Who saw GWS coming this season?
With a new coach at the helm, it took the Giants a month or two to find their feet, but they are up and running right now. Here is a small snippet from the season preview I wrote back in January.
GWS are a better team than what we saw in 2022. They still possess more talent than teams that finished above them, yet there always seems to be something that sees them play a brand of uninspired footy.
My hope is that Adam Kingsley can turn that around and help instil belief in the group, again. I want to see losses hurt. I want to see some aggro. I want these players to be GIANT. They have the list to make a run, this team. If they find the belief in themselves and come together, there will be some who have written them off eating their words as we move through August. The Giants are capable of being the surprise packet of the season. It all depends on how quickly they come together under new leadership.
They’re being GIANT right now, and with a win at Adelaide Oval, against the Crows, GWS have moved to within striking distance of the top spot.
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 17
1 – PORT ADELAIDE 24 PTS (119-POINT DIFFERENTIAL IN ROAD WINS)
2 – GWS – 22 PTS (54)
3 – COLLINGWOOD – 18 PTS (160)
4 – BRISBANE – 16 PTS (160)
5 – RICHMOND – 16 PTS (90)
6 – CARLTON – 12 PTS (171)
7 – SYDNEY – 12 PTS (96)
E8 – FREMANTLE – 12 PTS (34)
E8 – ST KILDA – 12 PTS (34)
10 – MELBOURNE 10 PTS (89)
11 – WESTERN BULLDOGS – 10 PTS (69… DUDE)
12 – GOLD COAST – 8 PTS (94)
13 – ESSENDON – 8 PTS (77)
14 – GEELONG – 4 PTS (47)
15 – HAWTHORN – 8 PTS (58)
16 – ADELAIDE – 4 PTS (3)
17 – NORTH MELBOURNE – 4PTS (1)
18 – WEST COAST – NO POINTS AS YET
ANALYSIS
Well, well… it only takes a week and one loss away from home and things start to look a little more uncertain.
Coming into Round 18, the Power looked to have the whole damn thing sewn up. They lead by six points and were headed into an away game at a venue where they’d won nine-straight games. Bank the four points. Right?
Nup. Not the case.
Carlton rose to the occasion, and Port, with a raft of changes to their best team, fell at Marvel Stadium for the first time in ages. This opened the door for GWS, who were hitting the road, themselves, to play the Crows at Adelaide Oval.
With a five-goal to zero last term, the Giants flexed a bit of muscle to record their fifth interstate win of he season and give themselves every chance to make finals in the process. GWS have come from the clouds and have rallied around their new coach, their inspirational captain, and the return of one of the best defenders in the league, in Sam Taylor. If they hit the finals with a head of steam, I would hate to run into them in the first week.
UPCOMING FOUR-POINT GAMES
WEST COAST have their chance to score their first points of the season as they head to Marvel Stadium to tale on the Blues
GEELONG travel to Brisbane to face the Lions. Interestingly., just one interstate win for the Cats this season.
COLLINGWOOD face Port Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval in what should be must-watch TV
SYDNEY have the chance to salvage their season, with a win over the Dockers at Optus Stadium
GOLD COAST head to Canberra to face the Giants, in what is looming a sa do-or-die clash
And ADELAIDE look to pick up their second road win of the year as they face the Dees at the MCG.
TWO-POINT CROSSTOWN GAMES THIS WEEK
None this week
In terms of the top of the table, this is Collingwood’s last genuine away game, so they are now out of the race irrespective of what occurs this weekend. They get Hawthorn as an “away” game, but it is played at the MCG in Round 21, so the best they can do is finish second.
Brisbane are out as well. They have two games remaining where they can accrue points – against the Suns (two points) at Heritage Bank Stadium, and against the Pies (four points) at Marvel. If they win those two, they’re on 22 points.
Port has a clash against the Cats (4 pts) at Kardinia Park, and Freo at Optus (another 4 pts) to round out their season, whilst the Giants have the Dogs (4 pts) in Ballarat, Port (4 pts) at Adelaide Oval, and Carlton (4 pts) at Marvel in the final six weeks. Assuming they win all three, they will win. Two wins means that Port would have to win both of their interstate games.
So, it’s Port and GWS as we go down to the wire. They meet in Round 22 in a clash that could decide the Road Warrior Championship in 2023.
ODD FOOTNOTE OF THE WEEK
Interesting to see Geelong with just one interstate road win this season, particularly given they will likely need to travel at some stage during the finals. Like the way I am talking about the finals like the Cats are going to be a part of it?
It’s habit.
Their only interstate win came as part of ‘Gather Round’ when they beat the Eagles in Adelaide and they have been gifted a season where they have not had to make one Perth trip. That’s a pretty cushy run for a premier, bearing in mind that we had no idea West Coast would be THIS bad, and that Freo would fall over, as well.
It makes Geelong’s clash against the Lions at the Gabba this coming Saturday very interesting. Can they pull it together and storm into September? They were ultra-impressive against the Bombers, completely carving them up in the contest and on the outside, but they had the benefit of the most advantageous forward v defender matchup in the league, with Hawkins relishing the chance to pull down the Bombers’ pants yet again.
I don’t think he gets as good a run at it against the Lions’ defence.
If Geelong win this one, they’re legit once again. If they get beat at the Gabba, then their one win on the road leaves them looking a little vulnerable.
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