We’re 13 rounds into the 2025 AFL season, and it already looks like it will be down to the Giants and Suns to find road form and track down the Lions.
Brisbane are just half a game back from the mark the Swans set in 2024 to win the whole thing… and they have five more contests where they’re the away team, to accrue further wins.
Good luck GWS and Gold Coast… you’re likely going to need it.
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 13
1 – BRISBANE – 22 PTS (131 point differential in road wins)
2 – GOLD COAST – 16 PTS (216)
3 – GWS – 16 PTS (63)
4 – GEELONG – 12 PTS (138)
5 – SYDNEY – 12 PTS (112)
6 – FREMANTLE – 12 PTS (106)
7 – COLLINGWOOD – 8 PTS (83)
8 – ADELAIDE – 8 PTS (151)
9 – ST KILDA – 8 PTS (45)
10 – MELBOURNE – 8 PTS (43)
11 – ESSENDON – 8 PTS (41)
12 – CARLTON – 4 PTS (71)
13 – WESTERN BULLDOGS – 4 PTS (32)
14 – PORT ADELAIDE – 4 PTS (24)
15 – HAWTHORN – 4 PTS (20)
16 – NORTH MELBOURNE – 2 PTS (4)
17-18 – RICHMOND, WEST COAST – NO POINTS
ANALYSIS
The big movers since last we visited the Road Warrior Ladder are Geelong, who continue to do some bloody fine work away from Kardinia Park. Their most recent victims were West Coast at Optus Stadium in Round 12, but they also towelled up Port at Adelaide Oval in Round 10.
For GWS, it appears as though their home ground is the issue, this season. They knocked over the Cats at Kardinia Park, which is becoming a bit of a habit. And they also escaped with a win over the Blues at Marvel Stadium.
Maybe they should petition for more road games?
Are the Hawks a worry if they have to travel for week one of the finals. Just one win away from the safe haven this season, and that came way back in Round Zero against the Swans.
UPCOMING FOUR-POINT GAMES
ADELAIDE have to jump on a plane and head to that bloody freezing UTAS Stadium to play the Hawks
GWS head to the Gabba to face the Lions.
MELBOURNE head to South Australia to play Port Adelaide
And CARLTON fly across the country to face the Eagles at Optus.
UPCOMING TWO-POINT GAMES
None this week. Geelong fans will sook, but you do play home games at the MCG, so no points can be awarded as an away team playing there.
FOOTNOTE OF THE WEEK
My bugbear this week is out of zone umpires.
There are far too many umpires making calls from way off the ball. Please remove two. PS – I am not a crackpot.
I don’t have an issue when there is a blatant call that the umpire in charge has missed, but what we’re now seeing is arm chops in marking contests, and dangerous tackles being paid by a bloke 40+ metres away. How the hell is he seeing this?
There are points where the game is over-officiated, and with umpires coming into award additional, and often line-ball free kicks, it does not improve the game, and continues to frustrate both supporters and players.
And just quietly, I know of at least one coach who has had an absolute gut full of it, too.
As always, massive thanks to those who support this work. You can see the amount of care that goes into it. I love footy, I love writing about it, and I hope you enjoy reading it. Without you, this whole thing falls over. Sincerely… thank you – HB
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