I missed publishing this last week. It could have been because I’m a lazy sod, but I’m going with the fact that no team won away from home in Round 14, so it would have been a bit of a waste of time.
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 15
1 – PORT ADELAIDE 20 PTS (111-POINT DIFFERENTIAL IN ROAD WINS)
2 – BRISBANE – 16 PTS (160)
3 – GWS – 14 PTS (38)
4 – SYDNEY – 12 PTS (96)
5 – COLLINGWOOD – 12 PTS (70)
6 – RICHMOND – 12 PTS (52)
7 – FREMANTLE – 12 PTS (34)
8 – WESTERN BULLDOGS – 10 PTS (69… DUDE)
9 – CARLTON – 8 PTS (118)
10 – GOLD COAST – 8 PTS (94)
11 – ESSENDON – 8 PTS (77)
12 – MELBOURNE – 8 PTS (68)
13 – ST KILDA – 4 PTS (12)
14 – GEELONG – 4 PTS (47)
15 – ADELAIDE – 4 PTS (3)
16 – NORTH MELBOURNE – 4PTS (1)
17 – HAWTHORN – 2 PTS (10)
18 – WEST COAST – NO POINTS AS YET
ANALYSIS
The last two weeks have not given Port Adelaide a chance to accrue any more points, with a home win against the Cats followed by the week off for the bye.
The Lions were the ones to capitalise, moving into outright second place, with their win at Marvel over the Saints providing four valuable points. If only the Lions could replicate that form at the MCG – they’d be favourites for the flag!
Marvel is likely the best-suited ground to the talents of Brisbane’s forward line. Clear conditions, under the roof, no variables like the wind to worry about – their forward line is the biggest threat in the air in the game. Daniher, Hipwood, Rayner, McCarthy, Cameron… all highly capable overhead, with Darcy Fort and Oscar McInerney drifting forward, as well… they will test any defence under the roof.
Round 18 will be their big test, when they head back to Melbourne to take on the Dees at the MCG. Win that, and I reckon there is no reason to have doubts about this mob.
UPCOMING FOUR-POINT GAMES
RICHMOND head to the Gabba to take on the Lions. Will be a belter!
GEELONG hit the SCG to face the Swans. Massive game for Sydney.
NORTH MELBOURNE head to the Adelaide Oval to take on the rebounding Crows
FREMANTLE are at Marvel as they face the Dogs
COLLINGWOOD head to QLD to take on The Suns
PORT ADELAIDE resume their stellar year at the MCG against the Bombers
GWS square off against the Dees at Traeger Park
And ST KILDA head to Optus for the expected percentage boost against the Eagles
TWO-POINT CROSSTOWN GAMES THIS WEEK
None this week – looks like they’re all four pointers
ODD FOOTNOTE OF THE WEEK
I wrote about Tex Walker last time in this space, but his work this season deserves a bit more column space.
His five goals against the Pies, and a high-quality opponent in Darcy Moore, should shut a heap of people up…
… but it won’t. People, for the most part, are idiots. If you don’t like the guy, fair enough, but as a player, what he has produced over the last few years has been nothing short of outstanding.
As it stands, he sits a goal clear in the race for the Coleman Medal, and after a pretty damn good career, I am hopeful he can hit top form heading into the last section of the year and take out the medal.
Tex has never been an All-Australian. It’s pretty crazy to think, given his profile and place in the game, but he has never made it. This year, at 33, could be the year he finally does. The best way to ensure it is to top the goalkicking list. It’d be pretty hard to argue against him.
Though, I am sure some still would.
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