the big improver...the biggest drop

[beenreal]

So Dash61 has Port about the same as 2008, BUT finishing bottom 3? Okaaaaay?

Well I'm expecting Port Adelaide to be much more than competitive next year. 2008 was a big step forward with player development, and we were basically beaten in the elimination final by 1 uncontrollable player in Taylor Walker.

With Hargreaves being the only major out, the squad is only going forward. I'm excited by a forward line of Clive, Jordan Barham, Joel Fitzgerald and Dean Mercer. Isaac Weetra will add much needed pace through the midfield and Matthew Lobbe as a ruck/ forward option, working in tandem with a very fit James Miekeljohn will be a dangerous combination.

Yep, it's Port Adelaide for Premiers in 2009!!

[Aerie]

Last year the top 3 sides had a comfortable gap on the rest of the field. North and the Eagles should know what it takes to get back up there - and wouldn't surprise a great deal if one of these two sides were back around the mark again.

Like others, I expect Norwood to be the real improver next year. Quality recruits, a coach who looked as if he had his side playing the type of footy required by finals time last year. They will be 2009's Glenelg IMO.

Would not surprise me to see Sturt fall of the mark a bit, given MacGowan is not coach anymore and losing a couple of good players.

I'll take a stab at the predicted ladder, grouping them as follows.

Central
---------
Norwood
Glenelg
---------
Sturt
Eagles
North
Port
---------
West
South

[Mickyj]

[quote="wycbloods"
How many ruckmen do you want that is two young ones . You don't pick 4 or 5 do you .[/quote]

Redden is now on an afl list
Hill is more a chf /pinch ruckman.
Biglands does a knee early in 09(heaven forbid) what happens then not much in the bank .And as I followed every league and seconds games in 08 I saw many games that the two's had 1 ruckman and a fill in .

All I am saying that the Eagles did not have a ruck plan put in place for 09 or beyond .BUT I haven't seen pre season training so no idea how many Talls from the zone are training.

[Sojourner]

2008 ---- 2009

Central ---- Glenelg - Despite Central being so good, I feel that Mickan has a little more in the tank.
Glenelg --- Central - Surely the Dogs have to begin to move backwards at some stage!
Sturt ------- North - Very high calibre recruits & coach should significantly lift the club.
Norwood --- Port - People wish they would go away, they wont and will have a tilt at the finals!
Port ------- Sturt - Think they are a good shot at making the finals
Eagles ---- Norwood - Smokey for missing the five, Trevor Hill to get the sack!
North ----- South - Minor improvement, nothing to write home about!
South ----- West - Massive list turnover yet will settle down and win some games.
West ------ Eagles - Not a lot of recruting to replace lost players, Fuller to get the sack and Pyman to take over towards the end of the season!

So North to be the biggest improver, The Eagles to be the biggest drop.

[Mickyj]

2008 ---- 2009

Central ---- Glenelg - Despite Central being so good, I feel that Mickan has a little more in the tank.
Glenelg --- Central - Surely the Dogs have to begin to move backwards at some stage!
Sturt ------- North - Very high calibre recruits & coach should significantly lift the club.
Norwood --- Port - People wish they would go away, they wont and will have a tilt at the finals!
Port ------- Sturt - Think they are a good shot at making the finals
Eagles ---- Norwood - Smokey for missing the five, Trevor Hill to get the sack!
North ----- South - Minor improvement, nothing to write home about!
South ----- West - Massive list turnover yet will settle down and win some games.
West ------ Eagles - Not a lot of recruting to replace lost players, Fuller to get the sack and Pyman to take over towards the end of the season!

So North to be the biggest improver, The Eagles to be the biggest drop.

I would have loved to have this post compared with one in 06.Damn your heading for a fall Sojourner
Or am I biting just like the Bream in my avatar

[spell_check]

Predicting ladder positions might be better to do once recruiting is finished.

[Mickyj]

Predicting ladder positions might be better to do once recruiting is finished.

Very good point as the Eagles refuse to name more recruits until they have finalised their list.

[bayman]

Predicting ladder positions might be better to do once recruiting is finished.

Very good point as the Eagles refuse to name more recruits until they have finalised their list.

that's why i put (at this stage)

[Mickyj]

Predicting ladder positions might be better to do once recruiting is finished.

Very good point as the Eagles refuse to name more recruits until they have finalised their list.

that's why i put (at this stage)

I wasn't having a shot at you bayman I understand what your like

[Wedgie]

Improvers:
North
Norwood

Static:
Central
West
Eagles
South

Droppers:
Glenelg
Sturt
Port

[JK]

North the clear improver's imho ... There's always a fair rivalry on here between Roosters and Bays fans and I get the feeling they'll both be around the mark this year, so should be entertaining.

My own mob SHOULD be improved, but forwardline still has question marks, as does the Rucking department.

Also like the Eagles to be closer to the action than they were last year

[BirdOfPrey]

At this Stage.......

Up- Nwd and Nth

Down-Sturt may drop

My Eags to stay around the same.

[Dirko]

Up = Norwood, West

Same = Glenelg, Central, Port, Eagles, North, South

Down = Sturt

[fester69]

Norwood -Premiers
Strut - Spooners.

Excellent!

[Jimmy]

by the looks of things, sturt should just not play in 09 and start preparing for 2010

[JK]

Remember how much Sturt were written off when MacGowan first took over? Whilst I think they might drop a few more in the win/loss column, they still have plenty of talent, and of course a bloke capable of kicking 100 goals and 2 Magarey Medallists ... They should still be around the mark.

[Wedgie]

Remember how much Sturt were written off when MacGowan first took over?

Nup I don't.

Macgowan is the hot tip for sturt according to channel 7 news

Would be a great pick up for the Double Blues, Ricky would make a great coach.
Plus it would surely set a new record at Sturt in having 3 coaches in a row who have played for North!

[JK]

LOL I know there would be one ... Well whilst not written off by all, they were by many.

[Wedgie]

LOL I know there would be one ... Well whilst not written off by all, they were by many.

Only the ignorant ones.

[sturtpeter]

Norwood to be stronger.

Port Magpies to drop.

Sturt rebuilding will be highly Competitive with their depth of personnnel.