AFL 2014 Ladder Predictions

[Rhysswans13]

With most team lists starting to take place I think we can start predictions for 2014 ladder positions. I feel the tide is starting to change in the competition and a fair few teams that have been down the ladder for a while will finally awake from their slumber.

1. NORTH MELBOURNE- Very unlucky on many occasions in 2013 against the top sides. With a fit and firing midfield I think the sleeping giant at Arden St will awake at last.

2. ESSENDON- Showed glimpses of a top four side over the last two years. Haven't lost many players and Mark Thompson knows how to coach to a premiership. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

3. HAWTHORN- Would be disrespectful not to put the reigning premiers at least in the Top four. Don't think they will go back to back though.

4. SYDNEY- Premiership window is still wide open. Will have to be at their best all the time and not be injury riddled though to win the grand final.

5. CARLTON- Mick Malthouse will drive the Blues to their best season in years.

6. PORT ADELAIDE- Should be on par with 2013 performance.

7. RICHMOND - Should be thereabouts.

8. MELBOURNE- Think the Dees will finally turn their fortunes. Roos and co have been working hard on recruiting during the offseason and the results should return a much improved season. The fairytale of the season.

9. FREMANTLE- I just don't believe the Dockers will back up from 2013. I do hope I'm proven wrong as I have a soft spot for them.

10. GEELONG- If they prove me wrong and make Top 4 again they are definitely the greatest team of all at Kardinia Park.

11. GOLD COAST- Just don't think they have the firepower to win pressure games. Will go close to finals though.

12. GWS- Dramatic improvement with some good offseason recruitment.

13. WESTERN BULLDOGS- 2015 will be their breakthrough year.

14. ADELAIDE- No longer the pride of South Australia.

15. WEST COAST- New coach and loss of experience will see the Eagles struggle.

16. COLLINGWOOD- Think the Pies have some off field issues that might boil over. Can't see them improving. Will struggle for the first time in years.

17. BRISBANE- Mass exodus of players isn't for no reason. The lions are in for a long year.

18. ST KILDA- Poor old St Kilda

PREMIER- ESSENDON

RUNNER UP- NORTH MELBOURNE

BROWNLOW- Jack Ziebell North Melbourne

FIRST COACH TO BE SACKED- Scott Watters St Kilda

COLEMAN MEDAL- Jeremy Cameron GWS

STORY OF THE YEAR- AGAINST ALL ADVERSITY THE BOMBERS OVERCOME NORTH IN BEST GRAND FINAL THIS CENTURY.

 

[Moist Biscuit]

Surely your taking the piss? Ziebell Brownlow? Freo 10th? Gws above Collingwood, West Coast , Adelaide and Brisbane? Dees in the 8? Crap thread.

 

[Rustin Cohle]

If Collingwood finishes 16th I will give a BJ to every person who posts in this thread.

 

[DivideandMultiply]

Surely your taking the piss? Ziebell Brownlow? Freo 10th? Gws above Collingwood, West Coast , Adelaide and Brisbane? Dees in the 8? Crap thread.

Whilst throwing in some lateral selections is a good idea, considering there is usually a slider, a bolter and often a degree of turnover in the bottom half of the 8, OP has probably gone a little far.

GWS will improve, but GC showed more in 2012 than GWS in 2013. GWS probably won't jump to 11th. Likewise, NM are unlikely to go from outside to 8 to first.

Ziebell is also unlikely to win the Brownlow.

However, Essendon could certainly finish top 4 and Fremantle miss the 8. Both seem unlikely now, but Essendon was very good for most of the year and Fremantle could have injury issues.

Who knows really, hard to predict a semi reasonable ladder even from the half way point of the season.

 

[Rhysswans13]

Surely your taking the piss? Ziebell Brownlow? Freo 10th? Gws above Collingwood, West Coast , Adelaide and Brisbane? Dees in the 8? Crap thread.

Not taking the piss mate. Will admit some of my predictions are abit far fetched. But I wasn't far off wrong last year when I tipped the power for 5th position for no good reason and for west coast to not make the finals when most tip them as a premiership smokey. I hope Freo goes on and wins a premiership next year but I think it's going to be tough for them to back it up. North I believe will be the biggest movers in 2014. If they aren't in the four then ill eat my words.

 

[DivideandMultiply]

Not taking the piss mate. Will admit some of my predictions are abit far fetched. But I wasn't far off wrong last year when I tipped the power for 5th position for no good reason and for west coast to not make the finals when most tip them as a premiership smokey. I hope Freo goes on and wins a premiership next year but I think it's going to be tough for them to back it up. North I believe will be the biggest movers in 2014. If they aren't in the four then ill eat my words.

Out of interest can you quote the post where you made these predictions?

 

[Rhysswans13]

Out of interest can you quote the post where you made these predictions?

Just quoted the post so it should be up in the topic I posted it in. Apologies I tipped west coast 7th. I thought I had them lower. Tipped the brownlow correct as well. I don't think besides Collingwood and Fremantle that my predictions are too far off. It's so hard to predict anything in AFL so this year I threw in a couple of surprises. I'm no expert but believe that North will be big and that Collingwood are due for a bad year

 

[Jaeger]

1. Sydney
2. Geelong
3. Hawthorn
4. Fremantle
5. Collingwood
6. Richmond
7. North Melbourne
8. Adelaide
9. West Coast
10. Essendon
11. Port Adelaide
12. Carlton
13. Gold Coast
14. Western Bulldogs
15. Brisbane
16. Melbourne
17. GWS
18. St Kilda

 

[Fevola99]

I have nothing to say, just want to get in for the possible BJ

 

[mike91]

With most team lists starting to take place I think we can start predictions for 2014 ladder positions. I feel the tide is starting to change in the competition and a fair few teams that have been down the ladder for a while will finally awake from their slumber.

1. NORTH MELBOURNE- Very unlucky on many occasions in 2013 against the top sides. With a fit and firing midfield I think the sleeping giant at Arden St will awake at last.

2. ESSENDON- Showed glimpses of a top four side over the last two years. Haven't lost many players and Mark Thompson knows how to coach to a premiership. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

3. HAWTHORN- Would be disrespectful not to put the reigning premiers at least in the Top four. Don't think they will go back to back though.

4. SYDNEY- Premiership window is still wide open. Will have to be at their best all the time and not be injury riddled though to win the grand final.

5. CARLTON- Mick Malthouse will drive the Blues to their best season in years.

6. PORT ADELAIDE- Should be on par with 2013 performance.

7. RICHMOND - Should be thereabouts.

8. MELBOURNE- Think the Dees will finally turn their fortunes. Roos and co have been working hard on recruiting during the offseason and the results should return a much improved season. The fairytale of the season.

9. FREMANTLE- I just don't believe the Dockers will back up from 2013. I do hope I'm proven wrong as I have a soft spot for them.

10. GEELONG- If they prove me wrong and make Top 4 again they are definitely the greatest team of all at Kardinia Park.

11. GOLD COAST- Just don't think they have the firepower to win pressure games. Will go close to finals though.

12. GWS- Dramatic improvement with some good offseason recruitment.

13. WESTERN BULLDOGS- 2015 will be their breakthrough year.

14. ADELAIDE- No longer the pride of South Australia.

15. WEST COAST- New coach and loss of experience will see the Eagles struggle.

16. COLLINGWOOD- Think the Pies have some off field issues that might boil over. Can't see them improving. Will struggle for the first time in years.

17. BRISBANE- Mass exodus of players isn't for no reason. The lions are in for a long year.

18. ST KILDA- Poor old St Kilda

PREMIER- ESSENDON

RUNNER UP- NORTH MELBOURNE

BROWNLOW- Jack Ziebell North Melbourne

FIRST COACH TO BE SACKED- Scott Watters St Kilda

COLEMAN MEDAL- Jeremy Cameron GWS

STORY OF THE YEAR- AGAINST ALL ADVERSITY THE BOMBERS OVERCOME NORTH IN BEST GRAND FINAL THIS CENTURY.

Hahahaha, he tells a joke! Please tell me it's a joke, otherwise dafuq is this? You sir no absolutely nothing about AFL.

 

[mike91]

Whilst throwing in some lateral selections is a good idea, considering there is usually a slider, a bolter and often a degree of turnover in the bottom half of the 8, OP has probably gone a little far.

GWS will improve, but GC showed more in 2012 than GWS in 2013. GWS probably won't jump to 11th. Likewise, NM are unlikely to go from outside to 8 to first.

Ziebell is also unlikely to win the Brownlow.

However, Essendon could certainly finish top 4 and Fremantle miss the 8. Both seem unlikely now, but Essendon was very good for most of the year and Fremantle could have injury issues.

Who knows really, hard to predict a semi reasonable ladder even from the half way point of the season.

Yeah, imagine if they had injuries this year......

 

[Sanecow]

Athiest is a chick, yeah?

 

[Rhysswans13]

Hahahaha, he tells a joke! Please tell me it's a joke, otherwise dafuq is this? You sir no absolutely nothing about AFL.

If you can honestly justify why any team I put in those positions won't be their then go ahead. Pretty sure the competition is pretty even and every year their are bolters sliders and surprise packets. North I believe will make the four. Collingwood is due for a bad year and Melbourne surely have to come good sometime. Like I said I'm no expert but my prediction is just as good as anyone else's. Our competition is so unpredictable.

 

[FlowersByIrene]

How the hell are you supposed to predict without the fixture?

 

[Righteo]

Questionable thread, may not read again.

 

[DivideandMultiply]

Yeah, imagine if they had injuries this year......

Don't be stupid.

No team is auto guaranteed to make finals. I had Freo making the grandfinal in a ladder predictor which I did and posted on bf at the half way point of the year, however teams sometimes have horror injury runs, or imperfect preseasons and slow starts after doing well the year before. See Sydney in 2013.

If everything goes right for Fremantle, they should finish top 4 and maybe play off in the GF, however this far out it is impossible to guess.

 

[jangofett]

how will adelaide not be top 8? anyone, just anyone

 

[Marlowe]

My early prediction is ninth will not be occupied by a team wearing a sash.

 

[DivideandMultiply]

how will adelaide not be top 8? anyone, just anyone

How were they not top 8 in 2013?

The fixture has not been released, the trading period is not over, the draft has not yet been done, the preseason not yet completed and there have been no preseason matches as yet.

Pretty much, we only have 2013 as a form guide which is woefully insufficient (plus the inferred impacts of confirmed list changes).

Sure, certain predictions will seem incredibly unlikely regardless, however it is very hard to make any informed predictions with a degree of certainty, especially this early.

 

[Marlowe]

how will adelaide not be top 8? anyone, just anyone

Hmm, they could always lose a high enough percentage of their schedule home & away games. Or be the subject of a doping scandal.

 

[fidstar]

A BJs a BJ

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

If Collingwood finishes 16th I will give a BJ to every person who posts in this thread.

If I post twice, can I have two?

 

[kirky]

Athiest is a chick, yeah?

And as she is a Collingwood supporter, no teeth. Sweet!

 

[Leatherpoizoned]

This thread is a tad ridiculous. But if it does take off here is my potential ladder.

1.Fremantle
2.Hawthorn
3.Sydney
4.Richmond
5.Carlton
6.Geelong
7.North Melbourne
8.Adelaide
9.West Coast
10.Collingwood
11.Essendon
12.Gold Coast
13.Port Adelaide
14.Footscray
15.Brisbane
16.GWS
17.Melbourne
18.St Kilda

Premier: Fremantle
Runner-up: Sydney
Brownlow: Trent Cotchin
Coleman: Jarryd Roughead

 

[Green Eggs]

1. Fremantle - They have had a taste and I can see them improving in 2014 with a greater grasp of Lyons game plan and an added hunger.

2. Sydney - Tippet and Buddy to kick 150 goals between them. Hard to compete against that.

3. Richmond - I see Richmond as a huge threat in 2014. Some young players on the improve. They are their own biggest challenge though.

4. Hawthorn - I can see them sliding but not by much.

5. Collingwood - We've made some big changes in the off season and fingers crossed they'll pay off.

6. Port Adelaide - I hope they can continue the wave of momentum and challenge next year because they are exciting to see contend.

7. Geelong - Can see a mini vacation from finals contention coming while they pour games into their youngsters. They will contend in 2015 though.

8. Carlton - They've improved their list and football department. They will need to really have a good preseason to keep North out of the 8.

9. North Melbourne
10. Essendon
11. Gold Coast
12. Western Bulldogs
13. Melbourne
14. West Coast
15. Adelaide
16. Brisbane
17. GWS
18. St. Kilda

Premier - Fremantle
Grand Final - Freo vs Sydney
Norm Smith - Barlow

Brownlow - Josh Kennedy
Coleman - Buddy

Breakout Stars of 2014 - Stephen Hill, Brodie Grundy, Sam Docherty, Jack Watts and Michael Walters.