Power Rankings! Come get your freshly printed Power Rankings! Also, before anyone asks, yes, it feels weird seeing Brisbane feel so high.
Last week: 1
Richmond staying at the top of these rankings is almost obligatory nowadays.
Last week: 3
Won a game not too many people would’ve been paying attention to, solidifying a top-four spot – for the moment.
Last week: 4
“The umps favoured them!” Sorry, just thought I’d join the outrage.
A good win, but could come at a cost from injuries. Not that they need any more of those!
Last week: 5
Vital win. Great win. Good to see one West Australian team doing well.
Wow, excuse me. Gotta go wash my mouth out with soap.
Last week: 2
Last week, I said Sydney were like a straight-A student who gets nervous when mingling with the interstaters. Right on cue, they lose like that. Huh.
Last week: 6
So close, yet so far. Next up: the premiers. Might be a beauty, but could also quickly turn disastrous for the New South Welshmen.
Last week: 9
Damn, that was a powerful win. Probably among the most likely of the chasing pack to make finals – hell, they’ve snuck into the top eight after Saturday’s victory.
Last week: 8
Thursday night feels like three-and-a-half years ago, and 8.23 is a score that should never win a game. But hey, they got the four points.
Last week: 7
Didn’t see the bulk of their clash, but a quick scan of social media tells me the keyword here is umpires. Bollocks. If they wanted to stay in finals contention, they simply win against the walking wounded in Collingwood. They didn’t.
Last week: 10
And to think I thought Freo could upset this team! Dominated the Dockers, and should’ve won by a lot more.
Last week: 11
Not the prettiest win they’ll ever have, but they got the four points, which is all that matters.
Last week: 14
Two in a row! Feels condescending saying that, but it’s a good thing to celebrate. Am I deluded though, or do the next fortnight’s clashes against Hawthorn and Adelaide seem winnable?
Last week: 12
Uh oh. Almost a must-win to stay in finals contention, and they blew it. Some are saying next week versus Geelong will be their last chance, but let’s be honest: they’re done.
Last week: 13
Oh so bad. But oh so promising early. What a strange night.
Last week: 15
From all accounts they were competitive, albeit outclassed. Lock ‘em in for win number four in a Friday night clash against the Blu- wait, that cannot be correct? Lemme check. Oh wow – yep, that’s what it says. Friday night featuring the Saints and the Blues.
Last week: 16
My banking app sent me a notification telling me how much I’d spent on food this month at the same time Freo’s app told me the final result in this one.
Both gave a sense of disappointment yet disillusioned acceptance.
Last week: 18
Perhaps surprising no one, the Suns were reasonably competitive against North. Unfortunately, they weren’t competitive enough. No Sunday upset win for the Queenslanders, then.
Last week: 17
I don’t know what to say. This team sucks.
RT
Roar Rookie
Sean, Peter is obsessed with injuries, he mentions potential injuries in nearly every post.
RT
Roar Rookie
Cat, no free memberships at Richmond. I am pretty sure we hit 80000 before the season even started and before 3 game memberships were made available. There will always be people who can't go week to week that is obvious (kids at night, others who can't go on Friday night and Richmond have thousands of interstate members. Peter you have no idea. Since 2003 Richmond's membership has increased every year bar one, which is more than can be said for Collingwood.
Knoxy
Guest
I agree with Cat. Membership figures are pretty meaningless these days. I remember there was a joke/ rumour that some clubs included pet memberships in the final tally (Who the hell buys a pet membership anyway?). All clubs inflate the figures to make themselves appear more lucrative to sponsors. Personally I'd be more interested to see how many full season ticket holders each club has.
Cat
Roar Guru
Actually Neil, non-gamedays access IS in fact counted. To count as an official member the following criteria must be met: 1. A name and physical address 2. Cost $50 or more 3. A membership package must be sent to the given physical address. That is it. No games required.
Cat
Roar Guru
Season long form guide is called the ladder.
Joe
Guest
Swapping Cats with Swans would put them in 5th mate, not 3rd. 5th would be a fairer ranking IMO, considering of the teams above them, Geelong have beaten Port in Adelaide, Collingwood at the MCG, Sydney in Sydney, and smashed GWS. Their losses to Richmond, WC and Hawks were all less than 3 goals, and all three were at their opposition's homegrounds. Geelong have had two shockingly bad games this year and deserve criticism for that, but it's a bit overboard to put them in 8th as far as I can be concerned.
Joe
Guest
How can Sydney be above Geelong after being dominated at their homeground?
Aw
Guest
The swans tumble down the ladder and ,more than likely out of the finals, should the massive wake up call needed to revamp the team. New coach, new gamestyle and some astute recruiting and trading is needed if the swans are to get themselves out of the massive hole they are in.
1DER
Guest
Carlton need to look at getting a least couple of experienced old stages this transfer window to enhance and surround the youngsters coming through over the next two years. The B grade top up experiment has failed to deliver assistance to date. Should be definitely be looking at Mundy and Mackay both Victorians and out of contract this year. Miles would also be worth some consideration.
Slane
Guest
You might want to check Richmond's membership numbers and attendances over the last 3 decadea before you withdraw that comment, Peter. The fact that the worst performed team in the AFL has always outdrawn half the teams in the comp really says it all.
sammy
Guest
I suppose they just cater for their market. A lot more people in Adelaide follow the crows. But you have nothing to complain about considering one of yours has had control of the only Adelaide based newspaper for years :-)
Slane
Guest
No doubt missing Dusty hurt Richmond in the Port Adelaide game, but losing Astbury in the first quarter was even worse. The Tigers don't exactly have a dearth of talls. Port got a 6 goal lead in the first half and then shut up shop for the day. Put 2 extra players behind the ball and strangled the Tigers to death. Hard to imagine too many teams being able to beat Richmond at the G while only kicking 1 goal in a half of football.
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
Pretty nice of the Adelaide media to stop talking about the Crows for long enough to acknowledge the Power are going alright.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
And yes I am winding you up. :)
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
The jury is still out on Stringer but I really like Saad and Smith.
sammy
Guest
Fair chop - I went to the game and the 3/4 time score flattered the crows big time. Richmond's run and spread is by far and away the best in the league -particularly at the MCG. We got you in Adelaide earlier in the year and you got us at the MCG but Richmond's flag to lose as no one in the league will knock them off. The media in Adelaide is talking port up - as they always do, but considering they only just beat you in Adelaide minus Dusty martin and Richmond don't travel all that well, they like everyone else will be playing for first placed loser this year
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
The difference Neil between Pies fans and Richmond fans is Richmond fans go missing when you're not in the hunt which to be fair has been most of the AFL era. Pies fans don't disappear for 37 years and then re-emerge with shiny new scarves.
JamesH
Roar Guru
In hindsight it was probably a bit much to expect an already raw side to fire after bringing in three new key recruits.
Birdman
Roar Rookie
trading Tom Mitchell is way worse than any of those decisions but yes Swans get lots of credit for landing top drawer rookies but the media ignore their obvious recruiting mistakes
sean
Guest
this tiger support sounds like a muppet, gives us humble ones a bad name. Finally getting injuries? lol. Broad only gonna miss 1-2 and he missed the first 5 games of the season and didn't affect them, Graham is important to them though no doubt. But that's it...Conca is rubbish...not glad he's injured but happy he's not playing. We had more injuries at the start of the season and it didn't matter..Houli missed a month, Rioli has only played 3 games, Prestia only played 3 games. Our injury list is better now that it has been earlier on. With only Broad and Graham missing from the best 22...Houli and Vlastuin back in this week too.