There’s only one team playing ‘finals-ready’ football consistently

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WE’RE at the half way mark of the season and there is only one team consistently playing finals-ready football.
There is a distinct difference between home-and-away and finals form.

The Western Bulldogs won the premiership from seventh place last year and reset the benchmark. There is no reason why any side in the top eight, with momentum, can’t at least make the Grand Final, as long as its game structure is based on pressure football and has a strong defensive element.

Right now only the Western Bulldogs have it.

The reigning premier might not have the best win-loss record, but when they win they win hard, and when they lose they usually die hard.

Thursday night’s loss to Sydney was poor and out of the blue — albeit in very wet conditions. But with no other standout team, I think the Dogs still have the structure to be there when the whips are cracking.

In many respects the Bulldogs are better equipped this season with captain Bob Murphy (when he returns from injury), Mitch Wallis adding another midfield dimension and Travis Cloke another forward target. Bailey Dale is an outstanding young player and is beginning to have a strong impact.

Their only real concern could be complacency, but if the continued omission of Tom Liberatore is an example then coach Luke Beveridge is all over it and won’t tolerate any drop in standards.

Ladder leader Greater Western Sydney no doubt has the personnel, but it simply allows the opposition to score too heavily.

Maybe the Giants are a victim of being so good, with so many highly-skilled, first-round draft picks, that they are too offensively minded.

Winning now does not guarantee that a team is ready for late September action.

Adelaide, when on song, looks unbeatable. With a high-scoring forward line and a tight backline with excellent offensive run, the Crows look the goods.

But, sadly, when Adelaide has to defend through the middle its one dimensional pace (slow) and lack of accountability lets it down. To have a realistic chance in the finals it must limit the impact of opposition midfields.

Geelong has tumbled to teams it should have beaten, only to come out the next week and play premiership-level football.

When the Cats harass, tackle and apply enormous pressure from start to finish, they win. But this only seems to happen after they have been embarrassed by a side that was more committed to victory.

The smoky in all this is Port Adelaide.

Ken Hinkley has done an amazing job in turning its game style around to better link his three divisions. The backs are running well, the midfield goes deep — not forgetting the influence of Patrick Ryder, who is the ruckman of the season — and the forwards consistently deliver.

Port’s main difference to last season is its commitment to the contest.

Perhaps its only flaw is overuse of the ball, which can get you into trouble when games close up in finals.

I place Richmond above West Coast and Fremantle because of the brilliance of Dustin Martin and the lift in form of captain Trent Cotchin.

It has the best key-back in the competition in Alex Rance and, with Jack Riewoldt seemingly playing closer to goal, there’s more chance of a decent score being kicked each week.

But the Tigers still struggle to completely close down the opposition, and continue to commit too many turnovers to be really credible.

West Coast is all over the shop. The Eagles have the ability but are playing soft football.

The loss of Josh Kennedy to injury has resulted in a lack of direction in attack. Jack Darling hasn’t stood up as a key forward. The Eagles need him to lift.

Fremantle has the lowest percentage of all the top teams because of some heavy defeats. It’s hard to see the Dockers hanging on with other teams coming at them hard.

Monday’s game could very well be season-defining.

Melbourne at its best is outstanding, even without Max Gawn, but the Demons’ game plan fluctuates too much — from overuse (which by definition is giving the ball back to the opposition), to brilliant running and delivery into the forward line for quick scoring.

Which Melbourne turns up on Monday could determine Collingwood’s fate.

Jamie Elliott’s loss could be telling for Collingwood.
If it’s the former, the Magpies — with their running boots on and their sound defence — will destroy them. If it’s the latter, we are in for a ripping Queen’s Birthday clash.

Collingwood has shown remarkable resilience in the past few weeks to go from being nowhere near it to being on the verge of the top eight.

Its new-found confidence coincided with the return of Jamie Elliott. His latest setback could be telling.

St Kilda is an enigma.

As quick as any side, the Saints for some unknown reason seem to want to play someone else’s game — a prop-and-kick style. Yet this diminishes their greatest asset.

When they run the ball and get inside their front 50 before the opposition has a chance to set up, they have a far greater chance of winning. On recent evidence they are starting to really trail the top-eight clubs.

Essendon’s superb win against Port Adelaide has it back in the hunt.

The Bombers have been working at their best of late — with pace and emotion.

A new and better Joe Daniher from last year (stronger and more consistent) gives them a chance every week.

It’s been a strange season because of the inconsistency of teams unable to measure up every week.

But the one non-variable so far is the team that has played the hardest and won the contested football, has generally prevailed. Let this be a lesson for the coming weeks as September looms large.

I'd like to hear Bailey Dale signed up with some very good press he's getting lately.

I like the sound of what Mick is blabbing on about but really. Sydney played a finals type game with pressure in all areas of the ground and we cracked. West coast and Geelong as well. So in my mind we are off the pace at the moment.