Oracle of Delphi
KC Hill
Paladin
Craig HillAFL Insider Power Rankings: May 7 2007
May 7th 2007 01:51
1: West Coast Eagles 6-0 win-loss record (1 in last AFL Power Rankings)
They are not kicking big scores, but they kick more than their opponents so that is all that matters. The trip to Geelong was difficult last season, until the last quarter when they had the big comeback, so the Eagles have another big week coming up. The Eagles may once again not have to make any changes to their team.
2: Port Adelaide Power 5-1 (5)
There are three teams down the bottom who are beginning to lose touch, and up the top there are two teams who have separated themselves from the rest. The Power have been the big surprise this season and they should get to 6 and 1 with a game against Richmond next round. There will be plenty of Tigers wishing they were in David Rodan’s shoes.
3: Sydney Swans 3-3 (2)
They nearly won despite not playing well for the first three quarters. The Kangaroos didn't have a huge forward line, except for Petrie, and now the Swans are going to have to go back under the roof and play against Riewoldt, Gehrig and Koschitzke.
4: Adelaide Crows 3-3 (3)
The Crows have to play a more attacking game and put a bigger score on the board. They still have lots of injuries, and even when they bring in a new injury-free player, like Hinge, he can't escape a trip to the injury list.
5: Western Bulldogs 3-3 (6)
They need to find a couple of tall forward targets, and with Murphy out for a few weeks they can't just have Darcy in the forward line as the only tall option.
6: Fremantle Dockers 2-4 (4)
If they lose at home to Hawthorn then they are in big trouble. Tarrant and Pavlich are playing well so it is a mystery why the Dockers are losing. The midfield and back line are performing too, but starting McPharlin forward was a move that didn’t make sense.
7: Brisbane Lions 4-2 (8)
If they can beat the Crows then they will have convinced people that they are for real. Their young back line of Roe, Merrett and Brennan is getting the job done every week. It also helps to have Lappin back with Power and Black.
8: Essendon Bombers 3-3 (7)
The Bombers will keep losing if they keep playing Bolton, they are 0 and 2 with him in the team so far. Hille's injury is another reason why the Bombers have hit a mini-slump.
9: Geelong Cats 3-3 (10)
The coach, at his post-game press conference, was a surly fellow despite annihilating a team. The Eagles visit Kardinia Park next week and that could put him in another bad mood. The Cats have had 3 huge wins, but they have been against the bottom teams in the AFL who have a combined 2 and 16 record.
10: St Kilda Saints 3-3 (9)
They managed to get past Carlton without their big defenders available, they face a bigger test with Hall and Everitt next round. Gwilt and Blake are going to need some help.
11: Hawthorn Hawks 4-2 (11)
They are starting to defeat better credentialed teams, and can really make a statement with upcoming matches against Fremantle and St Kilda.
12: Collingwood Magpies 4-2 (12)
If they win their next two games, against the Blues and Bulldogs, then they will be on their way to the finals again. Bryan versus C Cloke will be something to watch next week.
13: Kangaroos 3-3 (13)
The Kangaroos, who back in the day helped start the Friday games, are going to be back on a Friday night, they play the Bombers. This game could define their season, and with Carlton and Melbourne to follow they could only be in the middle of a big streak.
14: Carlton Blues 2-4 (14)
Before the season began, games against Collingwood and the Kangaroos would have been seen as very winnable. Those two teams have hit form and will be tough for Carlton in the coming weeks. If Carlton are 2 and 6 then they will have to shake things up. The addition of Koutoufides might get them going again soon.
15: Melbourne Demons 0-6 (16)
Neitz is back and they were nearly back in the winning column of the standings. The Demons have done the right thing by giving their 2nd and 3rd round picks from the 2007 AFL Draft some senior action, and when Frawley is ready they will put him in too. The Demons have games coming up against the two teams down the bottom of the alphabet, Western Bulldogs and West Coast, who are also up the top of the standings. It is time for rebuilding, with looking ahead to the drafts as well as their round 12 game.
16: Richmond Tigers 0-6 (15)
Laidley gave the title of worst coach in the AFL to Thompson a week ago, and now Terry Wallace has snatched it from the Cats' coach. The Gaspar situation was handled worse than the Kellaway one, and would have hurt the team more as it was during the season. If they didn't want Gaspar to play this season they should have decided that in October. The Tigers can spend two weeks in Adelaide, as they play the Power and Crows there for the next two rounds. Hughes is playing well, Oakley-Nicholls deserves to play, Riewoldt will be in the team now, maybe there is some good news.
They are not kicking big scores, but they kick more than their opponents so that is all that matters. The trip to Geelong was difficult last season, until the last quarter when they had the big comeback, so the Eagles have another big week coming up. The Eagles may once again not have to make any changes to their team.
2: Port Adelaide Power 5-1 (5)
There are three teams down the bottom who are beginning to lose touch, and up the top there are two teams who have separated themselves from the rest. The Power have been the big surprise this season and they should get to 6 and 1 with a game against Richmond next round. There will be plenty of Tigers wishing they were in David Rodan’s shoes.
3: Sydney Swans 3-3 (2)
They nearly won despite not playing well for the first three quarters. The Kangaroos didn't have a huge forward line, except for Petrie, and now the Swans are going to have to go back under the roof and play against Riewoldt, Gehrig and Koschitzke.
4: Adelaide Crows 3-3 (3)
The Crows have to play a more attacking game and put a bigger score on the board. They still have lots of injuries, and even when they bring in a new injury-free player, like Hinge, he can't escape a trip to the injury list.
5: Western Bulldogs 3-3 (6)
They need to find a couple of tall forward targets, and with Murphy out for a few weeks they can't just have Darcy in the forward line as the only tall option.
6: Fremantle Dockers 2-4 (4)
If they lose at home to Hawthorn then they are in big trouble. Tarrant and Pavlich are playing well so it is a mystery why the Dockers are losing. The midfield and back line are performing too, but starting McPharlin forward was a move that didn’t make sense.
7: Brisbane Lions 4-2 (8)
If they can beat the Crows then they will have convinced people that they are for real. Their young back line of Roe, Merrett and Brennan is getting the job done every week. It also helps to have Lappin back with Power and Black.
8: Essendon Bombers 3-3 (7)
The Bombers will keep losing if they keep playing Bolton, they are 0 and 2 with him in the team so far. Hille's injury is another reason why the Bombers have hit a mini-slump.
9: Geelong Cats 3-3 (10)
The coach, at his post-game press conference, was a surly fellow despite annihilating a team. The Eagles visit Kardinia Park next week and that could put him in another bad mood. The Cats have had 3 huge wins, but they have been against the bottom teams in the AFL who have a combined 2 and 16 record.
10: St Kilda Saints 3-3 (9)
They managed to get past Carlton without their big defenders available, they face a bigger test with Hall and Everitt next round. Gwilt and Blake are going to need some help.
11: Hawthorn Hawks 4-2 (11)
They are starting to defeat better credentialed teams, and can really make a statement with upcoming matches against Fremantle and St Kilda.
12: Collingwood Magpies 4-2 (12)
If they win their next two games, against the Blues and Bulldogs, then they will be on their way to the finals again. Bryan versus C Cloke will be something to watch next week.
13: Kangaroos 3-3 (13)
The Kangaroos, who back in the day helped start the Friday games, are going to be back on a Friday night, they play the Bombers. This game could define their season, and with Carlton and Melbourne to follow they could only be in the middle of a big streak.
14: Carlton Blues 2-4 (14)
Before the season began, games against Collingwood and the Kangaroos would have been seen as very winnable. Those two teams have hit form and will be tough for Carlton in the coming weeks. If Carlton are 2 and 6 then they will have to shake things up. The addition of Koutoufides might get them going again soon.
15: Melbourne Demons 0-6 (16)
Neitz is back and they were nearly back in the winning column of the standings. The Demons have done the right thing by giving their 2nd and 3rd round picks from the 2007 AFL Draft some senior action, and when Frawley is ready they will put him in too. The Demons have games coming up against the two teams down the bottom of the alphabet, Western Bulldogs and West Coast, who are also up the top of the standings. It is time for rebuilding, with looking ahead to the drafts as well as their round 12 game.
16: Richmond Tigers 0-6 (15)
Laidley gave the title of worst coach in the AFL to Thompson a week ago, and now Terry Wallace has snatched it from the Cats' coach. The Gaspar situation was handled worse than the Kellaway one, and would have hurt the team more as it was during the season. If they didn't want Gaspar to play this season they should have decided that in October. The Tigers can spend two weeks in Adelaide, as they play the Power and Crows there for the next two rounds. Hughes is playing well, Oakley-Nicholls deserves to play, Riewoldt will be in the team now, maybe there is some good news.
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Comment by Anonymous
Comment by Sports Insider
The Power then play in Sydney, that will be a big game and will show how well the Power are going.
Comment by Anonymous
Very even season so far, could we have a few surprise packets in the top 4?? And maybe a surprise premier...