Ladder predictions for 2010

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I reckon next year is even more unpredictable than previous years. I'd rate Geelong, St Kilda, Adelaide, Collingwood and the Bulldogs as genuine contenders, with the Hawks and possibly Brisbane and Carlton capable of the top four. I would also expect improvement from West Coast and North. Not sure about the Swans, I'm really happy with the way we've turned our list over during the offseason, but I think we'll be around the same spot (9th-14th) for at least the next season while some of our kids are coming through.

1. Adelaide
2. Bulldogs
3. Collingwood
4. Geelong
5. St Kilda
6. Brisbane
7. Hawthorn
8. Carlton

9. West Coast
10. Essendon
11. Sydney
12. North Melbourne
13. Melbourne
14. Fremantle
15. Port Adelaide
16. Richmond
 
I reckon you people that have freo in the bottom 3 or 4 must be joking.
I reckon you having Sydney in the bottom 4 is a bloody disgrace. I can't take your ladder seriously and you have no idea about football.

See how stupid it sounds. Everyone is giving an opinion, does it really upset you if someone puts Fremantle in the bottom 4. They were ordinary this year, so there is clearly some merit.
 

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I reckon you having Sydney in the bottom 4 is a bloody disgrace. I can't take your ladder seriously and you have no idea about football.

See how stupid it sounds. Everyone is giving an opinion, does it really upset you if someone puts Fremantle in the bottom 4. They were ordinary this year, so there is clearly some merit.

Exactly right, I don't know why people would feel so affronted by where others have put their team, it's essentially just a bit of a guess after all. Every team has the capacity to finish last, or first, however unlikely or likely that may be.
 
1- Cats (Cats sliding? Yeah right, you wish)
2- Dogs (Should make the last dance this year)
3- Saints (Will need more injury luck to go all the way)
4- Pies (Should improve with Jolly & Ball) Draw tough
5- Hawks (will be a lot better in 2010)
6- Crows (will be thereabouts again)
7- Lions (Fev & Browny to keep them up there)
8- Bombers (young but lots of heart)

9- Carlton (Fev missing will take some getting used to)
10-Power ( will win their share, especially at home)
11-Kangaroos (some good young kids coming on)
12-Sydney (in a mini rebuild)
13-West Coast (improving young list, needs time)
14-Freo (always hard to beat @ home)
15-Demons (Young guns will click late in season)
16-Tigers (rebuilding phase)
 
1 - Western Bulldogs - Will be keen to claim top spot on the ladder and show they are the real deal next year, ready to romp home the premiership. Cooney, Griffen, Higgins and Ward to control the midfield next year and many matches along with it. Very strong backline and a forwardline that could devastate if they click immediately with Hall. Watch out for Andrejs Everitt.

2 - Geelong Cats - Won't mind being written off again as they were towards the latter stages of 09'. Will tinker a lot with gameplans B & C, rest the older players, win when they have to and lose a few along the way. The main goals will be to make sure they are cherry ripe for the finals with hopefully a home qualifying final to go with it. This team know that September is all that matters.

3 - St Kilda Saints - After experiencing the meaningless of smashing everyone in the home and away season then losing the premiership they'll probably approach the season similarly to Geelong with one thing in mind: Premiership. Will work hard on the kinks in their gameplan, rest players more often and will really value taking on the top teams as preparation for when it matters.

4 - West Coast Eagles -
My top obligatory top 4 smokey. Everyone is talking about the Collingwood New recruits, but WCE effectively introduce Cox and Kerr into the midfield in the same manner. A side littered with talent and depth in most areas, no mid season dilemmas of whether to tank or not, and plenty of home games could see them perform similarly to the Crows of 09'. Finals will be a different kettle for them though.

5 - Adelaide Crows - A very good side who will continue on their merry way. However this year will see much closer attention and game plans to counter these up and comers. I suspect the maturer sides will know how to force the crows to play 'putrid football' as was the case against the Saints in 09'. Will still perform very well and will be in the hunt for the premiership with a genuine chance as opposed to the 'darkhorse' label.

6 - Collingwood Magpies - Will be in the hunt for top 4 all year and will probably spend most of season in there. Jolly and Ball will help immensely, but I still don't think they will be an elite side. Their KP stocks still need work and apart from Presti will find it hard against the top sides. Anthony, whilst having a very promising career to date needs to not be intimidated by the top defenders and start to throw himself around more.

7 - Hawthorn Hawks - I don't think they addressed their needs at all this off season. Will leak goals like baby's drool and struggle against the dominant forwards. That being said their midfield is looking very sharp and you know they'll have more matchwinners than Jeff Kennett AFL propositions, so they'll be deadly. I can see it having shades of both their 07' and 09' seasons. The extraneous variable of the year.

8 - Brisbane Lions - Adding lots of fringe players in one year does not make a premiership side. I don't know that Fev will add that much, it looked to me that Brownshaw was a winning combination with experience, talent, understanding of each other and mateship, it could take a while for it all to gel. Will enjoy seeing them kick about 600 each against the brittle defenses though. Similar year to 09'.

9 - Sydney Swans - Have gone from the team I can't stand watching to one of teams I'll be checking out when I can (Not a glowing endorsement when I think about it). Anyway I think they'll turn out ok. Have decent players in most positions and Bradshaw will go well. Their youngens' are exciting and they'll surprise a few teams and people. They'll be finals ready again sooner rather than later.

10 - North Melbourne Kangaroos - Really like their drafting over the last few years and I think we'll see some of the fruit of it this year. Brad Scott will probably be blunter and simpler than Mr 'I eat footy philosophy for breakfast' Laidley, leading to direct results, as opposed to developing complicated tactics and plans over years. Some of their players are seriously underrated as well.

11 - Essendon Bombers - Were my second favorite team of 09'. Sadly it will be a harder year for them. David Hille back will be great, but it's gonna be a tough ask for their young spines to perform week after week. Lloyd will be a big loss but probably a good move for the long term, he was never gonna play in their next premiership anyway. Probably have the best depth of the bottom 8 sides, heading in the right direction.

12 - Fremantle Dockers - The mass of recent past debutants should continue playing games and feeling more comfortable with AFL as they go. Will still rely heavily on Pav and Sandillama of course but they should improve for sure. Can't wait to see Morabito and the others play loads of games. Should start winning more games at home and become more competitive on the road.

13 - Carlton Blues - That's right, it smells like the bottom 4 Blues will be cooking a quiche for 2010. The mind boggles over Carlton's drafting choices, could be very worthwhile in the future, but it certainly doesn't scream 'we're ready for a top 4 assault'. Waite will be a very welcome return but unfortunately there's only one of him. Murphy and Gibbs to kick it up a notch, but I suspect the Fev-less game plan to take time to learn.

14 - Melbourne Demons -
Talent Galore. Experience Desert. Be great to see how these young Demons travel when there are no incentives to lose on the table. Will cop a few spankings, but probably a few upsets in their time also. Be great seeing 'Muscles' Watts play after his new homework regime of eating a shiteload of eggs and pumping weights all offseason. Melbourne will be a force no doubt, will take a few years yet though.

15 - Port Adelaide Power -
Shambles. Yet could come from nowhere and make the 8. Hartlett, Gray and Boak will pick up the slack of Burgoyne of the S Variety. Brogan and Tredders will cope fine, but will be hoping for younger guys to step up and develop. Carlisle to become a household name and Butcher to excite, but if the Williams debacle continues this club is going nowhere but down.

16 - Richmond Tigers -
Sad with Richo gone, but with Burntfaceman gone also, hopefully Richmond's era of mediocrity ends here. Well kinda, they'll pick up a spoon or 2 yet. Seem to have drafted well recently and hopefully Hardwick breeds the tigers tough from now on. Has pretty much nothing consistent to work with apart from Cuz (maybe Cotch and Lids) for the immediate future, but plenty of the kids have shown glimpses and will continue doing so in 2010.
 
1. Footscray- The Dogs have incredible depth and I can only see them improving even more next year.
2. Geelong- We've still got the firepower, depth and hunger to have a massive crack at it again.
3. Hawthorn- I've been a little pessimistic about the Hawks chances next year, and I've finally come to realise this.
4. St. Kilda- Will be up there again, but the hunger will drop a little IMO.
5. Brisbane Lions- They've drafted and recruited very well and the Lions should begin to reap the rewards from this.
6. Adelaide- Will a lack of action during draft week will hurt the Crows a little? I think it might, but I can't see this impacting the Crows too much, as they still have great depth.
7. Collingwood- Will drop off a little IMO. Don't know why. Maybe the inconsistency?
8. West Coast Eagles- See Brisbane. They've rebuilt very well and recruited the right people and this should show a little in 2010.
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9. Carlton- Poor trading and drafting will hurt the Blues big time.
10. North Melbourne- I think North will head in the direction of many top eight clubs. They've recruited pretty well and blooded some potentially very good youngsters, but they're still a long way from 'being there'.
11. Sydney Swans- It's time to rebuild and pick up the pieces for the Swannies.
12. Essendon- Were lucky to make finals in 2009, and this certainly showed. They haven't recruited smartly and don't understand and realise the importance of drafting sensibly. There's just something big missing for them.
13. Port Adelaide- *Tumbleweed*.
14. Melbourne- Come on, Melbourne. You've been telling us now for three years you're on the improve and that you've drafted 'future superstars'. You've recruited and recruited but have delivered diddly squat. It's now or never, Melbourne.
15. Fremantle- You've recruited some potentially great youngsters Freo, but you need to invest something into them or they won't deliver. Fremantle's drafting reminds me of a Hamburger joint that doesn't sell Hamburgers.
16. Richmond- The Tigers have bottomed out and it's time to rebuild. The light at the end of the tunnel is a hell of a long way for Richmond yet, but it's possible if they draft well and invest a lot into their youngsters.
 
I had explanations, but I lost them so I'll re-write them later

Bulldogs
Hawthorn
geelong
Adelaide
St Kilda
Collingwood
Brisbane
Sydney
Melbourne
Essendon
West Coast
Carlton
Fremantle
North Melbourne
Port Adelaide
Richmond

2-3 games separating the 8-14
 
6. Adelaide- Will a lack of action during draft week will hurt the Crows a little? I think it might, but I can't see this impacting the Crows too much, as they still have great depth.

WTF? Lack of action during draft week?

(1) The Crows were active in the draft.

Selection #13 - Daniel Talia
Selection #29 - Jack Gunston
Selection 45 - Sam Shaw
Selection 61 - James Craig

(2) Not that any of them will play in 2010 ... so even if the Crows didn't draft any players at all, how would that affect 2010?

PS: Changes to the Crows playing list in 2010 will come from players drafted in 2008 and 2007. Namely: McKernan, Davis, Petrenko, Martin, Cook and Sloane. If you want to know how the Crows will change in the coming season, those are the players you should be looking at (plus Moran, Bock and Van Berlo) who weren't there in the Crows last game but who might be part of the 22 in round 1 next year.
 
1. Adelaide
2. Collingwood
3. Hawthorn
4. Sydney Swans
5. West Coast
6. Geelong
7. Port Adelaide
8. North
9. St Kilda
10. Western Bulldogs
11. Richmond
12. Melbourne
13. Carlton
14. Essendon
15. Fremantle
16. Brisbane Lions
 

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12. Essendon- Were lucky to make finals in 2009, and this certainly showed. They haven't recruited smartly and don't understand and realise the importance of drafting sensibly. There's just something big missing for them.
Do you mind sharing what it is???
I also think that we did draft sensible, we need someone to help out jobe and hopefully Melksham can do that. A utility in Carlise can help out foward or back (McPhee's role) and a speedy mid/foward in Colyer who you could say might replace lovett. Now we need Neagle and Gumby to perform and we have a not too bad of a forward line. So what are we missing?
 
Ok I always give one to my friends at the start of the year and at the end see how i close i get. If i ever get it all right $10 from my friends so here we go

1. Western Bulldogs
Purely and simply out of all the clubs they have the most hunger to win and suceed. Their time is now they have the players who can do it and they know in the back of their heads the window is closing so they need to grab the sunshine and bask in its glory while its still there.
2.St Kilda
I believe they havent lost players from last year so whats stopping from doing what they did last and doing it this year not alot. They will not be as sucessful though and will be in close scrap for the top 4 but with their window also closing they will have the hunger. Giving them the edge just.
3.Adelaide
This is my smokey for the flag although they are genuine contenders and with the depth in their squad it wont matter about the ageing players as they drafted adequately to replace them as Adelaide fans point out. They have the class to beat the scrap for the top 4 and will beat St Kilda in the QF.
4.Geelong
They have slipped but not that far and expect them to be there thereabouts in september like always. I liken them to wily old cats who know how to win and peak at the right time and challenge but a PF appearance is all this great team can hope for.
5.Collingwood
To put it bluntly they are the best of the rest. They will look like challenging for most of the year but at the end of the year **** they will drop off as they dont have that killer instinct like Geelong have had for the last 3 years. I think a semi-final appearance for them. But in 2011 bookmark them for GF appearance.
6.Brisbane
Trading like crazy can only get you so far. They will be the first to drop out of the race for the top 4. They will be looking for a sighter year meaning they find out what it takes to launch a full assault in 2011.
7.Sydney
There is not much bias in this selection as Sydney have drafted well and have shown you dont have to rebuild by bottoming out but can do it well and retaining a interest. Have a youngish squad of talented players who will step to the mark and deliver.
8.Hawthorn
I'm now sold on them returning straight back into flag challenging position so they will scrape into the 8 for me. They have good team but not good enough to challenge in my opinion. But I may be wrong.
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No Explanations for the rest ask me if u want them
9.West Coast
10.Essendon
11.North
12.Carlton
13.Fremantle
14.Melbourne
15.Port Adelaide
16.Richmond

Premiers:WB
Wooden Spoon:RICH
Most likely wrong prediction Hawthorn
 
I actually don't see to much change between the top 8 and bottom 8, given their was such a gap between the top 7 teams this year, with Essendon sneaking into the top 8.

1. Western Bulldogs
2. Geelong
3. St.Kilda
4. Adelaide
5. Hawthorn
6. Collingwood
7. Brisbane
8. Carlton

9. Essendon
10. West Coast
11. Sydney
12. Port Adelaide
13. Fremantle
14. Melbourne
15. Richmond
16. North Melbourne
 
St Kilda
Western Bulldogs
Geelong
Hawthorn
Brisbane
Adelaide
Essendon
Fremantle
---------
Collingwood
Carlton
West Coast
Sydney
Port Adelaide
Melbourne
Kangaroos
Richmond
 
i don get why carlton is averaged from 12-9.
We have the one of the best midfields in the game .
Our defense has quality young players and can do the job next year.
Yes we lost Fev :( but we have mutable targets and unpredictable forward line.
Anything between 5-8.
 
1. St.Kilda
2. Collingwood
3. Geelong
4. Adelaide
5. Western Bulldogs
6. Hawthorn
7. Brisbane
8. West Coast
9. Sydney
10. Carlton
11. Essendon
12. North Melbourne
13. Melbourne
14. Fremantle
15. Richmond

Port not included cos I don't want to be biased. However i seriously think our range is 7-12
 
1. Geelong - Still the best list IMO
2. Hawthorn - Early preseason
3. Bulldogs - Hall will improve them a bit
4. Collingwood - Jolly & Ball fill massive holes in their list IMO
5. Adelaide - Good solid even team
6. St Kilda- Expect a few more injuries than last year
7. Brisbane - teething problem with brownola but when it clicks.... very dangerous
8. West Coast - Really rate their kids with Cox and Glass holding down key positions thye just sneak into the 8


9. Carlton - Midfield will win games but not enough support
10. Essendon - Loss of Oldies will pull them back a peg
11. Sydney - A rebuild year but Sydney won't fall far
12. North Melbourne - Solid allround team but lacks top end talent
13. Melbourne - Stilll to young
14. Fremantle - Two good players Sandi and Pav
15. Richmond - Big list turnover will keep them down
16. Port Adelaide - All round crappy team with poor culture probably will see a coach change 1/2 through the season.

Tough to seperate the top 7 after that I can't see any of the other being compeitive but a lot can change in 6 months.
 

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Ladder predictions for 2010

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