Opinion Non-Crows AFL 13: Offseason

[WaynesWorld19]

Their fixture is ridiculous, makes our 2025 draw look brutal.

Add in a (sort of) new coach effect and they’ll destined to finish top 8, likely top 6.

They will be found out in finals however. They have some absolute stars but even their best 18 has serious holes, and they didn’t address it this off season - no, Brodie and Wehr aren’t quality.

The issue is, PORT can be easily deflated, simply by taking just one player out with a stopper .....and that's not factoring in injuries .....it's the problem with teams built around a few stars

No, PORT won't make the top 8 .....likely 11th - 13th

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Their fixture is ridiculous, makes our 2025 draw look brutal.

Add in a (sort of) new coach effect and they’ll destined to finish top 8, likely top 6.

They will be found out in finals however. They have some absolute stars but even their best 18 has serious holes, and they didn’t address it this off season - no, Brodie and Wehr aren’t quality.

No way Port finish top 6 imo, as they don't have enough quality on their list.

They may sneak into the top 10 though.

 

[1970crow]

Their fixture is ridiculous, makes our 2025 draw look brutal.

Add in a (sort of) new coach effect and they’ll destined to finish top 8, likely top 6.

They will be found out in finals however. They have some absolute stars but even their best 18 has serious holes, and they didn’t address it this off season - no, Brodie and Wehr aren’t quality.

‘Found out in finals’, So same as us.

 

[skam85]

I don't understand why people think Port will be a threat. I don't see them higher than 12th. Their team aside from a handful of very, very good players isn't good. And that's not Crows coloured specs either.

 

[Bovo]

I don't understand why people think Port will be a threat. I don't see them higher than 12th. Their team aside from a handful of very, very good players isn't good. And that's not Crows coloured specs either.

I stick with my theory that a previous season has partial influence on the next. There are reasons why Sydney fell from a GF to missing finals. It’s an unknown. It’s not just the team in question it’s every other team they play. It’s truly an unknown

 

[1970crow]

I don't understand why people think Port will be a threat. I don't see them higher than 12th. Their team aside from a handful of very, very good players isn't good. And that's not Crows coloured specs either.

I counted about 10 of our 23 in the semi that would struggle to get a game at any of the prelim sides. I don’t think we’re that much ahead. We’ve had 1 year finishing above them and they had a pretty bad run with injuries and we had a very good run. Like us, I don’t see them competing when the whips are cracking, but won’t be surprised if they notch up enough H&A wins to make the 8.

 

[Peter Doherty]

I counted about 10 of our 23 in the semi that would struggle to get a game at any of the prelim sides. I don’t think we’re that much ahead. We’ve had 1 year finishing above them and they had a pretty bad run with injuries and we had a very good run. Like us, I don’t see them competing when the whips are cracking, but won’t be surprised if they notch up enough H&A wins to make the 8.

I don't see how they improve.

 

[Cromulant]

I counted about 10 of our 23 in the semi that would struggle to get a game at any of the prelim sides. I don’t think we’re that much ahead. We’ve had 1 year finishing above them and they had a pretty bad run with injuries and we had a very good run. Like us, I don’t see them competing when the whips are cracking, but won’t be surprised if they notch up enough H&A wins to make the 8.

Of course you don't think we're that much ahead despite a near 100 point belting toward the end of the season

 

[1970crow]

I don't see how they improve.

I think they’re more the 2024 side than the 2025 side. Injuries and not having a stupid farewell tour for their senior coach will result in immediate improvement from 2025. Another year under the belt of JHF sees him heading towards AA. I’m not as down on their defensive group as most, ours was cobbled together from rookies and late picks, I think that and their midfield will see them around the mark. But thin up forward, but that’s why they won’t genuinely compete. Like us with our midfield and line of drive our back 50.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Port will be okay if Butters - JHF - Georgiades - Rozee - Bergmann are all fit and firing

If not, they'll stink

 

[Peter Doherty]

I think they’re more the 2024 side than the 2025 side. Injuries and not having a stupid farewell tour for their senior coach will result in immediate improvement from 2025. Another year under the belt of JHF sees him heading towards AA. I’m not as down on their defensive group as most, ours was cobbled together from rookies and late picks, I think that and their midfield will see them around the mark. But thin up forward, but that’s why they won’t genuinely compete. Like us with our midfield and line of drive our back 50.

Were they hit by injuries anymore than anyone else in 2025? No guarantees it even improves.

'24 vs '26 : They've lost Houston, Boak, Dixon, Rioli and Burton for what? Lukosius? It's a matter of time until you add Marshall to that 5 as well.

Their team and squad has clearly dropped off.

Underrating JHF there. Yeah, he's not maxed out, but already is playing to a high level.

 

[Peter Doherty]

Port will be okay if Butters - JHF - Georgiades - Rozee - Bergmann are all fit and firing

If not, they'll stink

They had that in '25. JHF played the least with 15, including missing the last 5 weeks when their season was done.

 

[kirky]

This was as at end of July, only 3 more rounds after this article. Kangaroos, Melbourne and Port should be ringing alarm bells.

The clubs most and least impacted by injuries in 2025

The best and worst injured lists.

www.sen.com.au

 

[UcantCme]

No way Port finish top 6 imo, as they don't have enough quality on their list.

They may sneak into the top 10 though.

- totally agree

Easy fixture or not - Port with a good run with injuries might make 9th or 10th however their list is flaky

I don’t even have time guaranteed to beat Richmond or North away in the early rounds

JHF having foot issues is a major concern

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

- totally agree

Easy fixture or not - Port with a good run with injuries might make 9th or 10th however their list is flaky

I don’t even have time guaranteed to beat Richmond or North away in the early rounds

JHF having foot issues is a major concern

They will struggle to beat the top 6 or so teams because they just don't have enough quality all over the park. Their midfield can't carry the side against the top teams.

Their draw though gives them a chancs of making finals round 0.

 

[1970crow]

Of course you don't think we're that much ahead despite a near 100 point belting toward the end of the season

They were done by then, we only just held on in the first game. I guess then you see us as only a couple of goals ahead of Eagles and Roos. Even I think we’re better than that.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

They will struggle to beat the top 6 or so teams because they just don't have enough quality all over the park. Their midfield can't carry the side against the top teams.

Their draw though gives them a chancs of making finals round 0.

Who, in this Top 10 ladder prediction, are PORT going to replace .....for what it's worth, I think PORT will rank higher than MELB, RICH, and ESS .....but I can see NORTH outperforming PORT ....so about 12th or 13th IMO

.........

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Whilst there hasn't been too much commotion about the wildcard round ......just wait until 10th beats 7th in a playoff .....the **** will really hit the fan then

 

[Scorpus]

Port could be the first ever side to lose to 10th place in a final

But realistically I don't think they are a finals quality side

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Who, in this Top 10 ladder prediction, are PORT going to replace .....for what it's worth, I think PORT will rank higher than MELB, RICH, and ESS .....but I can see NORTH outperforming PORT ....so about 12th or 13th IMO

View attachment 2485616 .........View attachment 2485617

I personally don't have Port finishing top 10.

However, they are an outside chance if all things go well & usually a couple of expected finals teams miss.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Whilst there hasn't been too much commotion about the wildcard round ......just wait until 10th beats 7th in a playoff .....the **** will really hit the fan then

Won't matter now, as 7th to 10th will be just making up the numbers.

It will be rare any now make a preliminary final.

This system has killed off any little chance 7th & 8th have of making a grand final, let alone winning one.

 

[Carn The Texan]

I stick with my theory that a previous season has partial influence on the next. There are reasons why Sydney fell from a GF to missing finals. It’s an unknown. It’s not just the team in question it’s every other team they play. It’s truly an unknown

So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past

 

[CDC60]

I have Port in the bottom 4 despite the easy draw:

B: BZT, Ratugolea, Jones
HB: Rozee, Aliir, Farrell
C: Burgoyne, Bergman, Wehr
HF: Durdin, Lukosius, Richards
F: Marshall, Georgiades, Cochrane
R: Sweet, JHF, Butters
INT: Wines, Brodie, Berry, Sinn, Whitlock

EMG: Moraes, Lord, Lorenz, Visentini, Ramm

Not including SPP because he won't play most of the season. That's the best team I can find before injuries. They have four A-level players but at least 10 C-level players at this stage

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Good to see Schoenberg given another chance.

Eagles confirm signing of experienced midfield trio

West Coast adds to its midfield group with the signing of three recently delisted players

www.afl.com.au

I like the idea of a struggling club given the ability to list more players.

 

[whattagun07]

The Cochrane decision is disgusting, everyone has to be nominated in their 15th year, and meant to have been tightend minimum requirments for involvement in development over that period. What development have they had in a 17yo already playing senior Sanfl footy with Centrals?

Who holds the AFL to account? Has any reporter actually challenged them on this in an interview? I'd love to see the CEO explain how this decision was made, and be grilled on the clear flaws in whatever rationale they provide.