Preview 2012 WCE Predictions Thread

[Eastern Rangers]

Double points if you pick who we draw with.

Carlton.

 

[Marlin01]

Carlton.

Well even when we beat them, they claim they're a better side, so a Draw would be like a 10-goal win for them.

 

[Toshowyouwhy]

Not enough people predicting that we will finish on top and win the flag. Seems almost certain tbh. The only thing not certain is that Shue will win the Brownlow, because I have a suspicion Naitanui or Smith will probably nick it off him.

 

[CursoryMercenary]

H and A Wins: 17

Final Ladder Position after H and A: 3rd

Largest victory: Rd 3 v GWS 100 Pts

Best and Fairest

1) Nic Naitanui
2) Josh Kennedy
3) Luke Shuey

Leading Goal Scorer

1) Josh Kennedy 67
2) Mark Lecras 58
3) Jack Darling 50

Post 2012 Retirees: Darren Glass

Games played by Murray Newman: 14

 

[BlueandGoldforever]

H and A wins: 15

Final ladder position after H and A: 4th (we then go on to win the premiership after securing victory in the first final, played away from home)

Largest victory: R3 vs GWS by 90 points

Best and Fairest
1) Daniel Kerr
2) Darren Glass
3) Luke Shuey
4) Nic Naitanui
5) Scott Selwood

Leading goal scorer
1) Josh Kennedy 63
2) Mark LeCras 52
3) Quentin Lynch 40

Post 2012 retires: Darren Glass, Quentin Lynch

Games played by Murray Newman: 2

 

[pantskyle]

I don't think there has been a season like next years that has me really excited by our prospects. The kids are coming on. The newbies are brilliant. We really won this draft.

Saying this I think we may have a slight drop. I see us as a top 6 team. 16 wins would be perfect. Shuey will win our B&F. Scooter will become the best tagger in the game. Naitanui will dominate. I see Embley and Glass retiring. Murray Newman will play 12 games but I wouldn't be surprised if he plays none.

Bring on 2012.

 

[WCE_phil]

Last year when i looked at our list and our draw i saw definite improvement and while it was conservative in the end i predicted 8-14 wins and a lot of people thought the second number in particular was ridiculous.

In saying that this year i look at our list, i really like our depth but we seem brittle. Even though he was quite poor towards the end of the year embley was instrumental in getting us over the line early in the year. Lynch, Glass, Cox, Embley were all match winners for us and if they dont come to play who is going to step up and take the next step?

Nicnat can be a match winner, shuey can be a match winner, lecras can be a match winner, kennedy can be a match winner. I also think schofield could be a match winner. The question is can they step up and do it more regularly when the games are on the line. If so i think we'll hold our spot with maybe a slight improvement and then who knows come finals time. If however they dont stand up and really take the bull by the horns then we could slide ala adelaide from 09-2010 where their aging greats put in one last good year.

Depending on how things go 10-13 wins or 16+ including finals.

 

[eagles rule]

H and A Wins: 15

Final Ladder Position after H and A: 4th

Largest victory: Rd 3 GWS V WCE 56pts

Best and Fairest

(1)Naitanui
(2)Scooter
(3) Luke Shuey

Leading Goal Scorer

(1) Josh Kennedy 73
(2) Mark Lecras 52
(3) Jack Darling 47

Post 2012 Retirees: Darren Glass + Mark Nicoski + QLynch + Andrew Embley

Games played by Murray Newman: 8

 

[wceblog]

H and A Wins: 15

Final Ladder Position after H and A: 5th

Largest victory: 108pts v GWS

Best and Fairest

1) Luke Shuey
2) Matthew Priddis
3) Nic Naitanui

Leading Goal Scorer

1) Josh Kennedy 60
2) Mark LeCras 42
3) Jack Darling 38

Post 2012 Retirees: Darren Glass, Andrew Embley

Games played by Murray Newman: 12

 

[Carbine Chaos]

We really won this draft.

Based on what evidence?

 

[pantskyle]

Based on what evidence?

Expert opinions. Disregard GWS and we won this draft on potential and talent.

Newman great pick up, McInnes would have gone top 10 if fit, Tunbridge rated one of the better 17yr olds by GWS has good potential and Mascoulis would have gone top 30. If Dick gets fit then we have a gem in him.

Back to back drafts we have gotten gold.

 

[WCE_phil]

Expert opinions. Disregard GWS and we won this draft on potential and talent.

Newman great pick up, McInnes would have gone top 10 if fit, Tunbridge rated one of the better 17yr olds by GWS has good potential and Mascoulis would have gone top 30. If Dick gets fit then we have a gem in him.

Back to back drafts we have gotten gold.

We've only gotten gold if we get 3+ genuine best 22 players from this draft. A poor draft is 1 or less than 1 best 22 player, a normal to good draft is 2 best 22 players and a great draft is 3 or more.

 

[Icanwalk]

Best and Fairest

(1)Naitanui
(2)Scooter
(3) Luke Shuey

Post 2012 Retirees: Darren Glass + Mark Nicoski + QLynch + Andrew Embley

Wow Glass, Nicoski, Lynch and Embley all retiring, for stabilities sake I sure hope not. No doubt the usual suspects will be looking at delistment (ie: Dalziell, Hams, Strijk, etc.) This will mean up to 8 list changes, knowing West Coast, I doubt this will happen.

Personally I think 2 of those 4 mentioned will retire. The state of our list will probably determine who those 2 are. Also wouldn't rule out big Cox hanging up the boots, not too many big men over here play on into their 30's.

As for the B&F, watch McKenzie and Rosa shoot up the ranks. Perhaps even Scooter.

 

[dajesmac]

Nicoski and Lynch will stay on another year I reckon. Glass/Embley to retire, in particular the former.

I expect Smith to go backward, Brown to take the next step, Gaff and Shuey to be brilliant, and Weedon to be delisted. I have a feeling Dalziell, if he cracks a game, may surprise a few people. Stevens to play 10-15 games, and Swift only to improve if he gets a gig in the guts.

 

[Double the Fist]

H and A Wins: 15

Final Ladder Position after H and A: 4th

Largest victory: Rd 3 vs GWS (102 points)

Best and Fairest

1) Matt Priddis
2) Luke Shuey
3) Scott Selwood

Leading Goal Scorer
1) Josh Kennedy 59
2) Mark Le Cras 48
3) Josh Hill 30

Post 2012 Retirees: D Glass, A Selwood, A Embley, D Kerr, D Cox, M Nicoski

Games played by Murray Newman: 1

dajesmac is on the cash I reckon, I have a feeling Koby is in for a big year. He is pumped and ready to crash. He will be our Lenny Hayse

dajesmac, why do you feel Smith will go backwards?

I'm tipping against my thinking of Josh Hill (more hope than anything he can really turn it on. I fear Darling will scare him stiff every time he is near tho)

 

[Patron]

I think most of you guys are being a bit harsh on embers he will still be best 22 next year for the majority of the year. Even if he doesn't play wing he is a better HFF option than the likes of hill and others people seem to be keen on.

 

[Toshowyouwhy]

Smith? Backwards? Ohh he'll make you pay for that....

 

[Jack_the_Ninja]

I was driving home from work yesterday and saw an omen.

Lying toes up was a huge Wedge Tailed Eagle on the side of the road, I gulped when a Docker Supporting car pool member quipped " Not looking good for your blokes next year".

I come back with, "he's just resting", checkin out the sky for some easy prey.

 

[Avalor]

I think most of you guys are being a bit harsh on embers he will still be best 22 next year for the majority of the year. Even if he doesn't play wing he is a better HFF option than the likes of hill and others people seem to be keen on.

Agree - watched the Carlton semi replay again last night (warming up for the coming season) and Embers had a very good game in a tough, hard match. I was surprized by his continual run and speed > he still has a couple of years left in him for sure.

What a great game that was!

 

[Piss Poor]

Expert opinions. Disregard GWS and we won this draft on potential and talent.

Newman great pick up, McInnes would have gone top 10 if fit, Tunbridge rated one of the better 17yr olds by GWS has good potential and Mascoulis would have gone top 30. If Dick gets fit then we have a gem in him.

Back to back drafts we have gotten gold.

If that's true great.
But to be honest I'm more excited about past draftees having great years like Koby Stevens, Swift, and hopefully Sheppard.

Stevens has got me the most excited about 2012

 

[pantskyle]

Agree, Im not saying instant success. I hope next year is big for Stevens and Swift and Sheppard.

 

[dajesmac]

dajesmac, why do you feel Smith will go backwards?

Just a gut feel, nothing more. No but I do like Smith, I just have a feeling he won't have a year as good as 2011. I don't mean he doesn't have the potential to improve, which of course he does, and I expect him to. Was just going off gut feel that he might struggle to crack the 22 this season.

 

[Eastern Rangers]

If he struggles to make the 22 he needs to be missing a leg as far as im concerned.

 

[Alexwce]

H and A Wins: 15

Final Ladder Position after H and A: 4th

Largest victory: Round 3 vs GWS 96 points

Best and Fairest
1) Matthew Priddis
2) Luke Shuey
3) Scott Selwood

Leading Goal Scorer
1) Josh Kennedy: 70
2) Mark LeCras: 60
3) Jack Darling: 40

Post 2012 Retirees: -

Games played by Murray Newman: 8

 

[Toshowyouwhy]

If he struggles to make the 22 he needs to be missing a leg as far as im concerned.

Even then he should be first picked.