What a wild week in football. Upsets, appalling performances and mightily impressive wins. No wonder, then, that seventeen teams move in the rankings.
Last week: 1
Excellent win, and easily the best (and closest) game of the weekend. The Swans are probably the best-placed side, and would probably be favourites to dispatch of the Crows on Friday night.
Last week: 3
Like Geelong, nothing too notable here. Just a comfortable victory over a lower-ranked side at a home-ground where they have an especially good record at.
Last week: 5
I didn’t think they’d be finals aspirants. I especially didn’t think they’d be finals aspirants after four rounds. I (and it pains me to say this) might be wrong.
Last week: 2
Well, their winning streak came to an abrupt end. There were some doubts over whether or not they’d win, but they largely failed to show a sniff. Still, their first three weeks held them in good steed, but they’re probably lucky not to fall further.
Last week: 6
It’s not hard to look good when the opposition’s so inept. Reigning premiers comfortably beating the reigning wooden-spooners isn’t an unusual headline, but ‘reigning premiers hold the reigning wooden-spooners goalless until almost three-quarter time’ is.
Last week: 7
No surprises here. A win over the Saints was Geelong doing as expected, and they made it through with no injuries.
Last week: 4
Not a good night, no matter which way you put it. It was wet, sure, but Adelaide just played dumb footy, and failed to adapt the challenge posed to the Pies. They cannot afford to be as complacent against the Swans on Friday night.
Last week: 9
Like North and Hawthorn, the Eagles are a team that have surprised me. Big win, return of JJK and they’re 3-1. Not bad for a team predicted to encounter doom and gloom this year.
Last week: 10
Needed a response after a poor few weeks, and got it with their domination of Port. Fantastic day, and Jake Stringer’s four goals were the cherry on top.
Last week: 8
What on Earth? So excellent for the first quarter, so damn poor for the three remaining terms. Almost quintessentially Melbourne, to be honest.
Never been as pleasantly surprised during a live blog as I was on Friday night. Being masters of ‘backs-to-the-wall’ footy is a weird thing to excel at, but they won’t mind. Great win.
Last week: 10
Had a good fortnight, but found Canberra’s winds and GWS’s goodness a little tough. Nothing to be disgraced by, though. Bulldogs next weekend is winnable, then it’s the derby.
Last week: 15
North truly aren’t as bad at this footballing caper as we think. 2-2 is not too bad a position to be in, but the Hawks next week will be a challenge. A welcome challenge, perhaps.
Last week: 17
The first two weeks are forgotten, and while they didn’t win against the Swans, no one can doubt the fact that they were in the game for its entirety. Fremantle over in Perth this weekend will be interesting to watch.
Last week: 13
Tough fortnight. The loss to Freo was excusable, somewhat, but the flop against the Eagles was frustrating. They’ll head back to Queensland with their tails between their legs, but confident they could win against the Lions in next weekend’s Q-Clash.
Last week: 14
It’s hard to know which words describe Saturday’s performance. Apt options include: ghastly, horrid, despicable, god-awful. I understand young teams will have peaks and troughs, but that was as rough a performance I’ve seen from any team in a long, long time.
Last week: 18
A tough year gets tougher. Another loss, but the bigger concern would be Dylan Roberton’s collapse. Frightening vision.
Last week: 16
Horrifyingly and excruciatingly bad. Brisbane’s worse performance a few hours earlier saves it from being worst of the week, or does it?
Harsh Truth Harry
Roar Rookie
who the hell does Ben Kenobi even play for paul! Never heard of the bloke!
Michael Pallaris
Roar Rookie
Glad to see the Swans on top of some type of ladder! Thanks AD!
big four sticks
Guest
Their not there, as in Sydney just do their thing.
anon
Roar Pro
Clarko is on another level. How many good assistants have left him over the years? The list has been gutted compared to what it was three years. Still has everyone on the same page, playing cohesive football. Ross Lyon lost Brett Kirk at the end of 2015, lost Sumich soon after. Goes from top 4 team to winning 4 games in 2016. Biggest fall from grace. Since then Lyon has demonstrated no ability to adapt.
Angela
Guest
I'm a Swans supporter and I agree with you Anon. They were scrappy wins and I won't feel confident unless they can beat Hawthorn and Richmond. I have been tipping Hawthorn to win the flag this year (depending, of course, on injuries). Clarkson is a canny coach, best in the business.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Ha.
anon
Roar Pro
I'm saying they were scrappy wins. It's going to be hard work for the Swans to make the top 4 playing that style but if any team will it's the Swans. I want a little evidence that they can really put a team to the sword like Richmond or Hawthorn have demonstrated in their 3 wins. I think Hawthorn beat Sydney the next time they meet. Same with when they play Richmond. They're 3rd in my power rankings I'm not exactly writing them off am I?
Glenn
Guest
Define 'the midfield'. I watched Papley, Heeney, etc spending a lot of time in the midfield against the dogs and Hannebery spending the whole game on a wing. I can't remember Jack spending much time in there at all. And not trying to rely on those 3 that you mention somehow paints a picture of a team in decline?Perspective.
Glenn
Guest
It's all about perspective. Swans lost to Port and you seem to be saying: enough said about that one as it proves your point, but you fail to mention that the Swans made horrible fumbling and kicking mistakes in that game. Then you basically say that the Swans only won the other 3 games because of the opposition's mistakes. And the Buddy comment, good grief, that's proof I'm wasting my time here.
Jim
Guest
I agree the Swans midfield is not at its best Anon - but I don't agree Buddy is looking old/missing a step. Its horrendous delivery from midfield that will always be his bugbear at the Swans. Certainly could use some of the bigger names playing a lot better (Kennedy/Hannebrey/Jack all relatively quiet so far this year).
true blue
Guest
Like Snapper from Port Phillip Bay, the Collingwood supporter who masquerades as a Carlton fan.
Jim
Guest
Swans far too high for mine. We are travelling along ok but really should be closer to 4th or 5th.
anon
Roar Pro
Only team Hawthorn has lost to is Richmond.
I ate pies
Guest
Because the author is a Fremantle fan.
anon
Roar Pro
I like the Swans and backed them throughout last year to turn it around, but they look old to me. Not particularly convincing in their three wins and lost to Port at the SCG. They lose to West Coast if Buddy kicks 4 goals instead of 8. Western handed it to them on the weekend. GWS's forward entries and accuracy was horrendous against the Swans.
Glenn
Guest
Yes, they did, correct. ?
jonboy
Guest
Right Glenn - Port thrashed Freo, Freo beat Essendon, Essendon beat Port all won at home.
Glenn
Guest
I love it when people twist past fixtures into some sort of argument one way or the other. Truly, there is no better example of swings and roundabouts, which is then hammered home by the fact that no one complains anymore that Sydney play GWS twice in a season. Actually, complaining in the first place was mind-numbing. Why should a team not play the only other team based in its home state twice, regardless of stength in that moment in time?
Glenn
Guest
And you are watching every one of those teams close enough are you? If you watched the Swans you would notice that they aren't relying on the 'aging' stars, it is the players with around 50 games experience that are stepping up. They have a great mix of youth and experience. I suppose it is difficult to change the mind of the wishful thinker.
Glenn
Guest
Head-to-head performances mean nothing in the grand scheme of things unless you are the bunny of a team that you come up against in a sudden-death final. A team could lose one match all year, to a team they only play once and win everything else, including the flag. You are overrating the wins of Richmond and Port over the Hawks and Swans. Drop that line of thinking and you'll be less stressed about the article.