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Since the fixture is now live, let's have the fun of our first impression tipping and seeing how the ladder (at the end of the Home and Away season) shapes out for you.
This is what I ended up with...
1st. North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos 10-1 -> Will be stung be last year's GF loss and go on the rampage
2nd. Melbourne 10-1 -> Just consistently thereabouts, and I think they'll be in the Top 4 again.
3rd. Adelaide Crows 9-2 -> Like Melbourne, always thereabouts.
4th. Richmond 9-2 -> The big improvers. Injuries smashed them last year, but they always put in a show. Their year to push for the Top 4.
5th. Gold Coast 8-3 -> Growing very nicely, and will be hard to beat up in Qld.
6th. Geelong 7-4 -> I'm tipping a sluggish start, but to pick up steam at the business end.
7th. Brisbane 6-5 -> Bit like last year. Good team that will drop a game or two at times when they shouldn't. Still a threat, but inconsistent.
8th. Sydney 6-5 -> Draw is harder than last year, but with some injured talent coming back, should be enough to hold their spot in the top 8.
9th. St. Kilda 6-5 -> Might look an even better side than last year, but will just fall short on percentage. Probably lose a coin flip game or two.
10th. Collingwood 4-7 -> More of the same old, same old. New coach, but nothing to suggest a push for the eight.
11th. Carlton 4-7 -> A "meh" kind of a year.
12th. Port Adelaide 4-7 -> Talent recruit to miss the year. Another development year. 2025 is when whips need to get cracking.
13th. Fremantle 4-7 -> Might claim a scalp or two still in WA from travelling sides feeling the pinch of the compressed season.
14th. Essendon 3-8 -> The great pretenders. Made finals last year from a soft draw. Will be exposed this season.
15th. Hawthorn 3-8 -> Any reason to suggest any improvement from the Hawks? Can the new coach weave any magic?
16th. Western Bulldogs 2-9 -> The rebuild begins at the Kennel.
17th. West Coast 2-9 -> All eyes on Daisy. Not really about the wins, but interest in how the Eagles will play
18th. GWS Giants 2-9 -> Just burn it all down and start again.
Finals Prediction
Week One
Kangaroos defeat Richmond
Melbourne lose to Adelaide
Gold Coast defeat Sydney
Geelong lose to Brisbane
Week Two
Melbourne defeat Brisbane
Richmond defeat Gold Coast
Week Three
Kangaroos defeat Melbourne
Adelaide defeat Richmond
Grand Final
Kangaroos defeat Adelaide
This is what I ended up with...
1st. North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos 10-1 -> Will be stung be last year's GF loss and go on the rampage
2nd. Melbourne 10-1 -> Just consistently thereabouts, and I think they'll be in the Top 4 again.
3rd. Adelaide Crows 9-2 -> Like Melbourne, always thereabouts.
4th. Richmond 9-2 -> The big improvers. Injuries smashed them last year, but they always put in a show. Their year to push for the Top 4.
5th. Gold Coast 8-3 -> Growing very nicely, and will be hard to beat up in Qld.
6th. Geelong 7-4 -> I'm tipping a sluggish start, but to pick up steam at the business end.
7th. Brisbane 6-5 -> Bit like last year. Good team that will drop a game or two at times when they shouldn't. Still a threat, but inconsistent.
8th. Sydney 6-5 -> Draw is harder than last year, but with some injured talent coming back, should be enough to hold their spot in the top 8.
9th. St. Kilda 6-5 -> Might look an even better side than last year, but will just fall short on percentage. Probably lose a coin flip game or two.
10th. Collingwood 4-7 -> More of the same old, same old. New coach, but nothing to suggest a push for the eight.
11th. Carlton 4-7 -> A "meh" kind of a year.
12th. Port Adelaide 4-7 -> Talent recruit to miss the year. Another development year. 2025 is when whips need to get cracking.
13th. Fremantle 4-7 -> Might claim a scalp or two still in WA from travelling sides feeling the pinch of the compressed season.
14th. Essendon 3-8 -> The great pretenders. Made finals last year from a soft draw. Will be exposed this season.
15th. Hawthorn 3-8 -> Any reason to suggest any improvement from the Hawks? Can the new coach weave any magic?
16th. Western Bulldogs 2-9 -> The rebuild begins at the Kennel.
17th. West Coast 2-9 -> All eyes on Daisy. Not really about the wins, but interest in how the Eagles will play
18th. GWS Giants 2-9 -> Just burn it all down and start again.
Finals Prediction
Week One
Kangaroos defeat Richmond
Melbourne lose to Adelaide
Gold Coast defeat Sydney
Geelong lose to Brisbane
Week Two
Melbourne defeat Brisbane
Richmond defeat Gold Coast
Week Three
Kangaroos defeat Melbourne
Adelaide defeat Richmond
Grand Final
Kangaroos defeat Adelaide