Ill eat not only my hat but the hats.of others if essendon make the 8My Post JLT Ladder
1. Collingwood. Its almost seems cliche to predict the Grand Final loser to win the premiership the next year, however, I truly think they will. Was only a kick away from winning it all after a horrid run win injuries throughout the year. Yes all teams get injuries etc but theirs was as bad as any team last year and to important players too. Have also added Beams who is at worst a consistent positive contributer and and best a star.
2. Richmond. Was the best team in the home and away and have added Lynch without losing any best 22 players (yes I know they have lost depth). Will be there and there abouts. IMO will be devastated/hungry after what happened last year in the prelim.
3. WCE. As a WCE fan I always struggle to place us. I hope we finish top 4 but in reality no idea.
4. Adelaide. A sleeping giant. Was the best team in the home and away and was the favorite going into the GF in 2017 and still has a lot of that team still together. Never really got going last year after the weird pre season/early and consistent injuries to important players. With luck will have a better run with injury and will be back near the top.
5. Melbourne. Melbourne fans will feel hard done by with this and fair enough but I just think the above 4 teams will be better. Natural progression suggests they will improve but in reality still unproven in big finals. Wouldn't shock me if they won it all.
6. Essendon. The universal tips for the big improvers and I can see why on paper. Sheil is a star and Daniher (if over his injury) has the most potential out of any key forward in the comp. i think they will definitely improve but not to the point of truly challenging for the premiership. My tip to win a final but will be knocked out by one of the top 4.
7. GWS. Still too much star power on paper to miss finals. Have lost depth that will hurt but still has some talented youngsters coming through. Will go down a tiny bit in 2019, almost a mini rebuild, and will jump back up and be challengers in 2020.
Before i go on, i think there will be quite a big gap in class between the above and the rest.
8. Sydney. Still too reliant on Buddy. Blakey will be a star but would be a lot to expect from a first year key forward. Will be a difficult opponent for most but wont win enough games to make a true impact.
9. Hawthorn. They have to slip eventually....right? I have been saying this for three years but ill non confidently predict it will be this year.
10. Geelong. See above
11. Brisbane. Talented list, still probably a year away from challenging for finals. When they do though, it may be a rapid jump to the top 4 for example.
12. Port. IMO are in a weird place. Topped up a couple of years ago but didn't make an impact and then tried to do a rebuild but didn't full commit so will be mid table obscurity for a while. Will beat up on the teams below but will be beaten up by the teams above.
13. North. North fans will be annoyed that i put them here but I still don't rate their list. Very reliant on Ben Brown forward and he is great at what he does but not much else there. Sorry and if they prove me wrong, great.
14. Fremantle. On paper, much much better than last year so possibly contradicting myself after what I have said above with some of the other teams. However, I don't think their game plan will hold up. Talented key forwards but how good/bad are they defensively? Big question mark for me. Tag Fyfe successfully and their midfield will struggle. Some talented kids in that midfield for sure but not sure there is enough senior class.
15. Western Bulldogs. Solid midfield and backline but no real forwardline. Will win a few games against the teams below but cant see them beating any/many of the teams above them barring a crazy day.
16. Carlton. I feel a touch sorry for Carlton because they have been poor for so long and imo were on their way up this year but they have had some important guys ruled out/doubtful with injuries. Lower down teams cant afford to lose important senior players like some of the top teams can. So wont start well and may struggle to come back.
17. St Kilda. Poor list IMO. Signing Hannerbery for the contact they did was desperate and shows where their list is at.
18. Gold Coast. Almost a full reset for them. Hopefully this will go better for them than the initial go did. Getting the right on field leader will be important. Ablett was/is a star player but not a great leader.