Round 6 power rankings: Reece Homfray wraps up the weekend’s AFL footy

CHAD Wingard is adding defensive pressure and gut-running to his already formidable on-field arsenal as he evolves into a damaging midfielder. Reece Homfray explains in his weekly AFL Power rankings.

Chad Wingard ... evolving into a potent midfielder. Picture: Michael Dodge (Getty Images)

CHAD Wingard is the first to admit defensive pressure and gut-running have never been his greatest strengths.

But the two-time All-Australian forward says he is addressing both as he evolves into a midfielder at Port Adelaide.

The 23-year-old has spent most of the past two games in the midfield in big wins over Carlton and Brisbane.

His numbers are impressive — 25 disposals and 1.4 against the Blues, then 31 and 0.1 against the Lions on Saturday night — and he’s been clean, fast and dangerous in tight.

Ken Hinkley thinks he complements the grunt of Wines, Ebert and Co perfectly.

Wingard’s move has allowed Robbie Gray to play as a more permanent forward — whether he likes it or not — and helped cover the loss of skipper Travis Boak to a hamstring injury.

The litmus test of what Port does with Gray comes when Port’s midfield is under the pump — as it was against the Giants three weeks ago — and how long Hinkley waits before sending arguably his best clearance player on the ball.

But at least now it’s a luxury more so than a necessity.

Jared Polec also spent time at centre bounces on Saturday night as the Power looks for even more engine room depth, and while Ollie Wines and Brad Ebert have gone to a new level this season and Sam Powell-Pepper is the new kid on the block, Wingard has the most upside.

“That was the goal,” Wingard said from the Gabba on Saturday night about breaking into Port’s midfield this season.

Jared Polec ... spent time at centre bounces against Brisbane. Picture: Bradley Kanaris (Getty Images)

“And with Boaky going down I got the call up and played the majority of the game in the midfield again, it was obviously a learning curve and I’ve got a few things to work on but I’m just grateful I get the chance.

“A lot of it is the patterns you run, as a forward it’s pretty explosive and your leading patterns are completely different.

“The minutes are up a bit higher but the speed isn’t as high as if you were up forward.

“Whereas running backwards and to the right spots to get the ball but also be defensive is something I’ve got to learn and I’m constantly working with Vossy and hopefully just tweaking it so I’m not a burden to the team, and keep working on my defensive end.

“I did a lot of the running with the midfield over pre-season, it’s still not the biggest strength of mine but hopefully over the next couple of pre-seasons I can really put an emphasis on it.”

One example of Wingard’s improved defensive efforts and endurance came in the first quarter against the Lions.

Having helped cause the turnover and win the ball across halfback, once it was in Justin Westhoff’s hands Wingard sprinted through the middle of the Gabba and into space.

By the time the ball landed in Charlie Dixon’s lap Wingard had pushed hard to become the free man inside 50m, he got the kick over the top which drew Robbie Gray’s opponent up the ground and suddenly Gray was free.

Rather than take the shot himself Wingard handballed over the top to Gray for Port Adelaide’s fourth goal.

Versatility has been a buzz word at Port Adelaide this season and has helped propel them to a 4-2 start.

“I think the versatility is what everyone has improved on. We’re obviously getting chucked around, Robbie is playing up forward, Westhoff plays anywhere, Ollie goes forward and midfield,” Wingard said.

“I think the versatility can throw teams out, you can’t predict what we’re doing but obviously it’s predictable to us and that’s a dangerous threat.”

POWER RANKINGS

All 18 teams are assessed and ranked every week based on form to chart the movers and sliders throughout the season.

1. Adelaide (6-0)

Previous ranking: 2, 1, 1, 1, 1

Right now it’s Adelaide then daylight in the competition — given they belted GWS in Round 1. And the long-term forecast is pretty good too. Adelaide’s two main stumbling blocks in recent years, Hawthorn and Sydney’s seasons are both shot, which leaves Geelong in Round 11 as one to look forward to. Arm-wrestle early against Richmond on Sunday but regrouped at quarter time and went bang. By the final siren it was 77 points and as emphatic as you could get. Since the top-eight came in 1994, 19 teams have started a season 6-0 and nine of them made the grand final in the same year. Just sayin’.

Ladder position: 1st

Coming up: North Melbourne (Tasmania), Melbourne (Adelaide Oval), Brisbane (Gabba)

2. GWS (5-1)

Giants forward Jonathon Patton celebrates a key goal against the Western Bulldogs. Picture: Ryan Pierse (Getty Images)

Previous ranking: 18, 10, 7, 5, 3

Loved the fight from the Giants when the Dogs were challenging hard on Friday night. And how good was Jonathon Patton’s clutch goal from the boundary to ice the game? Exacted a little bit of preliminary final revenge but will still need to better come finals time.

Ladder position: 2nd

Coming up: St Kilda (Etihad Stadium), Collingwood (Spotless Stadium), Richmond (Spotless Stadium)

3. Geelong (5-1)

Previous ranking: 6, 7, 4, 4, 2

Had to happen sooner or later, I just wasn’t expecting them to drop one against Collingwood. I was never sold on Geelong’s early-season form given their relatively easy start but was more convinced after the win over St Kilda last week. Just wasn’t the Cats’ day with Danger (21) and Selwood (17) unusually quiet. Nothing to stress about though.

Ladder position: 3rd

Coming up: Gold Coast (Metricon Stadium), Essendon (MCG), Western Bulldogs (Simonds Stadium)

4. Western Bulldogs (4-2)

Previous ranking: 7, 3, 5, 3, 5

Showed the fight we’ve come to expect from the Dogs and had their chances to beat the Giants but didn’t take them. Kicking 9.19 won’t win you too many games and Luke Beveridge looked pretty annoyed from the box. Ultimately that’s what cost them, so weren’t exactly outplayed.

Ladder position: 7th

Coming up: Richmond (Etihad Stadium), West Coast (Subiaco), Geelong (Simonds Stadium)

5. Richmond (5-1)

Previous ranking: 8, 5, 2, 2, 4

So good for one quarter then so ordinary for the next three and despite both having a 5-0 start, the gap between the Tigers and Adelaide really is as big as the 77-point margin suggests. Tigers will still eye top four but like the rest of the competition need to work out a way of stopping the Crows.

Ladder position: 4th

Coming up: Western Bulldogs (Etihad Stadium), Fremantle (MCG), GWS (Spotless Stadium)

6. Port Adelaide (4-2)

In total control ... Ollie Wines gets his handball away in Port Adelaide’s crushing win over Brisbane. Picture: Jason O'Brien (AFL Media/Getty Images)

Previous ranking: 1, 2, 3, 6, 6,

Beat up on the Lions, which the critics will argue is another soft win, but that’s the third soft opponent they haven’t just defeated but belted. Carlton, Fremantle and Brisbane by 200+ points. Port looked a million bucks with the ball but hard to know if they’re that good or Brisbane are that bad. I suspect the latter. This week’s 50-50 game against West Coast will reveal plenty more about the Power.

Ladder position: 5th

Coming up: West Coast (Adelaide Oval), Gold Coast (China), Geelong (Simonds Stadium)

7. St Kilda (3-3)

Previous ranking: 13, 11, 11, 8, 9

Great response to losing a very winnable game against Geelong last week. Confirmed what we thought about the Hawks but told us more about the Saints to go to Tassie and do the business by 75 points. Looking very much a finals-bound side.

Ladder position: 9th

Coming up: GWS (Etihad Stadium), Carlton (Etihad Stadium), Sydney (Etihad Stadium)

8. West Coast (4-2)

Previous ranking: 4, 6, 9, 7, 8

Good on you, Eagles. Now let’s see you do it in Adelaide this weekend. The Derby is never easily won, so credit for that but it’s becoming a familiar pattern — bullet proof at home and fragile on the road. This week’s clash against Port Adelaide is shaping as match of the round.

Ladder position: 12th

Coming up: Port Adelaide (Adelaide Oval), Western Bulldogs (Subiaco), Essendon (Etihad Stadium)

9. Fremantle (3-3)

Previous ranking: 17, 17, 13, 10, 7

Slip up for the Dockers who had the chance to convince us they’re top-eight worthy but well down against West Coast in the Derby. Considering their start to the year 3-3 is not a bad result after six weeks but I still think they’re somewhere 10th to 14th.

Ladder position: 11th

Coming up: Essendon (Subiaco), Richmond (MCG), Carlton (Subiaco)

10. Melbourne (3-3)

Back in form ... Melbourne gun Jack Viney breaks away from Essendon’s Jobe Watson. Picture: Adam Trafford (AFL Media/Getty Images)

Previous ranking: 5, 8, 8, 12, 11

Finally got one back on a side they’ve struggled with in recent years. Demons also won at Etihad, which is significant. Jack Viney was huge after questions over his form, as was Christian Pertracca who kicked 4.0 as a dangerous midfielder/forward. Lots to like, now to see it two weeks in a row.

Ladder position: 8th

Coming up: Hawthorn (MCG), Adelaide (Adelaide Oval), North Melbourne (MCG)

11. Collingwood (2-4)

Previous ranking: 9, 13, 6, 9, 12

What is going on at Collingwood? Seriously. How frustrating they must be for supporters to follow. The Sydney win loses a bit of cred given the Swans are winless but dishing the Cats their first loss for the season is nothing to be sneezed at. Vintage Pendles and now Buckley simply must find a way to get that response again when they face the Blues.

Ladder position: 12th

Coming up: Carlton (MCG), GWS (Spotless Stadium), Hawthorn (MCG)

12. Essendon (3-3)

Previous ranking: 3, 4, 10, 13, 10

Joe Daniher has broken Melbourne’s hearts so many times that he was due for an off day against them. He kicked 1.6 and that been 6.1 then Essendon probably wins. I said probably because they were still beaten around the footy and the Demons had a much more even spread across the board.

Ladder position: 10th

Coming up: Fremantle (Subiaco), Geelong (MCG), West Coast (Etihad Stadium)

13. Gold Coast (2-4)

Previous ranking: 15, 18, 14, 11, 13

Gary Ablett’s 45 touches wasn’t enough to save the Suns against the winless Roos. To have 24 scoring shots and get within two goals in Melbourne was at least a spirited performance but an opportunity lost ... and they won’t get many this year.

Ladder position: 13th

Coming up: Geelong (Metricon Stadium), Port Adelaide (China), Melbourne (Traeger Park)

14. North Melbourne (1-5)

Powerhouse effort ... Ben Brown of the Kangaroos breaks a tackle from Jack Leslie of the Suns. Picture: Michael Dodge (Getty Images)

Previous ranking: 14, 12, 17, 15, 16

Finally, North wins not only a tight a game but a game full stop. Ben Brown was the story with six goals and it saved Brad Scott from coming under a mountain of pressure because if they couldn’t beat the Suns at Etihad you could argue they might not win a game all year.

Ladder position: 15th

Coming up: Adelaide (Tasmania), Sydney (Etihad Stadium), Melbourne (MCG)

15. Carlton (2-4)

Previous ranking: 16, 15, 14, 14, 18

Credit to the Blues, who couldn’t have been more disappointing against Port a week ago, then rebounded against the Swans at the MCG. Big jump up the rankings this week is a fitting reward.

Ladder position: 14th

Coming up: Collingwood (MCG), St Kilda (Etihad Stadium), Fremantle (Subiaco)

16. Hawthorn (1-5)

Previous ranking: 11, 16, 18, 18, 15

Wow. To think I got sucked in by the Hawks’ win over West Coast and tipped them to beat St Kilda. The win might have been a stretch but the Hawks weren’t even competitive down in Tassie, losing by 75 points. Jaeger O’Meara only 14 touches.

Ladder position: 17th

Coming up: Melbourne (MCG), Brisbane (Tasmania), Brisbane (Tasmania)

17. Brisbane (1-5)

Previous ranking: 10, 14, 16, 17, 14

Listless performance from the Lions and right from the opening bounce. Such a contrast to the pressure they brought to the Dogs a week earlier. Their midfield was belted and senior players nowhere to be seen. The amount of pressure on Port’s ball carriers at times was pathetic.

Ladder position: 16th

Coming up: Sydney (SCG), Hawthorn (Tasmania), Adelaide (Gabba)

18. Sydney (0-6)

Previous ranking: 12, 9, 12, 16, 17

Starting to become a bit of a running joke: How long until Sydney wins a game this season? You could say losing to Carlton is the worst of the lot this year. Yes there are new faces in the side but there is a lot of the old guard there too. Surely they beat the Lions this weekend.

Ladder position: 18th

Coming up: Brisbane (SCG), North Melbourne (Etihad Stadium), St Kilda (Etihad Stadium)

WHO’S YOUR MVP?

Analysis of how best-and-fairest voting may look at Adelaide and Port Adelaide using a 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, basis each week of the season.

Round 6 votes

ADELAIDE

Sam Jacobs was far too s trong for Richmond’s Toby Nankervis. Picture: Daniel Kalisz (Gett Images)

5 votes: Sam Jacobs

K: 15 M: 9 H: 11 G: 1.1

Toby Nankervis was supposedly the No. 1 ruckman in the comp going in and Jacobs dominated. He had 50 hit-outs, took contested marks from start to finish, had 26 touches and a goal.

4 votes: Matt Crouch

K: 15 M: 4 H: 23 G: 1.0

Best game of the year for Crouch Jnr. His 38 touches alone were super, especially in tight, and his 50m goal right on half time gave the Crows a lift.

3 votes: Rory Sloane

K: 15 M: 8 H: 18 G: 3.0

Laid seven tackles in the third quarter alone. Took ANOTHER contested mark for a goal inside 50m, on his way to three for the night and 33 touches. More Brownlow votes you’d think.

2 votes: Richard Douglas

K: 14 M: 0 H: 11 G: 1.0

Had 18 contested possessions, more than anyone else on the ground, his tackling was exceptional and goal off the ground early in the game sublime. An unsung hero in the engine room.

1 vote: Tom Lynch

K: 13 M: 9 H: 9 G: 3.2

Apologies to Tex Walker, Rory Laird and Jake Kelly but loved Lynch’s game. Opposition teams have almost got to consider tagging him now. Had 22 disposals and kicked three goals and would have set up that many again.

PORT ADELAIDE

Impressive ... Charlie Dixon gets his handball away against Brisbane. Picture: Bradley Kanaris (Getty Images)

5 votes: Charlie Dixon

K: 15 M: 12 H: 5 G: 4.3

Outstanding. His stats speak for themselves but Dixon covered a lot of territory on Saturday night and marked everything. As impressive as he’s been, be good to see him now stand up against West Coast and Jeremy McGovern or Shannon Hurn this weekend.

4 votes: Chad Wingard

K: 15 M: 1 H: 16 G: 0.1

Second week in a row he’s played almost permanently on the ball and looked right at home. Won a game-high seven clearances and worked hard both ends of the ground. Good signs.

3 votes: Jasper Pittard

K: 18 M: 8 H: 7 G: 0.1

So busy off halfback as he always is, but also pushed up to start from the wing at some centre bounces. Like his composure and ball use once again.

2 votes: Sam Powell-Pepper

K: 10 M: 2 H: 15 G: 2.0

Back to his game-breaking best albeit in a rout against a bottom-four side. Powell-Pepper showed by Port has kept him in the side and kept the faith by playing him on the ball after a quiet fortnight. Two goals was a bonus on Saturday night.

1 vote: Jarman Impey

K: 10 M: 3 H: 3 G: 4.1

His four goals including two in a matter of minutes made sure Brisbane wasn’t getting off the canvas. Runs hard, is a smart crumber and doesn’t need to have a heap of the ball to do some damage.

Leaderboards

ADELAIDE

23: Rory Sloane

12: Sam Jacobs, Taylor Walker

9: Matt Crouch

5: Rory Laird, Brad Crouch

4: Rory Atkins

PORT ADELAIDE

17: Ollie Wines

14: Brad Ebert

9: Robbie Gray

7: Tom Jonas

6: Travis Boak

5: Charlie Dixon, Jared Polec

THE BURNING QUESTIONS

Last week — Is it time to hit the Beech?

Unfortunately for the mature-age rookie at the Crows, no it wasn’t. It looked like Jono Beech’s time had arrived but Talia made a miracle recovery and Jenkins and Kelly deserved to walk straight back in. So the wait continues.

This week — Can Port step it up again?

The first thing Port needed to this year was start winning the games it was expected to win. After Carlton, Fremantle and now Brisbane it can tick that box. Next is to win the 50-50 games like West Coast this weekend, then start looking for a top-four scalp. The Power versus the Eagles at Adelaide Oval this Saturday could be match of the round.