I’m writing part of this week’s rankings on a crowded train leaving Optus Stadium after witnessing a great game, so it’s been a good weekend in Western Australia for me.
And also for fans of the Western Australia teams. Enjoy the rankings.
(1) Geelong (last week: 1)
Yikes. For all the talk they would dominate the Suns, it was instead them suddenly on the back foot for much of the clash. Got the win, but let’s talk the elephant in the room: Ablett’s apparent wish to be suspended. Nothing short of a farce if he isn’t after the latest incident.
(2) Collingwood (last week: 2)
History dictated the Pies’ trip to Sydney would be close, and history was right. Did enough when it mattered, and the Pies remain up the top.
(3) GWS Giants (last week: 3)
The Giants’ blistering opening three terms personally surprised me, but perhaps shouldn’t have been a surprise. Despite the continuous talk about how they couldn’t win at the ‘G, the Giants did enough to come through.
(4) West Coast (last week: 4)
Damn, the West Australian sides sure know how to provide plenty of heart attacks. The Eagles didn’t waver when faced with a substantial deficit in front of a vocal South Australian crowd, and forged ahead. It’s the sort of win that makes most step back and take notice.
It sounds dumb saying that about the reigning premiers, but it’s their most impressive win thus far this season.
(5) Richmond (last week: 7)
I mentioned in last week’s column that Essendon should’ve been nervous. I didn’t expect a Richmond win of this magnitude. The final scoreline didn’t evidence that, but the Tigers destroyed the Dons in a big display.
(6) Brisbane (last week: 5)
From ecstasy to agony in a week. Yikes. Lachie Neale’s return game was looking excellent – all credit to them, really – but oh my, that last quarter would be brutally disappointing. It’s a reminder to not get complacent; even against an inaccurate Fremantle.
Brisbane’s Lachie Neale is a favourite for the Brownlow Medal after a sensational start to the 2019 AFL season. (Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
(7) Adelaide (last week: 6)
Not the only side to capitulate a game against a West Australian side late. But oh my, the Crows’ capitulation was a horror-show. They never should have lost that game, and it’s an indictment on the fact that Adelaide is a fairly inconsistent side, despite the facade of being a strong one.
(8) Hawthorn (last week: 8)
Good win, good day for Gunston (six goals!) and they’re now in a good position on the ladder (equal-seventh). Their season has a pulse.
(9) Port Adelaide (last week: 8)
Don’t ask me why I tipped them. They’ve had a rough few weeks, and like Port Adelaide usually does, they’re sparking a lot of debate about whether they’re a genuine finals contender or not. The Saints in China next week.
(10) Fremantle (last week: 13)
I just wanna say that halfway through Sunday’s clash, I turned to the boisterous young man next to me – who was continually rooting for the ball to be given Walters – and joked that Walters would probably boot a goal near the end to clinch the win.
I’m not saying I’m Nostradamus or anything, but I wasn’t too far off the mark. In all seriousness, Freo still have a dozen deficits to improve on, but a win is a win.
(11) St Kilda (last week: 12)
This was a win they absolutely needed to get, and they got it. Not without some nervy moments and old foes – inaccuracy is a problem – but being realistic, it’s a good win that proves zilch. The Saints still struggle against the best in the competition, and that’s still their key problem.
(12) Western Bulldogs (last week: 10)
Not the best day in the office. Tough clash next weekend against the premiers in Perth, but the Dogs are another of the inconsistent sides this year. Finals possible, but in my eyes pretty unlikely.
(13) Essendon (last week: 11)
Dreamtime at the ‘G very quickly turned into a nightmare, as Essendon’s deficiencies came to light in wet conditions. Inaccuracy mixed with the Tigers’ strong forward line to tear the Bombers apart.
(14) North Melbourne (last week: 17)
Lost a coach, but won the game. I still find it humorous that Saturday’s strong win against the Bulldogs became a referendum, of sorts, on Scott’s coaching record: it puts him one ahead on the win-loss ledger.
North’s next clash, against the Tigers, is a tough beginning to a new era: a win would be perfect.
(15) Gold Coast (last week: 14)
Fifteen feels tough given the Suns’ genuinely impressive effort. It was fantastic seeing the game within their grasp for the bulk of the clash, but it was almost inevitable that the Cats would pull away towards the end. A big learning curve, and one that the Suns will welcome.
(16) Sydney Swans (last week: 16)
Sydney made it close, which is good, but couldn’t close it out, which is bad. Tough trip to Geelong coming. But am I insane if I smell a potential upset coming?
(17) Melbourne (last week: 15)
Seven goals in the final quarter will probably cover up a lot of the glaring failures through the ground, as the Demons put in a horrendous performance against an opponent who virtually cannot win at the ‘G. Relief might be coming; plenty of their men return from injuries in the weeks to come.
(18) Carlton (last week: 18)
At least they made it close? Not a whole lot to say about Carlton anymore. Their traditionally competitive clash against Essendon only a week away though, if you want to be optimistic.
Seymorebutts
Roar Rookie
Yes agreed, my uncle was at that game and went home at 3/4 time so he missed the whole thing. He was coping abuse non stop up until that point, spat the dummy and took his toys home. But specifically against the Crows in Adelaide, has anyone come from that far back and beaten them?? It must be close to best comeback ever against them by a visiting team not called Port Adelaide ;-)
Seymorebutts
Roar Rookie
Is that a ''baby in the bathwater'' reference?.
Seymorebutts
Roar Rookie
Anyone who says I'll just go and watch ...(insert local NRL or ARU team) probably has never had to sit through 80 minutes of the dross they call football. The beer van is the only thing that makes it bearable. ;-)
fractal pixie
Guest
They are all good.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
and the best indigenous jumper out of the 18 is....Fractal?
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Just how we like it Lroy.
michael RVC
Roar Pro
Possible, but a fundamental view I have to any of the pieces in the chess board being moved is that you have saturation of audience, advertising and govt participation in all the main states. If that is (substantially) true, then that 80/20 principle I mentioned earlier would apply to distributing resources for the purpose of growth and welfare in favour of the non traditional aussie rules states. I don't know how finite resources and maintaining competitive product quality is served by a huge imbalance of demand for resources and skewed fixture outcomes.
RT
Roar Rookie
So wealth creation on the back of 3 states? That's not an argument for reducing teams in any of those states, it is an argument to maintain what we have. It reminds me of when people dismiss discussion on whether GWS was the best option for an 18th team because TV rights increased with 9 matches and therefore they supposedly pay for themselves. I suspect rights could have increased more with a Tasmanian team or a third WA team.
michael RVC
Roar Pro
A possible solution, but I think all that does is preserve an old VFL. There is much more needed than just the conversion from fixture to draw. Anyway, the actual footy is still worthwhile, so we move on I guess.
Peter Warrington
Guest
Conference system is the best way to square that circle
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
Me too.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
Is that pole position,but I do love the pope position
michael RVC
Roar Pro
For me, the main point of a draw instead of a fixture is equalisation, now I feel like i’m repeating myself. You cannot equate euro football comps to AFL in terms of burden on far away teams playing their week in week games; they are tiny countries. Yes, when they play their inter comp games they travel, but this is not week in week out. The current AFL fixture unfairly favours Vic teams because arithmetic says it must. PS, I have heard all the spurious arguments that the travel is offset by positive affirmation and other BS. You cannot have 10 teams playing 90% of the first half of the season and 70% of the total season in their home city at two grounds that are used for finals and call that equitable. And these teams come from the centre of the footy universe economically, culturally and administratively. So, for me, a draw that wholly or partly eliminates that adamant age is worth exploring s little harder.
michael RVC
Roar Pro
Well, I think you have brushed over the TV rights being the difference. There are levels. In actual dollars, the TV rights dwarfs any other AFL revenue contribution. Of course the main audience is from those states, but maybe think of it this way; 80c in every dollar in the TV rights is invested to build a matching audience and advertising participation in the other states, 20c is to maintain Vic/WA/SA. That is wealth creation right there.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
Could call it equal 3rd... or you haven’t played 5th to 7th. But AD ranks you at 5th.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
10 goals down at 3/4 time then winning against Geelong wasn’t bad.
RT
Roar Rookie
Yes but how's that expansion happened and how has it brought more wealth? It's happened with 50% of players coming Victoria and 40% from two other states. The TV rights have increased but the audience is still mostly Victoria, SA and WA. I don't think you're being realistic about your desire for a draw not a fixture. Anywhere you go in the world you'll have more teams where there is more population or more interest. Even if we had equal interest in all cities in Australia in the future and you had one team per million or so people, that would be one team in Perth, one in Adelaide, five in Melbourne and so on. Reducing the number of teams in Victoria to 6 is not the way to make things more even.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
And a beating last GF.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
Such a cruel preliminary loss on the siren.
michael RVC
Roar Pro
No I’m not. But I am saying interstate expansion underpins so much of what has brought wealth and success to this comp that it cannot be reversed without massive negative consequences, felt mostly in Victoria. So, out with the old and let’s bolster the new. The things I hate and Victoria could not be more distinctly apart, relax. Everything about your state is great, I have travelled regularly to Melb for work (every second week or so) for 30 years. I now visit my son who lives and works there. Sheesh.