2015 Ladder predictions

Remove this Banner Ad

Periphery said:
That's the plan. He was having some stints in the middle this year but just didn't quite have the tank yet to do it too much. I was watching him closely when he was in the middle and I thought he showed some real poise and talent in close. I think the end goal with him is to have him play the majority in the middle but rotate forward regularly.

I'm obviously biased, but if he gets his tank up in the preseason then I think he could have a really big 2015 and really show what he can do. Similar to Wingard in his second, although probably not as much due to the Saints being much worse than Port in 2013.
Click to expand...
Does he have pace or able to take pack marks? I know he has excellent composure, poise and vision already.

TBH I don't disagree there at all, I think that players like Billings, Ben Kennedy, Troy Menzel and Lachie Hunter have a touch of X Factor and class about them and are all similar in being crafty left footed half forwards, obviously Wingard is a star already but out of the latter four who will step up and be the next "Didak" type.
 

Log in to remove this ad.

go you pups said:
Does he have pace or able to take pack marks? I know he has excellent composure, poise and vision already.

TBH I don't disagree there at all, I think that players like Billings, Ben Kennedy, Troy Menzel and Lachie Hunter have a touch of X Factor and class about them and are all similar in being crafty left footed half forwards, obviously Wingard is a star already but out of the latter four who will step up and be the next "Didak" type.
Click to expand...

Not sure about his pace - he's not slow but not super fast. His marking is particularly good for a player his size.
 
go you pups said:
aussierulesrules with you boys your midfield lacks class still with Hayes, B Goddard and Dal Santo gone and Montagna strugging with tags/age last year after a PB 2013 season. This is the only area where Melbourne have you covered perhaps due to their recent trading/drafting.

Dunstan will be a gun grunt type, Acres looks a solid big bodied type even though I've only seen him twice and Curren will be a gun run with type. Will Billings be able to run through midfield eventually? Looks a class act across half forward though. Weller looks to have found a spot in the side.

I also like what Bains and co have done over the last two-three years in getting the big talls in to develop early through a rebuild and not getting them in when it's a little late when you start going back up the ladder, surely with McCartin, H Goddard, Hickey, Longer, Bruce, White, Delaney, Payne etc there will be a solid core of KPPs who all of them seem likely to have high ceilings of development to take over from your talisma's in Riewoldt and Fisher. With the extra 2-3 KPPs you guys have the Dogs slightly covered there.

Then you have your flankers/pocket types around like Wright, Webster, Shenton, Michington, Membrey, Saunders, Saad and Markworth. Will McKenzie play midfield or across half back? I guess all of them boys have the opportunity to put their hands up and cement a place in the team. Whoever doesn't make it will get moved on and easily replaced via trade/draft/rookie draft.

I would say if you draft in a couple of X Factor types to boost the midfield/forward of centre over the next two drafts and by the time them kids breakout come their 3rd season your KPPs will be ready, so by 2018 I'd expect you guys to be hovering around the top 8. It's a big project obviously to set yourselves to win a flag by 2020 but the places are firmly set. As I mentioned X Factor types we have you guys and Melbourne covered in that department with Stringer, Bontempelli, Dahlhaus etc.

Siposs and Lee have to save their careers this year imo. Must hold onto Steven and Armitage, Steven has X Factor and he gives the midfield some pace while I rate Armitage well above the likes of Ray and Geary due to him being able to kick a goal and play as an inside mid.
Click to expand...

Yeah our midfield is the area that we definitely need to improve going forward and that is the area where we could really lag this year if we get hit with injuries there, like we were last year (with Steven playing injured all year and then Montagna playing out the year with a leg fracture and groin issues, when he had been in career best form). We just don't look like having much quality, ready-to-go depth there for this year, so it will be very reliant on a few and hoping for basically no injuries!

This is a part of the reason we took McCartin over Petracca though, I believe, as next year's draft is meant to be loaded up with really high quality "mids" at the top end, like Mathieson, Parish and Tucker, so we grabbed Paddy while we had the chance and then got really lucky with Goddard still being available (apparently our club were just blown away that he was still there at 21 and rate him super-highly still- he was talked up as the best prospect for that draft 18 months to 2 years ago and we didn't think he'd dropped as far as some seemed to- and are thrilled with how he's gone so far) and now it means that next draft we'll be able to just load up big-time on midfield prospects.

It also gives us another year to try a few who we already have on our list in the midfield, such as Billings, Acres, Newnes, Saunders and maybe Wright, Murdoch and Webster, just to see if any of them/which of them really show something there.

Billings and Acres for instance spent the whole time in the (inside) midfield group at the open training session the other day and so did Jack Sinclair, who we took at pick 1 of the rookie draft and I'm hearing some really good things about (he grew up playing with Billings and Luke McDonald and some reckon he was better than them when they were younger, but focused more on cricket in latter years until really getting back heavily into footy this past year or so. He is shorter than them though, at 180cm, so that isn't as ideal).

Many seem to assume that Billings will only play outside if he makes the transition to the midfield down the track, due to his silky skills, but I've always seen him as being likely to be outstanding inside, given his smarts, contested ball winning ability (almost half of his possies in the champs in his draft year were contested) and his ability to read the ball off hands and win it himself and so-on. In 2009 for instance, Nick Dal Santo was the one who was 2nd to Lenny Hayes for contested ball and clearances for us, despite most seeing him as an "outside mid" and I see Billings as being exactly the same as Dal in that regard. Many will just see him as an "outside mid", because of the silky skills and polish, but he is more than capable of winning his own ball and I expect that is what we'll want him to do.

As for Dan McKenzie, he is another that I'm hearing really big wraps on. He blitzed at the combine in the running tests and came top 4 in one of our time trials the other week, which is an incredible effort from someone who is just out of school. Plus he has a terrific left foot and is very strong overhead. From what I'm told I expect he will definitely be developed in the midfield, although I haven't found out yet if they think he'll play more inside or out.

As far as "x-factor" goes, especially up forward, Saad brings a bunch of that back to the table (in his first year with us he played effectively 15 full games and kicked 29 goals, with plenty of them being exciting ones that many others wouldn't kick, Eli Templeton is another who brings a bunch of excitement, like a Dahlhaus, Dan Markworth is 191cm or so and super-quick and talented and keeps on getting talked up, but he just keeps on getting injured and then of course we have Spencer White, who is just one big bundle of x-factor, excitement and raw talent. He is like the big joker in our pack. If he reaches anywhere near his potential over his career than we could be in serious business, especially now that we also have McCartin up there and others with ability like Membrey, Lee, Murdoch, Lonie and Saad.

As for Lee, he has just been crunched with injuries in his time with us (including having had both shoulders reconstructed last offseason!) but the club obviously have seen enough from him to have given him a new 2 year contract and he does have some really attractive qualities for the 2nd or 3rd key role up forward (194cm, quick (2.93sec over 20m), big leap, good marking, terrific below his knees and elite kicking, both for goal and around the ground). There is now a lot more competition for that role though (eg. Bruce, White, McCartin, Membrey), so it will be interesting to see who nails it down going forward. I could also see Lee playing that 3rd key role down back, if he gets squeezed out of the forward line, given his is a good size for it, is quick and athletic, is good overhead and has such good footskills. It's pretty much all about getting his body to AFL standard and injury free though, as he has no shortage of ability and athletic attributes.

As for Siposs, he was looking like the best and most promising of our young group a couple of years ago, with his booming kick and natural talent and class, but he has just fallen off a cliff and doesn't seem to be able to get his body right (keeps on doing his shoulder, for one) and there have been plenty of suggestions that he doesn't have the work ethic to match his ability (nor a big enough tank), so time is fast running out for him and he now has a mountain of competition for the spots on the field that he can play in and he's just had more surgery on his shoulder, which is the last thing he would have wanted.

As for Armitage, it was extremely promising to see him come 5th in our time trial the other day, as his tank has been a big question mark over his career, so for him to have done that well in it speaks volumes about how much work he's been doing. He is one who has genuinely improved from year to year over the last 3-4 years and it wouldn't surprise me at all if he really steps it up another notch this year, now that someone needs to fill Lenny's shoes. We thought he'd do it in 2011, when Lenny did his knee, but he just wasn't ready for it then, but I suspect he is now.
 
Last edited:
1. Sydney
2. Hawthorn
3. North Melbourne
4. Geelong (if Clark fires)
5. Port Adelaide
6. Gold Coast
7. Fremantle
8. Adelaide
9. Essendon
10. West Coast
11. Richmond
12. Brisbane
13. GWS
14. Collingwood
15. Carlton
16. Melbourne
17. Western Bulldogs
18. St Kilda
 
Hawthorn
Sydney
Fremantle
Port Adelaide
North Melbourne
WCE
Adelaide
Richmond
Gold Coast
Collingwood
Essendon
Geelong
Brisbane
GWS
Western Bulldogs
St Kilda
Melbourne
Carlton
 
Sydney
Pt Adelaide
Hawthorn
Fremantle
Nth Melbourne
Adelaide
Geelong
Gold Coast
Richmond
West Coast
Essendon
Collingwood
Carlton
Brisbane
GWS
Western Bulldogs
Melbourne
St Kilda
 
Trav 20 said:
So Melbourne have the second worst list in the competition ?

Name a club in Melbourne with a better list of '22 and under' ?

Tyson, Hogan, Viney, Salem, McDonald, Gawn, Kent, and Kennedy-Harris will play most games and I'd expect Petracca and Brayshaw to be far better prospects than some of our earlier mistakes, as they're big bodied tall inside mids, i.e. the ones far more likely to succeed. That's 10 x '22 and under' I'd expect to play more than half the season. There's a reason we won't make the 8, but the list is in very good shape. But if you don't count the players under 23 you may have a point.

As I said, name me a better group of 22 and under for clubs based in Melbourne. And name the players.

I suspect you know nothing about our players, our list, or it's potential for improvement.

Now, if you respond by saying that they're all unproven, etc., I'll know where your footy acumen lies.
Click to expand...
I like your optimism but, really?
Let's start with Hawthorn
Langford, Hill, Hartung, Anderson, Litherland.
All have played important roles in the best team AFL team over the past two seasons. Langford was probably the best player of the finals series. the other four have all shown more than the players you listed.
I haven't listed the ones who have shown much at AFL level yet played yet (Woodwood (Liston winner) O'Brien, Sicily, O'Rourke and 2014 draftees) , because like most of the players you listed that would be based purely on junior form and speculation.
Which would make them unproven.
 
walhawk said:
I like your optimism but, really?
Let's start with Hawthorn
Langford, Hill, Hartung, Anderson, Litherland.
All have played important roles in the best team AFL team over the past two seasons. Langford was probably the best player of the finals series. the other four have all shown more than the players you listed.
I haven't listed the ones who have shown much at AFL level yet played yet (Woodwood (Liston winner) O'Brien, Sicily, O'Rourke and 2014 draftees) , because like most of the players you listed that would be based purely on junior form and speculation.
Which would make them unproven.
Click to expand...
Tyson and Viney have showed more than Hartung, Anderson and Litherland.

The rest he has named are similar to these types.

Dont get me wrong I love our younger players but Melbourne do have some good kids too, Tyson was great for them last year and will only improve even further. Viney IMO looks likely to be a very good player.

If Hogan stays fit, he will be some sort of player.

Hartung and Anderson are going to be players no doubt, Litherland looks like a very solid player too, but they've all only played less than 10 games besides Litherland who is just over the 10 game mark.
 
Trav 20 said:
So Melbourne have the second worst list in the competition ?

Name a club in Melbourne with a better list of '22 and under' ?

Tyson, Hogan, Viney, Salem, McDonald, Gawn, Kent, and Kennedy-Harris will play most games and I'd expect Petracca and Brayshaw to be far better prospects than some of our earlier mistakes, as they're big bodied tall inside mids, i.e. the ones far more likely to succeed. That's 10 x '22 and under' I'd expect to play more than half the season. There's a reason we won't make the 8, but the list is in very good shape. But if you don't count the players under 23 you may have a point.

As I said, name me a better group of 22 and under for clubs based in Melbourne. And name the players.

I suspect you know nothing about our players, our list, or it's potential for improvement.

Now, if you respond by saying that they're all unproven, etc., I'll know where your footy acumen lies.
Click to expand...

The dees do not have the best group of under 22's in Melbourne. I'd argue that we do, but we certainly have the worst over 22's in the competition hence why we won't get near the top 8 this season. Take out Crameri and our over 22's are virtually non existent.
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

Dogsman16 said:
The dees do not have the best group of under 22's in Melbourne. I'd argue that we do, but we certainly have the worst over 22's in the competition hence why we won't get near the top 8 this season. Take out Crameri and our over 22's are virtually non existent.
Click to expand...
Wow, if a bloke who averages 1 goal/game vs top 8 opponents is your best over 25 there's a problem. Although I'd put Roughead in there as well.
 
eth-dog said:
Wow, if a bloke who averages 1 goal/game vs top 8 opponents is your best over 25 there's a problem. Although I'd put Roughead in there as well.
Click to expand...

We have huge problems in our over 22's, guaranteed starters over 22 years old would include Crameri, Roughead, Minson, Picken and over 30's in M.Boyd, Murphy, Morris. Really thats it! Under 22's that are guaranteed starters are Liberatore, Wallis, Johannisen, Dahlhaus, Stringer, Macrae, Hunter, Hrovat, Bontempelli, T.Boyd are all probable best 22's. Guys like Easton Wood, Koby Stevens, Jarrad Grant, Tory Dickson who are all over 23 need to pull their finger out.

I certainly agree with you that Crameri doesn't do enough against the better sides, statistics show that, although against the weaker sides he has helped us win a couple of games (Dees, Saints and GWS) so we certainly need him to get the 3rd string defenders. With Griffen gone I'd say him and a fit Minson are our best players over 22 along with Murph (who is 32 already), which is hardly an indictment of our peak age + veteran players.
 
Trav 20 said:
So Melbourne have the second worst list in the competition ?

Name a club in Melbourne with a better list of '22 and under' ?

Tyson, Hogan, Viney, Salem, McDonald, Gawn, Kent, and Kennedy-Harris will play most games and I'd expect Petracca and Brayshaw to be far better prospects than some of our earlier mistakes, as they're big bodied tall inside mids, i.e. the ones far more likely to succeed. That's 10 x '22 and under' I'd expect to play more than half the season. There's a reason we won't make the 8, but the list is in very good shape. But if you don't count the players under 23 you may have a point.

As I said, name me a better group of 22 and under for clubs based in Melbourne. And name the players.

I suspect you know nothing about our players, our list, or it's potential for improvement.

Now, if you respond by saying that they're all unproven, etc., I'll know where your footy acumen lies.
Click to expand...

Liberatore, MacRae, Dalhaus, Boyd, Bontompelli, Stringer, Wallis, Hrovat and Hunter.
 
gillo94 said:
MacRea only rated because had a 40+ possession game and since then done jack! Slacker running back
Click to expand...

Came second in the B and F and got more footy than any second year player ever recorded. Would not swap him for a single young player on Carltons list
 
gillo94 said:
Good for you, I think the kid is talented but not sure atm if would give up a player on Blues list to get him

So we're in agreement
Click to expand...
Macrae's better than every Carlton player under 25. Every one.
 
gillo94 said:
i said the kids got talent and I think will become a good player, don't try put words in my mouth

If you expect me give trade proposals, not going to happen
Click to expand...
The only one Bulldogs would accept is Menzel + Henderson for Macrae.
 

Remove this Banner Ad

2015 Ladder predictions

Similar threads

TheUnicorn
2025 Ladder Predictions
11 12 13 14 15
Replies
350
Views
25K
Seattle Mariners
S
Angus Young
2024 Ladder Predictions
123 124 125 126 127
Replies
3K
Views
200K
TheUnicorn
TheUnicorn
Lunchtime
2024 AFL Membership Ladder - Final Figures
Replies
23
Views
807
Lunchtime
Lunchtime
JPetro83
Gather Round Adelaide 2025 Fixture/Predictions
2
Replies
31
Views
1K
JPetro83
JPetro83
threesixpio
  • Poll
Prediction Who will be better in 2025? Carlton or Hawthorn
5 6 7 8 9
Replies
202
Views
5K
WalshistheGOAT
WalshistheGOAT
C
Prediction Rest of 2024 Season Predictions.
Replies
4
Views
396
Mayes2Gray
Mayes2Gray
SpiritOfCarlton
Games Won Beaten Ladder 2024
Replies
23
Views
810
Billy ray
Billy ray

Remove this Banner Ad

Back
Top