We’ve heard it for years – the teams based outside Victoria have it tougher. Well, this week, everyone was outside Victoria – rejoice!
I get it, though. I really do. Forced to travel interstate almost every second week, some teams 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 FIVE
1 – SYDNEY – 8 PTS (93-POINT DIFFERENTIAL IN ROAD WINS)
2 – BRISBANE – 4 PTS (75)
3 – MELBOURNE – 4 PTS (63)
4 – GEELONG – 4 PTS (47)
5 – RICHMOND – 4 PTS (32)
6 – ESSENDON – 4 PTS (27)
E7 – CARLTON – 4 PTS (10)
E7 – FREMANTLE – 4 PTS (10)
9 – COLLINGWOOD – 4 PTS (6)
E10 – PORT ADELAIDE – 4 PTS (2)
E10 – GWS – 4 PTS (2)
12 – NORTH MELBOURNE – 4 PTS (1)
13 – WESTERN BULLDOGS – 2 PTS (5)
14-18 – ST KILDA, HAWTHORN, ADELAIDE, GOLD COAST, WEST COAST – NO POINTS AS YET
Gather Round really seemed to kick things off, with Sydney becoming the first team to claim two interstate wins this season, knocking over the Tigers. They were right in the mix last year, two, so that bodes well.
Brisbane leap to second as a result of their point-differential, which is something the Cats kind of let slide after looking like they could have won by 150-points against West Coast at one stage.
UPCOMING FOUR-POINT GAMES
WESTERN BULLDOGS visit Optus Stadium to take on Freo
WEST COAST head to Adelaide Oval to face Port
BRISBANE head to Manuka Oval to square off against GWS
SYDNEY have the chance to repeat last year’s success at Kardinia Park against the Cats
ADELAIDE can open their account against the Hawks in Tassie
NORTH MELBOURNE can do the same against the Suns at Cararra
NO TWO-POINT CROSSTOWN GAMES THIS WEEK
ODD FOOTNOTE OF THE WEEK
Only two blokes have ever won Mark of the Year three times. Tony Modra was loved by the Crows fans for his high-flying efforts and picked up the award in 1993, 997, and 2000. The other is Peter Knights, who claimed the Mark of the Year in 1972, 75, and 77.
I think people forget just how good a player Knights was. Able to play centre half forward or centre half back as required, he finished second in the Brownlow on two occasions.
Both blokes were absolute stars of the game. Crowd pullers of the highest order.
