AFL Power Rankings: Round 8 (or reality checks and balances)

So last week Adelaide wins a game by playing well in one quarter; critics said they’d need to put in a four quarter effort if they wanted to win again. In an attempt to disprove that cliché, the Crows again played well in only one quarter and they… lost.

In footy, there’s something to be said for clichés.

In the first few rounds of the season Fevola looked to have fitted in nicely with the Lions. Some people were thinking, maybe he’s changed his spots, maybe having Jonathon Brown in the forward line has got him to straighten up and fly right – Carlton supporters were all thinking, just wait, just wait. On the weekend, Fev might have been injured, we guess… but he played like Carlton supporters knew he would eventually. My bet is they don’t miss him.

Collingwood beat the Dockers in a top of the table, and now have another top of the table clash with the Cats. With all due respect to the Dockers, this feels like a real top of the table clash. In fact it feels like the Grand Final preview – and will get a crowd around 90,000 if it doesn’t rain. In a season, where for the firs time in quite a few years, there is no one team that looks like dominating the minor season, this match will decide which team will be the benchmark.

A few jumps around the top of the Power Rankings – the Bulldogs make a big jump, but to be honest it feels like a very weird season that hasn't quite settled down yet.

	Rank	LW	Team	Record	Comment
	1	1↔	Collingwood	7-1	Yep, they’re looking good. The big test, and perhaps the biggest game of the year, this Friday. Should be a cracker.
	2	3↑	Geelong	6-2	As I said last week, when they’re going no one can stop them, and I think they’re pretty well going – this week will be the test.
	3	4↑	Carlton	5-3	The Blues ran over the Power in the last quarter – which gives them great momentum for this week against the Hawks.
	4	2↓	Fremantle	6-2	A set back, but they still look good, though a trip to the SCG is never easy, and they will want to win to stop the jitters from setting in.
	5	9↑	Bulldogs	5-3	Things for the first time for a while clicked, and they played like everyone thought they would prior to the season. Need to beat North this week to consolidate.
	6	5↓	St Kilda	5-3	The Saints have hit a major speed hump – good thing their next 3 rounds are the Eagles, Crows and Tigers.
	7	6↓	Port Adelaide	5-3	Port were found wanting in the last quarter, they now travel to Darwin to play Melbourne.
	8	7↓	Sydney	5-3	A bad loss, this week against the Dockers is setting up as a big test of whether or not they’re good enough to play finals.
	9	8↓	Brisbane	4-4	Wow, four losses in a row. The Lions must be grateful to the AFL that they now get to play the Crows, so at least that’s one win they can pencil in.
	10	11↑	Essendon	3-5	A big win for the club, that keeps them in touch. A win over the Tigers this week will have them just a game out of the eight.
	11	12↓	North Melbourne	4-4	North played 3 good quarters and 1 horrible one. They very nearly blew it. Will not be so lucky if they do that against the Bulldogs this week.
	12	10↓	Melbourne	3-5	Hmmm…. it’s starting to look like those 3 wins were a bit of a mirage in the desert. With Port, Geelong, Carlton and Collingwood ahead, things don’t look too bright.
	13	13↔	West Coast	3-5	A rare win away from Perth; now they face the Saints to see if they can win 3 in a row.
	14	14↔	Hawthorn	2-6	Oooh the Hawks nearly lost that one. Is their season back on track? You’re kidding right? They nearly got beat by Richmond! Carlton this week is a more honest test.
	15	15↔	Adelaide	1-7	Like last week they only started playing in the 4th quarter. They looked good then, but by then it was too late.
	16	16↔	Richmond	0-8	Another of the very many good honest losses by the Tigers. But to be honest, their supporters should feel positive about the future – Jack Riewoldt will be a star.