I think you're overrating the Blues, Dockers and even the Cats and Dogs, i'd wager at least one of those misses the 8 altogether.
So we won 8.5.. however:
R2 1 point loss to Pies
R7 4 point loss to Dogs
R12 draw with Pies
R16 11 points at Subi to Freo
R22 11 point loss to North
(I also think that R20 against Hawks we could have easily got up but i'll leave that out)
All of those go the other way - which they all easily could have - that's 13 wins which would have had us equal 5th with Freo and Sydney on Premiership points.
Jones, Bartram, Garland, Bail, Petterd, Frawley, Jurrah, Ozzie, Grimes, Morton, Bennell, McKenzie, Watts, Scully, Gysberts and Trengove are all regular starters when fit and they are all 22 or under. I would say only Moloney, Jamar, Davey, Bruce and Green have reached their ceiling as footballers, everyone else should get better. Then there is the unknown output of Blease, Tapscott, Strauss, Maric, Fitzy, Gawn, Spence, Jetta and whoever we get at pick 12
I would say 12 wins/8th spot is extremely probable and if everything aligns we will be hosting a final at the G week one and going on to week 2