We’ve heard it for years – the teams based outside Victoria have it tougher.
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 TEN
1 – BRISBANE – 12 PTS (132-POINT DIFFERENTIAL IN ROAD WINS)
2 – PORT ADELAIDE – 12 PTS (79)
3 – SYDNEY – 12 PTS (96)
4 – WESTERN BULLDOGS – 10 PTS (69… DUDE)
5 – CARLTON – 8 PTS (118)
6 – GOLD COAST – 8 PTS (94)
7 – MELBOURNE – 8 PTS (68)
8 – FREMANTLE – 8 PTS (27)
9 – COLLINGWOOD – 8 PTS (7)
10 – GWS – 6 PTS (3)
11 – GEELONG – 4 PTS (47)
12 – RICHMOND – 4 PTS (32)
13 – ESSENDON – 4 PTS (27)
14 – ST KILDA – 4 PTS (12)
15 – ADELAIDE – 4 PTS (3)
16 – NORTH MELBOURNE – 4PTS (1)
17-18 – HAWTHORN, WEST COAST – NO POINTS AS YET
An interesting development at the top end of the ladder, with the Sydney Swans, despite being a poor team overall this season, recording their third road win of the year. Three of the Swans’ wins this season have come on the road, with this latest “fall in” win against North at Marvel Stadium bringing their record to three wins away from home and just one victory at the SCG.
It’d make Carlton pretty confident heading there for Round 11… or as confident as Carlton can get at the moment, anyway.
St Kilda opened their road account with just their second trip outside Victoria (not counting Gather Round) . Interestingly. It was St Kilda’s second road game in as many weeks. After a charmed start to the season, fixture-wise, the Saints have split their back-to-back road trips, which would have to be considered a win for the club.
And the bottom of the Road Warrior Ladder kind of reflects the actual ladder, with the bottom three all struggling. North have their Round One win against Freo to hang their hat on, but both West Coast and Hawthorn are yet to win away from their home bases. Hawthorn look like they could muster a win away at some stage, but if you’re an Eagles supporter, I’m not sure where your next win comes from, let alone a win on the road.
UPCOMING FOUR-POINT GAMES
CARLTON head to the SCG to take on the Swans. As indicated above, this is very winnable.
FREMANTLE land at the MCG to take on the Dees. They won this corresponding game in 2022.
GWS land at Kardinia Park to take on the Cats
The WESTERN BULLDOGS head north to TIO Stadium to tackle the Suns. Ballarat one week, Darwin the next.
ESSENDON head to Optus Stadium looking to feast on the carcass of West Coast
PORT ADELAIDE hit the MCG to take on the Tigers
And BRISBANE fly into Adelaide Oval to tackle the Crows
TWO-POINT CROSSTOWN GAMES THIS WEEK
A chance for the HAWKS to grab two points against the Saints at Marvel
ODD FOOTNOTE OF THE WEEK
Who is the best tagger you’ve seen?
Some would point to Ryan Crowley from Freo, whilst others with longer memories would hark back to the days of Shane Heard at Essendon.
Myself, and I know this is unpopular, I gravitate to Tony Liberatore. I do this only because of the way he had to change his entire game to remain relevant. To the best of my knowledge, he went from the best in comp in the Under 19s competition to the best in the reserves, before claiming the Brownlow in the seniors.
Nobody else has done that (or ever will considering the U19s are done), and coming to a stage of his carer where his deficiencies were starting to be exploited, he was faced with a dilemma.
Adapt, or die.
He adapted, and though many remember him for his tactics, I don’t know that there was anyone that managed to change their game so much that they become so hated/feared/damn successful.
Oh, and pound for pound, he is the best tackler the game has seen.
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