2008..... Everyone is talking up 2008....

[Dog_ger]

Will geelong be beatable...?

They can do it for the next 5 years....

[locky801]

Can't see them really losing to many players from this year, will just be a matter of them perfoming on the Park again next year one would think. But time will tell, we all know about that AFL premiership hangover

[mal]

Many thought West Coast would be invincible in 2007 ....

[MW]

Who knows....but just remember what Geelong were like at the start of the year with the same list...its all in the head

[sydney-dog]

2008, the Cats certainly have the list to go back to back.....

it will be up to 15 other clubs to work their butts off to prevent the Cats going back to back

the other 15 clubs have plenty of work to do

[Rik E Boy]

Many thought West Coast would be invincible in 2007 ....

The football landscape has changed a hell of a lot since West Coast and Sydney smashed each other in two desperately close grand finals. There has been a tangible changing of the guard this season. I don't know about you mal but I can't think of another year that has had so many players retiring from the game and it's not just the Hirds, Archers, Roos and Koutas but all of these guys are going to be replaced by fresh faced young draftees who will one day be in awe of standing besides a Bartel, Ablett or Steve Johnson.

In the meantime the Cats have NO retirees. This means we dominated in a season when the opposition had a host of experienced veterans who won't be there this season. Darren Milburn remains our oldest player and he will be 31 next season. I think that some clubs might be sniffing out one of our ruckmen, I think we can actually participate in the draft quite nicely if we traded Steven King. King had a great Grand Final and several clubs would be keen to offer up draft picks to get the big Cat. This a big call I know but Blake is the future and is the player who must be retained by the club.

When thinking about next season, it's probably time to have a look at our opposition who have the task of preventing back to back premierships because we know what Geelong will serve up, in terms of personell anyway.

ADELAIDE: Exodus underway and an already weak ruck division is weakened. No Roo is crucial.
BRISBANE: A team on the up and with Bradshaw back will make the eight next season. Haven't beaten us since 2005 and doesn't have the back six to contain our fowardline.
CARLTON: We own Carlton and tried to sell them but nobody wanted to buy.
COLLINGWOOD: A team that can challenge Geelong because of one man - Mick Malthouse. A good shut down side that maybe Bomber hasn't worked out.
ESSENDON: With no Hird and no Sheedy you can forget about these blokes for a while.
FREMANTLE: Will bounce back even though I think Peter Bell has retired, might be wrong there. If Belly goes that is a big loss because he is one of the few Dockers that appears to bleed for the jumper. We've won our last two against these blokes on their dunghill by ten goals so fairly confident with this match up.
HAWTHORN: This side matches up very well with Geelong. I hope we play them twice next season because we really need to lay the Hawk bogey to rest. A good midfield and a talented fowardline will take the Hawks a long way over the next few seasons but the defence doesn't have a premiership look about it.
KANGAROOS: I can't believe people are writing off the Kangaroos next season already. It is ridiculous. They are clearly better than a lot of sides in the competition. I reckon they lack a bit of class in midfield and could probably do with another key defender but most clubs could do with that.
MELBOURNE: I reckon they'll get Judd and with a good run with injuries they can return to finals action. Bailey an interesting appointment. You can't go too wrong by appointing Port people IMO.
PORT: Will rebound after the darkest day in the club's proud history yesterday. I don't think they'll get back into the Granny next year tho. Yesterday I noticed that not too many Power boys could take a contested mark, it was all on the run stuff with the occaisonal umpire shot. Other teams would have taken note and it won't be just Geelong who will be the hunted next year.
RICHMOND: The much maligned Tigers will get off the bottom next year but to expect a Tiger premiership in 2008 is like believing in the Easter Bunny or you are going to shag that hot weather girl on TV.
ST KILDA: This club has no idea, they are bickering already. Expect Riewoldt to get double teamed all year now that the G Train has been derailed.
SYDNEY: The coach has already come up with the line 'those that got us here will get first crack' and that's probably fair enough but this equals another year that the Swans won't be developing youth. This may in fact be Roos' legacy to the Swans. More of the same with development on hold.
WEST COAST: Another club to rebound but they won't return to the heights of 2006 due to retirements and of course the no Chris Judd factor.
WESTERN BULLDOGS: Been worked out and no key fowards.

Clearly, the West Coast did not have this level of superiority at the end of the 2006 season.

regards,

REB

[Blue Boy]

Many thought West Coast would be invincible in 2007 ....

The football landscape has changed a hell of a lot since West Coast and Sydney smashed each other in two desperately close grand finals. There has been a tangible changing of the guard this season. I don't know about you mal but I can't think of another year that has had so many players retiring from the game and it's not just the Hirds, Archers, Roos and Koutas but all of these guys are going to be replaced by fresh faced young draftees who will one day be in awe of standing besides a Bartel, Ablett or Steve Johnson.

In the meantime the Cats have NO retirees. This means we dominated in a season when the opposition had a host of experienced veterans who won't be there this season. Darren Milburn remains our oldest player and he will be 31 next season. I think that some clubs might be sniffing out one of our ruckmen, I think we can actually participate in the draft quite nicely if we traded Steven King. King had a great Grand Final and several clubs would be keen to offer up draft picks to get the big Cat. This a big call I know but Blake is the future and is the player who must be retained by the club.

When thinking about next season, it's probably time to have a look at our opposition who have the task of preventing back to back premierships because we know what Geelong will serve up, in terms of personell anyway.

ADELAIDE: Exodus underway and an already weak ruck division is weakened. No Roo is crucial.
BRISBANE: A team on the up and with Bradshaw back will make the eight next season. Haven't beaten us since 2005 and doesn't have the back six to contain our fowardline.
CARLTON: We own Carlton and tried to sell them but nobody wanted to buy.
COLLINGWOOD: A team that can challenge Geelong because of one man - Mick Malthouse. A good shut down side that maybe Bomber hasn't worked out.
ESSENDON: With no Hird and no Sheedy you can forget about these blokes for a while.
FREMANTLE: Will bounce back even though I think Peter Bell has retired, might be wrong there. If Belly goes that is a big loss because he is one of the few Dockers that appears to bleed for the jumper. We've won our last two against these blokes on their dunghill by ten goals so fairly confident with this match up.
HAWTHORN: This side matches up very well with Geelong. I hope we play them twice next season because we really need to lay the Hawk bogey to rest. A good midfield and a talented fowardline will take the Hawks a long way over the next few seasons but the defence doesn't have a premiership look about it.
KANGAROOS: I can't believe people are writing off the Kangaroos next season already. It is ridiculous. They are clearly better than a lot of sides in the competition. I reckon they lack a bit of class in midfield and could probably do with another key defender but most clubs could do with that.
MELBOURNE: I reckon they'll get Judd and with a good run with injuries they can return to finals action. Bailey an interesting appointment. You can't go too wrong by appointing Port people IMO.
PORT: Will rebound after the darkest day in the club's proud history yesterday. I don't think they'll get back into the Granny next year tho. Yesterday I noticed that not too many Power boys could take a contested mark, it was all on the run stuff with the occaisonal umpire shot. Other teams would have taken note and it won't be just Geelong who will be the hunted next year.
RICHMOND: The much maligned Tigers will get off the bottom next year but to expect a Tiger premiership in 2008 is like believing in the Easter Bunny or you are going to shag that hot weather girl on TV.
ST KILDA: This club has no idea, they are bickering already. Expect Riewoldt to get double teamed all year now that the G Train has been derailed.
SYDNEY: The coach has already come up with the line 'those that got us here will get first crack' and that's probably fair enough but this equals another year that the Swans won't be developing youth. This may in fact be Roos' legacy to the Swans. More of the same with development on hold.
WEST COAST: Another club to rebound but they won't return to the heights of 2006 due to retirements and of course the no Chris Judd factor.
WESTERN BULLDOGS: Been worked out and no key fowards.

Clearly, the West Coast did not have this level of superiority at the end of the 2006 season.

regards,

REB

Well written REB

One question though how are you able to think that clearly yet ???

[Interceptor]

RICHMOND: The much maligned Tigers will get off the bottom next year but to expect a Tiger premiership in 2008 is like believing in the Easter Bunny or you are going to shag that hot weather girl on TV.

Haha GOLD REB

[Rik E Boy]

It aint easy Blue! Racked a few of those up.

regards,

REB

[am Bays]

MELBOURNE: I reckon they'll get Judd and with a good run with injuries they can return to finals action. Bailey an interesting appointment. You can't go too wrong by appointing GLENELG people IMO.

[sydney-dog]

footy is changing rapidly from year to year

this year's top 4 sides finished 10th, 11th, 12th and 14th in season 2006

moving forward, anything can happen in 2008

[stan]

footy is changing rapidly from year to year

this year's top 4 sides finished 10th, 11th, 12th and 14th in season 2006

moving forward, anything can happen in 2008

But in saying that, I think Geelong will still have pretty much the same side next year. Dosent look like there will be any retirements or trades for Geelong so I would suggest they'll definitly be up there next year - bar a massive hangover

[sydney-dog]

Tennace is looking for other opportunities, Sydney looks like his new home

[Mr66]

footy is changing rapidly from year to year

this year's top 4 sides finished 10th, 11th, 12th and 14th in season 2006

moving forward, anything can happen in 2008

But in saying that, I think Geelong will still have pretty much the same side next year. Dosent look like there will be any retirements or trades for Geelong so I would suggest they'll definitly be up there next year - bar a massive hangover

Last years placings for this years top 4:

Geelong - 10th - 10 wins 11 losses 1 draw
Port - 12th - 8-14
Collingwood - 7th - 14-9
North - 14th - 7-15

Technically incorrect but your point is made.

[Hondo]

Crystal ball time

Of this year's top 8:

- Geelong look a fair way ahead of the others
- Port would need to repeat their clean injury run and favourable draw you'd think to get back there
- Sydney's time has passed I think
- Collingwood about the mark again
- Roos to stay competitive
- Adelaide in transition hard to see them threatening in 2008
- West Coast despite the loss of Judd still a real threat with lots of great juniors
- Hawthorn also a real threat

Predicted top 4 = Geelong, Hawthorn, West coast, Collingwood

Most likely bottom 8 teams to threaten:

- Carlton, Melbourne (if they get Judd), Freo, Brisbane

As S-D says, anything could happen

[Pup]

While i agree with most of your post REB, i dont see why WCE cant rise to the heights of 2006 again, possibly as soon as 2008. This year was probably one of the hardest years for the club in its history with a spate of off field problems and also a horrible run with injuries to key players, yet they still managed to finish 3rd and very nearly beat both Port and Collingwood with depleted sides.

Yes the loss of Judd will hurt but they will get compensated with a couple of early picks and possibly an established player, but they still have a great midfield with Kerr, Cousins, Embley, Steinglein, Braun, Fletcher, Butler as well as support from the younger players such as Priddis, Rosa, Selwood, Hurn and Lecras plus quite possibly a player from the Judd deal. They have the best ruckmen in the competition by a fair way and really gives the midfield a 4th rover.

Darren Glass is rated in the top 2 full backs in the comp and have a pretty sturdy backline when you look at them closely. The forward line is the only worry but with Lynch improving every year he could quite easily kick 70+ goals next year if given enough delivery.If Hansen can stay fit then they are a much better side and with a great bunch of kids developing i would be surprised if they finish any lower than top 4

A lot can go wrong with sides trying to go back to back even with a very similar side so i wouldnt go pencilling in Geelong for 2-3 years of dominance just yet.

Top 4 Next Year IMO

Geelong
WCE
Hawthorn
Freo

(Collingwood, StKilda, Port and Roo's all challenging)

[Mr66]

(Collingwood, StKilda, Port and Roo's all challenging)

You'll get 2 out 3 right PUP.