2025 - Predictions for our most important season in a long time

[shintemaster]

Im taking the piss obviously but many of us are in lala land.

Are Simpkin and McDonald still co-captains?

If yes we are not serious. Pencil in 2 wins.

We'll have 2 wins by Round 4 at the latest. Come at me, may the best bullshitter win.

 

[perplexed]

We are still the youngest list in the league and don't know to win. I think wanting 5 wins is optimistic. I can't see any way we get to 10+ wins until Sheezel, Wardlaw etc are at least 23-24 years old and can lead this team

Thats 4 years away

I think it will turn much faster than that. Our average age this year is older than Hawthorn's was last year and our younger players mostly have higher ceilings. No reason we shouldn't make similar improvements to theirs. A lot will depend on our game plan and whether we can develop something to suit our player's strengths, like they did.

 

[hilly]

We'll have 2 wins by Round 4 at the latest. Come at me, may the best bullshitter win.

Might as well have said Round 2 as Rounds 3 and 4 will yield nothing.

 

[the big lebowski]

Might as well have said Round 2 as Rounds 3 and 4 will yield nothing.

I’m confident the marvel swans curse finally ends in round 4

 

[zoomba23]

We are still the youngest team in the league, this has at least 3 seasons more before it finally turns. Keeping in mind 5 wins is more than what we have had any year this decade

We have no chance against Carlton and the Bulldogs, both far too good,

Round 3 - Might be a chance against Melbourne but we aren't beating them twice
Round 7 - We aren't beating Carlton
Round 9 - 50/50 against Essendon if we have no injuries
Round 16 - Again, we aren't beating Carlton
Round 19 - See round 3, we might beat them once
Round 22 - St Kilda 50/50 who knows

Not sure what the links are between the rounds you've given and the teams you've apparently ascertained as our opponents. I chose rounds because it looked cleaner, but the teams that correspond are/were Adelaide, Brisbane, Port, Sydney (away), GWS (away), and the Hawks. In addition to the fact that I think we're guaranteed to lose to the Dogs and Carlton once each.

I simply disagree. I understand pessimism, but this is a fire-spitting, demonically influenced level of pessimism.

Three more seasons before it turns, and another season of abject misery, in a team with:

Sheezel
Wardlaw
LDU
McKercher
Larkey
Comben
Xerri
Archer
Logue
Curtis
A damaged but finally free Clarkson

Yeah. Sorry. Don't see it. Aside from our talent already surpassing that of many teams who've won 6 games in a season, if it really was three more seasons before it turned, I think the only ones on that list who'd stick around would be Sheezel, Larkey, X and Arch. And at that point, any sane fan, administrator, coach, staff member, etc. would say '**** it' and shut up shop.

I don't quite know how to communicate this but I think the club, courtesy of events over however many years you want to include, has been in a state of limbo, mired in the pits of despair and misfortune and curses and what have you. But, since Clarko came in, the club has steadily worked at rebuilding the talent base, and I think now the theoretical capabilities of that talent base reach well into mid-table. This means that if/when we resolve whatever it is that renders our players incapable of believing that they're good enough to be in front at the final siren, all the talent we have, which would shine through at any other club, will finally, finally, shine through for us, and people will be wondering how the **** we were so terrible for that long.

Of course, it's possible that whatever's broken at the club is infuriatingly and immutably unfixable. But in that case, rather than gradually building up win totals year-on-year, we'll flatline until the league inevitably steps in and signs off on our demise. I think that's a possibility. But it's not the one I'm going to run with, because I'd like to think that the state and achievement levels of all professional sporting clubs are impermanent, and therefore changeable.

 

[Big_H]

Wins: 6

B&F: Sheezel

Does LDU stay: Yes, how many times does he have to say it.

All Aust: Sheez. Consistently amazing. Doesn't have to get a position in the midfield, which will mean he's more likely to be selected.

Does FOS place in Rising Star: Yes, 3rd.

Top 3 Leading goal kickers: Larkey, Curtis, Zurhaar

Does Chom play Fwd/Bck: Back. Settled there and hopefully with Logue and Corr taking the keys, he can peel off and play the Loogie role.

Is Durz locked best 22 come seasons end: Yes, will have a strong pre-season, and strong early season form, but will fade.

Who has the better year out of Sheez, Warlord, Kerch: Expecting big things from all, but:
1. Sheez
2. Kerch
3. Warlord

Short summary of season:

Expecting huge improvement, which means staying in games longer, and being able to challenge better teams. Ultimately, we are susceptible to injuries to our talls, and rely too much on younger players, so we will have down patches in the season and may see some big losses. If we can come away with doubling our wins, vastly improving our percentage and seeing growth from young players, it will be a good season.

 

[LETSGOKANGAS]

We'll have 2 wins by Round 4 at the latest. Come at me, may the best bullshitter win.

2 wins by round 4 and same 2 wins just in time for finals.

Hoping you’re a better bullshitter than me friend.

 

[Gasometer]

Not sure what the links are between the rounds you've given and the teams you've apparently ascertained as our opponents. I chose rounds because it looked cleaner, but the teams that correspond are/were Adelaide, Brisbane, Port, Sydney (away), GWS (away), and the Hawks. In addition to the fact that I think we're guaranteed to lose to the Dogs and Carlton once each.

I simply disagree. I understand pessimism, but this is a fire-spitting, demonically influenced level of pessimism.

Three more seasons before it turns, and another season of abject misery, in a team with:

Sheezel
Wardlaw
LDU
McKercher
Larkey
Comben
Xerri
Archer
Logue
Curtis
A damaged but finally free Clarkson

Yeah. Sorry. Don't see it. Aside from our talent already surpassing that of many teams who've won 6 games in a season, if it really was three more seasons before it turned, I think the only ones on that list who'd stick around would be Sheezel, Larkey, X and Arch. And at that point, any sane fan, administrator, coach, staff member, etc. would say '**** it' and shut up shop.

I don't quite know how to communicate this but I think the club, courtesy of events over however many years you want to include, has been in a state of limbo, mired in the pits of despair and misfortune and curses and what have you. But, since Clarko came in, the club has steadily worked at rebuilding the talent base, and I think now the theoretical capabilities of that talent base reach well into mid-table. This means that if/when we resolve whatever it is that renders our players incapable of believing that they're good enough to be in front at the final siren, all the talent we have, which would shine through at any other club, will finally, finally, shine through for us, and people will be wondering how the **** we were so terrible for that long.

Of course, it's possible that whatever's broken at the club is infuriatingly and immutably unfixable. But in that case, rather than gradually building up win totals year-on-year, we'll flatline until the league inevitably steps in and signs off on our demise. I think that's a possibility. But it's not the one I'm going to run with, because I'd like to think that the state and achievement levels of all professional sporting clubs are impermanent, and therefore changeable.

 

[DuckYeah]

Alright. This.

2025 AFL SEASON

WINS: 3-5

B&F: LDU

DOES LDU STAY: No signature before bye, gone.

ALL AUST: Harry after the 2024 snub and LDU

DOES FOS PLACE IN RISING STAR: Should be in the top 3, yes.

TOP 3 LEADING GOAL KICKERS: At North? Souve Curtis Zurhaar

DOES CHOM PLAY FWD/BACK: Swing man, will play in all key positions.. including ruck at times

IS DURZ LOCKED BEST 22 COME SEASONS END: Shit it in

WHO HAS THE BETTER YEAR OUT OF SHEEZ, WARLORD, KERCH: This is rhetorical, right?.

SHORT SUMMARY OF SEASON: Signs of further improvement, just too young to win games and have impact on the year. End up bottom 4 with 3-5 wins. Pick 3 wasted.

 

[shintemaster]

Might as well have said Round 2 as Rounds 3 and 4 will yield nothing.

Nah.

Sydney well and truly on my vulnerable list. Last time they played a Grand Final and got schooled they took a tumble the next year. I assume nothing first 6 rounds of a new season.

 

[Possession]

Nah.

Sydney well and truly on my vulnerable list. Last time they played a Grand Final and got schooled they took a tumble the next year. I assume nothing first 6 rounds of a new season.

Something funky with that team. Hard to predict of course but I've also thought of them as gettable this year.

 

[Uncle_Leo]

Not sure what the links are between the rounds you've given and the teams you've apparently ascertained as our opponents. I chose rounds because it looked cleaner, but the teams that correspond are/were Adelaide, Brisbane, Port, Sydney (away), GWS (away), and the Hawks. In addition to the fact that I think we're guaranteed to lose to the Dogs and Carlton once each.

I simply disagree. I understand pessimism, but this is a fire-spitting, demonically influenced level of pessimism.

Three more seasons before it turns, and another season of abject misery, in a team with:

Sheezel
Wardlaw
LDU
McKercher
Larkey
Comben
Xerri
Archer
Logue
Curtis
A damaged but finally free Clarkson

Yeah. Sorry. Don't see it. Aside from our talent already surpassing that of many teams who've won 6 games in a season, if it really was three more seasons before it turned, I think the only ones on that list who'd stick around would be Sheezel, Larkey, X and Arch. And at that point, any sane fan, administrator, coach, staff member, etc. would say '**** it' and shut up shop.

I don't quite know how to communicate this but I think the club, courtesy of events over however many years you want to include, has been in a state of limbo, mired in the pits of despair and misfortune and curses and what have you. But, since Clarko came in, the club has steadily worked at rebuilding the talent base, and I think now the theoretical capabilities of that talent base reach well into mid-table. This means that if/when we resolve whatever it is that renders our players incapable of believing that they're good enough to be in front at the final siren, all the talent we have, which would shine through at any other club, will finally, finally, shine through for us, and people will be wondering how the **** we were so terrible for that long.

Of course, it's possible that whatever's broken at the club is infuriatingly and immutably unfixable. But in that case, rather than gradually building up win totals year-on-year, we'll flatline until the league inevitably steps in and signs off on our demise. I think that's a possibility. But it's not the one I'm going to run with, because I'd like to think that the state and achievement levels of all professional sporting clubs are impermanent, and therefore changeable.

My bad, thought you meant we would win these rounds, looked at the opponents and thought you had including Round 0 as round 1

In regards to teams we won't beat I completely agree

I just can't see how in any way with the youngest list and guys who are our real prime movers coming into to only their 3rd year we make a sudden leap to 8-10 wins after 3 last year, 3 the year before, 2 the year before that etc

 

[hilly]

Nah.

Sydney well and truly on my vulnerable list. Last time they played a Grand Final and got schooled they took a tumble the next year. I assume nothing first 6 rounds of a new season.

They could roll out Troy Luff, Bernard Toohey and Derek Kickett and still arse a win against us.

 

[shintemaster]

Something funky with that team. Hard to predict of course but I've also thought of them as gettable this year.

They'll be an extreme this year - either a brutal force of destruction after failing so completely twice in a few years or fall in an absolute heap.

 

[ferball]

They'll be an extreme this year - either a brutal force of destruction after failing so completely twice in a few years or fall in an absolute heap.

Interesting hey...

They've lost Parker, which will cost them but they've also lost Horse which may be the best thing that happens to them. I've always wondered if he had the mentality to win GFs.

 

[hilly]

Interesting hey...

They've lost Parker, which will cost them but they've also lost Horse which may be the best thing that happens to them. I've always wondered if he had the mentality to win GFs.

? 2012

 

[Philosophical Grendel]

Here's my take...

2025 AFL SEASON

WINS: 8

B&F: LDU

DOES LDU STAY: Yep. Some early wins plus lots of optimism = what Luke needs to see to get the deal done.

ALL AUST: Sheez and one of X/LDU. Can't see more than that just based on the club's recent history and general attitudes toward North.

DOES FOS PLACE IN RISING STAR: No. Don't think he gets the run that Sheezel, Wardlaw and Kerch got early, and he won't need to be relied on like they were. He'll have some "wow" moments but will miss out on the RS.

TOP 3 LEADING GOAL KICKERS: Larkey, Curtis, Zurhaar (roughly 60, 40, 30 goals).

DOES CHOM PLAY FWD/BACK: Back, but will end up forward a couple matches for bit.

IS DURZ LOCKED BEST 22 COME SEASONS END: No. I hope he ends up that way, but I'm just not convinced he'll be a lock.

WHO HAS THE BETTER YEAR OUT OF SHEEZ, WARLORD, KERCH: Sheez for overall production, but McKercher for surprise factor. I think he was probably the best first year player in the comp last year but seemed to be criminally overlooked. I think this will be a breakout year for him in the eyes of media/opposition. GW will also make a big jump in consistency and goal-scoring, but it'll be next to impossible to top what Harry will bring.

SHORT SUMMARY OF SEASON: New recruits help stabilize things for the young guns to fire. They get a shock win early (one of the Dogs or Blues IMO), struggle a little near the middle, then end with a run of really good form. Optimism is off the charts, vibes are high and tight, and Finals '26 is on the horizon.

 

[DuckYeah]

I think it will turn much faster than that. Our average age this year is older than Hawthorn's was last year and our younger players mostly have higher ceilings. No reason we shouldn't make similar improvements to theirs. A lot will depend on our game plan and whether we can develop something to suit our player's strengths, like they did.

Over simplified.

We have Happy Meal and Jy .. They have James Sicily.. that bloke has more leadership in the skid marks in his jocks. The difference is in the senior group vs ours.

Maybe Parker and Daniel will have immediate impact? I think itll take longer for cohesion.

 

[Hojuman]

Wins: 9 / 10

B&F: Harry

Does LDU stay: Yes

All Aust: Tristian, Harry.

Does FOS place in Rising Star: Yes 4th

Top 3 Leading goal kickers: Larkey, Darling, Curtis

Does Chom play Fwd/Bck: Back

Is Durz locked best 22 come seasons end: Yes

Who has the better year out of Sheez, Warlord, Kerch: Harry

Short summary of season: definite improvement in win/loss and %. Highlight is a 3 game winning run mid year vs Tigers, Pies and West Coast.

Surprise packet; Colby !

 

[ferball]

? 2012

They were led by Jarrad McVeigh who lost a child a year earlier and obviously had good qualities as a leader and a player. There was a bunch of premiership players in that side from 2005, some players who were at the Swans then but didn't play (like McVeigh) and guys like Rhys Shaw, who made an absolute meal of GF chance nearly a decade earlier.

I think those players had more to do with that win than anything Horse did on the day.

In 12 years since he hasn't won a flag despite constantly getting his side into finals. I would have thought he'd win at least one more, especially after they snagged Franklin.

 

[hilly]

They were led by Jarrad McVeigh who lost a child a year earlier and obviously had good qualities as a leader and a player. There was a bunch of premiership players in that side from 2005, some players who were at the Swans then but didn't play (like McVeigh) and guys like Rhys Shaw, who made an absolute meal of GF chance nearly a decade earlier.

I think those players had more to do with that win than anything Horse did on the day.

In 12 years since he hasn't won a flag despite constantly getting his side into finals. I would have thought he'd win at least one more, especially after they snagged Franklin.

Fair enough, I thought he did well to get them to the GF this year and arguably 2022. Albeit those years and 2014 produced underwhelming GFs (they were unlucky in 2016).

 

[ferball]

Fair enough, I thought he did well to get them to the GF this year and arguably 2022. Albeit those years and 2014 produced underwhelming GFs (they were unlucky in 2016).

That's true and probably changes my perception of him if they win that.

This year they were a very dominant side for most of the season and should have done better in the GF.

 

[Devil Fish]

This is such an important season.

I’m not interested in any predictions.

My plan is to watch the first half of the season unfold and then look at the ladder at Round 11.

That will tell me all I need to know.

 

[DERRINALPHIL]

Wins: 9 / 10

B&F: Harry

Does LDU stay: Yes

All Aust: Tristian, Harry.

Does FOS place in Rising Star: Yes 4th

Top 3 Leading goal kickers: Larkey, Darling, Curtis

Does Chom play Fwd/Bck: Back

Is Durz locked best 22 come seasons end: Yes

Who has the better year out of Sheez, Warlord, Kerch: Harry

Short summary of season: definite improvement in win/loss and %. Highlight is a 3 game winning run mid year vs Tigers, Pies and West Coast.

Surprise packet; Colby !

I think your number of wins is rather optimistic but what I want to see is a large improvement in our percentage at season's end. It was 63 last year which was terrible.
The Lions had a season before they made finals that they won few games but I think their percentage got into the low 90's.
That would be a great result for North and would show real improvement.

 

[Marstermind]

Wins: 8

B&F: Harry Sheezel

Does LDU stay: Yes

All Aust: Harry Sheezel

Does FOS place in Rising Star: Yes

Top 3 Leading goal kickers: Nick Larkey, Cameron Zurhaar, Paul Curtis

Does Chom play Fwd/Bck: Back

Is Durz locked best 22 come seasons end: Yes

Who has the better year out of Sheez, Warlord, Kerch: Harry Sheezel

Short summary of season: In bottom 6 all season, but beating the teams around us, knock off a couple of the better teams, only a couple of uncompetitive performances, percentage in the 80s, far more cohesive and sustainable style of play and lots of optimism for 2026. Footy this year should be more fun.