Early Predictions for 2011 ladder

[Mic]

Centrals
Eagles
Norwood
Glenelg
Sturt

North
West
South
Port

[JK]

Far too early to call, so Im not going to make any huge predictions, however I can see a much closer competition than we've seen in recent years.

Centrals - The benchmark, and with good reason, they are awesome - September certainties.
Glenelg - Strong throughout the Minor Round and may well reap the benefit of incorporating more of their talented youngsters alongside seasoned, experienced, mature players - Hard to see them not qualifying for September.
Eagles - Their strengths could potentially also be their weaknesses - Many quality players on AFL lists that could deliver bigtime for them or interrupt them. They also have some of the best senior players in the comp who's bodies might also be vulnerable - Either way I expect them to make the five and they are rightly many peoples premiership favourites.
Norwood - A lot of unknown. Have picked up some quality but also lost plenty of it - Have a strong coaching group and footy department who will need to modify the style employed last year to cover for the loss of pace and run from the back-half - Could be a better outfit but could also be worse, who knows at this point in time? Finals hopes for sure.
Sturt - A bit like Norwood could go either way .. However I still think there's plenty of talent there, and how quickly we forget how much they were talked down on the eve of Norman's first season and they surprised many of us with a GF appearance - Definite finals hopes.
West - Were solid last season although perhaps fell away a bit as the season wore on - Appear to be a very settled group with some handy additions so they would rightly be aspiring to be prominent this season. Definite finals hopes.
North - Still a very potent list who haven't played to potential in recent years - Could Francou have the same effect as Godden and Bassett did in their first seasons? Many people believe so. Definite finals hopes.
Port - Surprised many last season as they showcased a vast array of talented juniors, whilst maintaining a select core of quality experienced players - Bamford looks a quality man in the box and the club returns as a unified group more so than ever recently. I perhaps can't see them climbing past enough of the teams above them to qualify for finals, but if they do I won't be surprised.
South - Appear to be choosing the right type of players to bring into the club, and Fuller would have known it was always going to be a long term project to get them where the club wants them to be. A bit like Port I can't see them climbing high enough to play finals, although there's no reason why it shouldn't be their goal. Not the automatic selection for the Spoon this year that they perhaps have been on some other occasions.

I know I'm sitting on the fence with all of that, but IMHO thats where it sits as of today .. Most seasons provide an unexpected bolter and similarly a team that unexpectedly drops below expectation.

We have the unknowns of injury which often plays a big part and then also the Foxtel Cup this year (not saying it will have an effect, but it all remains to be seen I guess).

[redandblack]

Nicely thought out summary, CP.

Not much to disagree with there.

[eaglehaslanded]

Here we go:
Eagles
Glenelg
Central
Norwood
West
Sturt
North
Port
South

[whufc]

Lots of love for the Eagles getting around, and Sturt have plenty of haters out there at the moment.

[sjt]

Interesting that some like to post how predictable the seasons end result will be.

Out of 29 predictions I make it, 13 think Central will be this years Premiers, whilst 16 think not. We should be in for an interesting season.

[westozfalcon]

Norwood
Glenelg
Eagles
Central
Port

Sturt
North
West
South

[Psyber]

I'll have a wild shot:

Central
Glenelg
Norwood
Eagles
Sturt
North
Port
West
South

[Glenelg to fold up in the finals as usual.]

[panthers 2008]

EAGLES
CENTRAL
NORWOOD
GLENELG
STURT

WEST
PORT
SOUTH
NORTH

[CENTURION]

I'll put my 2 cents worth in.

Central
Eagles
Glenelg
North
Norwood
Sturt
Port
West
South

[cje]

eagles
dogs
roosters
legs
tigers
pies
bloods
blues
panthers

[Jim05]

Heaps of love for the eags. Am interested where the improvement is coming from, they havnt picked up a heap of guys. They did have a good finals series but they only just scrapped into the finals. They seem to be a hard team to judge, some games they looked unbeatable and others they looked average. Maybe this season they can keep a settled side and get some consistancy. Did have a good bunch of kids and have good depth.
Cant believe most people writing central off, they are the team to beat and wouldnt be surprised if they finished 2-3 games clear on top.

[Wedgie]

My reasoning is that the Eagles have gone about their business very quietly and have had minimal disruptions.
My thinking on Central (who I had 2nd which they were only 1 goal 1 from last year) is they won't have Callinan who is the main reason they have won the last couple. Also every year they win one they're closer to the hear they don't! Mind you I use a similar theory when gambling and usually lose too!

[CENTURION]

My reasoning is that the Eagles have gone about their business very quietly and have had minimal disruptions.
My thinking on Central (who I had 2nd which they were only 1 goal 1 from last year) is they won't have Callinan who is the main reason they have won the last couple. Also every year they win one they're closer to the hear they don't! Mind you I use a similar theory when gambling and usually lose too!

but We have Boyd for a full season PLUS O'Sullivan is ready to go AND an extremely fit Slattery back in. OH! Don't forget a huge 23 year old lump of a man called Alby at C/H/F. looking good, i think.

[CENTURION]

i think the real interest will be the battle for 5th. North, Norwood, Port, Sturt & West seem very even this year......but I will probably be miles wrong, as usual.

[DOC]

i think the real interest will be the battle for 5th. North, Norwood, Port, Sturt & West seem very even this year......but I will probably be miles wrong, as usual.

That leaves Centrals, Eagles, Glenelg and South to battle out the top four spots

[CENTURION]

i think the real interest will be the battle for 5th. North, Norwood, Port, Sturt & West seem very even this year......but I will probably be miles wrong, as usual.

That leaves Centrals, Eagles, Glenelg and South to battle out the top four spots

if they're good enuff!

[Dog_ger]

Glenelg
Norwood
Sturt
North
Eagles

Port
West
Central
South

[Big Phil]

My reasoning is that the Eagles have gone about their business very quietly and have had minimal disruptions.
My thinking on Central (who I had 2nd which they were only 1 goal 1 from last year) is they won't have Callinan who is the main reason they have won the last couple. Also every year they win one they're closer to the hear they don't! Mind you I use a similar theory when gambling and usually lose too!

but We have Boyd for a full season PLUS O'Sullivan is ready to go AND an extremely fit Slattery back in. OH! Don't forget a huge 23 year old lump of a man called Alby at C/H/F. looking good, i think.

Regardless of the impressive young players coming through, I think the loss of Heath Lawry late in pre-season (as in too late to recruit a replacement for him) will expose Central's weakness in defence this season, I feel.

Time will tell but I just feel that they will not be as dominant in the midfield with the loss of Mackenzie (and possible loss of Callinan to the Crows) and defence will be their achilles heel this season.

[CENTURION]

My reasoning is that the Eagles have gone about their business very quietly and have had minimal disruptions.
My thinking on Central (who I had 2nd which they were only 1 goal 1 from last year) is they won't have Callinan who is the main reason they have won the last couple. Also every year they win one they're closer to the hear they don't! Mind you I use a similar theory when gambling and usually lose too!

but We have Boyd for a full season PLUS O'Sullivan is ready to go AND an extremely fit Slattery back in. OH! Don't forget a huge 23 year old lump of a man called Alby at C/H/F. looking good, i think.

Regardless of the impressive young players coming through, I think the loss of Heath Lawry late in pre-season (as in too late to recruit a replacement for him) will expose Central's weakness in defence this season, I feel.

Time will tell but I just feel that they will not be as dominant in the midfield with the loss of Mackenzie (and possible loss of Callinan to the Crows) and defence will be their achilles heel this season.

Heath WHO? Ever heard of Hardy? He is ready to step up. Lost Mackenzie? Step up to the plate, Milne & Sutherland? Lost Schell? HERE COMES THE BIG HUMMER!!