Paul Hasleby's 2023 Top 4 Prediction

[Demonland 72,531]

1. Geelong

2. Brisbane

3. Sydney

4. Melbourne

“If they do not finish in the top four, it is a wasted era for them because they are cherry ripe in terms of the most top-end talent in the competition.

“Clayton Oliver, Max Gawn, Christian Petracca, Bayley Fritsch, Steven May, Jake Lever, Jack Viney – throw Brodie Grundy in there, Lachie Hunter from the Dogs as well and there’s another young kid from WA in Jacob Van Rooyen who is flying. He’ll play just about every game this year.

“I think they got the kick up the bum they needed. I think they got a bit carried away. They were flying halfway through last year and undefeated after 10 rounds.

“If you look at a lot of the premiership teams, they’ve often made another Grand Final within four years.”

[Bitter but optimistic 22,243]

He's correct about "wasted era" if we fail to make the top four. However, I believe we are a strong chance to finish top. I am not convinced that Geelong can back it up.

[pineapple dee 2,892]

4 minutes ago, Bitter but optimistic said:

He's correct about "wasted era" if we fail to make the top four. However, I believe we are a strong chance to finish top. I am not convinced that Geelong can back it up.

Nor Brisbane second, or Sydney third.

I actually think we are better than all of these teams we ought to finish a clear 1st

[BDA 22,793]

I don't think we got ahead of ourselves last year, it was more injuries / fatigue caught up with us. But otherwise, I agree with his comments.

[BDA 22,793]

20 minutes ago, Demonland said:

3. Sydney

It'll be interesting to see how the Swans recover from their GF drubbing. History suggests they might struggle this year.

[Grand New Flag 3,227]

Assuming an ok run with injuries we should win it this year.  Never in our lives have or will we be in a stronger position to win the flag (pre season).  The demographics of our top 28 players is at its absolute peak. The sheer talent is the strongest in my lifetime and arguably up there with the best teams in the history of the game. 4 genuine superstars (including Grundy) backed up by a plethora of A graders.  Our list is the envy of the league.

The pass mark this year is a Premiership!!!

Edited February 17, 2023 by Grand New Flag

[Lucifers Hero 40,076]

Glad that his team Freo, isn't in his top 4.

Don't know how on the one hand he can say 'not making the top 4 is a wasted era' then say 'premiership teams often make GF within 4 years'.  That gives us 3 years.  Maybe he should hold fire and see how many GF or premierships we have in 3 years!!

[Willmoy1947 4,114]

This is just a rev up for Collingwood and get us to kiss ourselves pure BS

[Demon17 5,188]

1 hour ago, BDA said:

I don't think we got ahead of ourselves last year, it was more injuries / fatigue caught up with us. But otherwise, I agree with his comments.

Agree also BDA , but his 2022 analysis of the failure was just another example of lazy analysis by an ex-player who didn't watch closely.  In both Swans and Lions finals we were right in it and ahead at half time. As you say fatigue and injuries got us.

We will go Top 4 for the 3rd time in 3 years this season, then its up for grabs finals time with luck.

[Demon17 5,188]

1 hour ago, Grand New Flag said:

Assuming an ok run with injuries we should win it this year.  Never in our lives have or will we be in a stronger position to win the flag (pre season).  The demographics of our top 28 players is at its absolute peak. The sheer talent is the strongest in my lifetime and arguably up there with the best teams in the history of the game. 4 genuine superstars (including Grundy) backed up by a plethora of A graders.  Our list is the envy of the league.

The pass mark this year is a Premiership!!!

Post of the week (and not in a Pollyanna way). Thanks.

[Graeme Yeats' Mullet 6,778]

6 hours ago, Demonland said:

1. Geelong

2. Brisbane

3. Sydney

4. Melbourne

“If they do not finish in the top four, it is a wasted era for them because they are cherry ripe in terms of the most top-end talent in the competition.

“Clayton Oliver, Max Gawn, Christian Petracca, Bayley Fritsch, Steven May, Jake Lever, Jack Viney – throw Brodie Grundy in there, Lachie Hunter from the Dogs as well and there’s another young kid from WA in Jacob Van Rooyen who is flying. He’ll play just about every game this year.

“I think they got the kick up the bum they needed. I think they got a bit carried away. They were flying halfway through last year and undefeated after 10 rounds.

“If you look at a lot of the premiership teams, they’ve often made another Grand Final within four years.”

He'd know about a wasted eras with his Freo experience...

[picket fence 17,209]

7 hours ago, Bitter but optimistic said:

He's correct about "wasted era" if we fail to make the top four. However, I believe we are a strong chance to finish top. I am not convinced that Geelong can back it up.

Me either, old moggies with mottled fur and dry flakey paws dont do it for me either!

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,845]

8 hours ago, pineapple dee said:

Nor Brisbane second, or Sydney third.

I actually think we are better than all of these teams we ought to finish a clear 1st

Yeah, I don't disagree, but I'm still quite happy for the footy world to talk up others and under rate us for now.

I think we could be 1st and undefeated by half way through the season again and there will still be a question mark about us waiting for us to faid out like 2022.

Don't care I'd rather we just put together another season like 2021 when everyone else thinks we're flaky, but the team beleives in itself and we march on to another flag - at the G the time!

[WERRIDEE 5,486]

My top 4

Melbourne

Brisbane

Collingwood

Richmond

[Wodjathefirst 2,650]

In 2021 all through the year I thought that we were ‘real contenders’. The season was pure joy. (throughout and obviously at the very end)

In 2022 (even when we were winning games in the first half) I thought that at best we were ‘contenders’. I felt very frustrated at times.

Obviously 2023 has  not yet started. I hope that we again show signs early on that we once again will be ‘real contenders’. 🤞

GO DEES!!!

[dee-tox 4,835]

5 hours ago, WERRIDEE said:

My top 4

Melbourne

Brisbane

Collingwood

Richmond

Interesting. I think Richmond still have midfield troubles despite the two Giants coming on board.

[58er 6,469]

Yes a top four finish in 2023 would set us up for a repeat of 2021. We are primed with a wonderful list of players and need only normal luck to win another flag this year. 

I am sure our players are determined to make every post a winner this year. 

[Bitter but optimistic 22,243]

11 hours ago, picket fence said:

Me either, old moggies with mottled fur and dry flakey paws dont do it for me either!

As usual picket, your description is both succinct and elegant.

[Tolstoys Nudge 1,693]

12 hours ago, WERRIDEE said:

My top 4

Melbourne

Brisbane

Collingwood

Richmond

Pies will 💯 fall back this year. As will swans 

[Ouch! 2,266]

For me,
Brisbane

Melb

Freo

Richmond

Geelong 

(don't care bout the rest) 

[Orion 332]

In 2020 I would of taken a premiership and a wasted era every day of the week

[Deebauched 1,220]

Melb and Lions should finish top 2.  Geelong is almost guaranteed a final spot every year but a few injuries  will set them sliding to 4-6. Collingwood played above their grade last year. Richmond are a chance and Caroline Wilson will predict they win the flag (same as she predicted for 2022)

Hilarious!

Essendon and Nth are apparently reborn teams under their new coaches.

Yep.  February footy premiers.

[Gawndy the Great 9,011]

Last year was a combination of factors. 

Clearly losing TMac and having BBB play on one leg really weakened us structurally forward. LJ and Weed were just not up to filling in the forward line.

This coupled with a gameplan that became outdated and the lack of rotating players on gameday contributed to fatigue.

We are better positioned this year with the game plan as many on here have witnessed and from what i have heard on the radio. Cant do much about injuries, but fatigue management throughout the year is a must - even if it costs us 1-2 games. However, with good planning (and some fixture luck) you know which opposition teams are bottom 4-6 and the games for which we could look to to rest players. 

 

[DubDee 26,008]

1 hour ago, Ouch! said:

For me,
Brisbane

Melb

Freo

Richmond

Geelong 

(don't care bout the rest) 

Melbourne

Brisbane

Sydney

Carlton

[layzie 33,894]

On 2/17/2023 at 2:23 PM, Lucifers Hero said:

Glad that his team Freo, isn't in his top 4.

Don't know how on the one hand he can say 'not making the top 4 is a wasted era' then say 'premiership teams often make GF within 4 years'.  That gives us 3 years.  Maybe he should hold fire and see how many GF or premierships we have in 3 years!!

Wonder how many of us opened this expecting to see Freo in the top 4?