The beat goes on, and as Port Adelaide hit the road again, they return with another four points as they continue to distance themselves from all others as the best road team in the game.
Sure, there are challengers to the throne – GWS have been impressive away from home, and Brisbane win everywhere but the MCG, but Port reign supreme as we exit Round 16.
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 16
1 – PORT ADELAIDE 24 PTS (119-POINT DIFFERENTIAL IN ROAD WINS)
2 – GWS – 18 PTS (40)
3 – BRISBANE – 16 PTS (160)
4 – COLLINGWOOD 16 PTS (148)
5 – SYDNEY – 12 PTS (96)
6 – RICHMOND – 12 PTS (52)
E7 – FREMANTLE – 12 PTS (34)
E7 – ST KILDA – 12 PTS (34)
9 – WESTERN BULLDOGS – 10 PTS (69… DUDE)
10 – CARLTON – 8 PTS (118)
11 – GOLD COAST – 8 PTS (94)
12 – ESSENDON – 8 PTS (77)
13 – MELBOURNE – 8 PTS (68)
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
Well, if there is any way to stop Port Adelaide, clubs might want to figure it out pretty bloody quickly.
The Power continue to be just that, pulling a win from the jaws of defeat at the MCG against the Bombers, on the back of an incredible shot after the siren from Dan Houston that, let’s be honest, most of us thought would drop short.
A waterlogged footy, tired legs, and an Essendon team that worked their backsides off were not enough to put the brakes on Port’s streak – who will be?
But there were others picking up points this week, as well.
GWS upset Melbourne’s apple cart with a win in Alice Springs. On what looked like a shocking day to play footy, the Giants played classic wet weather footy to finally overcome the Dees on a late goal from Josh Kelly.
The Saints fell in over the Eagles, but it took everything they had to avoid a humiliating loss, whilst the Pies continued their winning ways, demolishing the disappointing Suns at their Gold Coast home. This win not only pumped up the tyres of the Pies, but completely deflated the Sun, who looked anything but a finals team in their capitulation.
UPCOMING FOUR-POINT GAMES
SYDNEY meet Richmond in a do-or-die clash for both teams at the MCG
WEST COAST face Mission Impossible, as they head to the Gabba to face the Lions
HAWTHORN won’t have Alastair Clarkson running around with no top on to inspire them against GWS at Giants Stadium
GOLD COAST look for some redemption as they head to the Adelaide Oval to face Port
ADELAIDE head to Marvel to face the Bombers in what shapes as a belter
And CARLTON look to make it three in a row against the Dockers at Optus Stadium
TWO-POINT CROSSTOWN GAMES THIS WEEK
Hmmm, three of these, this week, which feels weird
COLLINGWOOD head to Marvel to face the Dogs on Thursday night
MELBOURNE head to Marvel, as well. They ake on St Kilda
And NORTH MELBOURNE head down the highway to face the Cats at Kardinia Park
Plenty of points up for grabs, but irrespective of what happens, it is going to take a massive effort to catch Port from here. They have games against Carlton, Geelong, and Freo in the run home. Given their form line, you’d think they’re going to win at least one of them.
ODD FOOTNOTE OF THE WEEK
I’m not sure how close we are to implementing the “last touch” rule, but it feels like we’re getting perilously close, particularly when watching some of the wet weather football on the weekend.
At times, there was absolutely no common sense applied to decisions of deliberate, or as it is now called, “insufficient intent”, as players were desperately trying to hack the footy forward, only for it to skim out of bounds. The umpires, running in like their arses were on fire, were quick to blow the whistle and call for a free kick against, which really indicated that they had no feel for the game, the conditions, or that the players were capable of skill errors in the poor conditions.
When I watch footy, what I want from the umpires is common sense. It’s not that difficult to implement, but it seems that either the umps are being directed to be ruthless with this interpretation, or they’ve legitimately got no idea what they’re doing.
GWS were particularly hard done by in their clash against the Dees, as they walked into the sheds at halftime with a 14-1 free kick disadvantage. A couple of those were for deliberate, and… they just weren’t.
Fingers crossed we start seeing some common sense before finals, but I reckon we can all see where this is headed. The “last touch” rule will be part of the game by 2025, if not next season. Mark my words.
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