It’s Essendon this week. Time was that a win over Port Power, even in Adelaide, was not considered to be all that much, but not in 2014 where the Power’s strong form – particularly at home – has led to Adelaide Oval being dubbed the ‘Portress’. But the Bombers broke through there with a two-point victory on the weekend; even if Port had kicked another goal to steal the win the Bombers’ strong showing would have been enough to see them jump from twelfth to tenth. And reflecting that we are getting to the time of year where the AFL ladder and rankings start to reflect each other, that is where they sit on the ladder as well.
FALLING DOWN
No team significantly fell down the ranking spots this week. But St. Kilda’s stature – or what is left of it – deteriorated further, after they lost heavily to Carlton, who are in no great shape themselves. Since the start of the 2013 season the Saints have lost over 65 ranking points – about the equivalent of the difference between Sydney and GWS – and have dropped in the rankings from sixth to last. Even Lucifer and his rebel angels barely fell so far and fast.
ALSO OF NOTE
Sydney is now on top of the AFL ladder, but Hawthorn is still just holding them off the top of the rankings here. The Swans’ average net margin over their past 22 games is +15 points, putting them in the realm of Port Adelaide (+17), and North Melbourne and Collingwood (both +13), and well below Hawthorn (+31) and Fremantle (+27). But the strength of Sydney’s recent form puts them up with the Hawks and Dockers as the teams rated most likely to take out the flag in 2014.
No comments:
Post a Comment