Round 5 AFL Power Rankings: Why resurgent North Melbourne will pose a big question to out-of-form Power
NORTH Melbourne have surprised the AFL this season with the team many tipped for the wooden spoon rising to become one of the form teams in the first five rounds of 2018 — so how will the Power respond this weekend?
Reece Homfray
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IN the space of just two weeks, Port Adelaide’s clash with North Melbourne this Saturday has suddenly become a very big game.
What most would have pencilled in as a “W” for the Power at the start of the season is now a genuine 50-50 contest and if not then some would be leaning towards the Roos — and fair enough too.
Along with West Coast and Richmond, North Melbourne is the form team of the competition coming off the weekend’s upset win over Hawthorn.
The Power has lost its past two games to come back to the pack, is about to embark on a huge month of travel and has lost its past two games under the roof at Etihad Stadium to Essendon.
But in terms of game-specific match-ups, a resurgent North Melbourne poses a few headaches for the Power.
The first is what to do about Ben Brown.
The Kangaroos spearhead is lethal in front of goal and just as dangerous roaming outside the 50m.
He’s kicked an incredibly accurate 19.4 in five games to lead the Coleman Medal tally and at 200cm Port doesn’t really have a perfect match-up for him.
Dougal Howard is 199cm and Jack Hombsch is 194cm, then Tom Clurey and Tom Jonas are back-ups but I’d go with Hombsch first up, who is now finally back in the team and desperately hungry to stay in it.
Then there’s Jack Ziebell who has reinvented himself from hard-nosed midfielder to dangerous forward coming out of the square.
Ziebell’s presence means Brown can get up the ground and he’s hitting the scoreboard too with 8.5 in the first five games.
Given his versatility and threat in the air and at ground level he looms the perfect job for Jonas who relishes getting his hands dirty.
Thirdly, Port Adelaide will have to come up with a plan for whoever Ben Jacobs goes to.
The former Power midfielder has blanketed Jarryd Lyons, Seb Ross, Clayton Oliver, Patrick Cripps and Tom Mitchell who he kept to just 19 disposals on the weekend.
The most obvious candidate for Jacobs to run with is Robbie Gray who has returned to his game-breaking best with 39 and 32 disposals in the past two games.
No surprise that’s coincided with him spending more time on the ball and his clearance work saved the Power from losing by even more against Essendon and Geelong so he should expect some attention.
Port’s North Melbourne hoodoo ended long ago but the Kangaroos pose a major threat this Saturday and followed by a trip to Perth, a Showdown, Shanghai and Tasmania it’s much bigger than many expected.
ROUND 5 POWER RANKINGS
1. WEST COAST (4-1)
The Eagles are the form team of the competition after winning four on the trot going into the Derby this weekend. Chris Masten has gone to another level and the Lycett/Naitanui combination working brilliantly.
2. RICHMOND (4-1)
Premiership favourites with the bookies and Dermott Brereton says they’re the best team in the comp by a long way. Their only loss is to Adelaide at Adelaide Oval.
3. SYDNEY (3-2)
Got the feeling they just weren’t ready for the Crows. The midfield is down and for the first time perhaps ever, people are questioning the impact of Kennedy, Hannebery and Parker.
4. HAWTHORN (3-2)
Like a lot of teams in the first five rounds, they’re up and down from week to week but we’ll know more against St Kilda and Essendon in the next fortnight.
5. GWS (3-1-1)
Got out of jail really given Carlisle should have either marked it or been given the free kick on the siren. Brett Deledio’s 29 disposals very heartening.
6. ADELAIDE (3-2)
So much ticker from the Crows and so much to look forward to as well — Poholke (1 game), Gallucci (2), Doedee (5), Greenwood (20) are still very new, and don’t underestimate the impact a fit and in-form Tom Lynch is now having as well.
7. GEELONG (3-2)
Loved everything about the Cats’ win. In enemy territory, Hawkins a late out, Scott Selwood wiped out, and never wilted under pressure.
8. NORTH MELBOURNE (3-2)
I owe North a major apology but would guess I’m not alone. Last week’s win over Hawthorn was huge and I loved this from Brad Scott: “We run a football program at North and more is better in terms of goal-kicking.” Surprise, surprise, Ben Brown has kicked 19.4 this season.
9. COLLINGWOOD (3-2)
Three in a row for the Pies and all their big guns came to play. Treloar was outstanding, Grundy continued his strong start to the season and Pendlebury and Sidebottom were everywhere.
10. PORT ADELAIDE (3-2)
Struggling to know what Port’s identity is right now but admittedly without Ryder it’s hard. Do they go fast or slow, long to Dixon or shorter to Gray and Wingard? Still searching for chemistry and this week’s game is huge.
11. GOLD COAST (3-2)
Beating Brisbane was the next step in Gold Coast’s evolution, winning when they’re expected to. The bookies didn’t have them favourites but the Suns are a better side than the Lions right now.
12. FREMANTLE (3-2)
Nat Fyfe had 43 disposals and 13 clearances and the most any Bulldogs had was Jack McRae with 26 and 5. Total domination.
13. ESSENDON (2-3)
Injuries didn’t help but a disappointing day for the Dons who would have gone into the game giving themselves a real chance but were never in it.
14. ST KILDA (2-3)
Love Paddy McCartin’s goal but loved Jake Carlisle’s honesty after the final siren more when the commentator asked if he felt it should have been a free kick? “No I felt like I should have marked it?”
15. MELBOURNE (2-3)
Richmond showed Melbourne everything it needs but hasn’t got on Tuesday night. Apart from four-quarter pressure, the Dees desperately need a big defender in the mould of Alex Rance, and small forwards who know where to run.
16. W. BULLDOGS (1-4)
Great to see Tom Boyd back with two goals but a very disappointing result after a brave effort against the Swans.
17. CARLTON (0-5)
Much better effort from the Blues but still without a win however four goals to Harry McKay will cheer them up.
18. BRISBANE (0-5)
With GWS and Collingwood to come it’s very hard to see where Brisbane’s first win is going to come from.
GOOD WEEKEND FOR ...
Nathan Buckley. He was under the pump going into the season and after a 0-2 start the drums were getting louder but the players held firm, the players have responded and that’s three wins on the trot.
ONE TO FORGET FOR ...
Melbourne. Simon Goodwin said he was happy with their effort for three quarters but they still lost by 46 points. An awful fortnight.
BURNING QUESTION
Lindsay Thomas got his chance but is now gone for the next four weeks. Dom Barry sat out yesterday’s SANFL clash so is he the man to come back in?
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