The Bottom 10 - Who is closest to a flag?

[Blue1980]

You would think Melbourne, Collingwood and St Kilda.

But it is possible that Collingwood have just built a crap list, or is it the coach? is it injuries, or just bad form? Or all of them?

 

[SterlingArcher]

Hooker, Hurley, Daniher can mist definitely rival those 3.

In terms of who's the closest, You can only guess. I'd have Melbourne/Port looking most likely and Richmond/Brisbane/GC looking least, But who the hell knows.

Yeah I wouldn't argue that, but Melbourne have a ruck as well (rather than a forward, a backman and a swingman) and their ages are 21, 23 (24 this year), 24 (25 this year) compared to the Essendon trio 22, 26, 27 (28 this year), hence my preference for the Melbourne trio as a group.

 

[scanlon]

For me, the closest to a flag would be St Kilda, Melbourne or Essendon.

St Kildas youth coming through is greatly underrated and their forward line will be a force in the coming years with McCartin, Bruce and Membery as a foil. They still have a few holes in their side but I think they play with a good brand of footy.

Melbournes up and coming midfield will be feared soon. Oliver, Viney, Jones, Petracca, Brayshaw and Vince are all tough nuts who win there own ball. They have a few others that can run through there aswell. If they can keep Hogan they should be able to challenge.

Essendons flag chances will have a massive reliance over the next few draft and trade periods. Many holes in the side with the forward line being the biggest. If Essendon can nail a gun mid, gun forward and add some other stars into the side they are in the mix for a premiership. With the bans implemented this year, players like fantasia, Merrett, Parish, Zaharakis, Tippa, Hartley and Langford, who are all apart of the future, are fast tracking their development.

IMO, Carlton are actually an older team than most think. What they have achieved this year is good to see but theres another thread on this board that shows they have an older list than port and richmond. IMO, they have to aim for a flag within the next 4 years or theyll have another rebuild on their hands. Players like Gibbs (27), Murphy (28), Kruezer (27), Simpson (32), Rowe (28), Thomas (28), Walker (29) and Casboult (26) all playing big roles in the side at the moment probably only have on average 4 good years left in them. They still have a few high draft picks yet to debut so there is still potential.

 

[Kenny_01]

It'd be interesting to put together some of the others. Carlton, for example, would lose all of Kreuzer, Rowe, Gibbs, Murphy, Simpson, Curnow out of that side just off the top of my head. Freo lose Pav, Sandi, Johnson, Griffin, Clarke, Ibbotson, Dawson, Ballantyne, Walters.

Walters is 24ish?

I can't be bothered doing a whole team but we have plenty of 25s and under that will play 5+ years left.

Definite best 22 2017
Nat Fyfe
Lachie Weller
Connor Blakely
Matthew Taberner
Lachie Neale
Hayden Crozier
Tommy Sheridan
Michael Walters
Stephen Hill
Alex Pearce
Harley Bennell
Cam McCarthy (hopefully)

Likely best 22 or just outside
Darcy Tucker
Michael Apeness
Ethan Hughes
Cameron Sutcliffe
Ed Langdon
Sam Collins

Throw in a couple of draft picks from this year and other players developing (Balic, Grey, etc) and we have some talent to work with. Maybe I am being overly optimistic but if we can draft and recruit well, I can see us making the finals again soon. Especially if we can Bennell up and firing.

 

[LeverPuller]

Walters is 24ish?

I can't be bothered doing a whole team but we have plenty of 25s and under that will play 5+ years left.

Definite best 22 2017
Nat Fyfe
Lachie Weller
Connor Blakely
Matthew Taberner
Lachie Neale
Hayden Crozier
Tommy Sheridan
Michael Walters
Stephen Hill
Alex Pearce
Harley Bennell
Cam McCarthy (hopefully)

Likely best 22 or just outside
Darcy Tucker
Michael Apeness
Ethan Hughes
Cameron Sutcliffe
Ed Langdon
Sam Collins

Throw in a couple of draft picks from this year and other players developing (Balic, Grey, etc) and we have some talent to work with. Maybe I am being overly optimistic but if we can draft and recruit well, I can see us making the finals again soon. Especially if we can Bennell up and firing.

Looked it up myself, he's 25.

With Freo there's a lot to replace. The midfield is top-notch though which will cover part of it.

 

[Bic]

Essendons flag chances will have a massive reliance over the next few draft and trade periods. Many holes in the side with the forward line being the biggest. If Essendon can nail a gun mid, gun forward and add some other stars into the side they are in the mix for a premiership. With the bans implemented this year, players like fantasia, Merrett, Parish, Zaharakis, Tippa, Hartley and Langford, who are all apart of the future, are fast tracking their development.

Essendon are no chance. How you can possibly think you are a flag chance based on the past 5 years is crazy talk.

So many unknowns. We have never seen this happen to an AFL side before, we don't know what a year off to half a team does...

If you make finals, you have done well.

 

[west coast 2k16]

I will go with Gold Coast

Haha not sure if u have watched the Gold Coast play lately, but I go and watch them play every week at Metricon and well I would rather watch southport play Aspley it is really that bad. I know they have injuries but still to be dishing up what this dish up every week is just terrible. An example of this is when they are kicking out of fullback most teams if there is no option they will kick to themselves and kick it towards the bound around 80 meters away. The Gold Coast do a 10 meter kick that all they can do from there is play on or force a turnover. Rodney Eade is not the man for the job

 

[I Remember Bluey]

True, but given that Goodwin is running training and tactics I don't think it's as huge a shift as a fresh appointment. I'm expecting Roos to start taking the back seat on most aspects after the bye.

Except on pay day

 

[Stopher]

It's hard to argue against a lot of what you are saying, however there are so many more factors than this.

Melbourne will have a new coach - that is a massive change whether you think so or not.

And a lot of people are rating Collingwood's list (as do I) but seem to forget they've still got the same bloke (not) coaching them. Until this changes, they ain't winning shit.

 

[GreekLunatic]

If we get a new coach maybe we might challenge soon

 

[cotter101]

Call me crazy. But I'll have $50 on Brisbane winning a flag before any of those other 9 clubs.

EDIT: with the first Poster to take me up on this.

 

[Blue1980]

True, but given that Goodwin is running training and tactics I don't think it's as huge a shift as a fresh appointment. I'm expecting Roos to start taking the back seat on most aspects after the bye.

I think Goodwin is basically in charge now.

Also Goodwin won't be a moron like Buckley and try and change everything to satisfy a need for it to be 'his' team

 

[scanlon]

Essendon are no chance. How you can possibly think you are a flag chance based on the past 5 years is crazy talk.

So many unknowns. We have never seen this happen to an AFL side before, we don't know what a year off to half a team does...

If you make finals, you have done well.

Yeah, as I said, our drafting and trading over the next 2-3 years is crucial. If we can fill some holes and add a few more stars to the team alongside the substantial development of our young guns this year, I think theres a chance. Obviously, a lot will be dependent upon how the likes of Hooker, Heppell and Hurley respond to the 1 year bans. If they pick up from where the left off, we should be in a good position. A lot has to go right to be pushing for a flag in the next 5 years but out of the current teams in the bottom 8, I think, alongside Saints and Melbourne, we are closest at the moment. Thats not to say other teams cant overtake us.

 

[LeverPuller]

You would think Melbourne, Collingwood and St Kilda.

But it is possible that Collingwood have just built a crap list, or is it the coach? is it injuries, or just bad form? Or all of them?

On Collingwood...their back line is bizarre. No real talent coming through.

 

[LeverPuller]

Yeah, as I said, our drafting and trading over the next 2-3 years is crucial. If we can fill some holes and add a few more stars to the team alongside the substantial development of our young guns this year, I think theres a chance. Obviously, a lot will be dependent upon how the likes of Hooker, Heppell and Hurley respond to the 1 year bans. If they pick up from where the left off, we should be in a good position. A lot has to go right to be pushing for a flag in the next 5 years but out of the current teams in the bottom 8, I think, alongside Saints and Melbourne, we are closest at the moment. Thats not to say other teams cant overtake us.

Even with the 12 coming back it doesn't fix the biggest problem the Dons have - the forward line. Unless Hooker goes forward again (which isn't a long-term solution) they are still struggling for a forward structure.

 

[Bic]

Call me crazy. But I'll have $50 on Brisbane winning a flag before any of those other 9 clubs.

EDIT: with the first Poster to take me up on this.

You're crazy, ill take that action.

 

[scanlon]

Even with the 12 coming back it doesn't fix the biggest problem the Dons have - the forward line. Unless Hooker goes forward again (which isn't a long-term solution) they are still struggling for a forward structure.

Hence me stressing the importance of our drafting and trading

 

[demondavey]

None of them

 

[rdhopkins2]

Essendon could well resurrect themselves once the suspended players are back (and a large weight off their shoulders).

Melbourne would be my tip though.

 

[cotter101]

You're crazy, ill take that action.

Your on!

 

[HaloPaddy]

The next 10 years
GWS, DOGS, SYDNEY HAWKS WCE ADELAIDE (possibly FREO) will dominate.
The 10 teams mentioned here have no chance. Not on the same level.
Saints maybe, but ONLY because we are the youngest and most inexperienced team in the comp and have shown some signs and have the most upside to come ... BUT realistically gws dogs etc are and will be on a another level for the next 10 years.

These 10 teams should really just do a very slow rebuild (top picks, save cash) to be ready for 2025 when these superteams may subside a little. But again that wont work for fans.

Im happy for the dogs our Brothers from the west BUT to think after 2009/2010 THEY will be the ones to win the flag ... LITTLE JEALOUS ... Such typical saints luck.

 

[Cudi_420]

I'd say Melbourne if they weren't Melbourne.

 

[PAFC66]

We are playing a side that's the 3rd youngest club in the comp this year and sitting at 9th without a ruckman or backline for most of the year. Get the 9 first 22 players back next year and we are every chance.

 

[PAFC66]

Richmond are having a year like Port last year.
Just need to get our list up to scratch ,that doesn't mean trading our guns.
Media over negatising Richmond this year then when we win,they blow our bubble to bursting point,wish we were protected like the other clubs!
North always beat us regardless of ladder position so take that game with a grain of salt.

We had injuries last year. Not sure richmond have had many.

 

[PAFC66]

Saints.

Lol