2004 ladder predictions

[franky_mojojo]

1Brisbane
2Collingwood
3Hawthorn
4West Coast
5Port Adelaide
6Fremantle
7St Kilda
8Essendon
9Adelaide
10Sydney
11Richmond
12Geelong
13Bulldogs
14Kangaroos
15Carlton
16Melbourne
_

 

[daddy_4_eyes]

Bloody hard to predict a ladder, so I will just group the teams.

The top 3:
*On the one hand, Brisbane are 3 time premiers and should not be written off, on the other, how long can they be that good?
*Collingwood has had a dream run last couple years, both with their injuries, draw, and finals draw (port chokers in prelim's), and with a solid but not spectacular list, can they make another Grand Final (has their chance passed them by?)?
*Port have been dominant in recent seasons, and there's no reason to believe they won't be in 2004, but then again, the team and coach will be under immense pressure. Will they drop down?

The next batch:
*Freo have arguably the best KPP's in the league, but do they have the midfielders to be premiership threats? Bell and Hasleby are all class, but a midfield needs more than 2 class players (Cook + McManus are NOT class, Pavlich plays everywhere and not specialist midfielder, schammer is still potential).
*West Coast have a top 3 midfield, despite being very young. But without KPP's at both ends of the ground, they'll need someone to either step up, or the midfielders will have to play out of their skins. Can the potential of McDougall, Gaspar, Glass, Seaby, Hansen, Johnson, Lynch and Cox be turned into onfield performances?
*Essendon were unbeatable only 4yrs ago, and with guys like Hird, Lloyd, Fletcher, Johnson x 2, Rioli, Lucas etc still running around, they have to be a threat to the top teams.
*Sydney - Did they fluke it? Nobody rates their list, but then again, how many times do we see them play?


The rest:
St Kilda - Potential galore, but then again, they're the Saints
Hawthorn - Have some class, but enough to push the top teams? should be pushing the 8.
Adelaide - Are they ageing? Can they have one last dig?
Kangaroos - Often written off, often surprise. Always a chance to make the 8.

No chance:
Melbourne
Bulldogs
Carlton
Geelong
Richmond


The top 7 are all a chance at the premiership IMO, some more than others, but you wouldn't rule any of them out. The next 4 will be pushing the lower half of the 8, and could be a surprise, but you wouldn't realistically expect them to have a tilt at the flag. The bottom 5 should be fighting it out for the spoon.




Disclaimer: These are all opinions, and not concrete psychic predictions. Feel free to criticise as you will almost surely be ignored.

 

[Ripper]

Originally posted by daddy_4_eyes


Disclaimer: These are not concrete psychic predictions.

Glad you realise that that is my domain.

Overall not a bad post, bit of a bob each way though.

 

[no1bankteller]

Originally posted by RIPPER_46

Overall not a bad post, bit of a bob each way though.

Which way is your bob going?