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AFLW 2024 - Round 9 - Indigenous Round - Chat, game threads, injury lists, team lineups and more.
2012 Predictions
- Thread starter kaiserchief13
- Start date
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Was just talking about Melbourne at the time, McCartney could do the trick at the Dogs too, only time will tell. I reckon both coaches will take some time to get results after Melbourne's horrible year and the direction the Dogs list is going.
When it comes to St Kilda and Adelaide, both Craig and Lyon's gameplans were so rigid and probably boring to implement that I think both playing groups will enjoy a new direction.
UrLordUnbeliever
Club Legend
I read this and was like WTF?
Then I scolled up to see what team you support.
Then I LOLd.
Take the Kangas out of 6th, swap em with Freo/ Adelaide / Rich
Take Saints out of 8th, swap em with Ess, Melb or Kangas.
SpudFarmers911
Draftee
1. Hawthron
2. Geelong
3. Carlton
4. Collingwood
5. West Coast
6. St Kilda
7. Sydney
8. Fremantle
9. North Melbourne
10. Essendon
11. Richmond
12. Melbourne
13. Brisbane
14. Gold Coast
15. Adelaide
16. Western Bulldogs
16. GWS
17. Port Adelaide
Hard to predict where each team will finish, injuries and debuts will dictate most teams. Saints will be the biggest mystery, with everyone claiming that they'll slide far. But when you have an elite team of Goddard, Fisher, Riewoldt, Dal Santo and Montagna going guns blazing, you don't know how well they could go. If they can get games into Simpkin, Wilkes, Ross, Sipposs, Cripps, Stanley- a solid future may be still there. I honestly think Adelaide are still gonna be terrible next year, even with their new recruits. They don't have any superstars other than Thompson. The ladder itself will be a lot closer, with the whole competition being pretty even (especially between Melborune, Richmond, North, Freo, Essendon, Sydney and St Kilda). It is a crucial year for North, Melbourne and Richmond, due to their rebuilding phase being over. West Coast will be solid team, but will struggle like usual at the MCG. Geelong and Hawks will be the most dominant, and Carlton and Collingwood will be pretty even as potential Grand Finalist Wild Cards. After 2012, Sydney will slide down with Ryan O'Keefe, Adam Goodes, Jude Bolton, Nick Malceski, Martin Mattner, Lewis Roberts Thompson and Reece Shaw due to retire within 3 years. Their kids (Rohan, Walsh, Reid, Armstrong etc) will need to perform to establish a consistent team. Essendon are gonna be up and down again, with their rucks in dire straits, and their defence/midfield/forwards needing a player to spark the team. With Jobe Watson as their only real superstar, Zaharakis and Hocking will have to step it up even more next year. Crameri will need another tall as support. I am predicting Collingwood to have problems with inconsistent players, and will slide a bit. Geelong and Hawks will leave the rest of the competition in their own league, with both teams managing their lists better than anyone else. Geelong are breeding very talented young kids and that trend will continue next year. The Hawks will also breed a couple of kids to replace the inconsistent players. If Franklin has a great year with fellow support, they'll be very hard to beat.
2. Geelong
3. Carlton
4. Collingwood
5. West Coast
6. St Kilda
7. Sydney
8. Fremantle
9. North Melbourne
10. Essendon
11. Richmond
12. Melbourne
13. Brisbane
14. Gold Coast
15. Adelaide
16. Western Bulldogs
16. GWS
17. Port Adelaide
Hard to predict where each team will finish, injuries and debuts will dictate most teams. Saints will be the biggest mystery, with everyone claiming that they'll slide far. But when you have an elite team of Goddard, Fisher, Riewoldt, Dal Santo and Montagna going guns blazing, you don't know how well they could go. If they can get games into Simpkin, Wilkes, Ross, Sipposs, Cripps, Stanley- a solid future may be still there. I honestly think Adelaide are still gonna be terrible next year, even with their new recruits. They don't have any superstars other than Thompson. The ladder itself will be a lot closer, with the whole competition being pretty even (especially between Melborune, Richmond, North, Freo, Essendon, Sydney and St Kilda). It is a crucial year for North, Melbourne and Richmond, due to their rebuilding phase being over. West Coast will be solid team, but will struggle like usual at the MCG. Geelong and Hawks will be the most dominant, and Carlton and Collingwood will be pretty even as potential Grand Finalist Wild Cards. After 2012, Sydney will slide down with Ryan O'Keefe, Adam Goodes, Jude Bolton, Nick Malceski, Martin Mattner, Lewis Roberts Thompson and Reece Shaw due to retire within 3 years. Their kids (Rohan, Walsh, Reid, Armstrong etc) will need to perform to establish a consistent team. Essendon are gonna be up and down again, with their rucks in dire straits, and their defence/midfield/forwards needing a player to spark the team. With Jobe Watson as their only real superstar, Zaharakis and Hocking will have to step it up even more next year. Crameri will need another tall as support. I am predicting Collingwood to have problems with inconsistent players, and will slide a bit. Geelong and Hawks will leave the rest of the competition in their own league, with both teams managing their lists better than anyone else. Geelong are breeding very talented young kids and that trend will continue next year. The Hawks will also breed a couple of kids to replace the inconsistent players. If Franklin has a great year with fellow support, they'll be very hard to beat.
im not sure if the tiges have finished their rebuild as we still need to replace players in some positions. plus i think melb and nth are more further down the track in their rebuild. but that doesnt mean higher or lower positions on the current ladder.
I love it how a new list of future Sydney retirements is rolled out every year as a reason for our slide down the ladder, like no other teams have top line senior players.
Aside from Goodes, nearly all the other players you named either played very little footy this year, are being moved out of position by our youngsters or have a more than adequate replacement in the wings.
The real question mark is whether we can get a forward line up and functioning - with it we are a genuine top 4 prospect.
Aside from Goodes, nearly all the other players you named either played very little footy this year, are being moved out of position by our youngsters or have a more than adequate replacement in the wings.
The real question mark is whether we can get a forward line up and functioning - with it we are a genuine top 4 prospect.
HurleyTheFuture
Club Legend
Yes, I dont understand why every year people constantly put Sydney out of the 8, I dont see any reason why they couldnt take another step. They have a great midfield group in Hannebry, Jack, Kennedy as well as Goodes rotating through there and have pretty good KPP
He named Goodes, O'Keefe, Bolton, Malceski, Mattner, Roberts-Thomson and Shaw.
Goodes is clearly your barometer. Absolute gun. He will be 32 by start of next season. B&F winner.
Ryan O'Keefe played all 24 games, and finished 4th in Sydney B&F. Was the matchwinner vs St Kilda in elimination final. Doubt highly you have an adequate replacement just yet. And if you do, it will be at least 5 years until he is playing at O'Keefes level. He will be 31 by start of next season.
Jude Bolton, while suprisingly not finishing in the top 10 in the B&F, had a very good year. Was the matchwinner in a few games, and helped lead the team with some exceptional brave efforts. Made a new asset to his game, kicking 19 goals from 22 games. Will be 32 at start of next season.
Nick Malceski - give you that one. Still managed 12 games in an injury interrupted season. Still in the best 22 for mine. Still pretty young though, only 27 at season start.
Martin Mattner - underrated player, gives it his all, plays of the HBF or wing? Me not being entirely sure shows he is underrated. Played every game, so clearly in the best 22. The role players who don't star are often very hard to replace, because high draft picks usually mean a star. Will be 29 at season start, so probably could play until 2014.
Lewis Roberts-Thomson - played 15 games, so is still a contributor to the team. looks to be on the outer with Grundy/Johnson/Richards all better imo.
Will be 29 at season start. Give you this one.
Rhyce Shaw - Equal 2nd in B&F. Played all 24 games. Clearly a valuable player to Sydney, and was not moved out position by a youngster and there is not a player just ready to move onto the HBF and be 2nd B&F. Will be 31 at season start.
So 2/7 older Swans, not nearly all, 'either played very little footy this year, are being moved out of position by our youngsters or have a more than adequate replacement in the wings.'. I would argue those 2 are the poorest out of the 7 (in 2011 anyway)
I understand that Mumford/Jack/Hannebery/Rohan/Parker/Kennedy/McVeigh/McGlynn/Bird/Mitchell are going to be an awesome midfield, have a set defence with Johnson/Grundy as talls, Richards as 3rd tall, and Smith as one of the best small defenders, then in the forward line Reid/White + rotating midfielders and Dennis-Lane. So yes, Sydney do have a very good young team.
But to believe the team won't drop in performance once Goodes et al are gone, is just blind bias. They are guns, they have a big impact on how Sydney goes, so it's just clear that they will have a drop (not saying it will be big, it might be only to 8th or 9th, and I don't know when, it could 2013, 2014 or 2015). These guys like Rohan and Mitchell won't be carrying the Swans when they are 20.
I infact think they will challenge for the top 4 in 2012, because like you said Swans need their forward line to function. With Goodes/Reid, + a 3rd tall, players like Rohan/Parker/McGlynn/Bolton/O'Keefe able to snag a goal as midfielders, and maybe Dennis-Lane making a name for himself, it could function. In 2015 with Mitchell/Rohan/Parker/Hannebery/Johnson/Reid/Bird/Jack (they will be the nucleus of the team), only 1 will be in the prime of his career. Jack.
That's all
Kelly, Dunkley and Lockett were pretty handy. People look back now and and say "well yeah, but you had Goodes, Kirk, Hall, Bolton etc" but at the end of the 2002 season, they hadn't done much that between them.
HurleyTheFuture
Club Legend
Some very fair points there, but by the time goodes, shaw etc. retires, players like Jack, Hannebry, Reid, Kennedy would of gone up another levelHe named Goodes, O'Keefe, Bolton, Malceski, Mattner, Roberts-Thomson and Shaw.
Goodes is clearly your barometer. Absolute gun. He will be 32 by start of next season. B&F winner.
Ryan O'Keefe played all 24 games, and finished 4th in Sydney B&F. Was the matchwinner vs St Kilda in elimination final. Doubt highly you have an adequate replacement just yet. And if you do, it will be at least 5 years until he is playing at O'Keefes level. He will be 31 by start of next season.
Jude Bolton, while suprisingly not finishing in the top 10 in the B&F, had a very good year. Was the matchwinner in a few games, and helped lead the team with some exceptional brave efforts. Made a new asset to his game, kicking 19 goals from 22 games. Will be 32 at start of next season.
Nick Malceski - give you that one. Still managed 12 games in an injury interrupted season. Still in the best 22 for mine. Still pretty young though, only 27 at season start.
Martin Mattner - underrated player, gives it his all, plays of the HBF or wing? Me not being entirely sure shows he is underrated. Played every game, so clearly in the best 22. The role players who don't star are often very hard to replace, because high draft picks usually mean a star. Will be 29 at season start, so probably could play until 2014.
Lewis Roberts-Thomson - played 15 games, so is still a contributor to the team. looks to be on the outer with Grundy/Johnson/Richards all better imo.
Will be 29 at season start. Give you this one.
Rhyce Shaw - Equal 2nd in B&F. Played all 24 games. Clearly a valuable player to Sydney, and was not moved out position by a youngster and there is not a player just ready to move onto the HBF and be 2nd B&F. Will be 31 at season start.
So 2/7 older Swans, not nearly all, 'either played very little footy this year, are being moved out of position by our youngsters or have a more than adequate replacement in the wings.'. I would argue those 2 are the poorest out of the 7 (in 2011 anyway)
I understand that Mumford/Jack/Hannebery/Rohan/Parker/Kennedy/McVeigh/McGlynn/Bird/Mitchell are going to be an awesome midfield, have a set defence with Johnson/Grundy as talls, Richards as 3rd tall, and Smith as one of the best small defenders, then in the forward line Reid/White + rotating midfielders and Dennis-Lane. So yes, Sydney do have a very good young team.
But to believe the team won't drop in performance once Goodes et al are gone, is just blind bias. They are guns, they have a big impact on how Sydney goes, so it's just clear that they will have a drop (not saying it will be big, it might be only to 8th or 9th, and I don't know when, it could 2013, 2014 or 2015). These guys like Rohan and Mitchell won't be carrying the Swans when they are 20.
I infact think they will challenge for the top 4 in 2012, because like you said Swans need their forward line to function. With Goodes/Reid, + a 3rd tall, players like Rohan/Parker/McGlynn/Bolton/O'Keefe able to snag a goal as midfielders, and maybe Dennis-Lane making a name for himself, it could function. In 2015 with Mitchell/Rohan/Parker/Hannebery/Johnson/Reid/Bird/Jack (they will be the nucleus of the team), only 1 will be in the prime of his career. Jack.
That's all
He named Goodes, O'Keefe, Bolton, Malceski, Mattner, Roberts-Thomson and Shaw.
Goodes is clearly your barometer. Absolute gun. He will be 32 by start of next season. B&F winner.
Ryan O'Keefe played all 24 games, and finished 4th in Sydney B&F. Was the matchwinner vs St Kilda in elimination final. Doubt highly you have an adequate replacement just yet. And if you do, it will be at least 5 years until he is playing at O'Keefes level. He will be 31 by start of next season.
Jude Bolton, while suprisingly not finishing in the top 10 in the B&F, had a very good year. Was the matchwinner in a few games, and helped lead the team with some exceptional brave efforts. Made a new asset to his game, kicking 19 goals from 22 games. Will be 32 at start of next season.
Nick Malceski - give you that one. Still managed 12 games in an injury interrupted season. Still in the best 22 for mine. Still pretty young though, only 27 at season start.
Martin Mattner - underrated player, gives it his all, plays of the HBF or wing? Me not being entirely sure shows he is underrated. Played every game, so clearly in the best 22. The role players who don't star are often very hard to replace, because high draft picks usually mean a star. Will be 29 at season start, so probably could play until 2014.
Lewis Roberts-Thomson - played 15 games, so is still a contributor to the team. looks to be on the outer with Grundy/Johnson/Richards all better imo.
Will be 29 at season start. Give you this one.
Rhyce Shaw - Equal 2nd in B&F. Played all 24 games. Clearly a valuable player to Sydney, and was not moved out position by a youngster and there is not a player just ready to move onto the HBF and be 2nd B&F. Will be 31 at season start.
So 2/7 older Swans, not nearly all, 'either played very little footy this year, are being moved out of position by our youngsters or have a more than adequate replacement in the wings.'. I would argue those 2 are the poorest out of the 7 (in 2011 anyway)
I understand that Mumford/Jack/Hannebery/Rohan/Parker/Kennedy/McVeigh/McGlynn/Bird/Mitchell are going to be an awesome midfield, have a set defence with Johnson/Grundy as talls, Richards as 3rd tall, and Smith as one of the best small defenders, then in the forward line Reid/White + rotating midfielders and Dennis-Lane. So yes, Sydney do have a very good young team.
But to believe the team won't drop in performance once Goodes et al are gone, is just blind bias. They are guns, they have a big impact on how Sydney goes, so it's just clear that they will have a drop (not saying it will be big, it might be only to 8th or 9th, and I don't know when, it could 2013, 2014 or 2015). These guys like Rohan and Mitchell won't be carrying the Swans when they are 20.
I infact think they will challenge for the top 4 in 2012, because like you said Swans need their forward line to function. With Goodes/Reid, + a 3rd tall, players like Rohan/Parker/McGlynn/Bolton/O'Keefe able to snag a goal as midfielders, and maybe Dennis-Lane making a name for himself, it could function. In 2015 with Mitchell/Rohan/Parker/Hannebery/Johnson/Reid/Bird/Jack (they will be the nucleus of the team), only 1 will be in the prime of his career. Jack.
That's all
I can't be bothered responding to your whole post, but a couple of points:
- O'Keefe and Bolton had very good seasons but the former spent less and less time in the midfield, was coming off a pretty average 2010 and, aside from the St Kilda game, was down on his damaging best from 3-4 years ago and the latter clearly spent more time forward than past seasons as others filled his midfield spot and really tailed off towards seasons end.
Kennedy, Hannebery, Mitchell and Jack are all obvious in and under replacements, with Kennedy (and arguably Jack) having gone past him. The hard running, goal kicking forward flanker O'Keefe is more difficult to replace but he hasn't that same player for a while and we have some more than decent outside midfielder replacements.
That's another 2 players that do fall ino the category described - so 4/7.
- Johnson, Armstrong and Malceski are all running half back flankers to add to Shaw and Mattner. Plenty of those mid-size backs in reserve.
- there is not enough room for all of LRT, Teddy and Grundy in the 22. LRT is probably the first one to go.
- Goodes is the only real match winner of the guys you named,
- by 2015, a number of those guys you named may not be in their prime (age wise) but may well be performance wise or at least close to the top of their game. Kennedy for instance is a rubg above Jack at the moment, Reid is already one of the best contested marks in the comp and Smith, as you said again, one of the best small defenders.
- so again, Goodes is the only true irreplaceable players, which is obvious since he is one of the all time greats and a once in a life time player. There are some decent prospects however who can step up for match winners at different times to spread the load.
That is all.
kaiserchief13
Hall of Famer
- Jul 12, 2011
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Orly?
Mumford is a gun and Reid has shown a lot of potential but other than those 2 who do they have?
UrLordUnbeliever
Club Legend
A lot of posters here are putting Freo in the 8..
I, too, would like to see them taste some success.
But you can't have forgotten they bought that no-hoper Lyon in have you?? The guy with only one gameplan, and that's a gameplan he didn't even come up with himself, he 'borrowed' it of Roosy..
And it's also a gameplan that doesn't suit a fast, quick and skillful midfield unit whatsoever either..
They are going to have pretty tough 2012 - till whenever they fire Lyon..
I, too, would like to see them taste some success.
But you can't have forgotten they bought that no-hoper Lyon in have you?? The guy with only one gameplan, and that's a gameplan he didn't even come up with himself, he 'borrowed' it of Roosy..
And it's also a gameplan that doesn't suit a fast, quick and skillful midfield unit whatsoever either..
They are going to have pretty tough 2012 - till whenever they fire Lyon..
While I agree that many overestimate the impact of pending retirements (Goodes aside) I think you undersell the importance of O'Keefe to our current set-up. Yes, he had a relatively ordinary 2010 due to injury (but still finished top 10 in the B&F) but he has been a very consistent and versatile part of the team for 7 or 8 years now. The fact that he can play as a genuine onballer, or can go forward and be a marking target, or can go head to head against the likes of Hodge or Goddard just adds to his value.
On the plus side, he is super fit and his body has mostly served him well in his career (second half of 2010 groin injury issues aside). I reckon he still has at least a couple of seasons of top level footy in him, maybe longer. And who knows how other players might have developed by then.
A fast quick skillful midfield, that learns how to play defensive team work footy is a strange argument to say we will struggle in 2012
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A fast quick skillful midfield, that learns how to play defensive team work footy is a strange argument to say we will struggle in 2012
How very nice of you for wanting Feo to taste success.
No matter how good your midfield is you always need a defensive aspect to your game plan. St. Kilda has fast, skillfull mids and they were taken to three grand finals under Ross Lyon.
It really is a strange argument
UrLordUnbeliever
Club Legend
How very nice of you for wanting Feo to taste success.
No matter how good your midfield is you always need a defensive aspect to your game plan. St. Kilda has fast, skillfull mids and they were taken to three grand finals under Ross Lyon.
It really is a strange argument
No they don't. They have plodders. Skillful and physical plodders, certainly not pacy.
Freo's mids are quicker.
bombermick
Norm Smith Medallist
1.Hawthorn
2.Carlton
3.Collingwood
4.Geelong
5.Fremantle
6.West Coast
7.Essendon
8.Sydney
9.North Melbourne
10. St. Kilda
11.Melbourne
12. Richmond
13. Adelaide
14.Gold Coast
15.Bulldogs
16.Brisbane
17.Port Adel
18.GWS
NAB Cup: who cares?
Premiership: Hawks
Brownlow: Jobe Watson
Coleman: Buddy
2.Carlton
3.Collingwood
4.Geelong
5.Fremantle
6.West Coast
7.Essendon
8.Sydney
9.North Melbourne
10. St. Kilda
11.Melbourne
12. Richmond
13. Adelaide
14.Gold Coast
15.Bulldogs
16.Brisbane
17.Port Adel
18.GWS
NAB Cup: who cares?
Premiership: Hawks
Brownlow: Jobe Watson
Coleman: Buddy
1. Collingwood
2. Hawthorn
3. Carlton
4. Geelong
5. Fremantle
6. North Melbourne
7. West Coast
8. Sydney
9. St Kilda
10. Essendon
11. Richmond
12. Brisbane
13. Melbourne
14. Adelaide
15. Western Bulldogs
16. Gold Coast
17. Port Adelaide
18. Greater Western Sydney
Nab Cup: Who knows, who cares
Premiership: Collingwood Hawthorn or maybe even Carlton
Brownlow: Pendlebury
Coleman: Buddy
2. Hawthorn
3. Carlton
4. Geelong
5. Fremantle
6. North Melbourne
7. West Coast
8. Sydney
9. St Kilda
10. Essendon
11. Richmond
12. Brisbane
13. Melbourne
14. Adelaide
15. Western Bulldogs
16. Gold Coast
17. Port Adelaide
18. Greater Western Sydney
Nab Cup: Who knows, who cares
Premiership: Collingwood Hawthorn or maybe even Carlton
Brownlow: Pendlebury
Coleman: Buddy
Adelaide - Will probably have a similar year to 2011, possible slight improvement. Lacking depth with smaller players, possibly due to chasing talls too heavily. All the same I think they might expierence a slight improvement.
Brisbane - Have a poor list made worse by the poor decisions of their senior coach. Will have another year much the same to last. Will be a young developing side with a few quality kids but won't take them far.
Carlton - Will improve quite a bit and will be a top 3 side and Premier contender. A number of guys who have struggled for fittness in recent years like Bower, Lucas, Carrazzo, Collins, Curnow, Waite, Kreuzer, Jamison, Hampson, Warnock and Russell are fighting fit. Youngsters Gibbs, Lucas, Collins, Garlett, Hampson, Davies, Touhy, Curnow, Laidler, Kreuzer, Robinson, Ellard and Joseph will be all coming into their prime of their careers as mature players. Young players Mitchell and Watson and Maybe McInness and McCarthy might also make an impact. New mature recruit Rowe will also bolster the tall forward stocks. Established players Murphy, Walker and Duigan can go up another level as well. Juddy, Simpsons and Scotland will all be fit by round 1. Dylan Buckley is a chance to impact too.
Collingwood - Will again challenge strongly for the premiership. They were not the best side last year, they finished on top because they tried to win every game where as Geelong tried to finish top 2 and be at their peak for finals by resting players etc. No doubt they will manage things better and find themselves firing by finals time. The only way they can slide is if they have injuries or if Buckley is a shocker.
Essendon - Lack a midfield, quality small defenders, quality small forwards and at least one more quality tall forwards. They had injuries last season, but they were to players who were only good players in average to lower teams. They were serious injuries, players don't often come back well the next year after reconstructions. Have a cluster of good young players. Had early success due to the flogging they had in the off season where they started the season as fit as teams are by round 10 but found themselves limping through midway with tired players who had virtually had a whole season by then. It got them off to a great start but wore them down as the season went on. I can't see them getting near finals.
Fremantle - A bit of an unknown but I feel they were unlucky with injury last season. It's a matter of how well those players come back from injury and if Ross Lyon's style of football suites that ground (have my doubts) or their team. They will rise a fair bit this year.
Geelong - I feel who they have lost they will replace. They are looking like challenging again. I see no reason for them to slide appart from them being a little less driven to win it yet again!
Suns - Will improve a little and have a few more wins.
Giants - Will have a season similar to the suns last year. will be last or there abouts.
Hawthorn - They will probably be there abouts again. They are a good side and were probably the 3rd best side in the comp as the ladder suggested but were a very very close second. I struggle to see where the improvement will come from appart from a fit (and he must be fit) Roughead returning.
Melbourne - They will stall a bit from losing Skully. Still a young side. I just feel a similar result to last year for them.
North Melbourne - Last year were tipped to be bolters and did not make finals. They will improve just a little, they will keep improving just a little, they are not going to be bolters. I think there is agood chance they could sneak into the 8.
Port Adelaide - Looking at quite a few years down the bottom with such a poor list at a time where it's hard to rebuild.
Richmond - They have a few good young players. They were just a below average side last year. They might improve a spot or two.
St. Kilda - The great unknown. I think they are done and will go backwards. Could go the other way though.
Swans - Will probably remain in around the same position to last year, perhaps pushed down by some improving sides.
Eagles - The improvement last year came from older players and a couple of young ones. I don't think they can get better than what they were last year.
Bulldogs - Are rebuilding, have some good young players. might improve a spot or two.
2011 ladder
Collingwood
Geelong
Hawthorn
WCE
Carlton
St Kilda
Sydney
Essendon
North
Dogs
Freo
Richmond
Melbourne
Adelaide
Brisbane
Port
GC
2012 Predicted Ladder
Collingwood
Carlton
Geelong
Hawthorn
WCE
Fremantle
North
St Kilda
Swans
Essendon
Richmond
Dogs
Melbourne
Adelaide
GC
Brisbane
Port Adelaide
GWS
Top 4 is much of a muchness, not sure of the order yet. Bottom 4 I expect to see some teams playing finals that missed out last year or who haven't been there in a while. Top part of the bottom 4 to consist of sides who are on the slide, the rest are either the new franchise teams or rebuilding teams.
Brisbane - Have a poor list made worse by the poor decisions of their senior coach. Will have another year much the same to last. Will be a young developing side with a few quality kids but won't take them far.
Carlton - Will improve quite a bit and will be a top 3 side and Premier contender. A number of guys who have struggled for fittness in recent years like Bower, Lucas, Carrazzo, Collins, Curnow, Waite, Kreuzer, Jamison, Hampson, Warnock and Russell are fighting fit. Youngsters Gibbs, Lucas, Collins, Garlett, Hampson, Davies, Touhy, Curnow, Laidler, Kreuzer, Robinson, Ellard and Joseph will be all coming into their prime of their careers as mature players. Young players Mitchell and Watson and Maybe McInness and McCarthy might also make an impact. New mature recruit Rowe will also bolster the tall forward stocks. Established players Murphy, Walker and Duigan can go up another level as well. Juddy, Simpsons and Scotland will all be fit by round 1. Dylan Buckley is a chance to impact too.
Collingwood - Will again challenge strongly for the premiership. They were not the best side last year, they finished on top because they tried to win every game where as Geelong tried to finish top 2 and be at their peak for finals by resting players etc. No doubt they will manage things better and find themselves firing by finals time. The only way they can slide is if they have injuries or if Buckley is a shocker.
Essendon - Lack a midfield, quality small defenders, quality small forwards and at least one more quality tall forwards. They had injuries last season, but they were to players who were only good players in average to lower teams. They were serious injuries, players don't often come back well the next year after reconstructions. Have a cluster of good young players. Had early success due to the flogging they had in the off season where they started the season as fit as teams are by round 10 but found themselves limping through midway with tired players who had virtually had a whole season by then. It got them off to a great start but wore them down as the season went on. I can't see them getting near finals.
Fremantle - A bit of an unknown but I feel they were unlucky with injury last season. It's a matter of how well those players come back from injury and if Ross Lyon's style of football suites that ground (have my doubts) or their team. They will rise a fair bit this year.
Geelong - I feel who they have lost they will replace. They are looking like challenging again. I see no reason for them to slide appart from them being a little less driven to win it yet again!
Suns - Will improve a little and have a few more wins.
Giants - Will have a season similar to the suns last year. will be last or there abouts.
Hawthorn - They will probably be there abouts again. They are a good side and were probably the 3rd best side in the comp as the ladder suggested but were a very very close second. I struggle to see where the improvement will come from appart from a fit (and he must be fit) Roughead returning.
Melbourne - They will stall a bit from losing Skully. Still a young side. I just feel a similar result to last year for them.
North Melbourne - Last year were tipped to be bolters and did not make finals. They will improve just a little, they will keep improving just a little, they are not going to be bolters. I think there is agood chance they could sneak into the 8.
Port Adelaide - Looking at quite a few years down the bottom with such a poor list at a time where it's hard to rebuild.
Richmond - They have a few good young players. They were just a below average side last year. They might improve a spot or two.
St. Kilda - The great unknown. I think they are done and will go backwards. Could go the other way though.
Swans - Will probably remain in around the same position to last year, perhaps pushed down by some improving sides.
Eagles - The improvement last year came from older players and a couple of young ones. I don't think they can get better than what they were last year.
Bulldogs - Are rebuilding, have some good young players. might improve a spot or two.
2011 ladder
Collingwood
Geelong
Hawthorn
WCE
Carlton
St Kilda
Sydney
Essendon
North
Dogs
Freo
Richmond
Melbourne
Adelaide
Brisbane
Port
GC
2012 Predicted Ladder
Collingwood
Carlton
Geelong
Hawthorn
WCE
Fremantle
North
St Kilda
Swans
Essendon
Richmond
Dogs
Melbourne
Adelaide
GC
Brisbane
Port Adelaide
GWS
Top 4 is much of a muchness, not sure of the order yet. Bottom 4 I expect to see some teams playing finals that missed out last year or who haven't been there in a while. Top part of the bottom 4 to consist of sides who are on the slide, the rest are either the new franchise teams or rebuilding teams.
HurleyTheFuture
Club Legend
Our two most important defenders in Hooker and Pears only played half the season, Hurley was battling an injury all year as well as being out for games, Hocking who is one of our most important players was out for 6 games and Watson who is our only A-grade midfielder missed a large portion of the season
BrisbaneLion9636
All Australian
How is Brisbane's list poor??? And what has Voss done wrong this year?
I bleed Blue
Brownlow Medallist
But Judd injured his shoulder in December
!!Surely that rules out the whole 2012 season? we will finish somewhere between 18-14 now wont we?
- Banned
- #1,024
But Judd injured his shoulder in December
Surely that rules out the whole 2012 season? we will finish somewhere between 18-14 now wont we?
Agreed
- Status
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