Stone motherless and (almost) last

[Whispering_Jack 28,004]

In most sports it's dangerous to be making predictions several months ahead but News Limited's illustrious but apparently anonymous team of sports writers have done just that. They seem to have little faith in Paul Roos or his ability as a coach to lift the Dees off the floor - Predictions of first five AFL rounds good news for Hawks, Eagles but Collingwood in trouble

This is their predicted ladder after five rounds -

PREDICTED LADDER AFTER ROUND 5

5-0 Hawthorn

5-0 Sydney

4-1 West Coast

4-1 North Melbourne

4-1 Richmond

4-1 Geelong

3-2 Fremantle

3-2 Carlton

--------------------

2-3 Adelaide

2-3 Essendon

2-3 Port Adelaide

2-3 Gold Coast

2-3 St Kilda

1-4 Collingwood

1-4 W Bulldogs

1-4 GWS

0-5 Melbourne

0-5 Brisbane Lions

The "staff writers'" comments -

MELBOURNE

St Kilda (ES), West Coast (MCG), GWS (GS), Carlton (MCG), Gold Coast (MCG)

Prediction: 0-5

Hard to know what the immediate impact of Paul Roos will be - surely the Dees will at least be more competitive than in recent Round 1 games (losing to Port Adelaide by 79 points at the MCG last year, and to Brisbane by 41 at the same venue in 2012). But Roos has acknowledged a turnaround won't happen overnight.

These people are brave in attempting the exercise (especially in their assessment of Collingwood) but I do suspect it might come back to bite them on the backside and they could well end up writing in the social pages instead of about sports.

It will be worth keeping an eye on this as the season starts unfolding.

[Chook 14,562]

The best thing about being anonymous is that no-one can call you on your bullshite.

[Redleg 37,689]

Don't want to get ahead of myself, but I honestly believe we could win 3 of those if we are not ravaged by injuries.

[biggestred 4,317]

"surely the dees will be more competitive"

then has us losing to the saints, gws and the gold coast.

[Alcho Dee 269]

Predicted half way through January, based on last years efforts. St Kilda without Mcevoy and Dal Santo and Milne looks winnable even at this early stage.....I would say 3-2 not 5-0

[Carrot Top 947]

It will be worth keeping an eye on this as the season starts unfolding.

Nah. I'll have better things to do. Like celebrating a 5-0 start to our year.

[DeeSpencer 23,188]

Based on 2013 though

- Complete rubbish at Etihad (there goes round 1)

- no good on the road (GWS game is gone)

- Spanked by West coast, Carlton and Gold Coast at the g

Obviously it's a new year and 2 home games against interstate teams as well as St Kilda and GWS (two teams predicted to finish down the bottom) is a cushy draw. But how can anyone predict change before we see some on field improvement

[Whispering_Jack 28,004]

But how can anyone predict change before we see some on field improvement

It's easy.

Since the end of the 2013 season, we've undergone massive changes in our coaching structure and from the senior coach down the changes are significant and will affect the way we train and play, structures, strategies, player and team confidence, mindset etc.

We've also turned over close to ¼ of our list and most think the net result is a better list with some much needed added class and experience in the midfield. We can also expect improvement from the young blokes (Viney, Toumpas and Hogan who didn't play last year) and some significant key position talls coming back from injury.

There's a fair bit of evidence there to suggest we can expect some change and improvement.

[Spirit of the Demon 209]

Predicted half way through January, based on last years efforts. St Kilda without Mcevoy and Dal Santo and Milne looks winnable even at this early stage.....I would say 3-2 not 5-0

No Montagna (one of their two elites) in this game either. He's out suspended.

[CBDees 3,162]

It's easy.

Since the end of the 2013 season, we've undergone massive changes in our coaching structure and from the senior coach down the changes are significant and will affect the way we train and play, structures, strategies, player and team confidence, mindset etc.

We've also turned over close to ¼ of our list and most think the net result is a better list with some much needed added class and experience in the midfield. We can also expect improvement from the young blokes (Viney, Toumpas and Hogan who didn't play last year) and some significant key position talls coming back from injury.

There's a fair bit of evidence there to suggest we can expect some change and improvement.

i AGREE COMPLETELY. I predict us being 3/2 or maybe even 4/1 if we beat WC at the "G". I cannot see St Kilda [in particular] sitting four positions above us on the ladder.

[jazza 1,323]

Don't want to get ahead of myself, but I honestly believe we could win 3 of those if we are not ravaged by injuries.

Predicted half way through January, based on last years efforts. St Kilda without Mcevoy and Dal Santo and Milne looks winnable even at this early stage.....I would say 3-2 not 5-0

try 4/1

[CHAMP 347]

Keep Wilkes-Maister to 3 goals and we're home. The betting has not moved since Richo was made Coach with Dees at $2.40.

Our last effort at Colonial wasn't too bad at all (apart from the 9 goals to 2 second quarter).

[monoccular 16,123]

Actually......who gives a rat's what a bunch of anonymous sports "journalists" put out.

Only time will tell, so just sit back and relax and enjoy that fact that we are all 0-0 right now.

[Sydney Pennski 270]

No Montagna (one of their two elites) in this game either. He's out suspended.

I reckon Tommy Mac can take down their other "elite" too. He's done well on Riewoldt before.

[Bedraggled Dee 336]

This article should pasted to the locker doors

[monoccular 16,123]

This article should pasted to the locker doors

IMO it should be treated with the disdain it deserves - maybe hung on a nail in the smallest room?

Edited January 16, 2014 by monoccular

[Bring-Back-Powell 13,246]

This article should pasted to the locker doors

Agree with that.

I'd be really furious if our St Kilda and/or GWS games were at the MCG and the HUN still tipped us o be 0-5.

[Bossdog 2,002]

Agree with that.

I'd be really furious if our St Kilda and/or GWS games were at the MCG and the HUN still tipped us o be 0-5.

I don't really get why people get upset about what an unnamed reporter thinks how sides will go in 2014.....It's the 17th JAN....All sides are back in training and there is 1 month before a ball is kicked in anger....It's about now, as match practice begins, that injuries start to come to all sides....Let them say what they like.....on our form in 2013 it would be hard to disagree but then said reporter does not look at training reports from supporter sites.....If he did, then there would be 18 sides in the eight.....Just my look on things. Edited January 16, 2014 by Bossdog

[Robot Devil 1,895]

If he did, then there would be 18 sides in the eight....

Otherwise known as "The Three Stooges Effect"

Woop woop woop woop woop woop

[beelzebub 22,225]

I read the article...and quite frankly its worthless shlt.

So much is ignored as to make the author a complete and ignorant fwit

[daisycutter 28,579]

you didn't like it bb? LOL

[Vipercrunch 2,814]

Why does anyone care? It's just a fluff piece to fill up some AFL inches. Why do people get so tied up in knots about someone else's opinion of their side?

[old dee 22,926]

Why does anyone care? It's just a fluff piece to fill up some AFL inches. Why do people get so tied up in knots about someone else's opinion of their side?

Because for the last six years they have been spot on!

[Bombay Airconditioning 5,941]

Interesting how they have viewed Richmond, I'm tipping them to slide. They have an easy draw but ultimately will get found out.

[Sir Why You Little 34,580]

Because for the last six years they have been spot on!

Hahahaha!! Pay that OD.