Like a lot of people on here I get quite bored with a lack of footy news and need something to read on smoko at work so I thought it was a good time to do my yearly topic.

For this year I will be going into every team, and where they will end up

Adelaide: I rate Adelaide they are high scoring and good to watch at this stage I think they will make a slight jump and sneak into the top 4 as I don't think they have quite reached their peak yet as a team. Was surprised to see on afl website they struggle with efficient kicking.

top 4

Brisbane: while they will probably finish bottom next year I think they will be a little more competitive and will win an extra game or 2 I recall they had a bit of bad luck with injuries.

18th

Carlton: Cant see them improving dramatically at this stage bottom 4 for me still in rebuild mode.

14-17th

Collingwood: Buckley under a lot of pressure for finals which I don't think they are capable of bit of an overrated list and with a few players requesting trades it doesn't seem like a great team culture/relationship with coach and players so will tread water. 12th-14th

Essendon: with the infamous players returning after their holiday will definitely win a few more games but don't think will make finals have them around 9th.

9th-12th

Fremantle: They blew their chance against hawthorn and the team seems to have peaked a few years ago having said that they have dealt with injuries have them bouncing back up to 9th/10th.

9th-13th

Geelong: while it is frustrating as heck to see them top up with a few players and they are back in contention but I cant see them falling top 4 finish.

top 4

Gold Coast: Still think they are going through their growing pains have them treading water.

14th-15th

GWS: Have them going all the way, kids are maturing and are really hitting their straps they will be a very dominant team for years to come thanks to their concessions. top 2

Hawthorn: As we found them out last season  I can see others are catching on. Losing their best 2 players will hurt as they had valuable experience and cool heads will drop but may still sneak into top 4 maybe dropping as far down as 6th.

4th-6th

Melbourne: Exciting times ahead at last and boy does it feel good while we are not there yet the bulldogs showed last year ANYTHING is now possible I really feel with the additions of lewis, hibberd, and melksham and natural progression the lazy and bad games will start to be ironed out and when were usually belted will become more competitive  I have us sneaking in at 8th.

6th-9th

North Melbourne: I rekon the roos are in real trouble now and are where we were at in 2007 with 4 of best and most experienced players gone and not a lot of kids coming through will start to feel the pain had their chance this season and blew it.

12th-15th

Port Adelaide: while not a bad team they just don't seem special either have them treading water.

11th-13th

Richmond: the tiges are feeling the pain of not doing a complete and proper rebuild like us and are paying for it have them treading water.

12th-14th

St Kilda: maybe I'm being biased because I really hate the saints but when their senior players retire I cant see anybody stepping up to replace them in the short term so while they will still be competing for a top 8 spot they will crash and burn eventually.

6th-8th

Sydney: Great List what else can I say top 4 finish is pretty much guaranteed at this stage.

top 4

West Coast: A reasonable team but I cant see them getting much better Mitchell will be good for them treading water for me.

5th-8th

Western Bulldogs: A very exciting team I can see them pushing for a top 4 spot good kids great senior players would be good to se murphy get a cup while they did great this year to pip the swans I don't they will repeat I can see them like hawthorn 2008 grabbing one early before reaching their peak and dominating for a few years could be gws biggest threat when gws really get going along with us of course ^ _ ^

3rd-6th

 

 

 

 

Hawks and north to fall and both to miss the 8

Dees to rise and finish top 6

not sure on the other team to rise to make the 8, pies, saints or the smokey the Suns

dont think there will be as much movement over the ladder as last year  

I think a lot of people underestimate St Kilda. They're developing with a good midfield and forward line, and even when Riewoldt and Montagna retire they'll still be very dangerous.

7 hours ago, mauriesy said:

I think a lot of people underestimate St Kilda. They're developing with a good midfield and forward line, and even when Riewoldt and Montagna retire they'll still be very dangerous.

Saints can finish anywhere up to 5th in my opinion. Played some great footy and getting towards being unbeatable at Etihad again.

its amazing how many Dee's supporters underrate a team we Haven't beaten in 10 years.

Edited January 17, 20178 yr by Pipefitter

Dommygun, you don't seem to have anybody finishing higher the second. Who are GWS to play in the GF?

Saints next to useless outside of Etihad. They're going to lose the first one too

Giants the best side by a mile, dogs, swans and cats should round out the tonight 4 

hawks, crows, dees saints round out the top 8 

port to seriously struggle, as will pies and tigers so three sacked coaches. 

It's a Melbourne supporter's fantasy that no other team will improve as much as their own.

Which is of course an idea that is held by many one-eyed supporters of any club. 

All I know is that the competition is now insanely competitive and nothing will be easy next year.

 

 

Edited January 17, 20178 yr by stevethemanjordan

St Kilda WILL finish top 4 and make a prelim at the least.

I see them as the next power house of the comp.

Just now, Bring-Back-Powell said:

St Kilda WILL finish top 4 and make a prelim at the least.

I see them as the next power house of the comp.

I don't think their midfield is good enough.

51 minutes ago, Clint Bizkit said:

I don't think their midfield is good enough.

Nor I. The old hands can't keep them in it forever. I see them slipping a spot or two...not going up

5 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

Nor I. The old hands can't keep them in it forever. I see them slipping a spot or two...not going up

Can you point to the "old hands" on the Saints list that you speak of please?

31 minutes ago, billy2803 said:

Can you point to the "old hands" on the Saints list that you speak of please?

Leigh and Nick spring to mind

1 minute ago, beelzebub said:

Leigh and Nick spring to mind

2 players?  Our Bernie isn't a young hand just quietly, and like Leigh and Nick, is still a valuable contributor.

They have also got a far more advanced forward line.  Take Nick out, they still have Bruce and Carlisle, as well as McCartin.

They're not as bad as many on here think they are.  And as someone mentioned above, we just don't beat them!

 

Billy. I simply have a different opinion. Their game style often relies on good days by the old blokes. If they have off days ( not often granted ) then theres a vacuum. We will finish above them imho

And mine, coaching query for me too....

18 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

Billy. I simply have a different opinion. Their game style often relies on good days by the old blokes. If they have off days ( not often granted ) then theres a vacuum. We will finish above them imho

Time will tell, Bub.  I hope you're right!!!!!

21 minutes ago, billy2803 said:

2 players?  Our Bernie isn't a young hand just quietly, and like Leigh and Nick, is still a valuable contributor.

They have also got a far more advanced forward line.  Take Nick out, they still have Bruce and Carlisle, as well as McCartin.

They're not as bad as many on here think they are.  And as someone mentioned above, we just don't beat them!

 

Carlise is a defender...Bruce a handy 'B' grader and McCartin yet unproven...

Nick is still the man, with him gone or on the wane the pressure goes on the others.

A Nickless forward line is hardly far more advanced than ours.

I don't think they are bad I just think we are better positioned to make a good run at it.

6 minutes ago, rjay said:

Carlise is a defender...Bruce a handy 'B' grader and McCartin yet unproven...

Nick is still the man, with him gone or on the wane the pressure goes on the others.

A Nickless forward line is hardly far more advanced than ours.

I don't think they are bad I just think we are better positioned to make a good run at it.

Thought they got Carlisle to play forward.

Would love a "B" Grader like Bruce in our forward line.

McCartin will be fine.  He's only a year younger than Hogan, but is 2 years behind as far as time in the system goes.  Watch him stamp himself in a few games this year, then take another step in 2018.  By the time Riewoldt is finished, McCartin will be their number 1 forward.

I didn't rate the Aints this last season and they went ok, not super brilliant but quite ok. They get an amazing 14 games at their paddock which must help. They even get to play the [censored] there....and we have to go down the Geelong road. Infuriating. 

That said i dont see them playing must different. I see us going up a gear. Thats how i have us over them.

Buckley wont be there in 18...just watch. Anzac day will see the Bombers do the Pies...right after we send the Toiges to purgatory.

Cats an enigma. Hawks to start slipping. Swans top 4. Dogs Top 4

Cant see either of the Church city mobs flying that high but as Crows have wings they be the better...somewhere in top 6.

Roos...wheels falling off. Lions...meow !! 

Giants... Yep big boys now...not unbeatable though.

Blues...aptly named.

Weagles....no real impact...9-12

Dockers.....who ?

Dees...hmmmmm..was thinking 7th...but thats more likely StK so somewhere above them

We play the "censored" at Etihad too...

(Presuming you mean Geelong?)

Edited January 18, 20178 yr by billy2803

I think 5-15 is going to be the most competitive it's been for some time.

Even those presumed to be down the bottom could bounce up and bother ostensibly 'good' sides.

My predictions are:

1 - 4: GWS, Sydney, Bulldogs, Geelong

5 - 8: Adelaide, St.Kilda, Melbourne, Hawthorn 

9 - 12: West Coast, Port Adelaide, Fremantle, Collingwood

13 - 18 Essendon, North Melbourne, Richmond, Gold Coast, Carlton, Brisbane

My reasoning behind all of this would be the natural progression of Melbourne and St.Kilda's youth and trade acquisitions, to help us reach the finals Woo-Hoo! I believe the Weagles will drop due to significant injuries to their ruck department and a tough draw. North will struggle without it's veterans... I imagine them to drop significantly. Freo will rise again with the return of Fyfe, Sandilands, Bennell and not to mention the good pick up's they got this trade period. And the rest will be trying to emerge from the bottom 6. 

 

1 hour ago, rjay said:

Carlise is a defender...Bruce a handy 'B' grader and McCartin yet unproven...

Nick is still the man, with him gone or on the wane the pressure goes on the others.

A Nickless forward line is hardly far more advanced than ours.

I don't think they are bad I just think we are better positioned to make a good run at it.

Agreed, they rely to much on older guys and I am not sure they have the same depth of talent coming through as a lot of the other teams down in the bottom 8, which is a concern considering they're running into teams like giants, suns, dogs and us who are loaded with top end young talent 

27 minutes ago, billy2803 said:

We play the "censored" at Etihad too...

(Presuming you mean Geelong?)

Yes p u s s i e s was censored !!