by FOURTH ESTATE » Tue Mar 19, 2013 3:58 pm
This season is one of the most open in years. Anyone who gets on a roll is a half decent chance.
All teams have their strenghts and some glaring weaknesses.
Too much hype on the Crows for my liking. We all know what an easy draw they had last year and it won't be the same this year.
Walker will be a marked man and I don't see who else is going to kick the goals.
Port will improve but will still have some shockers.
Gold Coast & GWS will improve as well but not as much as Andy D and the AFL hope for.
The big slider will be St Kilda, the premiership window has closed on them and it's back to the drawing board. A few good wins and upsets along the way. Tom Lee will be outstanding for them.
Carlton will slip into bad habits along the way and they can't rely on Eddie Betts and co to kick goals each week for them. Waite needs to stand up for a full season but can't see that happening. Malthouse will inject enthusisiam at the club but losses will come and the air will go out of their sails by round 16-17
Collingwood will be around the mark top 3 how far they go is up to them, recruited well in off season. Q stick from West Coast gives them another tall up forward take a bit of pressure off of Cloke & with Hudson in the ruck just a bit of insurance for Jolly during the year especially during the winter months. Cloke & Lynch's accuracy in front of goal will determine how far they go.
Richmond have done everything right in the pre season and confidence is sky high at punt road. A good start to the year with a win over the Blues will see the Tiggy train gain momentum but a loss and back into bad habits it might well be. Must win close games this year and not drop games to the cellar dwellers. Finals are a must in 2013 or the rusty knives will be back with Hardwick's name on them rightly or wrongly
The Hawks have had a terrible pre season in which nothing seems to have right. With the loss of Suckling for the year kick ins might be a problem. Buddy needs to get his kicking boot right and Cyril needs to show he can play 4 quarters. Roughead if he plays forward all year will be a good foil for Buddy. Premiership window is still open for the Hawks but can't afford to let another one slip away.
West Coast will be in the hunt but wins away from home might be a bit harder this year. A talented squad of players who still might be another season away from their best. A top four finish is imperative for a home final or they won't get past the first week of the finals.
Co tenants Fremantle might be the new power in the west if they can show consistency especially away from home. Could be their last chance for a few of their ageing stars. Plenty of money to throw around in free agency after this season and a good display in finals might just tempt at least one big name back home and a few senior players to go around one more time.
Drug allegations and what ever else that is going on a Windy Hill will make 2013 very interesting for the Bombers. Waiting to see what ASADA do mid year will have a telling effect on the Bombers. Brenton Goddard must be wondering what he has walked into and James Hird might looking over his shoulder a bit if improvement is not seen at Bomber land in the interim.
Reigning Premiers Sydney have once again be moving along in the pre-season quitely as usual no fan fare no fuss. No player losses that will greatly hinder them but how far they can go will depend on Goodes knee will be around the mark but will play some horrible games at times with some strange losses Top 4 finish is a must to go deep into the finals.
Footscary / Western Bulldogs what ever you want to call them will be in for another hard season and it's hard to see where the improvement will come from. Brendan McCartney is no fool but hard to see him being able to do much with this group.
Melbourne is an even bigger problem and if it weren't for the Gold Coast & GWS a wooden spoon would already be on its way to the MCG trophy room for the DEES. Mark Neeld is on a hiding to nothing with this mob and no amount of time and effort will save this sinking ship. Will be a long year for the Demon supporters until June when they pack up their Range Rovers and head to the snow.
After last years early ejection from the finals by the Dockers, Geelong went about their off season with a minimum of fuss players left and arrived. The players arriving will add depth to the Cats. The current group are still good enough to win a flag in the next two years and last years early removal from the finals will be a motivating factor for them. Would need to finish no lower than 4th to be considered a chance for the flag.
The enigma that is North Melbourne continues to shine. This side should have bottomed out several years ago but keep surprising everyone. No Boomer Harvey until round 7? will hurt and if early wins aren't on the board might be a stretch for the finals. Last years finals performance will still be burning in the minds of the players as they will want to atone for that performance in the west.
NAB Cup winners Brisbane will be up and about early after winning the pre season comp. Michael Voss has them primed for a big season but a lot of it revolves around the Big Unit Jonathan Brown. Brown Dog in full flight is an awesome sight but not much help if on the sidelines nursing long term injuries. Expect to see Brownie play a lot more up forward out of the square occasionally up the ground. Plenty of talent to work with and a placing 5-8 is not out of the question. Can upset anyone on thier day but like all non Victorian teams wins at home are imperative or finals could be a struggle.
Final Ladder Positions
1.Geelong
2.Collingwood
3.Hawthorn
4.Sydney
5.Fremantle
6.Richmond
7.West Coast
8.Brisbane
9.North Melbourne
10.Adelaide
11.Carlton
12.Essendon
13.Port Adelaide
14.St Kilda
15.Footscray
16.Gold Coast
17.Melbourne
18.GWS
All of this subjective and just my opinions. Don't claim to be an authority on the AFL just my thoughts.
Hope I'm wrong and Richmond finish higher just have to wait and see.
2017, 2019 & 2020 PREMIERS
RICHMOND, RICHMOND, RICHMOND.
Let that be a lesson to you Sturt. You don't beat Glenelg 3 times in a row in Grand Finals and get away with it.
who will they find now to chip sideways 20 metres? Maybe Tambling is the perfect replacement. Both equal in ability IMO
