If the first eight rounds taught us anything, it’s to expect anything, which is why – with the exception of the margin between Essendon and West Coast – there were no real surprises in Round 9.
As a result, there’s not a lot of movement in the rankings this week.
Last week: 1
Ladder: 2
They might have pinched a couple in the dying minutes in the past fortnight, but given the length of their injury list, wins are all that matter for the Giants right now. Tough to see a future in which they don’t finish in the top-four.
Last week: 2
Ladder: 1
They’re a powerful team who did what powerful teams do to cellar dwellers, but it’s not enough to remove the stink of the previous two weeks just yet.
Last week: 4
Ladder: 6
A well-deserved week off after spanking Gold Coast in Shanghai and they move up a spot in the rankings.
Last week: 3
Ladder: 4
After another pitiful performance in Melbourne they’re lucky to drop only one spot. Jack Darling is like a microcosm of this team – I keep wanting to cut him some slack because of how good his best is… but he keeps on doing Jack Darling things.
Last week: 5
Ladder: 8
It’s been a tough month for the Dogs with road games against GWS, West Coast and Geelong, but they came up short in all of them. Plenty of work to do to cement their spot in the top eight before they even start thinking about top four.
Last week: 8
Ladder: 3
Bounced back in emphatic fashion against the Dogs with a ruthless and relentless performance – unsurprisingly led by Joel Selwood and Patrick Dangerfield.
I do wonder if it’s a bit of fool’s gold though – that level of intensity isn’t sustainable and Harry Taylor’s bag of five goals came after he booted only two in the first eight weeks.
Last week: 6
Ladder: 9
Were no match for the Swans and their inability to adjust they way they attacked the Swans is a slight worry. Improvement is rarely a constant for teams on the rise, how the Saints respond will tell us plenty.
Last week: 9
Ladder: 5
Still not sure they’re good but that’s six wins in seven weeks, including victories against the next three teams on this list. Nat Fyfe still doesn’t look like Nat Fyfe.
Last week: 7
Ladder: 11
Ran into a decent side in good form and couldn’t overcome the Roos’ hot start. They were coming off one the club’s best wins in at least a decade and of their mates was just diagnosed with cancer – they’re not robots, it’s no surprise there was a letdown.
Last week: 11
Ladder: 10
The Bombers have good players in important positions and when things click for them they can take it up to most sides. When it clicks against a team not having a real crack, you get results like the one we saw on Sunday. Orazio Fantasia has 41 goals in his past 17 games.
Last week: 10
Ladder: 7
Lost after the siren to the Dockers and as the away team they got within a kick of the Dogs and Giants. Things weren’t as good as their 5-0 start and they aren’t as bad as their four-game losing streak.
Last week: 12
Ladder: 12
Foolishly wrote them off as potential finalists a couple of weeks ago. Their star mids are shining again and the defence looks organised, connected and stingy – Dane Rampe sure helps. Will have a big say in how this season unfolds.
Last week: 13
Ladder: 14
Bounced back nicely after their worst game of the season to knock over the Demons with a solid four-quarter performance built on a hot start.
There’s a sprinkling of young players but for the most part the Roos are made up of capable, mature players – that will keep them in a lot of games.
Last week: 15
Ladder: 13
They got the win they wanted even if it wasn’t all that impressive. What a sublime footballer Scott Pendlebury is. Haven’t won back-to-back games since stringing three together in rounds 14-16 last year.
Last week: 14
Ladder: 16
Young team travels across the country and gets overrun after half time – it happens.
Last week: 16
Ladder: 15
Nothing to see here.
Last week: 17
Ladder: 17
Considering the Hawks’ injury list, that was probably one of their’ better performances of the season.
Last week: 18
Ladder: 18
They’re a young team incapable of maintaining effort for four quarters and prone to costly mistakes – few teams can exploit those weaknesses like the Crows.
AndyFNQ
Guest
AGREE!!!
AndyFNQ
Guest
You might not have predicted Essendon would steamroll WCE, but a lot of the rest of us did. They are diabolical in Melbourne and Essendon were returning to form with a win over the still-dangerous Geelong. Check stats before making statements like that.
Cat
Roar Guru
Apparently you are one of 'those people'. No one was robbed. They deserved to lose. They aren't and weren't good enough. In isolation you can blame any of two dozen things that could have changed the outcome.
powa
Guest
port slipped because of their bye
hooked13
Roar Rookie
And therein lies the problem, for the last 2 years it isn't a goal, and the Tigers lose. So who is arguing for the sake of it? For 148 years teams lost games they shouldn't have. Now the Tigers lost a game they should have. Not really much to argue about I would have though......
col in paradise
Guest
IF IF IF IF IF ....IFFFY......we woz robbed !!!! LOL.......the Tigers choked - simple..again.....got a good start on a soft draw...now the reality is hitting......GF Preview what a joke...
I ate pies
Guest
That sort of confirms my point Matt. They're great at home, but terrible anywhere else (other than Adelaide oval). Their home ground advantage (crowd, umpires, dimensions) makes them appear better than they are. Realistically they've also got a one man forward line, albeit a good one man forward line.
Matto
Guest
How'd Richmond go in Adelaide? In what I'm sure you were saying was the grandfinal preview that weekend too. Talk about 1 state wonders.
Matto
Guest
Fair suck of the Victorian sauce bottle. What Melbourne teams would beat them in Perth that are in your positions 1-7?
tibor nagy (big four sticks)
Guest
West Coast are one state wonders and Melbourne are front runners. Richmond took care of them both.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Marley Williams is also having a good year
Kaniel Outis
Guest
Brad Scott said Cunnington is the best in close player he has ever seen.
I ate pies
Guest
If the umpiring was the same as it has been for 148 out of 150 years they would have won. Are you one of those people that argue for the sake of it?
Perry Bridge
Guest
Thompson and Tarrant up back helped control the damage, and Turner's tackling is becoming a feature. Garner's finishing - twice on the run crossing 50 and beautifully balanced. Wood not far off - missed 2 easy shots at the start of the game - not far off snagging a bag of 5. Cunnington though - very important in close.
13th man
Guest
Not sure Freo are good? They've beaten last years premiers Western Bulldogs, supposed contenders Melbourne and Richmond, a rejuvenated Essendon, a North side who are far better than there ladder position suggests and a young Carlton side. None of those wins were particularly 'easy'. Bear in mind Carlton game was played in torrential rain and the 35 point margin flatters the blues who only really played one good quarter of Footy. Granted Freo may not be the best side going around but they are stringing the W's together and continue to get it done often coming from behind which shows a heck of a lot of character!! And as you say this is all being done without a big influence from Nat Fyfe. Will we beat Adelaide next week? Probably not but I guarantee they will give them a run for there money. They are in that group of teams who will be fighting for the 8 I agree but you have to acknowledge how well they've done from the position they were in. Brad Hill is recruit of the year, Blakely will be a star as will McCarthy. This Freo side is far more exciting than the one that finished top two years ago. Big test next week but they've already doubled there wins from last year and at the start of the season I said 8 wins would be a successful year. Time to start taking notice as I do feel that Freo are now a genuine finals contender
Cat
Roar Guru
If Richmond was good enough, they would have won. They didn't because they aren't.
mattyb
Guest
Gene Anderson Conklin/Samantha/Sam/CatsFan/Cat,it would appear some people still find the dogs a threat despite those losses. Even with a slight premiership hangover they're not to far away. I'd imagine they will be there a outs and the business end of the season.
I ate pies
Guest
Richmond were robbed. That was a goal for 148 out of the last 150 years. If the umpire doesn't call for a review the goal should count.
tibor nagy (big four sticks)
Guest
We were robbed in the grand final preview. Bolton, who is going to be a star, had his goal disallowed. The rules of the review process is that the original decision should stand, unless the vision is definitive. It was unclear that it was touched. It should have been a goal. Even Rohan Connelly and Martin Blake said it was unclear that it was touched. That being the case, it was a goal, and Richmond win. Secondly Cameron went across the mark of Dustin Martin. That should have been a 50 metre penalty. That being the case; Richmond win. Unfortunately we kicked 5 behinds in the final term,, which didn't help. If Castagna kicked the goal at the beginning of the last term, and if Dusty didn't kick into the man on the mark, we would have won. We didn't bury GWS when we had the chance. Hardwick is also to blame. After Bolton's goal was over turned, we had 1 minute and 20 seconds to get players back to stop the Giants. Hardwick should have realised that Mathan Wilson is a thumping kick. We had plenty of time to set up, and a well coached side would know what to do. It is common knowledge that sides would go long down the middle. This is poor coaching, as Hardwick hasn't trained well enough for these situations. We will knock the Giants off in the grand final. We missed Butler. Astbury, once again, showed us all why he will be all Australian. Rance held up, as he nullified Stevie J's influence. Lambert and Miles were good. Overall Caddy has been of value, while Prestia is fitting in, but not standing out. Hardwick should stop saying he is proud and work on his coaching.
Sammy the Tank
Guest
"If those three teams had have kicked straight GWS would have lost". You don't know how sports work do you?