We’ve heard it for years – the teams based outside Victoria have it tougher.
Forced to travel interstate almost every second week, they clock up enormous miles as they traverse the country to be part of this sport we love.
Meanwhile, we get some Victorian-based clubs cracking the sads when they have to play at Marvel Stadium instead of the MCG, and vice versa. Or those who get a little nasty when a move away from Kardinia Park is floated.
So, how do the teams fare away from home, and who is travelling best at the moment?
The Mongrel has devised a little ladder to assess who is the best road team in the league. Oh, the Vic teams will still get a look in if they’re good enough, and whilst I fully expect a number of fans to say this system is rigged to favour non-Victorian teams… I really don’t care. Stop your whining.
So, how does it work?
The Road Warrior Ladder is named after one of the best Tag Teams of all time. Don’t come at me with your Demolition garbage, or your Powers of Pain crap… they were Road Warrior rip-offs… who were, in turn, rip-offs of the 1980s movie, Mad Max.
It was called The Road Warrior in the United States because… geez, I’m not a film buff. Do your own homework.
Anyway, you get four points for an interstate win and two points for a win at an away venue that IS NOT played at the venue you consider your home ground. I don’t care if it’s not your home game – you’re still at the ground you play your home games. The Road Warrior Ladder Nazi isn’t concerned with your feelings – just facts.
Tasmania is considered a home game for Hawthorn. You choose to play your home games there – you cop it. Same with GWS and Canberra – if it’s your choice, you wear it.
Now that my belligerence is out of the way, let’s get to business.
THE ROAD WARRIOR LADDER AFTER ROUND FOUR
1 – MELBOURNE DEMONS – 4 PTS (63-POINT DIFFERENTIAL IN ROAD WINS)
2 – SYDNEY SWANS – 4 PTS (49)
3 – RICHMOND TIGERS – 4 PTS (32)
4 – CARLTON BLUES – 4 PTS (10)
5 – PORT ADELAIDE – 4 PTS (2)
6 – NORTH MELBOURNE KANGAROOS – 4 PTS (1)
7 – WESTERN BULLDOGS – 2 PTS (5)
8-18 – NO POINTS AS YET
It’s still very early in the season, but the upcoming round will see every team outside Port Adelaide and Adelaide with the chance to pick up four points, with Gather Round taking place in South Australia. Even though some teams will be nominated as “home” teams, via the meticulous process of flipping a coin, they’re still playing away games in a different state. As such, they’re eligible for points in the Road Warrior Ladder.
This week, the Dees made the jump from also-ran to the top of the ladder, thumping the Eagles at Optus Stadium. Port Adelaide was the other interstate winner, with their trip to Sydney and the late fist of Aliir Aliir providing them with four points.
The Dogs also picked up two points by packing a lunch and heading to the MCG, where they managed to hold on and beat the Tigers. The crosstown (away from home, but same city) win earns them two points.
UPCOMING FOUR-POINT GAMES
So, this week, we’re looking at 16 teams with the opportunity to pick up four points. A big win to the Dees could see them make a break. Ditto the Swans, whereas there are a heap of teams that need to open their road win account. Let’s face it – great teams win on the road. This is the best chance many teams will have to pick up a road win against a team that does not have a decisive home advantage.
Only the Blues (Thursday versus Adelaide) and The Dogs (Saturday versus Port) have a legitimate home team to concern themselves with.
WRESTLING NOTE OF THE WEEK
WWE has finally sold, in a deal that saw the company worth over nine billion dollars. Yep, that’s US$9Billion, as well. Funny to think that Vince McMahon bought the company from his old man back in 1982 for a million bucks and then gambled everything on the success of the first Wrestlemania in ’85.
Imagine that show tanked?
It’d be a very different wrestling world if it did.
As always, massive thanks for supporting this work. I hope you’re enjoying it as much as I enjoy producing it… to which Mrs Mongrel asked “how much is that?”
It’s actually quite a bit. I really love this sort of stuff, and I appreciate you guys supporting me to produce it.
