedly only a few weeks away too, and he might also be tried up forward.
11: Essendon Bombers 5-4 (10)
They certainly got out of jail, and they will need to player better as they go to the SCG this round. It is very possible that the Bombers now put together three consecutive losses, games against the Swans, Eagles and Power will have a big impact on whether Sheedy gets a new contract.
12: Kangaroos 6-3 (12)
A different team but the same type of escape at the same place. Like the Bombers, the Kangaroos will also face an interstate opponent, West Coast at Subiaco. After the Eagles it is the Saints, Crows and Bulldogs.
13: St Kilda Saints 4-5 (13)
A line has already been drawn through the teams below them here, and the Saints are also in a lot of trouble. They now have games against the Cats, Kangaroos and Eagles. They won't have Harvey so the youngsters have to step up, Gilbert is someone who is doing that and Armitage has plenty of potential.
14: Carlton Blues 2-7 (14)
First it was Coach Pagan throwing his full back of the present into the ruck, now he is experimenting with his centre half forward of the future. If he really wanted to have S O'hAilpin and Mr Kennedy in the ruck he should have done it in preseason, although it really isn't a good idea for several reasons. One big reason is the 201cm Hampson, they picked him in the top 20 so they might as well play him. Carlton have the Bulldogs, Power and Hawks in the coming rounds so with the finals out of the picture they will have plenty of time to give to youngsters like Hampson, Benjamin and Grigg. Carlton need to focus on the future but they are not doing that, it's time to forget about Lappin and they might want to rethink their contract extension for Stevens, and they will at least want a big discount from his current huge deal.
15: Melbourne Demons 0-9 (15)
They nearly had it. The Demons made a huge run to hit the lead but they needed the siren to sound a couple of minutes earlier than it did. Robertson and McLean were very good and will be in top form next week. Bizzell was good and had lots of the ball, but he is a player who doesn't produce wins and at his age it doesn't make sense for him to be played.
16: Richmond Tigers 0-9 (16)
They nearly had it. Richardson did very well to play in that game, and he won't be putting his hands anywhere near someone's back again. Things will improve soon, as Simmonds will return and when he is combined with Pattison, who is greatly improved, it will give the Tigers a competitive ruck duo. Their next three games are also winnable, they host the Lions although it is under the roof, then it is a visit to the inconsistent Dockers before the vital Kruezer Cup clash against the Demons at the MCG in round 12. They gave Kingsley his one game for the year, if they are going to send Gaspar away then there is no logic in giving Kingsley any more games.
The Eagles do not have to worry about their two losses, they won't be playing in Geelong or Tasmania again this season. What they do have to worry about is their forward line, Lynch has been getting the ball but too far up the ground and Hansen will miss quite a few games with a hand injury. Mitch Brown might be someone they use now in a bigger role.
2: Adelaide Crows 6-3 (3)
Mattner may be in trouble while Griffin is injured, so they do have some concerns. Johncock will be much better next week after returning from injury against Carlton and Ricciuto could once again be a possible inclusion.
3: Port Adelaide Power 6-3 (2)
Geelong had a win over the Eagles and then a couple of weeks later they defeated the Power, now Port Adelaide will have to face Hawthorn who are also coming off a win against the Eagles.
4: Sydney Swans 5-4 (4)
They were in trouble a few weeks ago, now all their problems have been solved and they are again a big contender. Important games against the Bombers, Hawks and Magpies will test them over the next three weeks.
5: Geelong Cats 6-3 (6)
They could be for real, although they have had runs like this in other seasons and then fallen over soon after. They can't afford a loss to the Saints next round, a much bigger test will be when they return to Adelaide after that to face the Crows.
6: Western Bulldogs 5-4 (5)
If the Bulldogs had Murphy, Griffen and McMahon they would have been much more competitive on the weekend, luckily for the Bulldogs they should all return for this round. They are still a but short at both ends so maybe they address that, someone like Williams would have been a player to use on Goodes.
7: Collingwood Magpies 6-3 (9)
Wins in Adelaide and Brisbane, and they were close in Perth against the Eagles, so the Magpies could be a legitimate finals team. On current form they should defeat the Dockers at the MCG, that is a big test for both teams.
8: Fremantle Dockers 4-5 (8)
Tens of thousands of people will attend the MCG just to boo Chris Tarrant, if he can kick 4 goals it will silence the crowd, get the Dockers the win and get their season back on track. The unexpected return of Peake brought a much better balance to their midfield, they will also have J Carr back next round too.
9: Hawthorn Hawks 6-3 (11)
A great win but there won't be any finals games played in Tasmania. A few extra wins down there could help them get into the finals so that is good news, later in the season the Hawks play the Kangaroos and Power in Tasmania. They have the Power in Adelaide next round, that will show if Port Adelaide's loss against Geelong was an anomaly and whether the Hawks' win over the Eagles was a fluke. With the great play of Luke it probably wasn't a fluke, but the Hawks need to prove themselves against the Power.
10: Brisbane Lions 4-5 (7)
Their early season run is over, but there are still a few options for Coach Matthews to go with to get them going again. He successfully stopped the double-teaming of Brown with the inclusion of Clark. Leuenberger is reportedly only a few weeks away too, and he might also be tried up forward.
11: Essendon Bombers 5-4 (10)
They certainly got out of jail, and they will need to player better as they go to the SCG this round. It is very possible that the Bombers now put together three consecutive losses, games against the Swans, Eagles and Power will have a big impact on whether Sheedy gets a new contract.
12: Kangaroos 6-3 (12)
A different team but the same type of escape at the same place. Like the Bombers, the Kangaroos will also face an interstate opponent, West Coast at Subiaco. After the Eagles it is the Saints, Crows and Bulldogs.
13: St Kilda Saints 4-5 (13)
A line has already been drawn through the teams below them here, and the Saints are also in a lot of trouble. They now have games against the Cats, Kangaroos and Eagles. They won't have Harvey so the youngsters have to step up, Gilbert is someone who is doing that and Armitage has plenty of potential.
14: Carlton Blues 2-7 (14)
First it was Coach Pagan throwing his full back of the present into the ruck, now he is experimenting with his centre half forward of the future. If he really wanted to have S O'hAilpin and Mr Kennedy in the ruck he should have done it in preseason, although it really isn't a good idea for several reasons. One big reason is the 201cm Hampson, they picked him in the top 20 so they might as well play him. Carlton have the Bulldogs, Power and Hawks in the coming rounds so with the finals out of the picture they will have plenty of time to give to youngsters like Hampson, Benjamin and Grigg. Carlton need to focus on the future but they are not doing that, it's time to forget about Lappin and they might want to rethink their contract extension for Stevens, and they will at least want a big discount from his current huge deal.
15: Melbourne Demons 0-9 (15)
They nearly had it. The Demons made a huge run to hit the lead but they needed the siren to sound a couple of minutes earlier than it did. Robertson and McLean were very good and will be in top form next week. Bizzell was good and had lots of the ball, but he is a player who doesn't produce wins and at his age it doesn't make sense for him to be played.
16: Richmond Tigers 0-9 (16)
They nearly had it. Richardson did very well to play in that game, and he won't be putting his hands anywhere near someone's back again. Things will improve soon, as Simmonds will return and when he is combined with Pattison, who is greatly improved, it will give the Tigers a competitive ruck duo. Their next three games are also winnable, they host the Lions although it is under the roof, then it is a visit to the inconsistent Dockers before the vital Kruezer Cup clash against the Demons at the MCG in round 12. They gave Kingsley his one game for the year, if they are going to send Gaspar away then there is no logic in giving Kingsley any more games.
JMTC
Molly
Molly
Hawthorn did have a big win, but they do need to show they can do it again.
The Kangaroos had the AFL Player Of The Week a week ago and Hawthorn get the AFL Player Of The Week today so their efforts are being noted.
But teams coached by Laidley and Clarkson really need to prove they are for real.
Friday should see where they, and Collingwood, are for this year.
They got Peake back last week, Farmer is back training with them and Schammer is only a few weeks away so they will have some more quickness in their team which they have missed.