2016 Top 8 Predictions

[Big Fresh]

1. West Coast
2. Western Bulldogs
3. Fremantle
4. Hawthorn
5. North Melbourne
6. Richmond
7. GWS
8. Port Adelaide

 

[Go the Guts]

Yes, any team can. And I've decided to predict Port, who have proven they can take it up to the powerhouse clubs, to make a big push for the 2016 Premiership.

They also proved that they can lose to the BOTTOM SIDE TWICE in their 'next premiers' year! Brisbane beat you by 7 GOALS when they were stone cold motherless bottom of the ladder. Carlton did the same. You've lost your real coaching brains trust from 2014 in Walsh and Richardson, and replaced them with a no clue midfield coach in Voss. There's absolutely no guarantee you'll make any serious dent next year at all yet. Yes of course there's hope, but you were terrible for this season when it mattered.

 

[Lsta062]

Ok I'll clarify. If these 3 things happen we will make the 8...

1. WADA done and dusted in november. (Very likely IMO)
2. Fantastic injury run in 2016. (Anyone's guess)
3. Make the right List (including coach), draft and trade decisions. (A lot of moving parts but not unrealistic)

I actually agree with Essendon being a good chance to make finals in 2016. They were under performing this year because of injuries to key players and ASADA/WADA wearing them out.

They have good youngsters too

 

[Milanista28]

I actually agree with Essendon being a good chance to make finals in 2016. They were under performing this year because of injuries to key players and ASADA/WADA wearing them out.

They have good youngsters too

Agreed, Like every team we need things to go our way and need to find some luck, But I think our future ain't as bad as people are making out.

 

[Jootube]

unofficial

- Port
- Adelaide
- West Coast
- Sydney
- GWS
- Fremantle
- Gold Coast
- Brisbane

Don't stress everyone, this isn't the official 2016 ladder.

 

[Halftimehero]

I actually agree with Essendon being a good chance to make finals in 2016. They were under performing this year because of injuries to key players and ASADA/WADA wearing them out.

They have good youngsters too

You can chuck in the easier draw for good meausre also, I think we will be back in the 7-12 range, it all comes down to injuries/suspensions and a bit of luck for those teams.

 

[Dangas]

1. Carlton
2. Brisbane
3. Gold Coast
4. Essendon
5. GWS
6. St Kilda
7. Collingwood
8. Geelong
9. Richmond

Of course this is my prediction before the trade period.

 

[james Dean]

Sydney
Port
Bulldogs
Hawthorn
West Coast
Richmond
GWS
Geelong

 

[blueiris]

1. Carlton
2. Brisbane
3. Gold Coast
4. Essendon
5. GWS
6. St Kilda
7. Collingwood
8. Geelong
9. Richmond

Of course this is my prediction before the trade period.

Spewing we're not first but that's a pretty awesome list of top 9 teams
Edit: especially love that Richmond are ninth

 

[PAFC66]

Assuming the 17-5 draw gets up:

West Coast
Hawthorn
Fremantle
Sydney
Adelaide
Bulldogs
Geelong
Dons

Top 6 at Rd 17 I'm guessing will be that top 4, the tigers and north. The following 5 rounds, with that many strong non-Vic teams (plus the Hawks), will mean a bit of travel for both teams and i have it costing them spots in the 8
The Dogs are young and will be better for the year. If they are outside the top 6 at Rd 17, in my eyes they will have teams like Collingwood, GCS, Adelaide, Geelong and Essendon. Fairly even
Crows are in a similar boat with the advantage of Adelaide Oval. the unknown is the impact of Dangerfield leaving and Crouch getting back.
Geelong's recruiting this off-season could be massive in terms of results for them. Midfield of Danger, Selwood, Duncan, Guthrie, Motlop, etc. A lot rests on keeping their tall stocks fit and firing.
Dons would be higher if the 17-5 draw wasn't there. But i have them making the 8 based on 2015 being an anomaly and getting the coaching situation right

Outside the 8 sit Richmond, North, Giants and Collingwood. Strong outfits that will be just in at Rd17, but given the nature of such a draw, my guess is that 2 of the top 6 at that point drop out, 7 & 8 get a decent crack at going 5 & 6, and a couple of teams just outside get some easy pickings to overtake.

Was close to sliding to Geelong into 8th so the first Elim was Geelong and Danger against Adelaide at AO.

Lol
Port gain a fit Polac, Wines, Dixon, carlile and a easier draw. We lost 2 more than we did on 2015 lol.. hinkley will be sacked if that happens. Top 4 or failure for mine. Hard to see how it wont happen if we stay relatively injury free.

 

[hazard]

Here's my 2016 prediction:

1. West Coast
2. Sydney
3. Western Bulldogs
4. Port Adelaide
5. Richmond
6. Hawthorn
7. GWS
8. St Kilda

9. Collingwood
10. Fremantle
11. Brisbane
12. North Melbourne
13. Melbourne
14. Adelaide
15. Gold Coast
16. Geelong
17. Carlton
18. Essendon


Although, given the woefulness of my 2015 prediction (made before last trading period), probably best to ignore everything I say. I got 4/8 for the top 8..

1. Port Adelaide
2. Sydney
3. Hawthorn
4. North Melbourne
5. Gold Coast
6. Fremantle
7. Collingwood
8. Geelong

9. Richmond
10. Brisbane
11. Footscray
12. GWS
13. Adelaide
14. Essendon
15. Melbourne
16. West Coast
17. St Kilda
18. Carlton

QF1: Port def. NM
QF2: Hawthorn def. Sydney
EF1: Geelong def. GC
EF2: Freo def. Collingwood

SF1: Sydney def. Freo
SF2: NM def. Geelong

PF1: Port def. Sydney
PF2: Hawthorn def. NM

GF: Port def. Hawthorn

Setting a reminder on my phone to come back to this post in a year's time, fingers crossed.

 

[PAFC66]

How about just keep a lid on things and stop mouthing off. Port fans year in year out just gloat and big note themselves. be modest and play it down. This is not the Port magpies footy club of the sanfl era. The power are a new club that is 18 years old... nothing is a guarantee in the AFL.
If west coastv defied the odds then Any team that finish 5th-13th can do it.. Collingwood, Crows, Port and Richmond.

Lol.. sweating already. You will be on the end of midfield spankings all year without Dangerfield you have crouch and a aging thompson. Goodluck

 

[port_adelaide_1870]

Don't stress everyone, this isn't the official 2016 ladder.

I was referring to the fact that it is not my official 2016 prediction as it is way to early

 

[PAFC66]

Yes, any team can. And I've decided to predict Port, who have proven they can take it up to the powerhouse clubs, to make a big push for the 2016 Premiership.

We had the hardest draw of any side.. lost to some rubbish sides but injuries hurt all year.

Laughable how so many people have North Melbourne not even in the 8, haven't learned a thing from this year.

They finished 8th. Played well in finals. Theyll never have whatit takes to truly challenge the top 4 unless they aggressively trade.

 

[ziad]

I have no idea

 

[HTPunter]

I actually agree with Essendon being a good chance to make finals in 2016. They were under performing this year because of injuries to key players and ASADA/WADA wearing them out.

They have good youngsters too

Agreed, Like every team we need things to go our way and need to find some luck, But I think our future ain't as bad as people are making out.

You can chuck in the easier draw for good meausre also, I think we will be back in the 7-12 range, it all comes down to injuries/suspensions and a bit of luck for those teams.

I can actually see St Kilda finishing 8th with a big jump from the bottom - Hickey, Billings and Riewoldt need to play 60 games though.

Bombers need a big preseason out of Bellchambers and need their new coach to get some goals on the board. Nothing wrong with the defenders and midfield has talent though.

 

[PAFC66]

How likely are we to see essendon reserves playing next year... i think its the only reason we kept Lobbe this year incase Ryder goes down.

 

[Halftimehero]

I can actually see St Kilda finishing 8th with a big jump from the bottom - Hickey, Billings and Riewoldt need to play 60 games though.

Bombers need a big preseason out of Bellchambers and need their new coach to get some goals on the board. Nothing wrong with the defenders and midfield has talent though.

Bellchambers is the key, if he can get over all his injury woes and get back to 2013 form then it will be massive for us, Mckernan's late season form was good also, can see those two forming a pretty good duo. Daniher is also another key, you usually see a massive spike from key forwards in there 4th or 5th year so hopefully he turns his 35 goal season into a 65 goal season.

 

[Iron]

Everyone being saying that for 2 years now.

Just like they said with Geelong. Then everyone said "everyone says that and it never happens". Then it happened.

 

[SgtSchulz]

1. Port Adelaide
2. West Coast
3. Hawthorn
4. Western Bulldogs
5. Richmond
6. Greater Western Sydney
7. North Melbourne
8. Geelong

 

[NaturalDisaster]

Its too early to predict the 8th but I will go through every team and give my prediction on how they will go (listing teams in order of this years ladder)

Fremantle: i think finishing minor premiers was a bit of luck for Freo, not to say they are a bad team, but not a premiership team. I don't see them finishing at the top next year, wouldn't be suprised if they don't make the top four. Will definately make finals.
West Coast: Minor premiers for sure for me, even a premiership if they don't win it this year. If not definately top 4.
Hawthorn: Will drop off in performance next year in my view. Probably will make the 4, but won't make the grand final.
Sydney: Will make the finals, but not the top 4. Already dropped in performance this year and I don't see them improving. maybe 5th-6th position.
Richmond: Honestly believe we can make the top 4. Even if we don't, our three time choking in finals will motivate us to at least make the prelim final. (but not the GF for at least a couple of years)
Bulldogs: Still improving and will continue to, but I think they will stay in the same position as this year, give them another year or so to make top 4 or contend for premiership
Adelaide: If Danger hadn't left, definite top 4 contender, but in saying that I believe the team will lift in his absence. Won't make top 4, but will make finals.
Norf: i don't think they will make the finals next year...
Port: Top 4..if not, will make the finals. Showed it the second half that they are a much better team than their ladder position suggests.
Geelong: 9th at least, will Danger, won't make the top 8
GWS: its not that i don't think they are a good team, just there are much more experienced teams than them that can content, so no 8 for me.
Collingwood: won't improve or make the top 8. Bucks to be fired.
Melbourne: Will improve again, 10th place.
St Kilda: continue to improve, may even take 9th place.
Essendon: bottom 4
Gold coast: will improve, will make top half of bottom 8th
Brisbane: wooden spoon - leppa to be sacked
Carlton will make 17th position.

Difficult enough to predict how each team will perform let alone who will be the top 8....

 

[Lsta062]

I can actually see St Kilda finishing 8th with a big jump from the bottom - Hickey, Billings and Riewoldt need to play 60 games though.

Bombers need a big preseason out of Bellchambers and need their new coach to get some goals on the board. Nothing wrong with the defenders and midfield has talent though.

Quirky stat - every year since 2009 with the exception of 2013, the team that finished 14th jumped up into the top 8 the next year. Even then, Gold Coast, who were the anomaly, looked likely to finish in the top 8 in 2014 until they had injuries halt their season.

St Kilda finished 14th this season, so let's see if they keep up this trend

 

[Bomberblitzer]

Essendon was consistently in the top-8 range for the last few years until WADA came about after a not-guilty verdict and key players like Jobe were out with injury. We even looked like winning a final against a side that has made two prelims in a row just 12 months ago. With a good coach (Woosha most likely) and a decent trade period (where we have high picks for the first time in years) there's no reason why Essendon couldn't move up the ladder relatively quickly.

 

[Milanista28]

I can actually see St Kilda finishing 8th with a big jump from the bottom - Hickey, Billings and Riewoldt need to play 60 games though.

Bombers need a big preseason out of Bellchambers and need their new coach to get some goals on the board. Nothing wrong with the defenders and midfield has talent though.

Agree on the Saints they could be big movers and in regards to us agree completely on Bellchambers he's very important we all know he can play just need to get his body right.

 

[eth-dog]

How likely are we to see essendon reserves playing next year... i think its the only reason we kept Lobbe this year incase Ryder goes down.

Already lost Fletcher, Winderlich, Carlisle, Melksham from that list. Possibly losing Pears, Steinberg, Dempsey as well. Takes it down to 10-ish WADA players if all of them go. Only problem is those 10 include Stanton, Watson, Heppell, Hooker, Hurley, Hibberd, only one of whom finished outside the top 7 of the BnF (Watson).