Jump to content

Crystal Ball 2020: Your predictions for next season

P-man
P-man
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

I predict global warming will increase rapidly next year and our experience in playing in Darwin for the past decade will finally pay off.

  • Quote
    • Love 1
    • Haha 1
    • Sad 1
     

    1 - We end up 4th (15 - 7)

    2 - Weed kicks 40, TMac 45

    3 - Max, Oliver, May, Lever & Tracc  - AA

    4 - Oliver 4th in Brownlow

    5 - Make it to the Prelim (can't quite see the result as I am on a cruise somewhere in the Pacific)

    6 - JV, Gus,Harmse, Sparrow & JJ all go up a notch

    7 - Langdon, Tomlinson & Brown all earn their coin and help make us a better team (can't make out KK or Bennell???)

    Jackson, Kozzy, Rivers and a few others show their wares at Casey keeping Casey at the top of the ladder before being injected into the Ones.

    Coach and team still hanging in there..............!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Edited by DeeZone
    one to many K's in KK!

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    3 hours ago, P-man said:

    A template is too restrictive. You predict whatever you want. That’s the point ?

    Then how did you pick the winners?  

  • Quote
    •  

    We finish 7-10th.

    Fyfe comes top 3 but doesn't win brownlow.

    Oliver doesn't make AA with a stagnation, very similar year to 2019, still a contested beast but hasn't added any new tricks.

    Sparrow and Petty are firmly cemented in the best 22 by the end of the year.

    Pickett shows glimpses but never gets a consistent run of form.

    Petracca makes AA squad but not the team.

    Essendon wins a final.

    GWS struggles after the grand final and finishes 6th at best.

     

  • Quote

    1. We finish 11th with a 10-12 season. I simply can't predict us making finals off a 5 win season and playing largely disgraceful footy.

    2. We'll beat the mediocre side that made us look like fools last year - St Kilda, North, Sydney.

    3. Harmes to stick it up Cornes and make the All Australian squad (but not the final 22). He's making exponential improvement each year to the point where he dominated a game of footy and got the 3 BL votes against Hawthorn this year.

    4. Petracca to have a career best year with 30 goals as a hybrid mid-fwd.

    5. Gawn to be the sole ruckman in the AA side and proves to the footballing public that he's the clear number one. I'll take Gawn's ruck-work over Grundy's 50 taps straight to the GWS midfield in the prelim.

    6. We'll no doubt get our fair share of injuries but not to the extent of 2019.

    7. Bennell to make his MFC debut in round 11 against Hawthorn. Our first "away game" win to them since 2006.

    8. Langdon to be an excellent recruit. Tomlinson not so much (already incurring an interrupted pre season)

    9. We'll be around 9th-11th on the ladder all year.

    10. We finally get that elusive scalp against one of Richmond, Collingwood or West Coast. But only one of them.

     

     

     

     

     

     

      

     

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Love 1

    On 12/4/2019 at 12:07 PM, Cranky Franky said:

    Smith, Vandenberg, Hannan, Kolodashnij & Bennell will be injured all year & won't play 6 games between them

    Love the positivity ?

  • Quote
    • Shocked 1

    Ladder: 5th -7th (13 or 14 wins)

    Finals exit: Semi final loss,

    B&F: Pettraca

    Big improvers: Weiderman 40+ goals, Pettraca avg 23+ touches and 30+ goals

    AA squad: Gawn, Oliver, Pettraca, Lever, May

    AA team: Gawn, Pettraca

    RS Nomination: Pickett

    Surprise win: WC round 1. We'll catch them napping in the Perth sun

    Surprise loss: GC round 5. I guess when you think about it, it wouldn't really be a surprise

    Best win: a nail-biter under lights in Brisbane round 14 

  • Quote
    • Like 3

    Brayshaw will be traded at the end of the season. 

    Mitch Brown will play 15+ games.

    Oliver will make AA. 

    We will finish 7th. 

  • Quote
    • Like 1
     

    If we have a poor record as of round 12 then Goodwin will be gone and a substantial board challenge mounted.

     

  • Quote

    2 hours ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

    Brayshaw will be traded at the end of the season. 

    Mitch Brown will play 15+ games.

    Oliver will make AA. 

    We will finish 7th. 

    I think maybe one of Petracca or Brayshaw could end up elsewhere,  this time next year ?   And I feel like a big name might climb on board ?   We're due for a big name player.

    Crystal ball gazing.

  • Quote

    Premiers: GWS

    Runners Up: Western Bulldogs

    Melbourne finish: 5th

    Wooden Spoon: Gold Coast - Small improvement on this year

    Brownlow: Marcus Bontempelli

    Coleman: Tom Lynch (Rich)

    Rising Star: Deven Robertson

    Story of the year: Gold Coast apply for more draft concessions after starting the year 0-11, AFL decline request.

    Story you're unlikely to see: "Hird returns to Essendon to inject some team spirit"

     

    Random Melbourne Predictions

    • Rivers first of draftees to debut
    • Petracca to kick 30 goals playing predominantly as a mid and star for most of the season.
    • Lever, Gawn, Oliver & Petracca to make AA team
    • Jordan to establish himself in the team by half way through the year.

     

     

     

     

    Edited by Nascent

  • Quote
    • Like 3

    I've examined the data gathered over the last 50yrs and I predict more mental fragility.
    When the moments come we'll be found wanting.
    If you have a strong club,  seasons like last years total capitulation don't happen.
    We might go alright with a fit list but when the whips are cracking the intestinal fortitude to get the job done won't be there.

  • Quote

    Any predictions on how good the New staff are going to be ?

  • Quote
    13 hours ago, MyFavouriteMartian said:

    I think maybe one of Petracca or Brayshaw could end up elsewhere,  this time next year ?   And I feel like a big name might climb on board ?   We're due for a big name player.

    Crystal ball gazing.

    I definitely have that feeling too. I hope it’s not Petracca as he has more weapons and point of difference than Brayshaw.

  • Quote

    My prediction is that before round 1, a certain poster who we all admire, will try and sneak his “predicted best 22 team” onto this thread.

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    13 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

    I definitely have that feeling too. I hope it’s not Petracca as he has more weapons and point of difference than Brayshaw.

    Yes, but has lacked the consistency and level of effort.   Brayshaw always has the highest level of effort,  consistently.   But he has to fix his ball use.  Both of them do.

    Most of the team needs to fix their delivery. ?

  • Quote

    12th.

    9 wins, 13 losses

    high percentage 

    scoring deficiences to hurt us in a number of games

    injuries to start peaking up around round 15

    OR

    Top 2

    Premiers 

    One or the other.

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    22 hours ago, Fork 'em said:

    I've examined the data gathered over the last 50yrs and I predict more mental fragility.
    When the moments come we'll be found wanting.
    If you have a strong club,  seasons like last years total capitulation don't happen.

    This is part of culture.  We're building a winning culture, and that will take years to settle into solid club belief. 

    MFCss,  isn't just amongst the fans.

     

    The Hawks were vfl easy beats up until the 60's.  Look what they managed to achieve Via getting some beaut tough hard headed coaches (Kanga Kennedy + Jeans),  to develop discipline with vigor,  and a club first approach.

    And now they have another in Clarkson, who has taken that club to become  a more skill oriented club.  But the basics come fist in culture building.  Vigor, aggression first, to grow the believing,  and then slowly bridge to be more skilled.

    Being skilled without the hardness,  only allows clubs to bully the skilled soft side.  We've been in that position before, and it does not work.

    Edited by MyFavouriteMartian

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    On 12/4/2019 at 9:54 PM, willmoy said:

    We learn how to handle the Media, and they start to love us because we don't start making stupid predictions about the season.

    Only Club reps with an IQ above 100 are allowed to talk to the Media.

    We invite all the Umpires to come to the Club incessantly instead of going to Cats or Bummers period....

    Razer gets an all expenses trip to Los Vegas or The Vatican depending on how he bounces, after the GF no strings attached...

    Not sure that having Saty and Old Dee as our sole media frontmen is necessarily a good idea?  ?

  • Quote
    • Like 1

    Melbourne and Essendon grand final. 

  • Quote
    • Shocked 1

    - We will play finals

    - Tracc to be considered A Grade by all pundits. 

    - Joel Smith to cement a spot in best 22 (assuming he is injury free) 

    - Chunk Jones to spend more time in VFL than AFL 

    - S. May will be top 3 most valuable/reliable player. 

     

  • Quote
    • Like 3

    We'll win the Premiership

    Easier draw, great run with injuries, an ounce of luck and a lucky bounce of the ball in the dying seconds sees Petracca kick the winner after we were 45 points down in the second quarter

  • Quote
    • Like 2
     
    33 minutes ago, Roost It said:

    We'll win the Premiership

    Easier draw, great run with injuries, an ounce of luck and a lucky bounce of the ball in the dying seconds sees Petracca kick the winner after we were 45 points down in the second quarter

    On past history we'll hit the front late in the 3rd.
    The players will start celebrating like they have it won and then get run over in the last.

  • Quote

    Petracca wins his first B&F.

    KK retires before the end of the year. 

    Dees make Semi-Final.

    In other news:

    The Saints make finals but bomb in the first round - They have recruited a bunch of B+ types but lack real quality and there's only so much The Rat can do. 

    Adelaide have a horror year.

    Age wearies the Pies.

    Fremantle culture problems worsen. 

    Geelong go downhill as their aging core players fail to maintain their previous levels. 

  • Quote
    • Like 1

    Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

    Guest
    Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
    Reply to this topic...
    Go to topic listing

    Featured Content

    • FEATURE: 1925

      A hundred years ago today, on 2 May 1925, Melbourne kicked off the new season with a 47 point victory over St Kilda to take top place on the VFL ladder after the opening round of the new season.  Top place was a relatively unknown position for the team then known as the “Fuchsias.” They had finished last in 1923 and rose by only one place in the following year although the final home and away round heralded a promise of things to come when they surprised the eventual premiers Essendon. That victory set the stage for more improvement and it came rapidly. In this series, I will tell the story of how the 1925 season unfolded for the Melbourne Football Club and how it made the VFL finals for the first time in a decade on the way to the ultimate triumph a year later.

        • Love
        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PREVIEW: West Coast

      Saturday’s election night game in Perth between the West Coast Eagles and Melbourne represents 18th vs 15th which makes it a tough decision as to which party to favour. The Eagles have yet to break the ice under their new coach in Andrew McQualter who is the second understudy in a row to confront Demon Coach Simon Goodwin who was also winless until a fortnight ago. On that basis, many punters might be considering to go with the donkey vote but I’ve been assigned with the task of helping readers to come to a considered opinion on this matter of vital importance across the nation. It was almost a year ago that I wrote a preview here of the Demons’ away game against the Eagles (under the name William from Waalitj because it was Indigenous Round).  I issued a warning that it was a danger game, based on my local knowledge that the home team were no longer easybeats and that they possessed a wunderkind generational player in Harley Reid who was capable of producing stellar performances playing among men a decade and more older than he.  At the time, the Eagles already had two wins off the back of a couple of the young man’s masterclasses and they had recently given the Bombers a scare straight after their Anzac Day blockbuster draw against the then reigning premiers.

        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 1 reply
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • NON-MFC: Round 08

      Round 08 of the 2025 AFL Season kicks off on Thursday with a must-win game for the Bombers to stay in touch with the top eight, while the struggling Roos seek a morale-boosting upset. Friday sees the Saints desperate for a win as well if they are to stay in finals contention and their opponents the Dockers will be eager to crack in to the Top 8 with a win on the road. Saturday kicks off with a pivotal clash for both sides asthe Bulldogs look to solidify their top-eight spot, while Port seeks to shake their pretender tag. Then the Crows will be looking to steady their topsy turvy season against a resurgent Blues looking to make it 4 wins on the trot. On Election Night a Blockbuster will see the ladder-leading Pies take on the Cats, who are keen to bounce back after a narrow loss. On Sunday the Sydney Derby promises fireworks as the Giants aim to cement their top-eight status, while the Swans fight to keep their season alive. The Hawks, celebrating their centenary, will be looking to easily account for the Tigers who are desperate to halt their slide. The Round concludes on Sunday Night with a top end of the table QClash with significant ladder implications; both Queensland teams are in scintillating form. Who are you tipping this week and what are the best results for the Demons?

      • 70 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PREGAME: West Coast

      The Demons hit the road in Round 8, heading to Perth to face the West Coast Eagles at Optus Stadium. With momentum building, the Dees will be aiming for a third straight victory to keep their season revival on course. Who comes in and who goes out?

        • Thanks
      • 555 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • REPORT: Richmond

      The fans who turned up to the MCG for Melbourne’s Anzac Day Eve clash against Richmond would have been disappointed if they turned up to see a great spectacle. As much as this was a night for the 71,635 in attendance to commemorate heroes of the nation’s past wars, it was also a time for the Melbourne Football Club to consolidate upon its first win after a horrific start to the 2025 season. On this basis, despite the fact that it was an uninspiring and dour struggle for most of its 100 minutes, the night will be one for the fans to remember. They certainly got value out of the pre match activity honouring those who fought for their country. The MCG and the lights of the city as backdrop was made for nights such as these and, in my view, we received a more inspirational ceremony of Anzac culture than others both here and elsewhere around the country. 

        • Love
        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • CASEY: Richmond

      The match up of teams competing in our great Aussie game at its second highest level is a rarity for a work day Thursday morning but the blustery conditions that met the players at a windswept Casey Fields was something far more commonplace.They turned the opening stanza between the Casey Demons and a somewhat depleted Richmond VFL into a mess of fumbling unforced errors, spilt marks and wasted opportunities for both sides but they did set up a significant win for the home team which is exactly what transpired on this Anzac Day round opener. Casey opened up strong against the breeze with the first goal to Aidan Johnson, the Tigers quickly responded and the game degenerated into a defensive slog and the teams were level when the first siren sounded.

        • Clap
        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland
    View All