The new AFL season is still two months away, but already there are those who are confidently saying that Richmond have all but won it. Melbourne, along with last year’s Grand Finalists West Coast and Collingwood, make up the teams deemed most likely to give them a run for their money.
But it is a long season, and if we can be sure of one thing it is that it will throw up some surprises. As we countdown the final weeks before things get underway, bookmakers like Unibet will be offering a host of tempting promotions, so which outside shots might be worth a dollar or two of your money?
Geelong Cats
Here’s a team that is always there or thereabouts. Last year was a transitional one, and saw the dream team of Dangerfield, Ablett and Selwood come together for the first time. Eighth in the table might not look any better than mediocre, but if a couple of tight results had gone the other way, they could easily have finished third. The team has a great blend of youth and experience, and while it’s questionable whether they quite have the all round team to sustain a season-long challenge, they could beat anyone on their day.
Greater Western Sydney Giants
The Giants are still seen by the more established teams as the new kids on the block. That can work in their favour when the opposition underestimate the undoubted talent in their ranks, but the problem is that they sometimes seem to see themselves in the same terms. Last year had some great moments, including their demolition of Richmond and their victory over Sydney in the elimination final. If they can string these bright points into a consistent run of form, they could be one of the big surprises of 2019.
Essendon Bombers
Pundits love talking about “a season of two halves,” and that is certainly what the Bombers encountered in 2018. A disastrous start to the season, in which they lost six of their first eight games, was followed by an astonishing run that saw them win 10 of the next 14 fixtures. The Bombers have made some shrewd acquisitions during the off season, in the shape of Dyson Heppell, Zach Merrett and David Zaharakis, meaning they will have one of the most formidable midfields in the league. Is that enough to worry the top teams? If the second half of last year is anything to go by, it certainly could be.
Fremantle Dockers
The Jekyll and Hydes of the AFL mixed some top class performances and professional wins with an equal number of truly awful displays last year. This is another team that has bolstered its ranks, and Reece Conca and Rory Lobb will be able to take some of the weight from Nat Fyfe’s shoulders. If the team can coalesce and eliminate some of the schoolboy errors and bad days that dogged 2018, they could emerge as the biggest surprise package of the 2019 season.
